Hey. Love the video. Love the whole series. Delighted you got sponsored. Get that bag. You deserve to be raking in some more money on this project. But please. Put all of the advertising in one, 2 minute section at the middle of the video. One little callback to the sponsored segment is fine but man the repeated intrusions of the advertising felt insulting. It really dilutes the quality of your analysis too. I know its something you will learn to incorporate better! Cant wait for the next installment!
Thank you so much for the support and feedback, I really appreciate it. Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew not everyone would appreciate it in the same way. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts so I can continue to improve with future endeavors!
@@timberw0lfstudios I foubd myself completely being taken out of the analysis everytime a different advertisement break came in so I have to agree with this feeback.
Honestly I am surprised that people did not like how he integrated the promo segments. I found them to be one of the most ingenius ways to include sponsorship that I have ever seen considering the product is 100% related to the content.
@@lionheart4424part of the problem is it started to feel like we were watching a commercial rather than an amazing breakdown and analysis of NGE. I think if Timber toned it back, kept it to a quick 1:30 minute advertisement with a callback at the end, it would feel a lot better.
@@byte.mp311that's why I liked it! I mean it shows how creative he is with his content. A 1:30 minute ad would have been skipped right away, too long IMO. But I get it, people prefer how RU-vidrs present their sponsorships the standard way.
Absolutely. I'll take Shinji and his struggles over Goku any day. (I really shouldn't say that; I don't watch Dragonball and have no idea what Goku's gone through.)
@@timberw0lfstudios he died and ressurrected, then died and ressurrected, and then couldn't keep Namekusei from exploding for a hundred episodes. That's basically it
Shinji's heroic turn described here was utterly horrifying. The near-pleasure he feels as he's ripping Zeruel's face off is almost pineal. It's nightmarish.
The fact Shinji is only 14 is massive detail they seem to ignore, too. He had to develop a personality through hardship and self-determination, which makes him less of a Gary Stu as the series goes on. Maybe the critics disliked not being able to project onto the blank slate anymore
[solemn voice] Shinji arrives at Kaji's melons [ad copy read enthusiastic voice] and you too can get kaji's melons at FX. Love your videos but the tonal whiplash of midroll ad reads just breaks it totally for me. Like many other creators say, regardless of what the client thinks, a very small percentage are gonna stop a video, go to another website, and much less buy. In video ads are always best at the end, for the content, for the creator and for the client. Great video!
Thank you so much for the feedback! I've read some numbers indicating mid-roll ads perform best, hence why we with them, but it's very true that in Evangelion especially it's difficult to integrate a sponsored segment without killing the momentum and mood. I'll be working harder next time to present the segment in a more standard format. Thank you again for the feedback and support!
I believe that Toji's presence on the the train is a mere stylish transition without any particular meaning. Like a chain continuing the "train" (pun intended) of thought of shinji
First of all , that thumbnail is amazing Second , K A J I S M E L O N S third , thats gotta be the best and funniest way of putting a sponsor in a vid Fourth , man that comparison with ep 1 and 19 was so cool Fifth , YES THAT SHOT OF SHINJI GRINDING ZURIELS FACE IS SO SICK sixth , purple representing power is actually rlly smart And finally seventh man your analysis on this series is so good , congratulations on 10k absolutely deserved !
Thank you so so much! I'm glad you appreciated the sponsor implementation and found so much of the imagery and analysis valuable and entertaining. I really appreciate your feedback and support; it means the world!
your analysis is art in its own right. deeply entertaining, highly introspective and insightful, it is truly something to behold and I look forward to the next as I finish the previous.
I think Toji's presence in the the train kinda fits with your perspective from the previous video that Toji is, by all means, dead. He exists there like a ghost, separated from the living pilot. In a different plane of existence(train cart) associated with the angels/EVAs and their pilots. Though his connection with Shinji persists, it is a very faint connection, where he only gets to watch. Unlike(though clearly similar) to the more direct manner one could connect with others inside inside the human instrumentality's collective mind.
I definitely agree. Brings scenes of instrumentality to mind, and makes me wonder if it was meant as a hint to the eventual end of the show. Food for thought.
Hey, just a heads up, as smooth as the transitions were, the three back to back sponsors were a little much. I love your videos and I think just to keep things concise you should keep them all in one section just as not to interfere with the rest of your video. Making a profit is important and I'm happy to see your channel growing and you getting sponsored, but the sponsor did seem a bit intrusive.
I really appreciate your feedback, thank you. Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew it wouldn't sit the same with everybody. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so I can continue to improve!
I don’t subscribe to the idea that Shinji is some kind of failure for not trying to understand Gendo. Love is unconditional, but it needs to go both ways. Gendo is running away just as much as Shinji is (Gendo and Seele’s plans to bring about instrumentality is the ULTIMATE form of running away-running away from humanity), so how exactly is Shinji, a CHILD devoid of positive parental influence, supposed to approach Gendo? This man ordered unit 01 to kill Shinji’s best friend. Give the guy a break. The fact that Shinji returns to the Eva at ALL in order to save those he cares about is an unprecedented and extremely mature move on his part, but it should not be where we set our standards for him.
I could not tell you the last time I looked forward to consuming any kind of media, be it a movie or a tv series. But your videos make me feel that eagerness again. The pacing, the intensity - and the silences - in your narration have more than once brought me to tears, not to mention the superb level of the edits and music, all just so very high. Thank you for doing this, and congrats on getting the sponsor.
