# Neon Genesis Evangelion: Explanations (Spoilers in OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942 "2003-11-29T19:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/21 "2003-12-04T06:18:51Z")
“I was at one point a fan of this show until it just got ridiculous towards the end.” The same here. I really liked the show till episode 24 but then instead of resolving the main story it descended into mystical mumbo-jumbo. The movie was even worse in some respects. Since I didn’t find either ending particularly interesting I didn’t really bother to sort it out though I may give it another shot some time. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/22 "2003-12-04T07:14:15Z")
They lost me about halfway through, when it stopped being a nice, allegorical version of _The Wall_ with robots & monsters. (Yes. AT Fields. We get it. Nicely done.) At some point, can’t remember exactly where, I just turned it off and said, “Dude, see a therapist, and please keep your mom & sex issues out of my giant robot show, thank you.” ---
**Author:** ![Lear\_s\_fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@Lear\_s\_fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lear_s_fool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/23 "2003-12-04T07:26:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > **Here’s a weird question - was Adam the most powerful angel? As in, if an Eva had gone hand to hand against him, would he have defeated them?** I don’t know nor do i think that it matters at all [QUOTE] - **Lear** , where did you find that out? Specifically the bit about Lilith and Adam being splits from the same crature, and Rei and Kaoru holding the souls (though I had gathered that Rei had Lilith’s, or else she wouldn’t have been able to “awaken” her). \*\* [QUOTE] that is found in the Red Cross Book. the RCB was a hand out that first given to pepole who saw the movies in theaters it contains the definitions of who the characters and other misc. stuff. For the most part it is regarded as canon. A fan translation can be found [[http://www34.brinkster.com/blackgodconvoy/ee/index.htm](http://www34.brinkster.com/blackgodconvoy/ee/index.htm)]here. I would like to point out the in the flash back ep when Gendo take Furuski down to the Geo Front and he says that somthing eles dug the cavity. I want you to ask what dug that hole. I’ll be honest at the moment i can’t find the web site got the Adam and Liltih were one from. I should have mentioned that when the FIRST IMPACTis when they devided into two deings. Rite i tend to rember the moon and the geo front were created when that happened in that theory. If anyone has a better theory and a cite I would like to see. For what it’s worth there is an issue of Sandman that make refrence to the same myth Under the the section of Ayanami Rei > [@](#): > > The present Rei is the third one. The first was killed by Dr.Akagi Naoko; the second was killed in her battle against the 16th Angel. Although the personalities of these 3 Rei are different from each other, this is due to the environment Their soul is one and the same. Also, it seems that this soul was somehow derived from Lilith. There is also a scene in 25 where contemplate who her true self is and why she dosn’t really want to know. > [@](#): > > What would actually have happened if an angel had come into contact with either Lilith or Adam? \*\* Third impact of some kind. Keep in mind depending on who dose it and how there will either be a bad third impact where the souls of huminty dies or one where the souls of the angel will be die. IE who ever wins lives for ever. any ways most of what i know came from watching the series and movies way to many times, spending a who lot of time on the [Anipike’s](http://www.anipike.com) section for [evangelion](http://www.anipike.com/index.php?sid=708371868&t=sub_pages&cat=345) and batteling things out on this evangelion ]fourn > [@](#): > > Union bylaws, mostly–the mecha pilotting unions have struck multiple times when people other than whiny kids drive the things. old joke. Who make the best gundam piolts? Newtypes or winy bitches ---
**Author:** ![Lear\_s\_fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@Lear\_s\_fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lear_s_fool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/24 "2003-12-04T07:30:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > **Here’s a weird question - was Adam the most powerful angel? As in, if an Eva had gone hand to hand against him, would he have defeated them?** I don’t know nor do i think that it matters at all > [@](#): > > - **Lear** , where did you find that out? Specifically the bit about Lilith and Adam being splits from the same crature, and Rei and Kaoru holding the souls (though I had gathered that Rei had Lilith’s, or else she wouldn’t have been able to “awaken” her). \*\* that is found in the Red Cross Book. the RCB was a hand out that first given to pepole who saw the movies in theaters it contains the definitions of who the characters and other misc. stuff. For the most part it is regarded as canon. A fan translation can be found [[http://www34.brinkster.com/blackgodconvoy/ee/index.htm](http://www34.brinkster.com/blackgodconvoy/ee/index.htm)]here. I’ll be honest at the moment i can’t find the web site got the Adam and Liltih were one from. I should have mentioned that when the FIRST IMPACTis when they devided into two deings. Rite i tend to rember the moon and the geo front were created when that happened in that theory. If anyone has a better theory and a cite I would like to see. For what it’s worth there is an issue of Sandman that make refrence to the same myth Under the the section of Ayanami Rei > [@](#): > > The present Rei is the third one. The first was killed by Dr.Akagi Naoko; the second was killed in her battle against the 16th Angel. Although the personalities of these 3 Rei are different from each other, this is due to the environment Their soul is one and the same. Also, it seems that this soul was somehow derived from Lilith. There is also a scene in 25 where contemplate who her true self is and why she dosn’t really want to know. > [@](#): > > What would actually have happened if an angel had come into contact with either Lilith or Adam? \*\* Third impact of some kind. Keep in mind depending on who dose it and how there will either be a bad third impact where the souls of huminty dies or one where the souls of the angel will be die. IE who ever wins lives for ever. any ways most of what i know came from watching the series and movies way to many