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Episode 20: Form of The Mind Form of The Man/ Weaving a Story 2: Oral Stage
Normally I have an intro here but this time I can't say anything. Almost every question we've had in Evangelion has been answered and each answer begs more questions. I'm totally speechless after this episode. The episode begins by showing the last few minutes of the previous episode, and introducing a new scene where SEELE express surprise at 01 ingesting the S2 engine and their mistrust for Gendo as the head of NERV. The first day after the EVA consumed the Angel, we see the NERV staff moving to the second command center, since this one was heavily damaged by the 14th Angel. For now the MAGI will remain where they are, until they can be properly moved. Maya objects to leaving, but her fellow technicians tell her that it's for the best. Misato and Makato are in the 01's hanger and stare at the machine, now bandaged up like a wounded soldier. As they talk it is evident that Makato has feelings for Misato and it's even more evident that Misato is quite upset about something. The scene quickly shifts to SEELE, who are having a meeting without Gendo. They are mad not only at the money lost by the 14 Angel's destruction of NERV, but also that their scenario may have been irreparably harmed by Gendo's machinations. "This is all because we didn't put a bell around Ikari's neck" says a member of SEELE, to which another member replies, "A bell was there but it didn't ring." "A bell that doesn't ring serves no purpose" says the member to which Chairman Keele (I think) replies, "We'll make sure the bell works next time." Meanwhile, Kaji joins Kouzou and Gendo to talk about how they will explain the latest EVA 01 incident to SEELE at the next meeting. Gendo says that they will claim it was all an accident and Kaji points out that Shinji is still trapped inside the EVA. In the NERV command center, Ritsuko and the technicians are able to look inside the EVA and find that Shinji's plug suit is empty! "Apparently the EVA has taken him into itself", says Ritsuko, and Misato replies, "What does that mean? Just what is an EVA?" "It is something created by man, in man's own image", responds Ritsuko, "I really can't describe it any other way." "You didn't create anything!" screams an angry Misato, "You just copied something you found in the Antarctic! What was the original? That's what I want to know, Doctor!" Ritsuko quickly replies by saying, "This is not just a copy. A human will is inside it." "Are you saying someone willed this to happen?" asks Misato, and Ritsuko replies, "No, the EVA did." Misato slaps the apathetic Ritsuko (something which the technicians don't seem to mind) and Misato orders Ritsuko to do something. On the second day, we see Rei in the hospital, surprised that she is still alive. Misato telephones Asuka to tell her the good news, but Asuka is too angry over her defeat by the Angel (and outperformed by Shinji) to care about Rei's condition. On the third day, Ritsuko explains her plan to salvage Shinji from the EVA's entry plug. She says that Shinji's life force is still in the entry plug and that his body has just lost it's "Ego Border". Shinji's body is floating in the entry plug in it's "quantum" form (in a form that can't be seen) and so the LCL has become like the water of the primitive Earth. It contains the body and soul of Shinji, and to save him NERV will need to reconstruct his body and fix his soul in it. On the fourth day, we see Shinji in his entry plug and staring at his empty plug suit. He figures out that he is in "his world" and begins to question why he fights, who his enemies are and why he hates his father. The episode moves forward to the 30th day of Shinji's "imprisonment" in the EVA Unit 01. Ritsuko and Maya prepare for the "salvaging" of Shinji and Maya is told of how this procedure was tried ten years ago, but it failed. On the 31st day, Shinji is still "in" his EVA and goes into a dream like state, much like the one Rei experienced in Episode 14 (with the same music too). Since it is a long and complicated dialogue, I'll present it in a form closer to a production script, so it's easier to read. (Shinji looks at a blue ocean) Shinji: Kindness...Warmth...Is this the warmth of a human? I was never aware of it. (The scene shifts to a NERV elevator, where Shinji stands with Rei) Rei: What is loneliness? Shinji: I was never aware of it, but now I think I know it. Rei: What is happiness? Shinji: I was never aware of it, but now I think I know it. Rei: Are others kind to you? Shinji: Yeah. Rei: Why? Shinji: Because I am EVA's pilot. Because I pilot EVA, they treat me well. That is the reason I can exist. That is the everything to support my reason to be. So, I must pilot EVA. (The scene switches to the