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From: takloufer@aol.com (takloufer)
Newsgroups: japan.anime.evangelion
Subject: [Spoilers]The End of Eva Ending vs. The Series Ending
Date: 30 Jun 2003 16:50:36 -0700
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[I originally posted this at raam, but decided to post it here as well]
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Hello.  Me and my sister have reciently finished watching Neon Genesis
Evangelion, Eva: Death & Rebirth, and End of Eva.  I never thought I
would find an anime series that I liked as much as I liked Utena, but
Eva has earned a spot next too SKU, at least the series does.  I have
to share my thoughts on this.

Episodes 25 and 26 blew me away, mentally, and made me teary eyed with
emotion(which usually doesn't happen).  Though I can see how an ending
like this would make fans mad, what with the unresolved plot threads
and all.  However, I could relate to these episodes on a personal
level, and once I accepted that the Human Instumentality(Compliment)
Project had taken effect, the details of how and why aren't so
important.

Even though I realize it was not Anno's original plan, I thought
episodes 25 & 26 made a better ending than EoE.  Allow me to explain
my position.

For starters, I think the EoE coincides with 25 & 26...up to a
point...then they branch off into two separate continiums.

The Series Ending:

Unlike the movie, these episodes focus mainly on Shinji's internal
thought process.  However, we do get glimpses of the events leading up
to the Third Impact(Asuka in her Eva in the bottom of the lake, Misato
and Ritzuko bodies).  From what I can tell, about halfway through
episode 25 the Third Impact occurs.  All human conscieness joins in a
unity, and people from Shinji's life help him contemplate himself, and
thus allow him to see himself as having worth...and thus the he and
the other people are complemented themselves.  Episode 26 ends with
Shinji accepting himself and everyone is happy.  The human race has
ascended.  Everyone gets a happy ending.  All problems have been
solved.  The End.

End of Evangelion:

The movie fleshes out the details of how the Third Impact occured. 
The events in the movie coincide with the series until the very end,
when the movie takes a different path.  Unlike the series, Shinji
changes his mind and goes back to earth, thus aborting Humanity's
Complementation and turning the Earth into a hellhole covered with
rei's corpse.  It ends with Shinji on a beach with Asuka...for some
reason he tries to strangle her but breaks down into tears...Humanity
is dead, save for Shinji and Asuka...Asuka is disgusted.  The End.

The Shinji in the movie also seemed a bit out of character(what with
the mastubation and making Misato drag him around like a toddler--he
was never *that bad*)...or maybe he was just more unhinged then usual.
 In any event, he didn't coincide with the Shinji in episodes 25 and
26.

IMO, EoE was what Anno wanted to do originally for episodes 25 and 26,
except he made the movie while he was angry at the fans, so he gave it
the "Angry Bitter Ending".  Personally, I like the "Happy
Congradulations" ending better, as the EoE ending just left me cold
and felt like Anno was just getting back at the Otaku.  I consider the
series ending to be more "real" than the movie ending.

Honestly, while I'm glad I saw EoE, I don't think it was nessesary. 
The Series Ending dealt with the Intrumentality better, and drew a
better emotional responce from me.  The details of how and why the
Third Impact occured weren't really that important, and, IMO, were
better left to the viewer's imagination.

Does anyone else prefer the series ending?

-ur pal
-tak L

On a side note: Episodes 25 & 26, and parts of EoE, reminded me of my
experiences with the plant Salvia Divinorum.  Especially the second
half of episode 26.  I wonder if Anno ever used psychedelic
substances?