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

[RJN]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <once at ix.netcom.com>
To: "The english-language evangelion mailing list." 
<evangelion at yuki.onegeek.org>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 2:35 AM
Subject: Re: [EVA] 1.01 - Misato is OK! *Spoilers*


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Sailor Star Dust <aino.senshi at gmail.com>
>>Sent: Jun 1, 2008 5:52 PM
>>To: "The english-language evangelion mailing list." 
>><evangelion at eva.onegeek.org>, aino.senshi at gmail.com
>>Subject: Re: [EVA] 1.01 - Misato is OK! *Spoilers*
>>
>>>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.
>>
>
> It's *meant* to make him realize these things, but again, telling and 
> showing someone things, and that someone internalizing the lesson and 
> growing and learning because of it, are two different things. Misato of 
> all people should know; her own reaction when she was Shinji's age to 
> being suddenly exposed to Angel-wrought destruction was to go catatonic 
> for a year. Nobody asked her to go straight from that to becoming a 
> soldier; it took her years.
>
> I don't fault her necessarily, because she's pretty much the only grown-up 
> at NERV who's trying to help Shinji. But she just underscores a major gap 
> in NERV's planning (if you consider it rationally)--the indifference, 
> negligence really, towards Shinji's psychological health. This is no mere 
> detail; it creates problems with his tactical discipline at NERV, and 
> almost costs them all their lives.

@Misato has only recently come to NERV from Germany.  If her only child 
pilot before was Asuka, its night & day!  Asuka is almost tomboy ego bravado 
personified (but still feminine otherwise) & very capable & clever.  Misato 
expects a boy to be at lest partway to that.  She's probably a little dazed 
at how timid Shinji is by comparison, although understands him more than 
many would.  Misato is an officer & gentlewoman, but she's not a drill 
sergeant or battle NCO, or a counsellor.  What Shinji suffers from is 
post-traumatic stress disorder just as Misato did. NERV, SEELE & their 
culture are all about sacrificing & expendability, not mental welfare.
>
> It's not as if Eva pilot training seems to require Gendo to be an 
> equal-opportunity asshole; look at how he treats Rei--or consider that the 
> kids in Shinji's class, all pilot candidates, are presented as a 
> relatively normal mix compared to the first three Children. Toji, for 
> example, has had trauma in his family, but there is no suggestion that 
> he's as emotionally imbalanced as Rei, Asuka or Shinji--therefore it 
> doesn't seem to be a requirement to be an actual pilot (the fact things go 
> wrong with Unit-03 isn't his fault).

@Toji is not an outsider, mentally or communally.  He has friends & also 
caring for his sister has made him more mature.  Also more testoterone.
>
> Putting aside the fact that he abandoned his son just as an ordinary 
> father, if there was ever any possibility he might need Shinji for his 
> plan--that is, as an Eva pilot--you think he would have made some 
> provision, either direct or indirect, for Shinji's emotional health as he 
> grew up. A dad who doesn't have much time for his child because he's too 
> into his job is one thing, but Gendo went out of his way to alienate 
> Shinji. Hasn't he ever heard of an au pair?

@Gendou is an insensitive thug.  Never forget that.  He was always in 
trouble for getting into brawls before Fuyutuski recruited him for Gehrin. 
Yui was his salvation & soul.  Losing her destroyed what little humanity he 
had.  Everything & everyone, including 3rd Impact is just a tool to help him 
reunite with Yui. SEELE may want to re-unite man with God to heal its 
collective soul, & Gendou's quest is that scaled down to personal level - 
for Yui was his god & soul & religion.
RJN