You flatter me, honestly. I'm beyond happy to know these videos are continuing to help others discover new love for the medium, and I'm super excited to cover the rest of this series. Thank you so much for the support and encouragement!
LOVED this episode! I am so happy to see you got sponsored and man that collab of Studio Khara with FX Creations is fiyaaaa! I have the ASUS ROG X Eva SSD enclosure and it's a thing of beauty. You integrated the promo so smoothly into the video that Kaji must be proud (may he rest in piece). Thanks for keeping the quality content on, God bless.
I was watching you talk about Suzuhara in the dream sequence and one interpretation came to mind. I think it might be showing a goodbye of sorts. Yes Suzuhara was a pilot, but the main story, about Shinji and Rei (and Asuka and Misato) goed on without him, as he’s ignored, even in the all-important train space. And then he wakes up and Shinji has left him behind. So very specifically he’s shown his irrelevance going forward and so is the audience. Like you said last time, as far as the story’s concerned he should be dead and literally only Hikari acknowledges him.
Aww thank you so much! Knowing I have such an incredible community excited for these releases make them so much easier to put together. I'm pumped to keep covering this series!
It’s kind of pretty cool that Shinji’s arc is completed….then the show keeps going. Yeah it isn’t that simple in real life. You’re gonna keep making the same conclusions over and over. Sometimes different ones. Sometimes you just forget old ones, or stop believing in them. Some part of you knows, though. It’s what keeps you going. That drive to understand. That feeling that this can’t be it, and the joy of rediscovery.
One of my favorite episodes; I was waiting for this one! An absolutely awesome episode, Both ep 19, and your analysis. I have so much more appreciation for how shows are edited now, not just Evangelion. The left vs right screen direction you mentioned from ep 1 feels like I've opened my 3rd eye. Thanks for the videos!
Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed! So happy to hear these videos are helping others find new ways to love their favorite media. I'm excited to cover more; thank you for your encouragement and support!
1:18 According to my father this is the last or second to last episode that he could understand before the plot became unnecessarily complicated, and his third favourite after Decisive Battle and the very first one. I like this episode a lot but you really can see a lot of deterioration. I recently showed EoE to him and he dewpised anything but the visuals, and was somewhat baffled that they took shinji in that direction (he failed to be immersed) 3:48 That may be the case but as we saw, the EVA was perfectly capable of extracting the Entry Plug in relatively pristine condition. Had Gendo shown more of his Matarael behavior instead of his now signature Gendo Ikari Memorial Father of The Year Award demeanor, he could have properly informed Shinji of this, had him fight with due care (maybe encouraging him to be brutal by claiming a low synch ratio and "the quicker you remove the shell, the quicker the Pilot will be reclaimed"), but while Shinji has no right to doom the world, it's not unreasonable to demand better command skills from the supreme commander with a magical scroll of prophecy in his posession 4:35 great turn of phrase. And Shinji was going to do that for a stranger only superficially similar to himself. Toji being the pilot was just a post facto aggravating circumstance. Gendo being extremely callous here and good callout for the title placement and duration. I wonder how many minutes were spent deciding each film resource, or if, like A Cruel Angel's Thesis, it was done practically instantly thanks to a very developed film sense that let them do it automatically 6:16 This scene confused me to no end for days after I first saw it. I just didn't understand the mechanics of it at all +31 VINDICATION 7:51 That would be Rei I. Rei II was just talking to Asuka. Idk which is my headcanon but this one doesn't sound like Rei I 8:47 Word. Use in moderación can work but I'm not sure when Rei expects him to do that without foreknowledge that an Angel would attack before the next time he sees him at the unit test. With 20/20 hindsight (or as we call it in Argentina, "Monday's newspaper" you can see how Gendo could have opened up to Shinji and he did care for his son's future somewhat, but I think he was tautologically isolated enough that it would have failed without fan fiction character modification. Not that Shinji reaches a valid or moderate conclusion in this argument, but rather a stressed, underdeveloped and less than useful one 13:12 solid analysis but sponsors are uncommentable 14:41 ZERUEL, THE ANGEL OF *MIGHT* as most fanfics like to call him. He's not the arm of God for nothing! 16:27 That is still horrifying. Part lf the reason why I quote SOMA so much 18:56 love the storyboard notes. Hate the decentralized sponsorship 19:21 I am a Darkest Dungeon fan, and I note that this is one of the only two times (IIRC) where eyes are hidden by facial shadow instead of hair. 20:43 And he also doesn't stress about things he has no control over, which is something most people do worry about in contemporary settings. 22:43 My family picked up on this one when asked to predict what my comment was gonna be (inspired by all your previous episodes that I saw before their respective chapters XD). I love this scene a lot 24:52 "And if you think otherwise, politely *[AD BREAK]* you're wrong" 26:59 Just saying that the use of The Beast-II here is truly glorious. Decisive Battle is one of my fave leitmotifs, but here it just _sells_ the might and monstrosity of Unit-01 in a way that even the rebuilds failed to replicate with their covers. I'd have been Maya in this scene. OUCH... 28:22 I am such a sucker for Word of God. Thank you! 30:59 This was planned against SEELE's machinations, as it lessened the level of control they got over the Process, as stated in the following episodes. I love this so much. 33:30 Good luck sir!
