Episode Rankings: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an imperfect show, obviously. It has its production issues, strange endings, clip shows, but there's also just so much artistry that went into it and every single one of its episodes. From the creative animation and structural decisions, to the way it really delves deep into every single facet of all its characters, to the fact that it juggles being a psychological drama and a kickass mecha show. NGE may not work for everyone, but it worked for me. It lived up to the hype, and is still one of my favorite anime. Here's my ranking of its episodes (and the movies too):

1. A Man's Battle (Episode 19)
2. Tears (Episode 23)
3. Staying Human (Episode 22)
4. Life And Death Decisions (Episode 18)
5. The Last Cometh (Episode 24)
6. You Can (Not) Advance (Rebuild 2)
7. Mind, Matching Moment (Episode 9)
8. The Sickness Unto Death, And Then (Episode 16)
9. The Beast That Shouted "I" At The Heart Of The World (Episode 26)
10. Unfamiliar Ceilings (Episode 2)
11. Thrice Upon A Time (Rebuild 4)
12. Lies And Silence (Episode 15)
13. End Of Evangelion (The Movie)
14. Showdown In Tokyo-3 (Episode 6)
15. The Ending World (Episode 25)
16. Rei, Beyond The Heart (Episode 5)
17. You Can (Not) Redo (Rebuild 3)
18. Asuka Arrives In Japan (Episode 8)
19. Angel Attack (Episode 1)
20. In The Still Darkness (Episode 11)
21. You Are (Not) Alone (Rebuild 1)
22. On The Shape Of Hearts And Humans (Episode 2)
23. The Silent Phone (Episode 3)
24. The Fourth To Be Qualified (Episode 17)
25. The Birth Of Nerv (Episode 21)
26. A Miracle's Worth (Episode 12)
27. The Works Of Man (Episode 7)
28. Rain, After The Escape (Episode 4)
29. Angel Infiltration (Episode 13)
30. The Magma Diver (Episode 10)
31. SEELE, The Seat Of The Soul (Episode 14)

Evangelion Rebuilds

Neon Genesis Evangelion is still one of my favorite animes ever made, but I'm not gonna lie, it had some serious production issues. While that's all part of the charm to me, it's nice to see that Anno finally got a chance to remake the series the way he wanted. But how are his rebuilds? Are they better than the original?

1.0: You Are (Not) Alone: The first Evangelion Rebuild is pretty much a beat-for-beat remake of the first arc of the original series. There are a few deviations like Kaworu's appearance in the end, but otherwise, this is just a reanimated version of that first arc. I do have a soft-spot for those first few episodes, so it was really nice to revisit them and the characters. They tell a really strong story about Shinji taking up the job of piloting an Eva. I also liked that the soundtrack wasn't drastically changed, all the iconic songs from the series were still there. The animation doesn't quite have the same sense of movement as Gainax's, but it's still a really strong replication. Iconic shots from the original series are replicated really accurately (though whether or not that's a good thing may vary), and the usage of CGI really bolsters some of the fight sequences. However, I do have a lot of issues with this first film, most of which are in the first half. This movie races through the first few episodes, replicating scenes pretty much identically while removing all the downtime and breathing moments. The final act is a bit better, expanding out the fight against Ramiel and taking some liberties with the original show, but most of the episode just feels like a rushed recap. Still, this is a solid first installment, but probably the worst of the bunch. However, I can say it definitely got me excited for the next movie.

3/5 Stars

2.0: You Can (Not) Advance: Eva 2.0 is an "rebuild" of the show's second and third arcs, which should have been a recipe for disaster, the first film was rushed enough. However, I absolutely adored this film, and I think it might be the best of the four. Unlike the first movie, Eva 2.0 actually feels like a "rebuild", depicting the arrival of Asuka and its subsequent events in an entirely different manner than the original series. and cutting out certain subplots that would just pad out the film. It doesn't feel like a rushed recap, it feels like it was made with the purpose of being a movie, resulting in much stronger pacing. There was tons of fantastic action, but there was also a lot of slow-paced character moments that were kind of missing from the first movie. I liked that there were a lot of moments for the main cast to just hang out together (even Tohji and Kensuke got a lot of screentime!). The deviations from the plot like the introduction of Mari, Asuka getting squashed by Shinji's Eva rather than Tohji, and Rei's near death were also pretty great. And then there's the ending, which had Shinji start the Third Impact only for Kaworu to come and intervene. Not only does it showcase the mission statement for these rebuilds (Showing Shinji true happiness), but it's also just such a massive shift in the status quo that pretty much entirely diverges from the original series. Overall, I really liked Eva 2.0. There's a nice balance of new and old, with strong pacing, great action, plenty of fun character moments, and a shocking ending.

