Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

I have spent too long on this show. I initially hated it, and on a rewatch I liked it, and now that I have spent a while thinking about it, I think it is probably really good. It’s not perfect and there are definitely parts I hate, but it is sadly one of my favourite anime’s to date. Obviously spoilers Firstly the parts I hate: Asuka, and also it tries too hard. Sure, Asuka is well written I guess but god she is so annoying – my hatred for Asuka ties pretty closely to some of the bigger issues I have with the plot. Why doesNERV, this big organisation with literally the entire world’s funding not even consider giving its emotionally damaged teenagers therapy? They literally know how horrible the Eva’s are for their mental health, and disregard any time that their mental health is negatively affecting their performance. When Asuka’s test scores are so low that she literally cannot move her Eva, they acknowledge that there’s something wrong with her, but rather than providing her with the attention, care and service she requires they throw her out there and let her get mentally destroyed. I feel like all the fuckups and embarrassments NERV had would’ve been solved by providing therapy to these kids but I guess this was the 90s. Every time Asuka gets cut about her test score being lower, or how she had to be saved I really just want to knock her out, I really feel for Shinji on this one. That being said I get why she’s like that, I just hate her.

This criticism extends to Shinji, I feel like the reason sections of this anime are so unbearable is because he is so self-pitying. I give him less hate than Asuka tho because I relate to him lol

Tries too hard: I did enjoy the last two episodes of internal dialogue and conflict, but it can also come across as a bit edgy idk

Good parts: Visuals, the fight sequences look so good, and I love the space horror vibe it has. Beautiful stuff.

Sound is also great, I love the guttural screams that these kids have every time they have a new traumatic experience.

Misato, Ristuko and Kaji are perfect and I would not want to change them in any shape or form. (I do have problems with EoE tho)

I spend a lot of time finding reasons to hate this, but I don’t think I’ve spent more time on an anime than Neon Genesis Evangelion. I’ll probably rewatch this every time I hate myself 10/10