Only a few seconds in to the video and I have to pause to write how the moment when Shinji yells Misato! While pinning the enemy against the lift wall is Soooo one of my favorite moments ever ....gets me every time I rewatch. The teamwork , the multitasking in combat... just.... chef-kiss Edit after watching: Catharsis defined, I see you agree. Yo, any chance for a discontinued for a bugger backpack next? Thanks
Lo, I have caught up with the series. This is the single best analysis of the show that I have seen, only rivaled by the video "Neon Genesis Evangelion's Original Ending Was Good, Actually" by Codex Entry. But, like you said at the beginning of the series, it's focused more on the philosophy rather than the techniques used to convey it, so I am still very much looking forward to your breakdown of it.
Great analysis as always. One detail worth mentioning is when the entry plug goes from orange to purple, the controls become obscured. This could be just an incident of the lighting, or (and far more interesting) could mean that Shinji has bonded with unit 01 to such a level that the controls of the cockpit are an unnecessary formality now.
Thank you so much! I took the distortion to be the AT Field generating from their merged souls, but the indication it could also be a visual downgrade of the mechanic's necessity is so awesome. Thanks for pointing it out!
I felt like Toji on the train was another way of cementing his essential “death” in the show. The part that makes me think this is how he cannot reach Shinji or Rei, maybe because metaphorically in the show, he is dead?
I definitely agree with this. His distance is significant, and given his departure from the series immediately afterwards, I think the insinuation is safe to assume.
Menstrual blood has a unique smell of its own. Rei doesn't menstruate so she hasn't smelled it before. I wonder if Yui wasn't just asserting her presence over Rei but also her complete womanhood as someone capable of reproduction who has birthed a child. Rei herself passes into adulthood in a way by selflessly setting off the N2 mine but she must go through her puberty on her own terms. Also reinforces the Oedipal imagery because Yui, a an adult woman, wants her son to take possession of her and won't let Rei intrude in her special relationship with Shinji.
OK, if you're going to get more sponsorships (good job btw) you need to limit it to one ad read bro. The callback to the product line was funny the first time, but a LOT less the second time.
Thank you so much for the support and feedback, I really appreciate it! Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew it wouldn't sit right with everyone. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts so I can continue to improve with future endeavors!
Just wow. I’m a musician/writer and more of a literary analyst. You bring SO MUCH MORE to Eva with your insights on film. There are so many times the camera angles make you feel an intention from the director/character. And you relay it with so much clarity and context. I’m looking forward to the next chapter! And I’m sincerely hoping you cover End of Evangelion. Thanks for the great work!
Aww, you flatter me, honestly! Thank you so much for the kind words and support, it means a lot! I'm glad this video proved insightful and valuable to you, and I'm excited to continue covering the series and hopefully the End of Evangelion as well!
I'm so glad to hear that. I love this show so much, and knowing I'm helping others to love it even more warms my soul. Thank you for your encouragement and support!
Aww thank you so much, I appreciate the encouragement! Having finally seen End of Evangelion, I can confidently say I will be doing a retrospective of a similar sort at some point in the future.
I think my last comment about fics may have been a little too cryptic. So let me explain better. If the main anime is the problem and how it rots a person's mind and heart, each of the fics I mentioned previously represents a different way for the human brain to cope and try to fix itself, in a rather "In your face" manner": -SEELE CONSCIOUSLY sends Kaworu earlier, like when a person consciously takes action to care for themselves; -Shinji can choose to hold on to Asuka during their kiss in order not to fall over and risk interrupt the kiss. But that action is an instinct. It's his SUB-CONSCIOUSNESS driving him forward; -And finally, taking your theory that each angel is a manifestation of Adam's unique soul, the Angels can manifest in a different order, representing an alternative emotional and psychological state of ADAM. And emotions are something you have no full control over. It's a mechanism that UNCONSCIOUSLY takes hold of you, attempting to fight your sense of reason. That's what the Angels, unknowingly, force the Pilots to do, as they let their emotions take a new order, manifesting without concern for strategy against Their enemies. I think "Evangelion", like "Star Wars: Legends" or "Marvel/DC" or "KH" or "Madoka Magica", is a work that reveals its beauty in full through both canon and fanon. It reveals a person's inner being. I really don't understand the people who call it overrated.
Recently found these videos and dude, these are so AMAZING. I studied film back in college and I love what you're doing here. This dive into every element of creating this show and context. It reminds me of when we would go watch a film and sit down after in the pub to deconstruct it. Or when we're watching a show and we pause it to appreciate sections and scenes. Keep it up! (make a patreon)
Aww thank you so much! Capturing that post-film talk was a goal in creating this channel, so I'm so glad to hear I've achieved that in some measure. Relying solely on RU-vid and their Membership program for the time being, but a Patreon could manifest in the future. I super appreciate your feedback and support; thank you again!
My opinion of the train scene (shamelessly stolen from my significant other after many hours of discussion with her) is that the entire show takes place within Instrumentality, and that Shinji is reliving his experiences leading up to Third Impact, but with the souls of all his friends and family watching. The fact that Toji doesn’t seem to fully comprehend what he’s seeing is reinforced by the hazy, stream-of-consciousness, dreamlike state Shinji experiences at points during Instrumentality. It’s spooky how this episode exerts an overwhelming, oppressive air of inevitability. Despite Shinji’s resolve in the opening of the episode, he can’t go back. The hooks are in him, and people and circumstances greater than him are dragging him forward. Least of all his mom, who is so intent on keeping him safe she absorbs him into Unit 01’s core. Where no hands can reach him.
