[EVA] 1.01 - Misato is OK! *Spoilers*

[Sailor Star Dust]

>Realistically (that terrible word ^_^) how  is Shinji supposed to
necessarily absorb the full significance of  what Misato is telling him and
showing him on such short notice?  Isn't it just one more bit of weirdness
they pile onto him?

I think the point of that scene/Misato showing Shinji Lilith is meant to
make him realize that he ISN'T alone in his fighting; because everybody is
believing in themselves and each other, he needs to do the same. Of course,
making Shinji realize the severity of the situation is important too.

>I think her decision to take Shinji to Terminal Dogma

I mostly agree with everything that's been said, but I just wanted to point
out that it might not have been Terminal Dogma (that might be another Seed
of Life instead of Lilith, but there's always the possibility it IS Lilith,
albeit with a difference mask on or that being her actual face, uncovered.)
Misato took Shinji to. Granted, it's possible that the film just has a new
section of Nerv then in the series...

>his sudden cry in the  movie that he wanted to go back, after literally
coming to the end of  the road

Personally, that whole sequence of him walking towards the under
construction bridge is one of my favorites in the film. It's a nice change
of pace from <a href="
http://evacommentary.org/episode-04/episode-04A-scene2B.html#cut091">*just*sitting
in that "spot famous for suicides"</a> to show how far gone he
really is so soon. Although it's rather ambiguous on whether or not he knew
he was being followed by Nerv MIBs. His dialog ("It's alright now. Please
take me back to Misato-san!") implies he knew, but the fact he went all the
way towards the end of bridge before stopping to turn around... At any rate,
Shinji already does seem to be in EoE-territory (which could imply it is a
sequel, but that doesn't really matter at this point anyway).

>is already rejecting Misato's friendship more than the TV series

Actually, I think the fact he decided to pilot during Operation Yashima once
being shown Lilith (along with actually holding her hand, something he
rejected when Misato tried to seduce him in 23') shows that he's finally
starting to open up to her. (Which might imply that them strengthening their
relationship now will lead to the character development from JA being nixed
so give 2.0 more space for Asuka and Glasses Girl Mari.)

Either way, I hope that this isn't the end of character development between
Shinji and the main three women in his life; regardless of Mari or Kaworu
being around. ;)


-- 
Sailor*Star*Dust
http://www.fanfiction.net/~sailorstardust1
http://anime.adultfanfiction.net/authors.php?no=1296805696
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「何か役に立ちたいんだ。ずっと一緒にいたいんだ。」~ 碇シンジ