



Overview

Shinji wakes up in the hospital, with no memory of defeating the Angel the night before. Rejected by his father, Misato decides to take Shinji with her to live in her apartment. Later that night, memories of the battle against the Angel come flooding back to Shinji.

Synopsis

Episode 02 continues where the last ended, with Shinji preparing to face the Angel in Evangelion Unit-01. Ritsuko calls in over the radio, and explains to Shinji that the Eva will respond to his thoughts, so he should concentrate on walking first. Shinji manages to move his Eva, making it take a trying, but successful first step. But as he attempt to take a second step, the Eva trips, resulting in it falling over and landing face first on the ground. Eva-01 is left helpless as Sachiel advances on it. Misato calls in, and attempts to talk Shinji through getting the Eva back on its feet, but he is completely frozen with fear, and fails to defend himself as the Angel proceeds to pick up the Eva by the face, and then damages its left arm and right eye[1]. The pilot's signal is lost, and the Eva is lifeless. The scene then cuts to Shinji suddenly waking up in an unfamiliar, empty hospital room.

Gendo discusses the reappearance of the angels after 15 years with the Human Instrumentality Committee,[2] while Misato and Ritsuko survey the aftermath of the battle. Gendo is instructed not to let the reappearance of the Angels allow the Human Instrumentality Project[3] to fall behind schedule. Shinji sees Rei at the hospital. Misato comes to pick Shinji up at the hospital and they meet Gendo by the elevator, but Shinji wordlessly refuses to enter.

Misato takes Shinji to be assigned accommodation, but discovers that he is to live on his own. She decides to take him to live with her instead, after promising Ritsuko not to "put the moves on" him[4]. On the way home from shopping[5], Misato takes Shinji to an observation point overlooking Tokyo-3 and they witness the city building emerge from underground.

Misato and Shinji arrive at Misato's Apartment. Shinji tries to enter as a guest, but Misato insists that the apartment is his home, and so Shinji says "Tadaima"(equivalent to "I'm home") as he crosses the Threshold[6]. Misato's apartment is in a state with empty beer cans everywhere, and only ice, condiments and more beer in the fridge. Misato changes and they set down to eat a meal of instant food[7].

While taking a bath, Shinji meets Pen Pen in the bathroom and is so startled that he runs naked back into the kitchen to tell Misato. Misato explains that Pen-Pen is their other "roommate", and advises Shinji to cover up, and he slinks back into the bathroom in extreme embarrassment. Shinji reflects on the day's events in the bath. He considers that though Misato seems a bit strange in her behavior, she appears to be a good person. His thoughts then eventually drifts to his father, and the mysterious girl, Rei Ayanami, as he wonders what the connection between them are.

A Selection of Episode 02 Images By row, from left to right, starting top left: Sachiel looming over Eva-01 Shinji wakes up in the hospital Shinji and Misato at a scenic view of Tokyo-3 Misato and Shinji at the dinner table Penpen's first appearance Unit-01 Charging Sachiel Self Destructs Misato commending Shinji

We see Evangelion Unit-00[8] frozen in Bakelite being observed by Gendo and Ritsuko. They discuss Rei's recovery in a ruined control room. Gendo reveals that despite their hardships he will continue to have the children pilot the Evangelions[9].

Shinji lies alone in his bedroom, listening to his SDAT player. Misato speaks with Ritsuko on the phone about their situation, admitting that she does feel a bit out of her depth with Shinji. Shinji lies awake reflecting on his presence in Tokyo-3. As he does so, sounds from the battle are heard and images of nerve cells as viewed through a microscope flash across the screen. We begin a flashback to the events of the battle.

Eva-01 was rendered inoperative by Sachiel's attack, with Nerv losing control of the Eva and contact with the pilot. Misato orders the ejection of the Entry Plug, but the system is completely out of control. Eva-01 suddenly reactivates and begins to act on her own. Upon seeing this, Fuyutsuki quietly exchanges an aside with Gendo, noting that "it looks like we've won." She launches a vicious attack upon the Angel, succeeding in damaging its face. A second attack by the Eva is blocked by a powerful A.T. Field barrier. The Eva repairs her broken left arm and erodes the Angel's barrier with another A.T. Field.

Once the barrier is down, Eva-01 soundly defeats Sachiel by shattering the downed Angel's Core. Sachiel in a last desperate attack, wraps itself around the Eva and self destructs in a massive cross shaped explosion. Eva-01 emerges from the explosion with little apparent damage.

As Nerv regains control of the Evangelion, Shinji comes to in the entry plug. The damaged helmet sloughs off, and Shinji is able to glimpse the Eva's face reflected in the windows of a building[10] As he looks on, the Eva's eye[11] regenerates and suddenly focuses straight at him. Shinji begins to scream and the flashback ends.

Shinji slowly curls up in bed after recalling the battle. Misato comes to his door and praises him for piloting the Eva and saving the city. The episode ends.

Analysis

When Misato is channel-surfing on TV while in the Nerv tent with Ritsuko, it is difficult to tell exactly what they are saying, however, the full lines of dialogue for the people on TV were actually included in the script: (parts actually heard on-screen are italicized):

Woman on Channel 12: "...the government administration's announcement was carried out this morning in the official residence of the prime minister of Tokyo-2."

Man on Channel 4: "As for the participation of the SSDF in this incident not being recognized, this was negated."

Woman on Channel 8: "They advocated that the U.N. forces' sortie into Japan was within the scope of the law."

Man on Channel 1: "When confronted with the claim, "Was this not an alien attack?", they laughed, saying, "This isn't manga"."

Misato complains that it is hot out when they are in the truck transporting Eva Unit 01's helmet, and even with the air conditioning turned up, takes off several layers of clothing to be more comfortable. However, Ritsuko does not take off her heavy lab coat. This would seem to be emblematic of their personalities; Misato is casual and laid-back, while Ritsuko is very professional and concerned with appearances.

The outfit that Misato changes into when she brings Shinji back to her apartment (blue cutoff short shorts, a loose-fitting yellow t-shirt, and apparently no bra) is exactly the same outfit that Asuka wears when she kisses Shinji in Episode 15.

The shot of Misato grabbing Shinji's head from above while at her kitchen table visually parallels the shot when Sachiel grabs Eva-01's head from above.

One of many visual parallels in NGE OMG!! She's after his cranium!!





Quotes

( Misato is talking to Ritsuko on the phone)

Ritsuko Akagi : "What did you say?!"

Misato Katsuragi : "Like I said, I'll take care of Shinji. I've already got permission from the brass... (sarcastically) ...And don't worry, It's not like I'm going to "put the moves" on a kid."

Ritsuko : (Misato holds her phone away from her head as Ritsuko yells loudly) "OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT!! What the hell are you thinking? You're always like that. Honestly!"

Misato :"She could never take a joke".

: "What did you say?!" : "Like I said, I'll take care of Shinji. I've already got permission from the brass... ...And don't worry, It's not like I'm going to "put the moves" on a kid." : "OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT!! What the hell are you thinking? You're always like that. Honestly!" :"She could never take a joke". Misato : (to Shinji) "Starting today, this is your home. So you can take advantage of everything here."

: "Starting today, this is your home. So you can take advantage of everything here." Misato: "Air conditioning has just got to be humanity's greatest treasure. It's a real triumph of science."

References









