[EVA] Concurrency tangent (WAS: Alternate Rei on DVD cover)

[SSD]

>"If my memory serves correctly, the final checkpoint in the filmbooks
states that "their smiles are those of the Complemented" or something
to that effect. But otherwise, no, we don't have anything concrete that
flat out says that Shinji became Complemented at the end of the TV
series. I think it's self-evident given the imagery used, but it is a
matter of personal opinion."

I thought that was from one of the Cardass trading cards mentioned on the
Evaotaku FAQ.

NOTE: Yes I saw what Gwern linked to, but it's odd how there isn't much
source on links to translations and the like. Weird.

Anyway, just because there is a statement of "they're smiling due to
Instrumentality" or what have you, doesn't mean it's because Instrumentality
was actually accepted. And there's still the fact that Shinji says his final
Episode 26 lines about "wanting to be me, wanting to be here" as well as the
final Tel-Op of  including the phrase "Goodbye to my mother" (which does
seem to be dual purpose: Shinji's final thoughts as well as from Anno/Gainax
themselves) which is verbally said by Shinji in EoE. Why in the world would
Shinji feel the need to say goodbye to Yui if everybody stayed as one being
in Instrumentality? And for that matter, Shinji would have lost his
individuality had Instrumentality been accepted.

But this is just rehasing old points, so never mind I guess. ^_^;;;;


>Personally, my personal view is that the TV ending is Complementation where
Gendo is in control, and the Movie ending is Instrumentality where no one
is. Shinji is a participant in the TV ending, and an observer in the film.
Similar, but not identical.

The Renewal/Platinum booklet suggests this possibility, but (thankfully in
some ways, not so thankfully with being vague >_<) doesn't say whether or
not that's the case.

I say it's not considering the parallels between The Case of Rei Ayanami
with Rei's decision of betraying Gendo at the start of 26', as well as the
fact that throughout the series ending, the characters say that
Instrumentality occurring is Shinji's choice and is the empty world he
wanted (which is more directly mentioned in 26' with the LCL Sea). The TV
ending (and EoE) wouldn't emphasize that so much if it wasn't the case.

I understand people are going to have their own opinions on whether or not
the series/EoE ending is the same or different, yet I can't help but feel
that for various reasons (most important of all, thematically having a
completely different message for one ending versus another when the series
ending WAS going to be the flim ending really makes no sense, IMO.
Especially when you take into account Anno "burned his feelings on flim"
with Eva and that it's his personal therapy for Depression: Take care of
yourself, keep on living, remember that people need each other.) it is the
same ending, just a different way of showing it.

At any rate, too bad (har har) Anno won't just come out and give an actual
answer to this question along with some others, eh? (Now I wonder if any
interviews/books out there has insight on "biggies" involving the series
that most people (or at least the fans not living in Japan) aren't aware
of... >_> )


-- 
Sailor*Star*Dust/SSD
http://www.darkscribes.org/author/Sailor+Star+Dust
「あんたが全部あたしのものにならないなら、あたし、何もいらない。」~ 惣流・アスカ・ラングレー
「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