I hadn't considered the idea that the entire show is Shinji's relived life during Instrumentality, but scenes like this definitely add weight to that theory. Wouldn't be the craziest thing in Evangelion. As for the inevitability presented, I gotta tell ya, I can't wait to cover Episode 20 and see how everything plays out. As we grow nearer to the show's conclusion, it definitely feels more and more like an unstoppable roll.
Great work as usual, but I did notice that that 7:46 you called the version of Rei inside Unit 00 “Rei 2,” but I believe that it’s actually Rei 1 inside the Eva, while Rei 2 is the pilot. This may or may not have been intentional, but I just wanted to point it out just in case it was a mistake. Anyways, like I said at the start, great work and I look forward to seeing the rest of the series as you put them out 😁
I appreciate this call out! I was writing under the presumption that the Rei within Unit-00 is a splinter of Rei-2's soul, forgetting about the theory that Rei-1's soul could be the entity in the Eva. Definitely should've specified that in the video; thank you for the feedback!
Attempts at it at least. He failed. And the worst part is, he didn't deserve to fail. He deserved to succeed in his arc. On this line of thought, here's how I see each of the fic I encountered. Each one a way as to how they could have coped, that final threat ever looming, but not so unavoidable anymore: -One has Shinji and Asuka accept each other's feelings, taking their role as shock therapists (which I previously praised) to the next level; -One changes the order of the angels. For example, Rei is the one who faces the baby like angel in the lava instead of Asuka, in order to represent how she rejects her role as a mother, in order to try and find herself as an individual, not a reincarnation; -And one has Kaworu arrive earlier than predicted in order to try and throw Gendo's scenario a bit out of control. But because at this stage, Shinji was at his most stable, improvisations had to be thought of. Because this time, the relationship was one of equality. The scale between Kaworu and Shinji had been solidified. There are conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious ways to heal yourself. Each fic shows each manner. They're the main timeline's branches. They're the attempts at new official texts, in place of the draft the original show is. They're the character arcs redesigned. And depending on the one chosen as canon in the reader's heart, they'll learn something about their own arcs. They'll learn what they truly seek. My fics show I want to see us burn, attempting to use the smoke as a call for help. ANY help. So what does their taste in "Evangelion" fics show ? What will you learn about yourself once you finish the show, and decide to read the fics in an attempt at self healing ?
Wow, this series is nearly making my perception of evangelion do a non literal 360. I can't wait to see the "dissection" of the last two episodes, hope you people blow me away again.
Another fantastic analysis video. I'm usually pretty apathetic toward ads and whatever products they promote, but I must admit all of that rather impressive looking Eva-related merch really caught my eye. While I realize the scene where Shinji returns to NERV is meant to directly reference the confrontation with his father in episode one, it always bothered me that it kinda sounds like he was actually requesting permission (maybe that's just how it comes off in the dub?) to pilot Unit-01. Granted, Shinji had just personally witnessed the gruesome defeat of both Asuka and then Rei at the hands (or rather, unfurled toilet paper appendages) of Zeruel, as a very sobering combination gut-punch. Nevertheless, I'm not entirely certain whether that carried enough shock value to totally cancel out all the venom he should still feel toward Gendo. Is he worried he'll be placed in handcuffs again if he makes a beeline straight to the Eva? I dunno, maybe he doesn't fully realize that Unit-01 was rejecting the Dummy Plug or how, at that precise moment, he was basically NERV's last hope of defeating Zeruel and preventing 3rd Impact. I guess there's also the urgency of the situation to consider. It seems a bit counter-intuitive for Gendo to waste precious seconds grilling his son in regards to the precise motivations for his dramatic entrance. Nor is it exactly the optimal moment for Shinji to deliver a self-actualization mission statement as a response in order to convince him. Maybe some of that attention could've been re-focused on ensuring Unit-01's umbilical cable was properly connected. Perhaps I'm splitting hairs, but we already generously allowed Kaji the opportunity to pontificate at length about the insanely high stakes and Shinji's potential role in all of this. I seriously doubt Zeruel is patient enough to just sit back and politely wait until everyone has had their fair say. I might've preferred Shinji either defiantly bypassing Gendo altogether, or correctly declaring with an edge of desperation to his voice, that it was way too late to indulge in verbal posturing. "Just save it until after I finish killing this angel," or words to that effect. In terms of narrative symmetry, it would've been appropriate if Gendo had been partially crushed by Unit-01's severed arm (instead of only seeing his dry cleaning bill increase), and his resulting injuries end up mirroring those suffered by Pilot Suzuhara.
I think Shinji getting to EVA 1 in time after the whole Kaji dialogue is the greatest plothole of the series! But in all seriousness, yes, that lingering is a little too Hollywood for the tone of the show, it is one of its lowest points right in the middle of debatably the best episode
I mean, it's still one of my favorite episodes. Just seemed like Gendo picked pretty much the worst moment to show how petty he is. There's clear evidence staring him right in the face that Yui is definitely not cool with the way he's been handling everything. Then when Shinji shows up, it's almost as if Gendo decides now is the perfect opportunity to gloat or something. As though he was hoping to provoke Shinji into admitting he was right all along. Guess I felt that Shinji should've been a little more irritated by his father's attitude (not to mention warped priorities) and responded along the lines that figuring out their whole dysfunctional relationship with each other was no longer important. Or maybe just keep things simple and say that he came back to prevent more people from getting killed. So how about getting out of the way and stop wasting time?@@whosilence
I definitely find Gendo and Shinji's standoff more theatrical than realistic, but then again, so is the entirety of the series and all stories in general. It's not the show's job to be realistic, but to give us progression. That said, this is an obvious instance where one is at odds with the other, and while the payoff is emotionally fulfilling, it's also logically bewildering. Guess we should probably get used to more of that, though.
