Megumi Hayashibara rules <trainspotting@pulpfiction.com> wrote in 
news:CevMb.76676$VW.3222384@news3.tin.it:

> Hi everyone, maybe everyone already knows that, but I haven't figured 
> out an answer yet (maybe I haven't searched in-depth enough).
> 
> I noticed that some angels die exploding when they are hit in their red 
> core (most of them).
> However some of them (I remember Shamshel, episode 3 and Ramiel, in 
> episode 6 and maybe someone else I forgot?) die without exploding when 
> an eva delivers them a lethal hit.
> 
> In fact later on Ritsuko and the Nerv guys are seen examining Shamshel 
> (they say it's quickly decomposing, by the way), and dead Ramiel is seen 
> crumbling over Neo Tokyo 3.
> 
> So I wonder, why some angels die exploding instantly, and why others 
> decompose? Any hypothesis?
> 

        Now this is just a guess, but it may have something to do with the 
use of the explosion as a last-ditch attempt to kill its opponent, or as 
self-defence, etc. I don't think it's ever explained.

        - THM