Early Access - Neon Genesis Evangelion | Reaction & Review Episode 9 "Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!"

I disagree that the scene has aged poorly, I think everything problematic about it is very intentional. Like Kaji being rapey isn't something majorly explored necessarily but I'd say that sort of mentality is indirectly tied to Evangelion's themes. Idk I can't really say more without spoiling. I guess what I can say is that I do think the parallels with the Shinji/Asuka scene are absolutely intentional. I just don't think you could have a non-consensual kiss and a non-consensual almost kiss (whose creepiness is made very explicit to the audience with Asuka saying "mama") in the same episode without intentionally drawing comparisons between the two, and the mentalities that led to those actions.

Payam Sharifi

at least I enjoyed all the comments lol

Olga

Your reactions to this show are really such a treat. It's my favorite show of all time but I've only seen it twice, and quite some time ago. Going through it with you again is rekindling my appreciation for it.

Ryan

Final comment I swear, haha. But Misato doing the Gendo hands-over-chin pose shortly after him being away is mentioned was something I'm surprised you didn't comment on. Sort of showing her taking a higher leadership position in his absence.

tom

Also, I love that there are still consequences from the angel battle 3 episodes ago. Both the plot and character developments and the almost monster-of-the-week format make that feel like ages away, however the angel corpse is there and the damage to the city causes battle limitations as well as increased pressure on NERV.

tom

ANTA BAKA?!

tom

Key Animation – Yutaka Nakamura https://i.imgur.com/SfwcmwY.mp4 Sunrise Studio 2 ace turned Bones ace. Undoubtedly one of the most famous animators among western anime fans mostly in part due to his work in two of Bones' insanely popular modern series: My Hero Academia and Mob Psycho. My favorite career output of his is found in Cowboy Bebop where he's an animator on 12 out of the 26 episodes, and then an action storyboarder and animation supervisor on the film. His involvement in Evangelion is minimal with this and one more key animation credit later in the series (in which he's just finishing up Masayuki's unfinished layouts and key animation). He was invited to work here by this episode's animation supervisor Shinya Hasegawa, with whom he worked with a few years earlier on another mecha show called Getter Robo. In some alternate timeline where he isn't busy at Sunrise with Vision of Escaflowne around this time we maybe could have seen more of him on Evangelion. Higuchi's board was fun again. Directed by Seiji Mizushima, the director of the original 2003 adaptation of Fullmetal, as well as Shaman King, Gundam Double O, etc. Definitely some tokusatsu vibes on this episode.　さすが樋口さん Nakamura key frames + timesheet: https://i.imgur.com/HX21kSA.jpg Nobutoshi Ogura: https://i.imgur.com/jFMcGf3.jpg

I see this and the previous episode as an Asuka two-parter the same way that Episode 5 and 6 are like a two-parter about Rei. With Episode 7 in between them as a stand(Jet)alone episode without an angel at all. Overall great discussion and reaction as always. I was one of the annoying "Is Evangelion still in the plans?" wonderers for a while, and I knew this show in your hands would be great but I didn't think you would be as on board and hooked and appreciative so early. Highlight of my week for sure (and we're in my favorite era of Doctor Who with you too, so overall the channel is very exciting)

tom

Yep, Asuka is so powerful that her presence alters the very nature of the show's tone itself, haha. The dour, depressive, existential show becomes a fun romp about teamwork and banter. But as you noted, that core of the show is very much there.

tom

I agree it's in Asuka's nature to like being desired and getting attention, but the shot of her stomping on all the love letters while she's alone was always very memorable to me. She's alone in that moment so we can infer it's her true reaction. Granted, it's normal to be sick of attention when it becomes that excessive and creepy, but it reminds me of (one of) our first impression/s of her in the previous episode. Suzuhara's hat flies away in the wind, landing at Asuka's feet and she steps on it. Because they're from different emotions (disgust/frustration last ep and carelessness this ep) but the same action so closely together, I see it as an intentional idiosyncrasy.