Thank you for the continued support and encouragement. Having just seen the End of Evangelion this week, I can confirm there will be a breakdown somewhere down the road.
Wait, so is getting in the Eva a good thing? I always interpreted it as a terrible thing he’s being forced into. Actually it is pretty heroic when you look at it like that. He chooses to do something he doesn’t like because he cares so much about his people. It’s like all those parents in the world that work jobs they hate to support their ungrateful kids whom they love very much.
I got the FX bag awhile back and glad you got sponsored! For those wondering, it’s a great quality bag and it holds a shit ton of stuff. Managed to fit a steam deck and an umbrella in it.
I just want to mention, in case if no one else has, or even if misguided. The battle between the Eva Units has both character foils fighting, with different designs too. Unit 1 is more spiky, and unit 4 more round. They are possessed by an outside source forced to fight one another does not want it. As the scene goes on both become the same shade. As you said indistinguishable from one another. It could be symbolism pointing to Seele/Nerve becoming monsters like the angles
This is a great analysis so far with a unique perspective that I really appreciate. Great work! I really can't wait for your next Edits (especially for episodes 22 and 23) and of course the inevitable EoE movie dissection. Keep it up!
The constant merch sponsor interruptions are such a sore spot in what has been an outstanding amazing retrospective. You wanna push merch do it at the beginning or end. Not every 5 mins.
I love this series of videos and have been eagerly waiting for the next one each time you upload one, but please if you get another sponsorship don't stop the video every 5 minutes for it. It's infuriating. If this was someone's first video of yours that they'd see, they would click off the video eventually.
Thank you so much for the support and feedback, I really appreciate it. Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew it wouldn't sit right with everyone. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts so I can continue to improve with future endeavors!
10:48 the AT field is the protective barrier for the soul, same as the house is for the body. Never noticed that one, nice touch. 15:17 I believe Yui is rejecting Rey because she is the basis for the Dummy Plug. She recognizes her as the proto-dummy and actualy refuses... Gendo. Again. 15:24 As far as I know the lore, the Spear is not so much to physically hold Lilith (she was already bound by her hands years before ep. 1), but to keep her in suspension, same as it did Adam since the fall of the White Moon until the contact experiment/second impact. I think Nerv creates this stasis to foil any Seele attempts of acquiring the material needed to trigger instrumentality on their terms, as they already had Kaworu, but that one's I'm not so certain of. 19:57 I believe here Shinji takes on the matter of responsibility. Considering in his mind that if he had not left Nerv this battle could be going differently, he carries on his shoulders the weight of the consequences of his decision/absence upon others. But, parenthesis: let's be real, it would've been worse if he stayed, Zeruel's too powerful to be intercepted. Shinji only bests it because he takes it on close quarters, inside the HQ. Metaforically it can only be beaten... by someone who's in close contact with themselves. Self-wisdom keeping irresponsibility in check. My interpretation is that Zeruel here represents the Id; the battle is Shinji trying to balance the Self. 21:15 not really atomic, N2 stands for Non-Nuclear (: sorry for being That Guy haha Final comments: 1 - The semiotic depth of this series is BONKERS and this ep is its height imho. 2 - The music on this ep deserves its own video. 3 - I'm with the crowd that was less pleased by the ads, but I totally understand and think you did a good job of meshing it in the content. Rather it be kept in a single segment, though. 4 - Gawd this content is great. Noticed some nice editing moments on this one, with the titles and info overlays. Kudos as always.
Thank you so much! Definitely agree with you on pretty much all your points. And thank you again for bearing with me during the sponsored segments--I've never done this before, and it was a learning experience all around. Thanks also for the continued feedback and support, it means the world!
Just saw EOE at my local theatre after mass on sunday, exciting to see this now. Small nitpick: at 7:47 you make the claim that Rei 2 is the soul inside unit 0, but this is, in my interpertation, explicitly not true? I'm assuming you misspoke since Rei 1 would be the Rei Naoka Akagi strangles to death after being called a hag. This is the Rei I assume to be in Unit 0, while Rei 2 is the one who bonds with Shinji. Meanwhile, Rei 3 is the one who appears after Rei 2 dies to armisael. Apologies if this is unclear, I'm quite drunk. Congrats on the sponsorship!! Not sure if it was contractually obligated but I'd like to see all the ads at once, as spacing them throughout took me away from the analysis and my ability to follow it. Nice to see a fellow VSI dub enjoyer. Personally I find the delivery of the thanatos speech in EOE in that dub to be incredibly powerful. Worth mentioning Unit 1 framed through the trees. I thought it a fascinating shot choice as we are given the perspective of the voyeur, again seeing something that we aren't supposed to. Well done as always. God bless, Giro.
Thank you so much, my friend! I was originally writing under the presumption that the Rei within Unit-00 is a splintered fragment of Rei-2's soul, forgetting the theory that Rei-1's soul was pulled from her body. I could be (and probably am) completely wrong, and I'm excited to cover Episode 23 and dive deeper into Rei as a character. Also appreciate the feedback on the ad read: I've never had a sponsor before and decided to be experimental with the integration. Will definitely improve next time! Thank you for your feedback and support, I really appreciate it! God bless!
