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Episode 24: The Last Angel/The Beginning of The End or "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"
This is quite possibly the finest single episode of Evangelion I've seen. It has action, drama and character growth. Whereas the Dummy Plug System was used to make Shinji defeat a close enemy before, we see Shinji's slowly maturating into a man as he takes matters into his own hands. But once again we lose another great character to the modern tragedy we call Evangelion. The episode begins like before, where the focus is on Asuka as a child, who has been selected as an EVA pilot. When he goes to tell her mother the good news, she finds her hanging from the ceiling, have taken her life and the life of the doll she believed to be Asuka. We shift scenes to the present, 2015 AD, where a teenage Asuka is lying naked in a bathtub. While she sits in the tub, which lays in the wreckage of a house, she is more resolved in her belief that she has nothing to live for anymore. NERV Intelligence agents quickly surround her and Misato, at NERV Central, is informed that Asuka has been found. Misato is suspicious because not only did it take 7 days to find Asuka, but today is the day the Fifth Child arrives. While Shinji ponders how Rei fit's into his father's machinations, Gendo confronts Ritsuko, who seems to be in NERV confinement and tells her she has disappointed him. He is mad she destroyed the Dummy Plug System, and while he doesn't act now, we know he will have his revenge. Later, we see Shinji near the seaside (a new sea has formed in the crater from the last Angel attack) and we learn that all the children have left Tokyo-3. He looks to his left and see a young boy with purple hair, seated on a platform, humming a tune. "I think that song is the greatest achievement of human culture." says the boy who introduces himself as Kaoru Nagisa, the Fifth Child. Meanwhile, Misato and Makato talk about Kaoru and Misato learns that like Rei, all of Kaoru's records are classified and no other information is available. During the next synch tests, Kaoru's synch ratio is perfect and he seems to be able to bring the ratio to whatever level he desires. Shortly after the tests he meets Rei and tells her "You're the same as I am" and one can't help but notice they both have red eyes and pale skin. Elsewhere, Gendo is informed of the meeting between the First and Fifth children. Shinji and Kaoru meet up later, and Kaoru accompanies Shinji to the showers where they both sit in the tub and relax. He tells Shinji that he has to get close to others and find the will to live and touches Shinji's hand. As they leave, Shinji says he doesn't want to go home and Kaoru offers to let him stay at his place. "I have to go to bed", says Shinji and Kaoru replies, "with me?", a comment which catches Shinji off guard. The two talk about life and Kaoru offers Shinji this reflection on life: "Man always has pain in his heart." SEELE talks amongst itself and is extremely angry with NERV, promising to take it back under its control before the promised day. Elsewhere, Gendo is talking to EVA 01, calling it Yui, and reminds her that when the last Angel is destroyed, their wish will come true. The Lance of Longinus, the only obstacle hindering their progression, has been removed. In her room, Rei wonders what Kaoru meant when he said they are the same and at her house, Misato tells Pen Pen that he has to go live Hikari and her family till it's safe. Shinji and Kaoru spend the night talking and Shinji, for the first time since arriving at Tokyo-3, is feeling open and comfortable with another person. Meanwhile, Misato visits Ritsuko ans asks to know who and what Kaoru is. With almost perfect certainty, Ritsuko tells Misato that Kaoru is the last Angel. While Asuka is in NERV room 303, in a catatonic state, Kaoru takes control of the EVA 02 (from outside) and begins to descend to Central Dogma. Suddenly, the screens at NERV light up, indicating Kaoru to be the 17th Angel and Gendo realizes SEELE sent Kaoru to destroy NERV. Immediately, Shinji is deployed in his 01 to stop Kaoru from reaching Terminal Dogma. Shinji is enraged, feeling he has been betrayed by Kaoru and is soon forced to fight to 02, which Kaoru controls. During the fight he mentions that he is from the same tissue as the EVA and at one point Shinji's knife hits Kaoru's AT Field. He begins to tell the young pilot what an AT Field is by saying, "This, the light of the soul, sacred territory where no one should intrude." and follows it up by saying, "Everyone has an AT Field." While Shinji tries to figure out what Kaoru is talking about, Misato tells Makato to self destruct the base if Shinji fails and he says, "I don't mind if it's with you." As the EVA's reach Terminal Dogma, Kaoru heads for the creature he believes to be Adam, the first Angel. The 01 tries to stop him but is stopped by Unit 02 which is protecting Kaoru. As "Heaven's Door" is opened by Kaoru, suddenly NERV detects another AT Field near Shinji. As they try to figure out if it's an Angel or not, we see Rei standing near the EVAs and having used her AT Field to help Shinji escape 02. Kaoru stares at the Angel on the red cross and realizes that it's Lillith, not Adam! As the 01 grabs Kaoru, he explains to Shinji that if he lives and touched Lillith the world will end. Kaoru decides he must die and leaves the fate of humanity in Shinji's hands. As Shinji deliberates, Kaoru looks up at Rei and smiles. He tells Shinji that his life has been meaningful because he met him. The EVA stands still, holding Kaoru in a disturbingly serene scene until we see Kaoru's head fall onto the ground. Later, Shinji sits by the seaside where he first met Kaoru and is joined by Misato. "He was like me and Ayanami", says Shinji, who believes that Kaoru should have lived because he was a better person. "No, the one who survives is the one who has the will to survive." says Misato, "He wished for death. He neglected his will to survive and chose a false hope. You are not wrong." Shinji finally says, "How can you be so cruel?" There aren't enough words to say about this episode. From the growth we see in Shinji, to the eerie beheading of Kaoru, there is a great atmosphere, pacing and tone to this show. The notion that an AT Field comes from with is perfect and the revelations about Rei are stunning. Everything in this episode is perfect, down to the gorgeous animation and chilling music. The perfect episode of anime, from what seems like a near perfect anime series.
EPISODES 25&26 WILL BE UP SOON!