times, spending a who lot of time on the [Anipike’s](http://www.anipike.com) section for [evangelion](http://www.anipike.com/index.php?sid=708371868&t=sub_pages&cat=345) and batteling things out on this evangelion ]fourn > [@](#): > > Union bylaws, mostly–the mecha pilotting unions have struck multiple times when people other than whiny kids drive the things. old joke. Who make the best gundam piolts? Newtypes or winy bitches ---
**Author:** ![saintnobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@saintnobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saintnobody)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/25 "2003-12-04T08:23:58Z")
I have watched most of the series as well as Death and Rebirth and End of Evangelion. I wish I had rented EoE recently so I could give some solid examples. But It seems that the whole series was just sinji’s subconcience desires to not be hurt by the girls he cares about(or thinks he cares about) Most of this comes out in EoE, the montage of scenes during the crucifiction of Eva01, includes a fight with asuka as well as sinji pleading with her not to leave him alone, an audio clip of rei telling him “she doesnt like him like that” (if anyone can send me a wav of that line I desperatly need it for a song I am working on) There are some others I cant post with out watching the movie again, but it seems to be his subconcience thought that if everyone was one entity then nobody would hurt him or specificly leave him(his mother dying and the neglect of his father seems to have brought this on) His dialog with Rei and the Boy angel when he realizes that if everyone is one then he wont exist and thus have no chance to be happy at all There is a few non animated cut aways off three girls in school uniforms that seem to pop up in important spots that would make this a possibility. I may be a bit off but you get the idea, I am going to rent EoE tomorrow and give some more definitive sites. Did anyone else get this idea from the movie or am I losing my mind and reading into this waaaayyy too much? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/26 "2003-12-04T13:51:43Z")
Hey, it’s only a story Hideiki Anno wanted to tell, in part to cathartise his own nervous breakdown… (OK and it has been a cash cow for Studio Gainax that they’ll keep flogging for more until Third Impact comes, from the looks of it). No need to get all tied up in knots over it, or to analyze the enjoyment out of it. And as with most literature/entertainment it’s probably for the best if everyone develops his/her own understanding of what it was all about, rather than to seek to nail down the one “true” all-encompassing Unified Theory of Eva. I must admit that as the episode count approached the end I increasingly came out of some episodes thinking: someone needed to listen to Prozac. And also thinking: Hey, Kaji got the best deal and most humane, merciful treatment of all of the main characters;)! ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/27 "2003-12-04T16:13:41Z")
Actually, the backstory is what makes it enjoyable. I love watching something confusing where I understand the subtle things the characters are doing and saying. I hate watching something and it just being random images and words with no apparent meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Lear\_s\_fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@Lear\_s\_fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lear_s_fool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/28 "2003-12-04T19:48:35Z")
personally i like something that stands up under analysis and Evangelion most defiantly dose. I love the characters with all their layers of complexity and their hang ups. While Shinji may be a whiny bitch and Askua just a bitch I find infinitely more interesting than the cool I kick ass characters cut out characters (god how I hate the main characters from Full Metal Panic). BTW I would like to defend a lot of psychedelic dream sequence and the last two episodes of the series because they really do help develop the characters quite a bit. In way I was impressed by the last two episodes because I’ve never seen anyone be able to sack a plot focus only on character development. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/29 "2003-12-04T22:55:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*Oh, that brings me to another questions - was the one angel in the volcano unique in being born on Earth? Or were all of them, and they just hid really well (considering they were mostly all over a hundred feet tall) before attacking? \*\* The Stars Where Right. ---
**Author:** ![Omikawaii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Omikawaii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omikawaii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/30 "2003-12-04T23:21:56Z")
Auska! Auska-Chan! Auuusssskkka! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/31 "2003-12-05T02:06:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DreadCthulhu \* > \*\*The Stars Where Right. \*\* Well, yeah, having the Angels be “Old Ones” could also work, DC; in YOUR particular case, the whole deal with your dreams being able to drive _others_ mad would be a great Angel power. Hmm… Uber-Rei vs. Cthulhu…? No, I’ll stop before I give anyone any ideas… ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Armageddon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mister\_Armageddon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Armageddon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/32 "2003-12-05T06:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRDelirious \* > \*\*Well, yeah, having the Angels be “Old Ones” could also work, DC; in YOUR particular case, the whole deal with your dreams being able to drive _others_ mad would be a great Angel power. > > Hmm… Uber-Rei vs. Cthulhu…? > No, I’ll stop before I give anyone any ideas… \*\* [Too late.](http://www.thekeep.org/~rpm/eva/coaeg.html) Amazingly enough, though, this is one of the few Eva fanfics I’ve ever read that doesn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942/33 "2003-12-05T07:28:27Z")
Actually, that is one of my favorite fanfics ever. The take on the characters is very interesting; IMHO the COAEG characters are more likeable and easier to identify with than the canon ones. Which makes what happens to them even more delightfully evil. I haven’t made my appearance yet though; they are saving the best for last, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neon-genesis-evangelion-explanations-spoilers-in-op/215942.md?page=1)