Hello W0lf, I just finished watching this video as part of a binge of your analyses, picking up with "Cruel Angel's Burden". Each of your essays has been a treat, and the growth in your style and depth of insights is more than apparent. I only watched the entirety of Evangelion last summer, and since then I've been acquiring more and more perspectives from people who appreciate the saga like you. Thank you for helping me appreciate the subtleties and inspirations that made this what it is. I'll be looking forward to the next entry as a new subscriber. God bless!
Thank you so much, my friend, for all your kind words. I'm so glad you've enjoyed these videos and that they've proved to be valuable and insightful to you! I'm super excited to continue covering the series, and hopefully the rest of this retrospective is as captivating as what's come before. Thank you again for your feedback and support, it means the world! God bless!
Maybe I would have caught some of this stuff if I knew ANY of the important details. Like Shinji’s momma being in the robot. I’m frustrated. Maybe if they had a better budget and more time this wouldn’t be as big an issue. Who knows.
Final thoughts edit: I actually don’t have any thoughts on this one that you didn’t already explore thoroughly, maybe because it’s because a lot of this episode is worn on it’s sleeve if that makes sense, it might be the first episode to say “this is what is happening, now you know for sure”. Also I love your little avatar wearing the scarf in the end lol I’m so happy you took my train theory on board! Haha, on board… will edit as I have more thought. Edit 1: oh my good I need those bags holy shit, edit 2: and a wallet?? Sick, edit 3: ok it’s kinda ruining the vibe now, I don’t need a scarf no matter how lovely it is, talk more about the pain and suffering c’mon cmon
Much more pain and suffering in the next video, I promise. For real though, thank you for sticking through it and sharing feedback! Always appreciate your support and encouragement, and I'm excited to cover more soon!
Another wonderfully amazing video. I've seen some commenters complaining about the integration of the sponsorship, and although I can agree that they distracted from the analysis and felt a little shoe horned in at some points, I thought they were hilarious, so I wasn't miffed by them at all. I don't know if that was the tone you were going for, but I thought the tone shift from serious analysis to blatant product placement was genuinely funny. Regarding the dream sequence with Toji, Rei, and Shinji, I had never before noticed how inexplicable it was. I didn't ever have an explanation, but having my attention brought to it in this video, I now have some theories and rejections of proposed theories. I don't think the dream is anything more than a tonal and visual callback to episode 16's angel, because it was killed. It wouldn't make sense for it to remain in just enough capacity to cause this dream or participate in it, but not be alive in any measurable capacity by Nerve or brought up again throughout the rest of the show. I don't love the connection of Toji and Rei in this dream as being truly there in any capacity, because Rei isn't dreaming in that moment, nor does she acknowledge the interaction ever again. Because Toji is effectively dead at this point, it's hard to get a read on how much of his interaction was "official". My current reading is that they are two separate dreams of Toji and Shinji. Toji can't hear the conversation, because he is not really having the same dream. Shinji doesn't acknowledge Toji because he isn't in Shinji's dream. The connection and framing to make it seem as though it were the same dream was a technique used because it's a dream and things are allowed to make no sense, or because it was an interesting way to show that they were both dreaming without having to swap between two different dreams. I think Rei was not really Rei, but a representation of a random person having that conversation with Shinji. This could be quantum Rei, (The same ethereal Rei seen at the beginning of the show and in End of Eva), which is frequently used as the stand in for Lilith during instrumentality. Rei is usually the being which analyses and inspects the characters' perspectives in dream sequences/instrumentality, so it doesn't seem unusual to me that it isn't actually Rei II that Shinji knows. Shinji also isn't in the Unit 00 entry plug, so having visions/conversations with Rei I doesn't make a whole lot of sense either. I don't think my explanation is defensible, but it seems the most reasonable to me, as getting bogged down in the logistics of how those three characters could be sharing the same dream detracts from the point of the scene in my opinion. Anyways, thanks for another excellent analysis. I think Episode 19 is my second favorite episode, and I believe it used to be my favorite. It was certainly done justice by you. I'm excited for the rest of the show. Great stuff.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The beauty of having a scene as abstract as the train sequence is that its openness leaves so much up to interpretation. I love seeing and hearing everyone's theories, and I love your take on it especially! One of those lovely little details I'm sure we'll be arguing over for eternity. Thank you again for your continued feedback and support, it means a lot!
23:56 I love your analysis and your cinema knowledge and yes you are right, it is an Edopis complex, but…. Hard to forget their original, and incredibly uncomfortable, context. But I guess that also adds to the charm of Eva. Takes something salacious and makes it…if not palatable then at least a part of the artistic experience
For sure. I think art's ability to tackle difficult topics of all sorts by crystalizing them in fiction is one element that makes it so powerful; and Evangelion, of course, does this better than most others. Also thank you for your kind compliments, I very much appreciate it.
This has been bugging me for a while now, and I can no longer sit idly by and let this madness continue - Shinji's friend is KENSUKE, not Kenosuke. Great video series otherwise, though, keep up the good work!
Thank you so much! No idea how I picked up saying Aida's name wrong, given it almost never comes up in the series. Thank you for the feedback and support!
