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From: smilinglord@hotmail.com (Hand-of-Omega)
Newsgroups: japan.anime.evangelion,rec.arts.anime.misc
Subject: Re: What is the point of Asuka?
Date: 28 Jul 2003 21:09:37 -0700
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"Richard Qunt" <r.c.qunt@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bg21fr$1p8$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> I have been watching Evangelion recently and asking myself this question.
> What point is there to Asuka even being in the series at all, except as a
> love interest for Shinji and a foil for Rei?
> 
> All she ever seems to do is stand there whining and bitching and
> occasionally getting badly beaten in her Eva. I cannot think of a single
> time when she ever actually does anything useful or helpful. 

How far have you seen? They couldn't have beaten the "Loch Ness Angel"
in her first appearance without her...Shinji couldn't have won alone
in the "Dance like you want to win" ep...she played a valuable (and
painful) part in shielding the others so they could take out the
burrowing Angel...and of course, there's "Magma Diver", which I've yet
to find out why it's so infamous...^^
> 
> She also has a voice that sounds a lot like fingernails on a blackboard.
> Seriously - this girl has to be the most annoying character ever. I actually
> found myself cheering during the scenes where she is getting her ass handed
> to her (though she never seems to learn from the experiences).
> 
Ever watch El-Hazard? You'll feel twice as strongly about Fatora, and
with much more reason!

> The first few eps when it was just Shinji, Rei and Misato were great - I
> think that the additon of Asuka spoiled the series, turning it into another
> Tenchi Muyo style comedy for a while. It took a long time to recover.

I felt the exact opposite. When the series focused on two such
(outwardly) passive characters as Shinji and Rei, it really got bogged
down. Asuka added some much-needed dynamism to the show, got things
jumping. Of course, she eventually gets bogged down, too!^^

Dex,
wondering if Asuka's "mind-rape" will be in the LA movie...