5/5 Stars

3.0: You Can (Not) Redo: This is a weird movie for me. Unlike the first two, this absolutely isn't a recap. Eva 3.0 tells an entirely new story from the original, and I think that's great! It takes a lot of risks that pay off really well too. Getting more than a half-hour of screentime for Kaworu was excellent, Rei-Q is an immensely fascinating character (extending into the next film as well), Shinji learning about Rei being a clone of his mother was a payoff we never actually got in the original series, the climactic battle at the end made for one of the most fantastically bonkers third acts ever, and while I liked all the ending cliffhangers, 3.0 probably had my favorite. Seeing Shinji, Asuka, and Rei wandering the destroyed Tokyo-3 feels like the continuation to EoE we never got. And as usual, the music, action and animation is pretty top-notch. However, not everything this movie did really paid off. I think my biggest issue with it was the way it handled the timeskip. I'm already not a big fan of this trope, but it didn't even feel necessary here. We didn't see the direct fallout of the last movie's ending, WILLE's reluctance to explain anything to Shinji was frustrating, and the "Curse Of Eva" might be the single dumbest thing in the entire series. Even more, the fact that the film spends so much time explaining the timeskip means that not much really happens, not helped by the fact that this is the shortest film yet. There's also a really oppressive and hopeless atmosphere in this one, and while I think it works for this movie, it feels like a massive whiplash compared to the tone of the first two films. There's definitely not the same gradual darkening that the series had. Still, while not everything worked for me and it definitely has its problems, I still really liked how bold Eva 3.0 was. 

3.5/5 Stars

3.0 + 1.0: Thrice Upon A Time: As far as Eva endings go, Thrice Upon A Time was pretty great. It feels like a happy medium between the closure and bombast of EoE, and the character work and psychoanalysis that the original finale brought. I still don't think it's as well-paced and balanced as the second Rebuild, but it's a really enjoyable finale that takes a lot of the best aspects of these films and brings them together. The action is fantastic (that Paris fight, especially), but we also get a lot of time for character interactions and introspection. The film brings together nearly the entire cast, giving all of them their own moments to shine no matter how small. Thrice Upon A Time really feels like a love letter to Evangelion (as opposed to the more sour EoE), and nothing shows more than the fact that the movie ends with the characters getting to work out their problems in typically trippy fashion. Apparently, this is the end of Evangelion, at least under Anno, and I think it's a good place to end. Not only is it the happy and satisfying ending everyone wanted (though Misato still dies to my utter heartbreak), but when you take Evangelion as a whole, you get a fascinating story of a director getting through his depression. This film especially feels like it's specifically about mental health, which is something I've always liked to see from Evangelion. Still, the film isn't perfect. The pacing is really odd, with the first hour in the village being pretty much no action and all character work, and the next hour being just nonstop action. I also really dislike what the film did with Asuka too (another contrast from EoE, where she was my favorite part). She was far more unlikable and abusive to Shinji than in any previous Eva media (even 3.0), and the twist about her being a clone was a bit strange. I'm also not sure why Shinji ended up with Mari given that they hardly interact (he formed a far stronger connection with Rei in these films). Otherwise, 3.0+1.0 is an incredibly satisfying final installment of the Rebuilds series that feels like a love letter to Evangelion as a franchise. It's not my favorite of the films, but it definitely made the whole thing worth it.

4/5 Stars

Overall, I really enjoyed the Eva Rebuilds, and they were a great way to return to one of my favorite anime. I don't think any of the films top the series, but they tell their own unique retelling in a slightly unconventional manner. 

My ranking of all the Evangelion films (including End Of Evangelion) is:

2 > 4 > EoE > 3 > 1

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most influential, divisive, and discussed anime ever made, and for good reason, boasting striking animation, strong action scenes, deep themes, fleshed-out characters, tons of plot twists, and a lot of emotion and drama. It's easily one of the most unique and thought-provoking series I've ever seen, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't totally enjoy it.

The main story of NGE is incredibly complicated, but to put it simply, there are these monsters called Angels that are trying to attack the Earth and cause its destruction (also known as the Third Impact). A government agency called NERV is tasked with destroying these Angels, usually using their mechs (called Evas). The pilot of the mechs have to be 14-year-old kids, meaning that Shinji, Asuka, and Rei have to deal with the pressure of saving the world along with their own teenage angst.

