While not my favorite episode in the series, this one comes close. It's nerve wrenching and heart pounding, keeping you on edge, and even leaving you asking "what the hell?" at the end.
After Commander Ikari's decision to use the dummy plug against EVA 03, Shinji decides to quit NERV and never pilot an EVA again; but before Shinji can leave for good an Angel attacks NERV and breaks through the defenses on a course with the first Angel, Adam. If it reaches Adam a third impact will occur, wiping out all of civilization. Commander Ikari tries to use Rei to pilot EVA 01, but it rejects her, as well as the dummy plug. Asuka and Rei must battle the angel alone, and fail miserably. What was especially good about this scene was showing Asuka's unstoppable will to win, and to prove herself. She throws everything at the angel, and even after losing both her EVA's arms she still tries to fight, which while may seem foolhardy, shows her indomitable will. Also we see Rei's willingness for self-sacrifice as she tries to use an N2 mine at point blank range with the Angel, a move that without the AT field in the way, would have destroyed Rei in the process as well.
Enter Shinji, realizing that he must pilot EVA 01 because he is the only one who can, he returns for a showdown with the Angel. The battle eventually takes them up to the surface where Shinji's power runs out in Unit 01. The Angel then proceeds to rip open Unit 01's chest plate and begin attacking something that looks almost like a heart. Eventually, like in the second episode, the beast inside Unit 01 awakens and gains power, seemingly from nowhere. It takes one of the Angel's arms and attaches it to itself, forming a new arm. This shows some kind of similarity between the Angels and the EVA's, considering it can repair itself using the same material. Then, Unit 01's armor starts to fall off, which Ritsuko reveals wasn't so much armor, but a way to control the creature inside.
Unit 01 then begins to consume the Angel, in an animalistic state and it seems at though, like with the dummy plug, it can't be controlled. When the episode ends the viewer is left on edge with what they just saw, but new questions arise. Such as, "What exactly are the Evangelions, and the Angels for that matter?"
This is the kind of episode that I watch the show for. It keeps you on edge, has plenty of action, and even some deep philosophical overtone. We see some great advancement with the characters, from Asuka wanting even more to prove herself in Shinji's absence, to Rei's willingness to sacrifice her own life to save the lives of others, to Shinji finally realizing why he must do what he does. This episode even leaves you with a sense of fear of what might happen if the EVA's all lose control like Unit 01, or more imperatively, what might happen to Shinji now that he's stuck in Unit 01. Will he get out, and if so, will he still be able to pilot the EVA?
Well, you'll find out in the end.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
After the traumatic events with the thirteenth Angel, Shinji refuses to leave Unit-01, forcing Gendō to render him unconscious. Vowing to never pilot again and facing criminal charges, Shinji leaves NERV once again. His departure is cut short by the arrival of the most power Angel yet. Despite a valiant effort, Asuka and Rei are defeated, forcing Shinji to decide what is most important to him.moreless
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Allison Keith-Shipp
Misato Katsuragi
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Amanda Winn Lee
Rei Ayanami
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Spike Spencer
Shinji Ikari
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Tiffany Grant
Asuka Langley Souryuu
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (2)
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As Shinji waits for his train, the electronic board above him switches from train information to emergency shelter information. On the Platinum Edition, there is Japanese above English. The English word 'emergency' is spelled as 'emargency'.
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We discover in this episode that if another Angel reaches Adam, the Third Impact will ensue.
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QUOTES (0)
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NOTES (3)
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Japanese Title: 「男の戦い」- ("Otoko no Tatakai") - "A Man's Fight"
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EVA-01 becomes self-aware in this episode, and eats the S2 organ from the Angel, effectively giving itself unlimited running power without the need for an umbilical cable.
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The 14th Angel is called Zeruel, the Angel of Might. More information.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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The visage of Zeruel, the Angel of Might, was the basis for the artwork used to make the Mega Deus that Schwarzwald found underground named Archetype in the Big O episode #4, "Underground Terror".
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Live Action Movie Discussion
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is this forum dead
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Does anyone know when the second film in Rebuild of Evangelion comes out?
11/19/092
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How did you like the anime?
04/09/0913
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Evangelion Movies Discussion *Major Spoilers
03/09/0917
Season 1 Episodes
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Revival of Evangelion
Ep 28
The End of Evangelion
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Death & Rebirth
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Take care of yourself.
Ep 25
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Ep 22
Don't Be.
Ep 21
He was aware that he was s...
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WEAVING A STORY 2: oral stage
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INTROJECTION
Ep 18
AMBIVALENCE
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FOURTH CHILDREN
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Splitting of the Breast
Ep 15
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MAGMADIVER
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A HUMAN WORK
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Rei II
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Rei I
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