History Recap / NeonGenesisEvangelionEpisode21TheBirthOfNerv

Later that year, Naoko and Ritsuko have completed the work on the MAGI. Naoko explains to Ritsuko how she has incorporated three aspects of herself into the computer, and how pretty much all there is left to now is to turn on its power. Ritsuko tells her that she will be leaving early to pick up Misato, who has also started working for GEHIRN, as she is coming back to Japan tonight after having worked some months at GEHIRN's 3rd Branch in Germany. Naoko comments that it must mean her relationship with Kaji has been on long distance for a while, but Ritsuko answers that last she heard, they broke up. This surprises Naoko, who thinks that Misato and Kaji seemed like such a nice couple, to which Ritsuko comments that you can never tell with relationships between men and women as they refuse to conform to any kind of logic. Half-joking, half-serious, Naoko warns Ritsuko to be watchful about her cold attitude, lest it allows her happiness to slip away from her. "Happiness is even harder to define," answers Ritsuko with a hint of melancholy, before mother and daughter bid each other goodnight. Now alone in the control room, Naoko turn to finish up some work, but is startled when Rei is suddenly present in the room. Naoko is puzzled by this, and ask if they should go look for Gendo. Rei coldly answers she can find home by herself and calls Naoko an "old hag." Miffed, Naoko tells her that she can't talk that way to other people and she will tell this to Gendo, but Rei responds that it is what Gendo himself says about Naoko when she is not around; he calls her a pushy and useless old hag and says he doesn't need her any more. Realizing that Gendo never truly loved her, Naoko snaps and strangles Rei in her anger, telling her "It doesn't matter if you die, you can always be replaced, Rei... The same as me." Returning to her senses and seeing what she has done, Naoko succumbs to despair and commits suicide by jumping out from the MAGI control tower. Ritsuko did not find out until the next day. That same day, Chairman Keel put out an order to disband GEHIRN and had it restructured into NERV.

Later that year, Naoko and Ritsuko have completed the work on the MAGI. Naoko explains to Ritsuko how she has incorporated three aspects of herself into the computer, and how pretty much all there is left to now is to turn on its power. Ritsuko tells her that she will be leaving early to pick up Misato, who has also started working for GEHIRN, as she is coming back to Japan tonight after having worked some months at GEHIRN's 3rd Branch in Germany. Naoko comments that it must mean her relationship with Kaji has been on long distance for a while, but Ritsuko answers that last she heard, they broke up. This surprises Naoko, who thinks that Misato and Kaji seemed like such a nice couple, to which Ritsuko comments that you can never tell with relationships between men and women as they refuse to conform to any kind of logic. Half-joking, half-serious, Naoko warns Ritsuko to be watchful about her cold attitude, lest it allows her happiness to slip away from her. "Happiness is even harder to define," answers Ritsuko with a hint of melancholy, before mother and daughter bid each other goodnight. Now alone in the control room, Naoko turn to finish up some work, but is startled when Rei is suddenly present in the room. Naoko is puzzled by this, and ask if they should go look for Gendo. Rei coldly answers she can find home by herself and calls Naoko an "old hag." Miffed, Naoko tells her that she can't talk that way to other people and she will tell this to Gendo, but Rei responds that it is what Gendo himself says about Naoko when she is not around; he calls her a pushy and useless old hag and says he doesn't need her any more. Realizing that Gendo never truly loved her, Naoko snaps and strangles Rei in her anger, telling her "It doesn't matter if you die, you can always be replaced, Rei... The same as me." Coming back to her senses and seeing what she has done, Naoko succumbs to despair and commits suicide by jumping out from the MAGI control tower. Ritsuko did not find out until the next day. That same day, Chairman Keel put out an order to disband GEHIRN and had it restructured into NERV.

* ShoutOut: In the English dub, as they're descending into the underground, Gendo says to Fuyutski, "Are you worried, [[Literature/TheCaskOfAmontillado Montresor]]?" Strangely, in the Poe story, Montresor is the murderer who lures his erstwhile friend into the wine cellar.

* WhamShot: The reveal of Yui Ikari, especially the fact that she uncannily resembles Rei.

* AbsenteeActor: Asuka is a no-show this episode.

* ARiddleForTheAges: The identity of Kaji's killer.