This arc is where Eva really shows what makes it different, (and Anno shows that he had capital D Depression, not just a pessimistic outlook). This is Shinji at his most heroic (after being at his most heroically disobedient) and while unit 01 may care, the wider universe does not. In most Giant Robot shows, this is the point where the very laws of existence start to bend around the hero (Gunbuster or Gurren Laugen), here the universe is still on its path, at best Shinji may get to make a choice between options, he is still a pawn. This is why "get in the robot!" is not only flip, it is false. That said, this is when Shinji is most starkly presented with the fact that he HAS choices, and to not choose is a choice in itself. This is thrown at him by the other characters especially Kaji (who has no agency at this level, but reminds Shinji that HE still does). And by Asuka, in two scenes in which she doesn't even appear, (and at the train station we only "hear" her voice through Shinji). Both emphasize that having the power to affect the world is not to be tossed away lightly. "Winning" is almost irrelevant, what control you can get should be treasured. Shinji definitely makes a choice, and the world moves on. He still has more to learn (the world is to be faced, it isn't a test with answers). Shinji still hasn't learned that making the choice is far more important than the results, or the opinions of others, but at least here he made a choice.
To quote the great Ender Wiggin, "It's not about winning, but how we win." Fantastic illustration on how the gravity of choice can outweigh even the outcomes--thank you for sharing!
I've heard people talk about the use of purple in anime saying it is simply both the cold calculated controlled blue and the passionate uncontrolled red at the same time. Too much of one robs you of the other and you achieve peak in the balance. The EVA units are just the trio to represent that - one blue one red one purple! And I'm sure this is basic film school, reading the geometry of a scene, but no-one has presented it on this site for the Eva crowd before. Big mistake, finally being addressed! Oh and I guess your pronunciation of Sahaquiel is pretty good actually! Great video all round!
Thank you so much! So glad to finally address the color purple in this series and feel confident in its interpretation. I'm surprised color theory hasn't been extensively applied to the property already, but I'm happy to bring it up! Also glad one of my pronunciations is finally on point! XD Thank you as always for your feedback and support; it helps keep things running!
To be honest, I think Toji surviving still works for Shinji’s motivation. It’s almost worse in some cases. Toji’s survival means Shinji’s gonna have to see him. Toji’s a constant reminder of pain.
Great video! I think your videos of analyzing this series are among my favorite as it helps me understand the show better. And this episode was something, when I saw it, it gave me horror and awe And I agree that the scene of shinji ejecting himself and the angel up... Was incredibly awesome
Thank you so much! I'm glad these videos are helping others to understand and love the series even more. And yes, that scene is just fantastic. Thank you for your encouragement and support, I really appreciate it!
Thank you so much! Unfortunately I can't say these videos will be getting a "second season" as there's only so much Evangelion to breakdown, but I definitely plan on doing more videos like this (and more video essays in general) where possible. If nothing else, I will be covering the entirety of NGE's run and the End of Evangelion film.
To me, the greatest cognitive that Shinji makes is that he thinks that him piloting Eva causes pain and so he runs away. The truth is the exact opposite - though he was physically in the Eva during the fight with Bardiel, his decision not to fight it was in fact him choosing to run away, choosing not to take control over the situation, and choosing not to pilot. It would have been the same if he had chosen leave Tokyo-3 before the fight. So ironically, when he chooses to leave right after that fight, he isn't avoiding the thing that causes him pain, he's repeating the exact same decision.
I wished some of the angels would work as a team. Some of them are not 3 dimensional. They could have done more. And I think some of them could reincarnate if they knew how. I mean, if Shinji, Asuka and Rei can do it...The angels I'm thinking specifically are Armisael, the shadow one and Tabris. I wonder if this would result in more angels through accidental procreation.
One theory posits that each Angel is a manifestation of the entirety of Adam's soul, meaning only one Angel can exist at a time, as Adam's soul was never splintered or divided like Lilith's.
@@timberw0lfstudios don't they say they divided its soul and body in order to keep it from causing the apocalypse, which resulted in the Second Impact and its embryo form ? Plus, didn't Almisael manifest because They couldn't feel the other angels anymore ? Aren't those proof they all existed, they just didn't know the concept of team work, because not all shared the same goal ?
I've been watching evangelion alongside since I discovered this video series. Even though you started focusing on the editing, your guidance on the story has made my second watch through a lot clearer. Can't wait to see you bring it home in the next few episodes!
Aww, thank you so much! I'm so glad you've enjoyed. It's definitely a balancing act, as I want to remain focused on the editing of the series, but my background in narrative development is for sure beginning to show. Glad to know you enjoy both aspects of these videos!
Just finished binging this series. This has been the best analysis of Neon Genesis Evangelion I've watched to date. Can't wait for the next video drop!
The worst thing that happened to Shinji was not being abandoned by his father or being coerced into piloting the Eva without having any preparation of any kind for the burden he had to endure, it was the fact that his apathetic sensei neglected two things in his upbringing. Social skills and moral education. Shinji lived his entire life isolated and hungry for intimacy and affection. If he had a family, friends or home that was in danger, he would have thrown himself into danger without fear or hesitation to protect them. But piloting the Eva to protect a bunch of strangers who wouldn't even pat him on the shoulder in gratitude? How could such an abstract concept as protecting humanity mean anything to him? And without moral education, how could he have any reason to pilot the Eva? The only thing he could see was that he was being put in enormous agony by an indifferent father and his subordinates, fighting monsters without knowing why and being used in the most blatant way by all the adults around him, who did not bother to lift a finger to help his well-being. How could he become a brave, kind and determined person in those circumstances?
Very well said, and well illustrated. Without emotionality or morality, even basic tasks become major obstacles, never mind the tremendous hurdle that world salvation actually is.
@@timberw0lfstudiosI wonder what his sensei was thinking. I get he wasn't his child, but that was still human. It's completely illogical to neglect him like that.
It's really impressive that it took you only what, 3 ish weeks to make this 30 minute long video? Its kinda sad to think this series'll be over before we know it...