train, where Rei, cloaked by shadows, sits across from Shinji) Rei: And then? Shinji: Enemy! I must fight what they all call the enemy. Shinji: And I must win! Right, I can't lose. As they tell me to, I must pilot EVA. As they tell me to, I must win! Otherwise...Nobody...Nobody...Nobody... (The scene shifts to a message recorder playing peoples voices) Misato: Do your best. Ritsuko: Do your best. Asuka: Get to work idiot! Toji: Do your best. Kensuke: Do your best. Gendo: Good Work Shinji. (scene switches to the EVA cockpit) Shinji: Misato, Ritsuko, Asuka, Toji, Kensuke and Father. They all respect me. When I pilot EVA, they all respect me. (scene switches back to train) Shinji: They respect this worthless being. Everyone says to pilot this. I'll prove to my dad I'm worthwhile. (scene switch to Misato in the doorway) Misato: Do your best. (back to the train) Shinji: Yes, I'm doing my best. I am doing my best! Treat me well! Be nice to me! (scene change to a white background where Misato is naked and keeps leaning over repeatedly) Misato: I'm nice to you. Tell me Shinji, do you want to become one with me? To be of one mind and body? It could be very, very nice. Ask me anytime, I'm ready. (same scene except it's Asuka doing the actions) Asuka: Hey Shinji. Idiot, don't you want to be one with me? To be of one mind and body? It could be very, very nice. You ought to appreciate your good fortune. Come on. (same scene except with Rei) Rei: Ikari, do you want to become one with me? To be of one mind and body? It could be very, very nice. Ikari? (Same background, but now all 3 keep appearing and saying the words together) Rei, Misato and Asuka: Do you want to become one with me? To be of one mind and body and soul? It could be very, very nice. Relax and release your soul. (we see a drop of water) The episode shifts back to "reality", where NERV begins the salvage process begins as Shinji's mind shifts to a hospital bed. Ritsuko tells Misato that Shinji is in "Klein Space", which means the salvage operation failed. Back in Shinji's mind he is confronted by all three females and a mysterious fourth woman. Shinji: I don't understand. Rei, Misato, Asuka and the 4th Female: What do you wish? What do you wish? What do you wish? Back in "reality", the Entry Plug empties onto the ground. (We re-enter Shinji's mind and he is once again back in the train, sitting across from the small Shinji last seen in episode 16) Shinji: Where am I? Shinji2: Inside of EVA. Shinji: Inside of EVA? Did I pilot EVA again? Why? (the scene switches to a road, where Misato stands at a distance) Misato: You won't pilot EVA anymore ? Shinji: I decided I will never pilot EVA again. Misato: But you have just piloted Evangelion Unit 01. Shinji, you are here because you have piloted the EVA. Piloting EVA has created your present. You can never deny your past Shinji, nor can you deny the fact that you did indeed pilot it once more. That which is, is. It's true. I just wanted to tell you that only you can decide. It's your future." Shinji: I...I... Back in "reality", Misato cries over Shinji's plug suit and is angry that Shinji couldn't be saved. (The scene in Shinji mind shifts to the blue sea once again) Shinji: That scent, a human smell? Misato? Ayanami? No, not them. That's right...This is the smell of my mother. (The scene shifts to a still picture of baby Shinji being breast fed by his mother Yui) Gendo: Second Impact has occurred. Will he live in this hell? Yui: Anywhere can be heaven if you try to live. Because he has a life, as long as he lives, he will have the chance to attain happiness. Gendo: Yes, you're right. (The scene first shifts to Shinji lying in his bed and he says "mom" and the scene changes to the drop of water) Yui: Have you decided yet? Gendo: If it's a boy, Shinji. If it's a girl, I'll name the baby Rei. Yui: Shinji...Rei (the scene shifts to a baby Shinji floating towards the top of a blue sea and says "mom") Suddenly, Misato notices that Shinji is lying on the ground next to where the LCL drained out. On the 33rd day, Ritsuko and Misato discuss the nature of Evangelion and Misato then leaves to have sex with Kaji, while they both wonder what Gendo is up to. Wow. If you read this entire summary I think you pretty much know that this was phenomenal episode. We learn more about EVA, about the characters and about Shinji's perceptions of reality (which is so introspective and one of the series' highlights). I think it was a real treat to see so much character introspection in one half hour episode. It was great to get some answers about EVA, but we're left with many more. After viewing this episode, MOST of the EVA mysteries are answered if you look hard enough and pay attention to previous episodes. In case you haven't figured out the answers, I'll say nothing other than: WOW!