Not all TV episodes are created equally.
For every gem, there's bound to be a stinker.
This is Eva Monkey, and in this video,
we're taking a look at what episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion people love and hate.
To do this, I surveyed fans to find out three things...
"What episodes do you like?"
"What's your favorite episode?" and...
"What is the WORST episode in all of Neon Genesis Evangelion?"
I surveyed fans in this way, as I wanted to measure people's general attitudes
in addition to the strong opinions that they had about the show’s episodes,
because there are certain episodes that are sure to be well liked,
even if they might not be someone's favorite.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that even with several hundred responses,
we're still talking about a relatively small sample set.
So this is by no means a conclusive assessment,
but it should help give everyone a good idea of how fans feel about the series and its episodes.
First, let's take a look at what episodes of Evangelion people liked.
Coming in at number 5 is Episode 8,
Asuka Arrives in Japan / Asuka Strikes!
While the previous episode kicked off what fans refer to as “the action arc”,
it was with "Asuka Strikes!" that it was on full display.
If nothing else, this episode is noteworthy for having introduced fans to the now iconic Asuka Langley Soryu.
We also met Ryohji Kaji, saw Unit-02 in action for the first time,
and as an added bonus, we got our first look at the first angel Adam.
This episode is full of fun and action, so it's not a surprise to see it make the cut.
Number 4, Episode 26,
The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World / Take Care of Yourself
While it might not have been a completely satisfactory conclusion to the series,
there's something incredibly earnest about the ending that Hideaki Anno and Gainax cobbled together in the eleventh hour.
While many fans have speculated that the production ran out of money,
Gainax president Hiroyuki Yamaga has stated that the budget wasn't the issue, it was a matter of time.
This falls in line with accounts of Hideaki Anno constantly rewriting episodes in the second half of the series,
and the statement that what Anno ultimately wanted at the end was for Shinji to smile.
By all accounts, Anno forced himself into delivering an unconventional conclusion that,
despite being inherently incomplete, still managed to be deeply touching.
Number 3, Episode 22,
At least, be human / Don't be.
Asuka's traumatic childhood is first teased at all the way back in episode 10,
but it's not until this episode that we finally delve into her past,
touching on her mother's mental breakdown and eventual death.
Not only that, but this episode also prominently features Asuka experiencing a psychological attack from an angel
that propels her further on her downward spiral.
This episode definitely didn't pull any punches, so it's easy to see it claim a spot.
Number 2, Episode 19,
A Man's Battle / Introjection.
My personal favorite, this episode picks up immediately after the gruesome destruction of Unit-03
at the hands of a dummy-plug-controlled Unit-01,
that nearly claimed the life of Touji Suzuhara.
Shinji understandably stands in defiance of this, and once again leaves Nerv.
However, just as he does, the newest, and mightiest angel descends upon Tokyo-3
to make short work of Nerv's defenses, Eva units included.
After a heart-to-heart with Kaji in his melon patch, Shinji accepts his responsibility as a pilot,
and rushes headlong into a close quarters brawl with the angel.
And to top it all off, the episode ends with a cliffhanger that challenges everything we know up to that point.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Episode 1, Angel Attack / Angel Attack
Episode 9, Moment, Heart, Together / Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Number 1, Episode 24,
The Final Messenger / The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Not everyone was a fan of episodes 25 and 26,
largely due to the way in which they abandoned the plot of the show,
and instead focused almost exclusively on the internal,
psychological aspects of the show's cast of characters.
In a way, you could consider episode 24 the ending to the series,
as it is the point from which the story branches off into The End of Evangelion,
which many will agree is a masterpiece that addresses both the internal
and external conflicts of the series.
In this episode, we meet the final angel, Kaworu Nagisa,
who, despite his short amount of screen time,
remains one of the series’ most popular characters.
The episode perfectly sets up both endings,
by forcing Shinji Ikari into killing the one person who expressed genuine love for him.
