Shinji and Asuka's Relationship

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Despite not joining the cast until Episode 08, Asuka quickly becomes a pivotal figure in the narrative, both in her own right and in her interactions with Shinji. The complex dynamics of their relationship quickly become the heart of the show. Most aspects of the relationship, however, remain unspoken or denied. Thus the two have yet to come to a conclusive understanding by the end of the show. For this reason, as well as to properly illustrate the compounding nature of each teen's wrongful assessment of their situation, their perspectives will be analyzed separately.

It is important to realize that what the characters say or do almost never directly corresponds to what they actually feel or desire. Everyone is a mystery, sometimes even to themselves. It is often only by looking at the wider details of a scene, such as background conversations or framing that their true feelings are revealed. In many cases the clues to unraveling a scene can only be found in conjunction with other scenes. Finally, it is often the case that important information is transmitted visually rather than through dialog, so looking at screenshots is a necessity.

Are They a Couple?

The short answer is yes, but certainly not as traditionally portrayed in this sort of story. As stated above, there is no closure such as their accepting their feelings and acknowledging them to each other and possibly to others as well. Rather, it is the evidence presented in the show makes it clear that they are the show's primary couple.

Through the action arc and into the beginning of the downswing their interactions follow many conventions of romantic comedy. They have an eventful first meeting, complete with instant dislike and sexual misunderstandings. Circumstances force them into continued proximity, with sexual tensions and slowly building mutual acceptance. Friends see a relationship of which the character's themselves are blind, either teasing or offering advice.

For example, this from Episode 17:

The classmates always know first
The pause in the second image before they deny their relationship typically shows that Toji's observation is correct. They are quarrelling like a married couple.

Another example would be in Episode 09. Misato has momentarily substituted Rei for Asuka in the synchro-attack training and Rei aces it the first try. After Asuka runs from the room Hikari says to Shinji: "Go after her! You made a girl cry!". On the surface, it's hard to understand exactly how Shinji is responsible. If anyone made Asuka cry it was Misato. Then you realize that Hikari has already figured out that they are a couple, and feels that it is Shinji's responsibility to protect Asuka from this sort of humiliation.

Finally they have their first kiss... at which point the trouble starts.

This is also supported in a more subconscious manner via clever use of cuts during important moments to force a parallel between the Shinji/Asuka relationship and that of Misato and Kaji. In episodes 9 and 15, for example, kiss attempts between Shinji and Asuka are immediately followed by scenes of Kaji and Misato engaged in the same. In episode 11 both pairs end up in compromising positions.

Shinji/Asuka and Kaji/Misato
comparison shots from episodes 9, 11, and 15

Shinji's POV

Introductions

Not so thrilled to meet you

Before Asuka came into the picture, Shinji was just starting to recover from a very dark period in his life. His situation was stabilizing, having gained a degree of acceptance at school, home, and his work at Nerv. He was still feeling the effects of a long depression, but with growing closeness with Toji, Kensuke, Misato and even a hint of understanding with Rei, he seemed to be past the worst of it.

For these reasons his initial introduction to Asuka went about as poorly as possible. Before he even knew her name she antagonized his new friends, escalating quickly to slaps and insults. Next she dragged him around the fleet and put down his piloting abilities, called him a pervert right before forcing him to crossdress, then broke regulations in a manner similar to what got him reprimanded four episodes prior. Throughout the fight she continued insulting and hitting him while Shinji took control to save both their lives. It’s fair to say his first impression of the Second Child wasn’t glowing.

Growing Closer

Seeing Asuka in a positive light

At school he tried to be friendly but Asuka continued teasing him, and in the next engagement she again belittled him before making an impressive but futile solo attack. In debriefing Shinji became quite upset when she tried to blame him for the defeat, and was certainly no happier when she commandeered his room in Misato's apartment. When Misato announced the tandem attack plan he didn't seem thrilled but went along with the training as part of his duty, and in the process found in Asuka a sense of determination that he could admire.

