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Episode 19: A Man's Fight/ Introjection
It doesn't stop, it just doesn't stop. Last episode, we learned about the Dummy Plug system and now we see the true nature of EVA. As Evangelion blazes towards it's climax, the only thing we can rely on is that everything we think we know, well, we really don't. The episode begins with 01 docked, and Shinji refusing to leave. "Don't push me anymore", says Shinji as he expresses anger at his father for using the Dummy Plug. The technicians try to convince Shinji that it was necessary but he is too caught up in his anger to listen. Shinji reminds the NERV staff that he still has enough battery power in his EVA to destroy half of the base, causing Gendo to order the LCL pumped to the maximum. As his order is executed, Shinji finds himself overwhelmed and falls unconscious. He is forcibly removed from his entry plug and taken to a hospital. When Toji awakens, he finds his bed next to Shinji's and wonders if maybe his sister is in the same hospital too. Toji slows asleep and imagines he is on the subway with Rei and Shinji. The two pilots argue over why Shinji hates his father and Toji watches them in confusion. Toji then wakes up to find Hikari at his side, and is surprised to learn that not only was Shinji discharged a day ago, but also he has been asleep for three days! When Hikari gets ready to leave, Toji asks her to tell his sister that he is ok and she agrees to do so. Meanwhile, Shinji is taken out of his holding cell at NERV and is brought to face his father, Gendo Ikari. Shinji tells his father that he no longer wants to pilot EVA to which Gendo says, "So you're running away again? You disappoint me. I assume that we'll never meet again." "Yes, that is my intent", Shinji says, as he walks out of NERV for what may quite possibly be the last time. Shinji walks down the road and goes back to his room in Misato's apartment, where he lies on the bed, seemingly emotionally numbed from the past few days. The next day at the train station, Shinji is seen off by Misato who does reveal information to him. Apparently, all of Shinji's classmates are fourth level candidates to be EVA pilots and she also tells Shinji that she will leave his passcodes in the NERV system. Shinji says it isn't necessary because he won't pilot an EVA again, but Misato insists on leaving them in the system anyway. As Misato drives away, a state of emergency is declared and Shinji realizes an angel has attacked. As the 14th Angel begins to try and break through to the Geo-Front, EVA Unit 02 is launched and Rei trys to synch with 01. Surprisingly, 01 refuses to connect with Rei and Gendo tells Kouzou, "Yes, it's refusing me." Rei insists on piloting the damaged EVA 00 (which is missing an arm) and ominously says, "If I die, I can be replaced." Asuka, in her 02, attacks the Angel in the Geo-Front but the Angel easily cuts off both of the EVA's arms. When the Angel cuts off 02's head, it lands near Shinji in the shelter he was at. As NERV tries to get the 01 to accept the Dummy Plug, Shinji runs outside and meets Kaji who reveals that since his secret agent status was revealed, he has been taken out of active service at NERV. Since there is nothing he can do to help, Kaji says he is content to water his melons but he also tells Shinji that if the Angel breaks into Terminal Dogma and touches Adam, then humanity will be eradicated in the "Third Impact". The two suddenly notice Unit 00 rushing towards the 14th Angel with an N2 mine in its arm. As the mine explodes, with the EVA holding it near the Angel, Shinji hopes 00 has been successful. But as the dust clears, the angel appears unharmed and eliminates the threat of the 00 is eliminated expediently. Kaji tells Shinji that he can do something and he says, "Think about what you have to do now. Think about no longer having any regrets." Shinji runs to NERV and tells his father that he wants to pilot the EVA Unit 01. Gendo asks, "Why are you here" to which Shinji replies, "I...I...I am the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01. I am Shinji Ikari." The Angel begins its descent to Central Dogma and stops at the command center where it is only feet away from Ritsuko, Misato and the main NERV technicians. Suddenly the 01, piloted by Shinji, attacks the Angel and is able to take it to the surface, but not before losing one of it's arms. Shinji's enthusiastic victory is aborted when the EVA's battery runs out of power and the backup fails to work. Taking advantage of the situation, the Angel begins to pummel the EVA 01 as it's pilot screams at the machine, hoping it will heed its call to move. As if it hears Shinji's desperate pleas, the 01's eyes light up (in the color blue) as it reactivates and touches the Angel's arm to its stump (where the left arm used to be). EVA's synch ratio jumps to 400% and Ritsuko says, "Does that mean she's awakened?", the EVA grows a human, flesh like left arm and proceeds to defeat the Angel. As the machine roars, like a primal animal, it celebrates it'd victory by eating it's defeated prey and Ritsuko says, "She's taking the S2 engine into herself?" As the EVA sheds off its armor, Ritsuko says, "The bindings?" to which Makato says, "Bindings?" "That's right, it's not really armor", Ritsuko says, "Those are the restraints that allow us to control EVAs power. But now the EVA is removing the web that binds it to our will. We can no longer control the EVA." On the sidelines, Kaji stares on at the gruesome sight and says, "Unit 01 has been awakened and set free! SEELE won't stay quiet for this." In Gendo's office, both he and Kouzou watch events unfold from a safe distance. "Did you say this was part of our scenario, Commander Ikari? It's begun hasn't it?" asks Kouzou, and Gendo replies, "Yes this is the beginning." The episode ends with the EVA 01 continuing it's primal scream. This episode is very hard to explain because the final scenes are most predominant in your mind. One is sickened by watching the EVA consume the Angel but, just like a real life car crash, it's hard to turn away. I think using quotations I've pretty much described the scene as much as words can so I'll change the focus to the earlier half of the episode. The first half of the episode is a nice contrast to the first episode in a few major ways. Firstly, you have the symbolism of the Angel and its attack: both the 3rd and 14th Angels had blasts, which came in the shape of a Christian cross. In both these cases, the Evangelions present were totally defeated by the Angel and in the end, the 01 reactivated itself and went berserk to win. Secondly, it's interesting to see how Shinji has grown since his initial EVA sortie. At first, Shinji didn't want to pilot the EVA and was emotionally blackmailed into doing it but this time he approaches the task proactively, filled with resolve and determination. Even his desire and willingness to confront his father and destroy half of NERV shows that though Shinji may consciously doubt himself, there is a fire of confidence and resolve burning deep within him. Evangelion (the show) has been turned upside down and the reality of Gendo's machinations cannot be ignored. The only question is, whom will Gendo destroy: his enemies or the human race?