History Recap / NeonGenesisEvangelionEpisode02UnfamiliarCeiling

In Tokyo-3's downtown, a NERV operation headed by Misato and Ritsuko cleans up the city and recovers the EVA after the prior day's battle. Misato notices how the government has already gotten the media to cover up the event. While the cleanup and "sanitation" occurs, Gendou holds a holographic meeting with NERV's benefactors: the Human Instrumentality Committee, a somewhat clandestine group headed by a Chairman Keel Lorenz, operating under the United Nations. The whole group discusses the reappearance of the Angels fifteen years after Second Impact and expresses their concerns toward the economic costs of the operation (as well as its publicity). Keel rebukes the appearance of the Angels as an excuse for letting the Human Instrumentality Project fall behind schedule, and orders Gendou to treat it as his highest priority. The Committee excuses Gendou from the rest of the meeting so it can privately consider NERV's appeal for more funding, but Keel takes a moment to let Gendou know "there can be no turning back", to which Gendou replies that he knows mankind has no time left.

Misato picks up Shinji at the hospital, but on their way out, they encounter Gendou. Shinji adverts himself from his father's gaze, and after a prolonged period of uncomfortable silence, Gendou leaves. In a voice-over, Ritsuko asks Fuyutsuki why Shinji and Gendou don't live together. "I think that living apart is natural for Ikari and his son," Fuyutsuki replies, a hint of sadness in his voice. A puzzled Ritsuko asks why them being together would be unnatural.

Inside the Geofront, Gendou and Ritsuko overlook the frozen Unit-00. Ritsuko asks Gendou if he visited Rei at the hospital; Gendou only says Rei can go back to work in twenty days. "It's so hard on these poor children," laments Ritsuko, but Gendo reminds her that only those children can pilot the [=EVAs=] -- and he will continue to make them do it.

The Angel's energy attack eventually penetrates the EVA's casing and sends it reeling backwards, the biomechanical being losing blood at a significant rate. Shinji loses consciousness, all readings on him go blank, and a panicked Misato calls out his name. Despite the massive head wound, the EVA starts to move again ("It's gone berserk," claims Ritsuko). Unit-01 roars like a wild beast, then charges at the Angel without hesitation. Gendou and Fuyutsuki exchange knowing glances, and the latter declares victory over the Angel. The creature attempts to fend off the EVA by putting up its A.T. Field as a wall, but Unit-01 counters by healing its own broken arm and ripping the energy barrier apart. More attacks put the Angel down on the ground, at which point the EVA straddles the Angel and pummels the creature's core until it cracks. Sensing its own defeat, the Angel wraps itself around Unit-01 and self-destructs; this act causes a massive explosion...but Unit-01 survives with no extra damage.

[[caption-width-right:1000:Unit-01 awakens!]]

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji wins is Unit-01 going berserk because Yui Ikari's soul, for all intents, 'takes the wheel' to protect her son.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji wins is Unit-01 going berserk [[spoiler: because Yui Ikari's soul, for all intents, 'takes the wheel' to protect her son.]]

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji wins is Unit-01 going berserk [[spoiler: because Yui Ikari's soul is trying to protect her son.]]

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji wins is Unit-01 going berserk [[spoiler: because Yui's soul is trying to protect her son.]]

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji is Unit-01 going berserk [[spoiler: because Yui's soul is trying to protect her son.]]

* Foreshadowing: Gendo's post-battle conference with Keel and his associates. We get the first mention of the mysterious 'Instrumentality Project' and how they view it as a greater priority than defeating the Angels.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Shinji's first sally out in Unit-01. He has no formal training and this is literally his first time inside an Evangelion. It goes ''exactly'' as you'd expected and the only reason Shinji is Unit091 going berserk [[spoiler: because Yui's soul is trying to protect her son.]]

* UnfamiliarCeiling: This episode is the TropeNamer.

The Angel's energy attack eventually penetrates the EVA's casing and sends it reeling backwards, the biomechanical being losing blood at a significant rate. Shinji loses consciousness, all readings on him go blank, and a panicked Misato calls out his name. Despite the massive head wound, the EVA starts to move again ("It's gone berserk," claims Ritsuko). Unit-01 roars like a wild beast, then charges at the Angel without hesitation. Gendou and Fuyutsuki exchanges knowingly glances, and the latter declares victory over the Angel. The creature attempts to fend off the EVA by putting up its A.T. Field as a wall, but Unit-01 counters by healing its own broken arm and ripping the energy barrier apart. More attacks put the Angel down on the ground, at which point the EVA straddles the Angel and pummels the creature's core until it cracks. Sensing its own defeat, the Angel wraps itself around Unit-01 and self-destructs; this act causes a massive explosion...but Unit-01 survives with no extra damage.

