Overview

Misato has been promoted to Major[1], but the celebration does not last long. A monstrous Angel appears in Earth orbit right when Gendo and Fuyutsuki are away, leaving her and the children to deal with a colossal kamikaze threatening to drop itself right on top of Tokyo-3.

Synopsis

The episode begins with a flashback: as Second Impact occurs at Antarctica, Misato's father, Dr. Katsuragi, saves her life by shoving her into an escape capsule[2]. Adam[3], in Giant of Light form, is briefly seen, and giant wings appear in the cloud vortex over Antarctica as the capsule[4] floats to safety[5].

Back in the present in Tokyo-3, Toji and Kensuke drop into Misato's apartment to take shelter from the rain. Kensuke notices that Misato has been promoted to Major, (a fact which has completely escaped Shinji and Asuka), and he and Toji congratulate her. Misato thanks them and reminds Shinji and Asuka that they have a harmonics test that day.

Ritsuko reveals after the test that Shinji's synch rate is rapidly rising and he will soon catch up to Asuka. This doesn't seem to impress Asuka, who reacts angrily.

When they arrive home, they find that Kensuke has arranged a party to celebrate Misato's promotion. Toji wonders why Hikari[6], the Class Rep, is there, and Asuka replies that she has invited her. Asuka then begins to wonder why Kaji is late. Rei has turned down her invitation. Meanwhile, Shinji whispers to Misato that he's uncomfortable around that many people. When Shinji asks her why she joined Nerv, Misato claims to have forgotten. When Kaji finally arrives, he has Ritsuko with him, causing Misato and Asuka to both react jealously. Kaji comments that Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki must have a lot of faith in Misato to go away and leave her in charge.

In Antarctica[7], Gendo and Fuyutsuki are onboard an aircraft carrier in a sea of red. The surrounding area has become incapable of sustaining life; Fuyutsuki comments that it is the true Dead Sea. Also on board, the deck is a mysterious long object in wrappings. Just then they receive a message that the next Angel has begun its attack.

The tenth Angel, Sahaquiel, is colossal in size and one of the most bizarre Angels in appearance, looking like a giant amoeba with a huge central eye. Its strategy is to zero in on Nerv, dropping pieces of itself onto the Earth to calibrate its aim. Each piece has its own A.T. Field, which, combined with very high kinetic energy, causing devastation wherever they strike. It is believed that once the Angel finds its target, the main body will plummet to Earth. Even a near miss will convert Tokyo-3 into an extension of the Pacific Ocean. Misato orders all civilians evacuated in a fifty-kilometer radius[8], and concocts what seems to be an impossible plan. Using their A.T. Fields at full strength, the three Evas will catch the falling Angel with their hands and then destroy it. Ritsuko accuses Misato of putting her quest for revenge ahead of the mission[9].

Misato briefs the pilots on the mission. They all decline to write a will. She then promises them a steak dinner[10] if they succeed. Rei passes on the steak because she dislikes meat. When Misato is asked how she determined where to station the Evas (the potential impact zone is miles across), she replies, "intuition." Shinji tells Asuka that Misato has never won the lottery.

On their way to their Evas, Shinji asks Asuka why she pilots. She replies that she wants to prove something to the world. When she throws the question back at him, he doesn't have an answer.

We are then shown a flashback to a conversation Shinji and Misato must have had a short time before. She admits that she joined Nerv to avenge her father, even though she had hated him for neglecting her and her mother.

The time comes at last. The Evas race to the impact spot, Shinji arriving first. He struggles to hold up the Angel until Rei and Asuka join him. Rei proceeds to expose Sahaquiel's core with her Progressive Knife[11], and Asuka uses her knife to stab the now vulnerable core, causing the Angel to self-destruct; another mission has been successful against tremendous odds. Gendo calls, and when Misato tries to apologize for the damage done to Eva-01, he tells her she did well. He then specifically asks to speak with Shinji and tells him, "Good work."[12] The pilots have mercy on Misato's pocketbook and go to a ramen place instead of a steakhouse. Even Rei goes along, ordering garlic ramen with no pork. Shinji tells Misato that he pilots because he wants to hear words of praise from his father.

End of episode.