Brutal...
So that's the positives, but, what about the negatives?
What are the most disliked episodes in all of Evangelion?
As it turns out, people's opinions about what episodes they thought were the worst
varied from how well liked the episodes were.
Many people liked episodes that they also thought were the worst.
And, some well liked episodes had vocal contingents of people who hated them.
So this list is a bit looser as a result.
Number 5, Episode 3,
The Phone That Doesn't Ring / A Transfer
I was surprised to find that overall, Episode 3 was liked less than Episode 4,
even though most of that episode was Shinji just… walking around.
Nevertheless, this episode served as an abrupt wake-up call for viewers that Shinji would not only be reluctant,
but would also be a weak and insecure protagonist.
Other reasons for it being disliked include it being unnecessary, tedious,
and an awkward transition out of the series’ two part opener.
All that said, the majority of fans do still like this episode,
even if it is a bit on the weak side.
Number 4, Episode 13,
Angel Invasion / Lilliputian Hitcher
When you think about it, it's not too hard to see why this episode isn't very well liked.
Episode 13 largely revolves around Ritsuko,
and generally speaking, people don’t really like her,
which is ironic when you consider that she was designed to be the sexy character.
Just think about it, under that white lab coat,
she wears a sleeveless top that zips down the front,
a black leather mini skirt, and dark pantyhose,
not to mention the blonde hair and red lips.
And to top it all off, she even has a beauty mark.
More importantly, this episode sidelines the three pilots and their Evas
in favor of arguably unnecessary character development, More importantly, this episode sidelines the three pilots and their Evas
in favor of arguably unnecessary character development,
and a predictable climax that featured no combat.
This is one of those Angel of the week episodes that would not be missed.
Number 3, Episode 14,
SEELE, Throne of Souls / Weaving a Story
This episode is probably one of the slowest in the entire series.
While it does contribute to the show by conveying Rei's abstract psyche,
and while it does also tease viewers with hints regarding the soul of Unit-00,
the majority of this episode is text, stills, and reused footage.
While they did at least try to make this episode a bit more than the standard clip episode,
with the recap of Angel battles taking the form of a briefing
with the Human Instrumentality Committee,
it can't be overlooked that more effort could have gone into this episode.
Number 2, Episode 07,
The Human Creation / A Human Work
While this episode did have some subtle world building,
and some further development of the relationship between Shinji and Misato,
many felt that this episode was unnecessary filler.
For some, the three main pilots are what draws them to the show.
Rei and Asuka are completely absent from this episode,
and while Shinji is sortied in Eva Unit-01, there's no combat,
and ultimately, he just holds Jet Alone in place.
Misato climbs inside to deactivate it, but in the end,
it's a shallow victory and she accomplishes nothing,
as Ritsuko programmed the robot to go berserk until the very last second.
There are no memorable moments for the pilots,
and the episode is ultimately seen as pointless, redundant, and skippable.
But at the very least, this episode did give us the now classic disapproving Shinji with coffee mug meme.
If you weren't aware that that was a thing, well… now you do.
Number 1, Episode 10,
Magmadiver / Magma Diver
Where do I even begin?
Fat suits, questionable science,
potentially inappropriate touching, erection jokes…
Magma Diver may just be the lowest point in the entire series.
Aside from insights into the Angels’ life cycle…
and maybe a tender smile from Asuka when Shinji saves her life,
everything else in this episode is either silly or redundant.
Asuka is obsessed with Kaji, something we see previously and later on.
We get our first hint that Kaji is an informant, something that is touched upon again later on.
Even the foreshadowing into Asuka's past is really just that, foreshadowing…
it doesn't offer any new information, just a hint of what will be detailed later on.
Overall, Magma Diver is a disposable angel of the week episode… redundant, forgettable,
and an embodiment of everything fans hate about Evangelion's “action arc”.
What are your most loved and hated episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion?
Let me know in the comments.
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Until next time, thanks for watching!