* SceneryCensor: As Shinji runs into the kitchen naked after being surprised by Pen-Pen in the bathroom, his "naughty bits" are hidden by a beer can on the table in the foreground. During the conversation that ensues, Misato picks up the can, revealing that Shinji's modesty is still defended — by a much smaller container clearly labeled "toothpicks".

In Tokyo-3, a NERV operation headed by Misato and Ritsuko cleans up the city and recovers the EVA after the prior day's battle. Misato notices how the government has already gotten the media to cover up the event. While the cleanup and "sanitation" occurs, Gendou holds a holographic meeting with NERV's benefactors: the Human Instrumentality Committee, a somewhat clandestine group headed by a Chairman Keel Lorenz, operating under the United Nations. The whole group discusses the reappearance of the Angels fifteen years after Second Impact and expresses their concerns toward the economic costs of the operation (as well as its publicity). Keel rebukes the appearance of the Angels as an excuse for letting the Human Instrumentality Project fall behind schedule, and orders Gendou to treat it as his highest priority. The Committee excuses Gendou from the rest of the meeting so it can privately consider NERV's appeal for more funding, but Keel takes a moment to let Gendou know "there can be no turning back", to which Gendou replies that he knows mankind has no time left.

As the two of them sit down for what amounts to dinner in her home, Misato opens a beer and completely drops her professional attitude. She berates Shinji for his withdrawn attitude, then tells him that he's fine the way he is, which only furthers the boy's confusion. After distributing house chores via rock-paper-scissors (with Shinji losing more than winning), Misato suggests Shinji should take a bath to relax a bit. Inside the bathroom, Shinji is surprised by discovering a penguin in the bathtub...which causes him to panic, run into the kitchen completely naked, and babble about the thing he saw in the bathroom. As the penguin waddles past Shinji, Misato introduces the creature as Pen-Pen, the third occupant of the apartment. Shinji can only stand dumbfounded as he watches Pen-Pen move through the room and enter the large refrigerator, which looks like a miniature apartment on the inside. Misato turns back to Shinji and tells him that he should really consider putting on some pants. When Shinji realizes he doesn't have any clothes on, he blushes all over and retreats to the bathroom. This prompts Misato to wonder if she's acting too flamboyant.

As the two of them sit down for what amounts to dinner in her home, Misato opens a beer and completely drops her professional attitude. She berates Shinji for his withdrawn attitude, then tells him that he's fine the way he is, which only furthers the boy's confusion. After distributing house chores via rock-paper-scissors (with Shinji losing more than winning), Misato suggests Shinji should take a bath to relax a bit. Inside the bathroom, Shinji is surprised by a penguin...which causes him to panic, run into the kitchen completely naked, and babble about the thing he saw in the bathroom. As the penguin waddles past Shinji, Misato introduces the creature as Pen-Pen, the third occupant of the apartment. Shinji can only stand dumbfounded as he watches Pen-Pen move through the room and enter the large refrigerator, which looks like a miniature apartment on the inside. Misato turns back to Shinji and tells him that he should really consider putting on some pants. When Shinji realizes he doesn't have any clothes on, he blushes all over and retreats to the bathroom. This prompts Misato to wonder if she's acting too flamboyant.

At the hospital, Shinji wanders around in a daze, confused about the previous day's events. Another patient is wheeled past him; he notices that it is Rei, who stares blankly back at him, before she disappears down the corridor. As Misato and Ritsuko drive back to the Geofront, the latter gets a phone call about Shinji's awakening. Misato asks about his well-being; while she receives assurance about Shinji's physical health, she worries about what impact the last day will have on his psyche. As Ritsuko drops Misato off, the latter says that humanity might stand a chance against the Angels. "You're always such an optimist," says Ritsuko. "Your attitude does make me feel a little more at ease."

In Tokyo-3, a NERV operation headed by Misato and Ritsuko cleans up the city and recovers the EVA after the prior day's battle. Misato notices how the government has already gotten the media to cover up the event. While the cleanup and "sanitation" occurs, Gendou holds a holographic meeting with NERV's benefactors: the Human Instrumentality Committee, a group under the United Nations headed by Chairman Keel Lorenz. The whole group discusses the reappearance of the Angels fifteen years after Second Impact and expresses their concerns toward the economic costs of the operation (as well as its publicity). Keel rebukes the appearance of the Angels as an excuse for letting the Human Instrumentality Project fall behind schedule, and orders Gendou to treat it as his highest priority. The Committee excuses Gendou from the rest of the meeting so it can privately consider NERV's appeal for more funding, but Keel takes a moment to let Gendou know "there can be no turning back", to which Gendou replies that he knows mankind has no time left.

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