Congrates on the 10K! been loving these videos dude keep it up they are incredible! Will you be diving into the movies and the rebuilds when you finish the orginal?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Will definitely be doing a video on End of Evangelion after I've covered the series. Haven't seen the Rebuilds yet, but if they're just as interesting, I can't imagine not covering those as well!
Hey love the video, this is one of my favourite series to come back to on youtube. But please, next time fit the entire sponsorship into one segment. The third time the video got interrupted I was just about ready to click off the video.
Thank you so much for the support and feedback, I really appreciate it! Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew it wouldn't sit right with everyone. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts so I can continue to improve with future endeavors!
Can’t wait for the next video! Been waiting months and I know it’s going to be great when it comes out. Also would love to hear the full version of the intro song you use and I can’t find it anywhere!
Thank you so much! So sorry for the wait: the next video will be here before you know it (seriously, it's very close)! I'm so glad to know you're excited for it--it really means the world. As for the intro song, it's a cover of Resonance by my friend Dominus Maestro! You can find it and his other amazing work here on RU-vid!
Oh very nice detail about how Zeruel last blows against Asuka and Rei are against their symbols I never noticed it ! Excellent analysis as always a pleasure to watch
I just finished binging your videos and they are amazing! Is there any chance that you will do a video on end of evanglion? It’s one of my favourite movies of all time
I'm so glad you've enjoyed! Having just recently seen the End of Evangelion for the first time, I can confirm that's a can of worms I'll be digging into once I've covered the main series. It's one of my favorites as well!
hey, congrats for the sponsor, also i agree with the comments bout the second and third intergections. do you plan on doing a analisys on the end of eva. alsojust want to thank you those shots breakdown are really inpiring i really want to incorporate shot its creative composition in my photograpy hobby
Thank you so much! I'm glad to know these videos are helping others to understand and love the series even more. Having seen the End of Evangelion recently, I can confirm that I will be covering the film in some form or fashion later down the road.
Great video. Can't wait for the next video (episode 20). The way you analyze and break down Evangelion is truly unique. As they say, "we will watch your career with great interest." Though the way you did The sponsored Segmens was quite Interrupting. May you just put it in one segment, not in multiple. Thank you for your time and reading my comment.
Thank you so much for the support and feedback, I really appreciate it! Sponsored segments are always difficult to incorporate, and I've never done it before in my own videos, so I really appreciate the understanding and support. Went for something a little more experimental, and I knew it wouldn't sit right with everyone. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts so I can continue to improve with future endeavors!
@timberw0lfstudios I say that you should keep the basic formula with sponsors. People are just used to it. "Don't change what is not broken." But it is cool to see some innovation, Especially from someone so talented as you. 😎👍
7:43 I'm pretty sure the version/fragment of Rei inside Unit-00 is meant to be Rei-1, the current version of her is Rei-2(the one present for most of the anime) and Rei-3 is ep23 onwards. Rei-1 is shown to be younger than Rei-2 and 3.(Think the shot of all 3 in EoE, some of the ep25-26 scenes and the 2nd Unit-00 Berserk incident, where the Rei who appears looks smaller/younger) Also another thing: Gehirn was established after Second Impact and is separate from the Katsuragi reserach team/expedition(with the notable exceptions of Yui and Gendo) and is essentially just proto-Nerv.(Gehirn means brain and it was dissolved the day after the Magi were completed)
I was writing under the presumption that the Rei within Unit-00 is a splinter of Rei-2's soul, forgetting about the theory that Rei-1's soul could be the entity in the Eva. Definitely should've specified that in the video. Also wasn't sure on the timeline for Gehirn's involvement and used the name more as a catch-all, although I was pretty sure Katsuragi was part of the team during Second Impact. I could be very incorrect on both accounts, of course. Thank you for pointing that out, I really appreciate the feedback!
@@timberw0lfstudios Here's my interpretation: All versions of Rei have Lilith's Soul or at least a part of it.Og Rei-1 had the "entire soul", after her death it was split into two, one half was placed inside Unit-00, the other half became Rei-2. After ep23 both soul "fragments" are reunited to form Rei-3. In short 1+2=3.Of course, this interpretation makes "Rei-1" ambigous, as it could refer either to: Og child Rei or The version of Rei inside Unit-00(Who is a fragment of the former) Another interesting consequence of this theory is that it would mean that the destruction of Unit-00 was likely a part of Gendo's "scenario", since he'd presumably need all of Liliths soul to enact his version of Instrumentality. (Since there is no known way to extract a soul from an Eva as proven by two failed attempts at doing so, but it seems like they can extract the soul from a corpse as shown by Rei's reincarnations and some of Kyoko's lines in ep25' before Unit-02's reactivation/awakening) While he does seem very concerned when Rei charges at Zeruel with an N2 mine in ep19 we don't seem him react at all to the "stunt" she pulls against Armisael in ep23, even though he is the one to authorize and order Unit-01's sortie right before that.(Presumably to rescue Unit-00 and eliminate Armisael)
Those are all fantastic interpretations and I'll definitely have to keep them in mind when covering Rei later down the line. Far as I can tell, that all makes sense. Thank you so much for sharing, I really appreciate it!
You're very welcome; I'm so glad you enjoyed! I have yet to see the Rebuild films, so I can't say for certain if there's anything I'd like to analyze or cover there, but assuming the reboots have even a sliver of the original's depth, I'm sure I'll get to them sooner rather than later.