Right from the start, you can tell that the show is trying to deconstruct the mecha genre. The fight scenes are terrifying and can cause serious damage, characters deal with the trauma of such violence, and the emotional immaturity of these 14-year-olds end up resulting in tragedy near the end of the series. It's a compelling form of conflict that leaves you on-edge throughout the whole show. But despite that, there are still tons of moments of humor, so it's not relentlessly depressing. 

The characters are excellent, all containing their own backstory and baggage that they need to deal with. It's hard to even pick my favorite, as they're all so good. Shinji is a great audience surrogate who can be painfully relatable at times, Asuka embues the show with tons of energy, Rei is fascinating and gives some badass monologues at times, and watching Misato try to piece together the mysteries and secrets of NERV is endlessly compelling. The first half of NGE is fairly standard mecha fare, but the second half is packed with devastating twists, emotional moments, and creative imagery.

As the series nears its end, NGE leans more into psychology and character drama rather than mecha action. If you're not into this kind of stuff, then the show might end up losing you with its trippy mind screw sequences, long shots, and clip shows. But for me, this drama packs some of the highlights of the whole series. There are so many moments of introspective, symbolic imagery, and multi-faceted character moments that if I were to go in-depth on all of them, this review would be longer than my ten Friends reviews combined. My only gripe in this aspect would be that I do think Shinji gets a bit too many character studies that all seem to cover similar ground, as this technically occurs in episodes 4, 12, 19, 25, 26, and arguably 14.

The biggest controversy in NGE is probably its ending, between the more psychologically-driven original ending and the more closure-heavy movie ending. I actually prefer the TV ending, as it ends NGE on a surprisingly happy and life-affirming note as Shinji finally makes a breakthrough in regards to his mental state. Despite its low budget, there are tons of unique shots and creative imagery that I'm doubtful I'd ever forget. End Of Evangelion, the movie ending, took me a while to fully appreciate, as its nihilistic tone and plot directions (especially regarding Shinji). However, I eventually grew to admire it as well for its stunning visuals, great character development for Asuka, emotional moments, its powerful ending, and for providing the closure that the TV end couldn't.

Neon Genesis Evangelion has tons of strong episodes and standout moments, but these are some of my favorite of the bunch:

Mind, Matching, Moment: Arguably the most fun episode in the series, Asuka and Shinji get a ton of comedic moments as they grow to get along with each other, all culminating in the stunning final dance battle.

Life and Death Decisions: The final sequence where Shinji loses control of his Eva was probably the heaviest moment in the series for me. It's so intense, bloody, and relentless, and it feels like the point at which his relationship with his father, Gendo, reaches a head.

A Man's Battle: Probably my favorite episode, A Man's Battle is a slow, brutal build up to Shinji's reluctant return to the mech, culminating in one of the strongest fights in the show. It's tense, dramatic, and ends on a stunning sequence as everyone finally sees Eva-01 for the monster that it really is.

Staying Human: This entire episode is devoted to watching Asuka's mental state decline and it's hard to watch. There are tons of uncomfortable and brutal moments like the elevator scene and the mind rape. We finally learn Asuka's backstory, and it's probably the worst out of the entire cast. A great episode to watch if you want to get depressed super quickly.

Tears: The constant plot twists that this episode packs are insane, from Rei's shocking sacrifice, to Ritsuko's breakdown, to the final reveal of what Rei really is. It's fast-paced, constantly surprising, and overall one of the best episodes of the show.

The Last Cometh: Despite only appearing in this episode, Kaworu makes a strong impression with his oddly kind personality that only leads to a heart-breaking betrayal. The final battle with Kaworu, the final Angel, is climactic and tense, all culminating in one of the show's staple leave-the-camera-running moments.

The Beast That Shouted "I" At The Heart Of The World: I already wrote about how much I loved this finale. Despite the low budget, the showrunners packed in tons of unique imagery like the scribble sequences, the breakthrough scene, the AU sequence, and the final moment of Congratulations. I think this episode resonates even more now that mental health is given more of an importance, and I feel it's truly ahead of its time given that this episode was made in the 90s. Although, in all honesty, if you're expecting plot resolution or didn't know about what these episodes entail ahead of time, you will definitely be somewhat disappointed.

Overall, I loved Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's easily one of the most thought-provoking, depressing, and unique shows I've seen. Even with its ending issues, NGE left me thinking about it for days after I had finished it.

5/5 Stars

Favorite Episode: A Man's Battle