On the evening before the second battle with Israfel Misato did not come home, leaving the children alone for the first time. Asuka responded to this news by moving into Misato's bedroom for the night with a parting shot about him acting like a child. She leaves him for the night with a warning about entering the room, giving the impression that she believed he might take advantage of her. In the process of warning him off, however, Asuka gave him a view down her nightshirt that Shinji didn't fail to notice with an obvious wayward glance. Later that evening he pretended to be asleep when she made a bathroom trip, only to suddenly find himself presented with a similar view as she unconsciously wandered in to sleep next to him. The Second Child, arousing and more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her before, proved too much a temptation for Shinji. Had she not called out for her mother in her sleep he may well have justified her earlier warnings by stealing a kiss.

Temptation
Shinji begins to take note of Asuka's feminine charms, but just ends up frustrated.

Asuka presses her advantages

After the successful tandem attack Shinji accidentally revealed this near-kiss and was declared a pervert again, this time over an open communications channel. However, unlike the previous occurrences he could not honestly claim it was an accident this time. Perhaps sensing that he'd put his tentative new friendship with Asuka at risk, from this point forward Shinji did his best to avoid succumbing to sexual thoughts no matter how ruthlessly the German teased him, such as her blatant poolside attempt. He still slipped up from time to time (at the hot springs after defeating Sandalphon or accidentally peeking up her dress while crawling through air ducts) but was generally successful at controlling himself.

Instead he focused his efforts on becoming the best pilot he could, someone she (and others, such as his father) might eventually accept as a friend. In doing so he settled into a comfortable routine, facing each new threat with a growing sense of teamwork and ever-increasing competence. So long as he did his job, ignored most of Asuka's verbal baiting and managed to keep Toji and Kensuke from stirring up too much drama everything was sure to work out fine.

A Turning Point

After a rather emotionally trying day, the anniversary of his mother's disappearance and an inconclusive talk with his father, Shinji was once again left alone with Asuka by Misato. He was surprised when she started a friendly conversation, praising his cello playing. She then suggested they kiss, but claimed it was just to relieve her boredom. Due to her claim of boredom and her statement in the previous scene that Kaji is the only one she wants, he was unsure of her intentions, and thus hesitated, but when she struck the raw nerve of his mother's death he reluctantly rose to the challenge. Believing her statement that the kiss actually meant nothing to her, Shinji missed Asuka's very real desire for his affection and couldn't bring himself to respond, although she held the kiss long enough to leave him gasping for breath. Why should he respond to a meaningless kiss? She then rushes to the bathroom and pretends to gargle, reinforcing his belief that this entire incident was meaningless to her.

Misunderstood Intentions
Shinji believes Asuka's lie that her kiss was just to relieve boredom.

caught in the act

Soon after this incident Misato conveyed the news that he'd actually managed to beat Asuka for once in the synch tests. He was the best at something, and something that mattered! Feeling at the top of his game now he didn't bat an eye when Asuka challenged his piloting as they confronted Leliel. This led to some foolish and near-fatal consequences, but her appearance outside his recovery room confirmed that she wasn't indifferent to his existence anymore.

Communication Breakdown

(more to come)

Asuka's POV

First Encounter

With her family life in shambles, Asuka threw herself completely to the task of being the best of the best in every way she cared to try from a very young age. Despite her impressive accomplishments, however, Asuka was never been able to overcome the trauma of her mother’s accident and suicide, and thus continued to seek confirmation of her worth as a person from everyone around her. At the same time she developed a shell of denial around this vulnerability, hiding it from others and from herself behind a massive superiority complex.

Episode 22 reveals that the evening before meeting the rest of the cast Asuka made a play for Kaji’s affection, most likely out of a combination of real attraction and a desire to be viewed as an adult. Any chance she may have had was likely torpedoed however when she mentioned Misato, in a negative manner no less. Kaji casually dismissed her attempt at seduction, but not before mentioning Shinji as an alternative target.

You’re telling me that I lost to this puppy?

Asuka attempted to make an impression on Shinji, but her planned introduction was ruined by a stray gust of wind and boyish antics, and she quickly decided he probably wasn't worth the effort anyway. Her day continued to be frustrating as Kaji ignored her all afternoon, instead flirting with Misato and praising the Third Child. A background conversation revealed her feelings on the subject: She feelt she is being left in the cold for the sake of a ‘puppy’, a boring little boy who by all rights shouldn’t have be considered anywhere near her league.

