"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. It seems like
> she was only added so that Gainax would have another bishoujo besides Rei
> and Misato to sell toys and posters of.

That's a very good way to putting it.

> 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).
> 
> 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.

Yes, it was on purpose.

Mind you, Asuka is supposed to be Shinji's "main" romantic interest.
Misato loves Shinji, but not THAT way, while Rei is a clone of his
mother.

-- 
@ @ Nockermensch, from rgfd.