Notes

The message written in three lines on the sign put on the door to Misato's apartment for the party, written in Japanese characters says: "Congratulations On Your Promotion/Celebration Spot/Reserved Today"

Misato is wearing a sash at the party the kids throw for her, with writing on it that translates as "Congratulations on your promotion to Major".

Misato is seen drinking "Boa" brand beer again, last seen in Episode 10, as opposed to her favored Yebisu brand from Episode 02 (possibly as a result of the network that the series first aired on complaining that they didn't want to give the real-world Yebisu beer company unpaid publicity).

Analysis

It seems unlikely that a chrysalis large enough to hold Sahaquiel stayed undetected in orbit for 15 years. [13]

Adam's shoulder pylons are similar to those found on the Evangelions, and thus seem to be artificial restraints added by the research team (just as they are not biologically part of the Evas, either). A still-shot of the Katsuragi expedition digging up Adam (seen in the extended opening given on the Renewal of Evangelion Test-type disk) shows Adam lying face down, skewered on the Spear, and lacking shoulder pylons.[14]





Quotes

(Shinji wonders why his improved performance angers Asuka)

Shinji: "I wonder why she got mad. What did I do wrong?"

Misato: "That bothers you?"

Shinji: "Yes."

Misato: "That's because all you ever do is worry about what other people think."

"I wonder why she got mad. What did I do wrong?" "That bothers you?" "Yes." "That's because all you ever do is worry about what other people think." (The readouts from a synchronization test show that Shinji's synch ratio is improving at a remarkable rate)

Maya Ibuki : "His harmonics and synch ratios are approaching Asuka's."

Ritsuko : "Is this what you call a gift, I wonder?"

Nerv technician : "It's like he was born to pilot an Eva."

: "His harmonics and synch ratios are approaching Asuka's." : "Is this what you call a gift, I wonder?" : "It's like he was born to pilot an Eva." Misato : "Miracles have value only when we make them happen"

: "Miracles have value only when we make them happen" (Ritsuko confronts Misato about her plan)

Ritsuko: "You're going to do this, seriously?"

Misato: "Yes, I am."

Ritsuko: "You're going to throw away all three Evas with your selfish decision? The chance of success is only 0.00001%. That's not even one in ten thousand!"

Misato: "It's not zero; I'm just banking on the Evas."

Ritsuko: "Major Katsuragi!"

Misato: "I am currently in charge. I want to do whatever I can. Destroying Angels is my duty."

Ritsuko: "Your duty! Don't make me laugh, This is for your own sake, isn't it? Your revenge against the Angels!

"You're going to do this, seriously?" "Yes, I am." "You're going to throw away all three Evas with your selfish decision? The chance of success is only 0.00001%. That's not even one in ten thousand!" "It's not zero; I'm just banking on the Evas." "Major Katsuragi!" "I am currently in charge. I want to do whatever I can. Destroying Angels is my duty." "Your duty! Don't make me laugh, This is for your own sake, isn't it? Your revenge against the Angels! (The pilots prepare for their mission.)

Shinji: "Say."

Asuka: "What?"

Shinji: "Asuka, why do you pilot an Eva?"

Asuka: "To exhibit my talent to the world, of course."

Shinji: "You mean to prove that you exist?"

Asuka: "Yeah, something like that." (Looks at Rei) "You're not going to ask her?"

Shinji: "I've asked Ayanami before."

Asuka: "Mmmm...My, how intimate the two of you are."

Shinji: "It's not like that."

Asuka: "Then what about you, Shinji?"

Shinji: "I don't know."

Asuka: "You don't know? What are you, stupid?"

Shinji: "Maybe I am."

Asuka: "You really are stupid."

"Say." "What?" "Asuka, why do you pilot an Eva?" "To exhibit my talent to the world, of course." "You mean to prove that you exist?" "Yeah, something like that." (Looks at Rei) "You're not going to ask her?" "I've asked Ayanami before." "Mmmm...My, how intimate the two of you are." "It's not like that." "Then what about you, Shinji?" "I don't know." "You don't know? What are you, stupid?" "Maybe I am." "You really are stupid." (The characters celebrate their victory over Ramen.)

Shinji: "Say, miss Misato?"

Misato: "What?"

Shinji: "When I heard my father's words earlier, I think I finally understood what it's like to feel happy when you're praised and I also realized that maybe I pilot the Eva because I wanted to hear those words from him."

Asuka: "You're piloting for something like that? You really are stupid."

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