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Episode 21: The Birth of NERV/ He Was Aware That He Was Still A Child
This episode has the death of a major character and revelations about the shared past between all the major characters. Definitely one of the best episodes if for no other reason than the copious amounts of information revealed to the viewer. Because of all the jumping between time periods, this review probably won't flow as well as the other ones. We start with Kaji looking at his NERV ID card and saying, "This may be my last assignment". As he looks closer at the card, he can't help but notice, "This looks like blood." Meanwhile, Misato finds out that Kouzou- the vice commander- has been abducted and it's suspected someone from within arranged for it. Kaji is the number one suspect, so NERV intelligence asks Misato to surrender her badge and gun (due to her association with Kaji) while they imprison her. The true culprit is revealed, as we see SEELE interrogating Kouzou, who they wanted to see independant of Gendo. "We have no intention of creating a new god", they tell him and while they speak, Kouzou recalls how he first met Gendo and Yui Ikari. Kyoto, 1999 AD: Professor Kouzou Fuyutsuki is invited for a drink by his University colleagues and at the local bar they tell him about a young bio engineering student. Her name is Yui Ikari and she wants to meet the Professor as soon as she can. 2015 AD: We return to the SEELE interrogation where they discuss EVA 01 having incorporated the S2 engine into itself, thereby becoming a living god. 1999 AD: Kouzou meets young Gendo Rokubungi, a man covered in accusations and suspicion and who is released into the custody of Kouzou. When they first meet, Kouzou doesn't like Gendo and goes so far as to call him a "son of a bitch" and even discovers that Gendo and Yui are dating. Kouzou also mentions that a lot of people thought Gendo was interested in Yui because of the mysterious group SEELE that seemed to back her. 2000 AD: Second Impact occurs 2001 AD: Kouzou calls the aftermath of the 2nd Impact, a living hell. He meets Gendo while on a research boat and is surprised Gendo is alive, since he was with the Katsuragi research team (which all died, except for a little girl). Gendo tells Kouzou that he left a day before the Second Impact occurred, that he has married Yui, and the two have a child. Kouzou expresses his mistrust and dislike for SEELE to Gendo, who is employed by SEELE. 2002 AD: Misato is in a white room, the only survivor of the Katsuragi Research team, and has been mute for two years. Kouzou worries about her mental health and is suspicous of a man named Keel. He and SEELE have been telling the world that the Second Impact was caused by a meteor, but Kouzou has data showing a "giant of light" may have instead caused it. 2003 AD: Kouzou confronts Gendo, telling him that he knows the "giant of light" caused the Second Impact and that he knows the truth about SEELE and the Dead Sea Scrolls. When he threatens to make this information public, Gendo does not argue and instead takes him underground to show him a newly discovered facility (which we know as the Geo-Front). Kouzou also finds Dr.Naoko Akagi working on a new computer system called the Magi, accompanied by her young daughter Ritsuko. Kouzou is taken to the "Gehirn" and shown a man made copy of the "light of giant"- EVA 00. 2005 AD: In Tokyo-2, a young Ritsuko Akagi writes to her mom about becoming friends with Misato Katsuragi at University. Her mom, Dr. Akagi, writes back saying she is always working underground and that Ritsuko shouldn't be so boy shy (around Kaji). She also apologizes for her parenting by saying "I only acted like a mother when it suited my whims." Hakone Facility, 2004 AD: In the Gehirn observation room, a little Shinji Ikari looks out the window at his mother who is in the EVA 01 for the first test. Dr. Akagi narrates this portion, saying this was the day Yui died and that Naoko "wanted it that way." She also notes that from that day on, Gendo became a different man as he thrust his efforts into the Human Instrumentality project. 2008 AD: Ritsuko Akagi is hired to work on Project-E (the EVA project) and while touring the facilities; she sees Gendo and Dr. Akagi, who are apparently lovers. 2010 AD: Ritsuko and Dr.Akagi tour the Gehirn facilities and run into Gendo and a small girl. Naoko is surprised, knowing Gendo only has a son, and Gendo says that the girl, Rei, is an acquaintance's daughter. However, Naoko realizes Rei looks a lot like Yui and when she tries to find Rei's records, nothing shows up. As Naoko turns on the MAGI, Ritsuko leaves to visit Misato, who has been working for Gehirn in Germany. Rei shows up, speaking rudely to Naoko and tells her that Gendo thinks she is an old hag. In her anger, Naoko strangles Rei to death and then kills herself. Keel Lorenz soon shuts down Gehirn and restarts it as NERV. 2015 AD: Kaji, who is aware this action will mean his death, frees Kouzou. Meanwhile Misato is freed and asks, "Is it over?" to which the security guard says, "Yes the problem has been solved." "Where is he?", asks Misato and the guard replies, "I have no idea." We then see Kaji, standing alone and noticing someone walking towards him he says, "Oh hi, you're a little late." He is immediately shot and killed. As Misato returns home, she falls to her knees and prays and then goes to her room where, with trembling fingers, she listens to a voice message left for her. Kaji's voice comes over the speaker and says, "Katsuragi, it's me. I'm sure you're listening to this message especially after I caused you so much trouble. Sorry. Please tell Ritsuko "I'm Sorry", too. And there's one more thing to trouble you with. I've been growing melons. I'd appreciate it if you could water them for me. Shinji knows where they are. Katsuragi the truth is with you. Don't hesitate, move ahead! If I ever see you again...I'll say the words that I couldn't say eight years ago. Bye." "The message was received at 12:02pm", says the recorder and Misato begins to cry. "You fool...you were always such a fool", says Misato and Shinji runs away to hide his head under a pillow. He understands her pain but he isn't ready to face it. So who killed Kaji? SEELE, Misato, NERV or the government? Know one knows and there's an argument for each side. Other than the death, this insightful episode also helped us piece together the past of NERV and we begin to see how things became the way they are. The time changing threw me off a little but overall this was another excellent episode, and a memorable outing if not for any reason other than Kaji's death.