tom

I've said it before but your keen eye and interest for Ritsuko is so enjoyable to watch. I love that zoom on her expression after telling Misato about it being Kaji's idea. It's always been a favorite small moment of mine, and last episode there's a similar zoom on Asuka's angry face when Shinji is being praised. Was gonna comment on it too but to avoid being repetitive I figured I'd comment on the one that is more memorable to me EDIT: I think what I like about this technique (also I can't remember if it happens again in another episode, so I'll be on the lookout for sure) besides the ambiguity and openness of it is that they're used to end a scene with focus on a character who wasn't necessarily the focus of the scene initially (Misato this episode and Kaji / Misato / maybe Shinji in the previous one). There's something delightfully mysterious about it

tom

Haven't watched yet, but going off the comments, oh yeah I forgot that the Kaji rapey scene was in this episode. A shame when something ages poorly, especially because this show has a lot to say regarding gender. I will say that modern standards can remove a bit of nuance from topics in a way that's slightly disappointing. It also makes it hard to talk about. I don't have a problem calling Kaji rapey because of how we see consent in the progressive (and probably good) way, but if we're being serious I don't think Misato feels violated or traumatized by his advances. It's more so that she feels weakened by him, and the Jet Alone episode showed there is a clear contrast between Misato's home and professional life, with her coming across as invulnerable and cold in the latter. So Kaji disrupts that and forces a side of herself that she wouldn't otherwise want in the nerv part of her life. He is behaving poorly and a pretty shitty person for this, but I think there are countless moral failings people do that we can comment on, some that even violate consent, that don't make someone a rapist. But that's only if we want to prod deeper about it, if the question is as simple as if what he did was wrong then obviously the answer is yes. (also side note, I never thought about this but it's kind of funny how Shinji almost makes a move on an unconscious Asuka in the same episode as this. Those scenes could almost be intentional parallels, but I lean more towards coincidence because the Asuka scene doesn't really have anything to do with her and is about Shinji's character, whereas the Misato scene is indeed about Misato. Will be curious in the discussion on if you see any similarities there, because I've always thought there are some Shinji-Kaji and Asuka-Misato parallels, though of course the latter pair is more similar than the former)

tom

ROT-13 spoilers Vf vg xabja ng guvf cbvag va gur fgbel gung Nfhxn unq n genhzngvp cnfg?

tom

one of my favorite episodes, that presentation of the battle against the angel is spectacular for me. Besides; As you mention in the discussion, Shinji's growth thanks to this new interaction between them, and knowing a little more about what's behind that outer layer that Asuka shows. See you next week.

Luis M

I hate to admit it but Asuka does kind of remind me of myself as a teenager… not that I was particularly aggressive, but I did have the habit of getting angry and defensive pretty easily and I didn’t always handle it in the best way. So I can empathize with her on that front. Now I’m wondering if anything else about her will hit too close to home for me… ngl I feel a bit nervous now 😅 And yeah the elevator scene with Misato and Kaji was pretty yikes, like that’s basically sexual assault… even if she wasn’t trying very hard to fight him off, she kept telling him not to and was obviously not comfortable, so yeah. But it’s a 90s anime so I doubt they’re going to address things like that. My guess is it’ll just be “how Kaji is” and that’ll be the end of it because obviously Misato wasn’t written to be particularly upset afterwards. Or maybe I’m being too cynical, idk lol

Chelle

DAMN I LOVE THIS SHOW

HawaiinHercules

I really like that Asuka and Rei meeting of "let's be friends!" "nah, I'm good...tho if I'm ordered to be your friend then okay sure" lol I also find it funny how everyone seems to be a bit more at ease when Gnedo isn't around. And it was really a good thing since he allegedly would have fired Misato. The shinji from ep 1, or ep 4 wouldn't talk back so freely (even if I do think Asuka being his same age helps in the feeling safer to talk back zone) and get in the Eva, being like "psh you're the new one" Sure he still has many issues and is not something he pilot out of passion like Asuka seems to but yeah I take it you won’t watch the opening until all is shown? A long way to go but fair fair Episode 9 - Bossa Techno/ Asuka

Olga

I have to admit I did find Asuka midly annoying at first because of her overt personality and agressive persona despite knowing the fanbase is all over her and understanding that she has had a traumatic past while she's still a child/teenager. I'm not a big fan of overbearing and overwhelming archetypes, especially in anime, but Asuka is quite funny in fact. Her sarcastic jokes, antics, and behaviour overall paints a star contrast between the entire cast of characters we've been introduced to. I think her voice actress also does a very good job delivering her lines. (Casca from Berserk) This is one of my favorite episodes because of the banter, comedy, and just the flow of every scene, including the final battle. I do agree that she pairs up well with Shinji, I guess opposites attract but they are also quite similar like every EVA pilot.

Kon

Also wanted to ask if you were planning on checking out the movie after the series as well as a reaction video

Abdulla Almheiri

I feel like about the kaji scene I read it honestly as a form of SA where she gives in. Just because she did doesnt mean that she wanted it. But also I feel like there is mixed feelings at play but it doesnt justify it either IMO

Abdulla Almheiri