Impressed yet? ...Nope.

Kaji's continued prodding about Shinji even when they were alone eventually drove her to make another attempt to put the Third in his rightful place, starting by showing off her Unit 02, the most important thing in her world. When he failed to appreciate her 'toy', Asuka took advantage of an angel appearance to show off her talents firsthand, dragging him along for the ride. Unfortunately events once again refused to go smoothly and she found herself being pawed over by shinji (who revealed himself a pervert earlier by peeking while she changed) while he had the gall to try and control HER eva! With her life on the line Asuka was forced to work with the idiot just this once, but in so doing failed to assert her dominance.

Assessing the Threat

Playing the blame game

Once in Japan she set out to establish herself, becoming the center of attention at school (and the target of unwanted affection from unworthy fools), though neither Shinji nor 'the other one', Rei, seemed impressed. Still a little miffed about the last fight and convinced Shinji's qualifications as a pilot were a fluke, Asuka charged the angel alone to prove her worth. Unfortunately the angel cheated by splitting instead of dying, and Shinji's inability to keep up soon left her outnumbered. This unfair defeat was compounded by a dressing-down by her superiors, and in front of Kaji no less.

Still, she she got some satisfaction out of displacing the Third Child from his room, only to find out that she would be forced to live with the little deviant for training purposes. Shinji proved himself beneath her skills, but her combat status was threatened by Rei's ability to synchronize with "the turnip's" movements on the first try as if they were already very close. Humiliated by the suggestion that she was the problem and that she might once again be denied her due, Asuka resolved to throw her all into the training.

Over the course of learning to work with Shinji she gained a degree of respect for the boy, so when Misato left them alone she decided to make a subtle play for a little affection from Shinji. Her sense of superiority and fear of rejection would not allow her to be open about her interests however, so instead she needed to get Shinji to make the first overt move. Thus she threw a plethora of hints at the boy, first making a suggestive comment, teased him by calling him a child as she entered their guardian's room, then used a little reverse psychology (and a biblical reference to a wall famous only for falling) to challenge him to act like an an adult while intentionally giving him a peek at her cleavage. All of this must have gone right over his head though because he failed to rise to the challenge, leaving her (as revealed in anouther flashback in Episode 22) alone and dejected.

The Wall of Jericho
Asuka throws down the flirtation gauntlet, but her challenge goes unnoticed.

Following the battle Asuka discovered that Shinji was not as immune to her hints as he had seemed, though perhaps he still lacked the courage to act on those emotions for some reason. She soon made the best of missing the school trip to make a more blunt second attempt, showcasing both her physique and intellect by offering him help with his physics homework via a rather hands-on demonstration. This attempt however managed to end even worse then before, with apparent rejection instead of confusion.

Driving the lovebirds apart

Something was obviously different this time, and Asuka zeroed in on the X-factor immediately: Rei was present, and Shinji seemed to be paying the First Child quite a bit of attention. Asuka then wasted no time beginning her assault on her assumed rival, making a point of upstaging Rei at every opportunity not just for her own relative benefit as a pilot but to intentionally drag the blue-haired girl down. In Episode 11 (and several later scenes as well) this is bolstered by subtle positioning in the frame, with Asuka finding a way to be physically between Rei and Shinji in nearly every shot of the three pilots together.

(more to come)

Episode 15

In Episode 15 Asuka dumps her blind date, and returns home. She tries once again to get friendly with Shinji by praising his cello playing. When Misato calls to say she'll be late, Asuka see's the chance to try once more to advance their relationship, pointing out, as she did in Episode 09, that they are all alone. She then suggests that they try kissing. She has to tease him into the kiss by suggesting the he's afraid that his mother is watching them from heaven, or maybe he's just afraid. However, she hides her genuine interest in Shinji by saying that she's just "bored". What she doesn't seem to realize is that Shinji doesn't read mixed signals well at all. Even though she holds their kiss to the point where she leaves him gasping for breath, due to his misunderstanding of her intentions, he shows no reaction at all. Furious and emabarrassed by his apparent rejection, she runs from the room and pretends to gargle to cover her true feelings. Once again, in Episode 22 we see what she really thinks of this.

One More Final

(coming soon)

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