Rebuild of Evangelion

If we could go back to the subject of Shinji accepting/rejecting Instrumentality for a second, I think it's a very interesting question: Gendo probably thinks he'll willingly go along with it at this point because he's so miserable, but considering how much more proactive Shinji is in this continuity, in that he at least attempts to be heroic even if he doesn't fully consider the consequences, is it more probable that he'll reject it this time not out of an "I can be happy with the real world as long as I try" mentality, but out of a self-sacrificial attempt to save the world?

Of course, given Anno's track record with making Shinji confront hope, I doubt any sacrifice on Shinji's part will stick.

edited 29th Jan '16 7:37:57 PM by Lennik

I still sort of see Shinji as making some sort of Heroic Sacrifice this time around. Whether it'll stick or not is up in the air, but considering all the horrible things that he's unknowingly caused, it does seem like it's leading up to him becoming a martyr.

And as for Rei, saying that she'll be dropped is a bit strong, so maybe the term "wasted" is better. I just feel that they could have explored her character more and fleshed out her development from what we saw in 2.22, so to just ignore about all that feels like a missed opportunity imo.

edited 29th Jan '16 8:34:47 PM by LDragon2

Yeah. I kinda figured out a long time ago that for Shinji at least, a happy ending is impossible.

I can see him rejecting instrumentality due to no other reason than thinking everyone else deserves a chance at happiness more than he does.

How can he not be at the point where he's given up all hope for himself. I mean, his friends may not hate him as much as it seemed, but right now, he probably thinks they do.

I give hope to men, I keep none to myself

I expect that Asuka and Misato have a Heel Realization at some point of the movie, probably Asuka first if anything to fullfil the plotpoint of the spears and put the 1.0 in 3.0 + 1.0.

...so, we are going the Unlimited Cross Works route.

edited 30th Jan '16 5:53:54 AM by raziel365

Just something from them to better show their sympathy towards Shinji, as that wasn't very well shown in 3.0. Who knows, maybe they will be the ones who help to retrieve Rei from Unit 01 after Shinji makes amends with everyone?

Course, considering that Anno seems to be deliberately trying to get the audience to turn on Rei, she'll probably remain in there forever and never even get a mention.

I doubt Rei can be retrieved any more than Yui can be retrieved. As in, I don't think it'll happen. Its far more likely that Shinji will have to pilot Unit 01 again, and a result will get a solid closure moment with Rei and maybe his mom.

Either that or Unit 01 becomes an Adam, serving as the final boss monster, and that serves as the closure somehow.

I still think the four Adams were Shinji, Rei, Asuka and Kaworu.

EDIT: I don't think Anno is trying to get the audience to "turn on" Rei. I just don't think he ever intended to give her the significance you've placed on her. She's just another character, a story-telling device; while she's one that's evoked a profound response from members of the audience, she will only ever be used the way the creator intends.

Also, too, we've had a movie and a half of Rei focus. Let's focus on the other kids a bit.

edited 31st Jan '16 11:51:30 AM by Zeromaeus

I agree with this.

Though we also have to remember that Rei was never meant to be as important as she was.

She was supposed to be extremely creepy if I re-call.

That is true, but Anno pretty much failed at that.

And yeah, I at least want some closure to the relationship. It is one of the cores of the Rebuild saga after all. Maybe give her something like Nia's last scene in Gurren Lagann, or Nono's sacrifice from Diebuster.

Quantum Rei is still a thing, both Shinji and Rei Q also saw her. Also the SDAT player that was in Unit 00 came out of Unit 01 with Shinji. Her story isn't over, not yet.

edited 31st Jan '16 2:57:19 PM by TheAirman

Since Rei is in Unit-01 and Kaworu in Unit-13, they could influence Instrumentality once it starts. Perhaps they may use their cores to provide the spears for the ritual (I admit this last one is somewhat WMG, but there was no mention of how they created the replicas of the spears).

Also, does anyone think that the failures of infinity may play a role in the next movie? After all, Gendo has an army and a Berserker will not be enough.

I see those as basically being like the Agent Smith clones. Basically, a huge army that the heroes will have to fight.

Oh, I was looking up what Anno had to say regarding Rei in Rebuild, and I found this interesting comment he made when it came to her in 2.0:

"The dialogue where Rei says, “…it’s a secret. I’ll tell you when I get a little better [at it]” was included in the second draft, dated September 9th, 2006. That’s the second time that Rei smiles at Shinji. The Rei of “Break” was established from this point on. Since I hit upon that dialogue, I feel like Rei spontaneously became a character whose emotions leak a little bit into her outward appearance. As far as Rei is concerned, [I am] unconscious. I don’t control anything. With “poka-poka”, as well, I felt like she said it of her own volition before I was even aware of it.

It’s also the same with Shinji. In my mind he is so much a matter of course that, despite him being the protagonist, I often forget that he exists."

So maybe he doesn't dislike her after all.

... "Poka-poka"?

A meme about a comment Rei did in 2,22, pretty omnipresent amongst Rx S shippers.

I don't think so, quite contrary, if those are humans turned into Evas, they would most surely fight against Gendo.

Considering what happened recently, I think Shinj would have been ok with Anno forgetting about him. Can destroy a character's life if you don't know they are there can you?

Not really. It just means that Shinji's suffering has become so second-nature to Anno that its like breathing. He doesn't have to think about it. It just happens.

Or something.

So my shipment email came in last night, and I'll have the movie in my hands tomorrow!

edited 1st Feb '16 10:06:45 AM by TheAirman

VEGETA! WHAT DOES THE SCOUTER SAY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POSTS???

IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAAND!

Well played sir.

"Poka poka" was something Rei said when Asuka asks her what her what she thinks about Shinji in 2.22's elevator scene, Japanese dub. It means something like "warm and fuzzy".

Edit: Subs give the translated lines as:

So, the "poka poka" meme is Rei talking about "feel(ing) all warm inside."

edited 1st Feb '16 11:56:03 AM by TheAirman

Does it make me a horrible person to admit that when I first read "pokapoka", I had to do a Double Take because I momentarily confused it for "pakopako"^note onomatopoeia for sex?

Well, Pakopako would make one poka poka.

We're so fucked up

edited 1st Feb '16 11:54:42 AM by TheAirman

Don't forget to post your thoughts here. I'm curious to see your reaction.

Well I've already seen it via Perfectly Legitimate Methods^TM, although I was somewhat sleepy at the time. So my reactions what quite be as lively as someone going in blind, but I'll give you my best.

I also likely won't have the chance to actually watch it until the next day, unless UPS comes by in the morning.

With the release finally at hand I can also hopefully get more and better avatars of Unit 08 and Awakened Unit 13

edited 1st Feb '16 1:41:56 PM by TheAirman

Unfortunately, Unit 13 isn't all that detailed once it awakens. Too much glow.

There is one key difference between it and Unit 01, though. When Unit 01 went glowy at the end of 2.0, its armor highlights turned red but otherwise, the armor didn't glow. Unit 13's armor does glow.

So the most detailed shots you'll be able to get of Unit 13 is of the head. I gotta say, the way its eyes literally bulge out of their sockets and out through the helmet's eyeholes when the Eva (?) awakens is freaky.

ITS HERE ITS HERE I AM HOLDING IT MY HANDS THIS FOR REAL IM SO EXCITUHFRTJGEDJIDGJREGJGGI 111!!!1!1!!!!-

Ahem. Unless plans change, I should have my live reaction up the end of the week.

edited 4th Feb '16 7:21:38 AM by TheAirman