In the thirteenth episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, an Angel infiltrates NERV Headquarters. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THIS SHOW??? Where was Kaji coming from? Why is always hanging out by himself or with some unnamed stranger? WHY IS HE SO CREEPY AND MYSTERIOUS?
Why are they testing harmonics with NUDE PILOTS? Actually, I did find this to be pretty intriguing, given that I still know so little about the Evangelions and their power. The pilots’ synchronization with them is largely explained; all we know is that the pilots have to be fourteen and that this link allows them to control these beings with thought and intention. What advantage would they gain, then, by being able to pilot the Evas without plug suits? My guess is that a better link with the Eva means a better fight, a more efficient attack on an Angel.
How did the Angel get inside that box? You know, I got to the end of this episode and was convinced we had no clues, but you know what? Hyuga mentioned that construction might have been responsible for all of this. If that’s the case and there’s no foul play here, that demonstrates a TERRIFYING intelligence that the Angels possess. They (if you can even refer to them as a collective group!) somehow evolved and made themselves microscopic (the “Lilliputian” reference in the title) specifically so they could attach themselves to something that could make it inside NERV headquarters. Now, if that hypothesis is indeed real, that means I still have about a million questions that need to be answered. As it stands, though, the Angel that’s the focus of “Lilliputian Hitcher” manages to infiltrate one of the most (if not THE most) secure places in the world, and then it proceeds to invade the Magi.
WHY DID I ASK TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MAGI? I DOOMED MYSELF TO EXPERIENCING THE TERROR OF THIS EPISODE BECAUSE OF THAT. Y’all, I know I stated this at the end of the video, but how cool is it that this entire episode is about killing an Angel without an Eva? Now that I think about it, the three pilots are completely absent from the episode aside from the end and the beginning. They don’t contribute anything to the fight. I love this choice because we instead spend time with Maya, Hyuga, Misato, and Ritsuko.
DON’T YOU JUST LOVE RITSUKO? As if we needed yet another bone-crushing backstory, we finally find out that the Magi – the three supercomputers that power NERV and also act as the “city council – were created by her mother. In a refreshing break from the general motif of the show, Ritsuko’s issues stem from a complicated relationship with her mother, not her father. While I don’t think it’s perfectly analogous with what Shinji and Misato have gone through, there’s still an interesting parallel here. These people aren’t defined by their parents, but there’s a fabric of emotional memory here that still affects the present. What’s interesting, though, is that Casper provides a material and physical presence for Ritsuko. She’s climbing around in what her mother left behind. (If you can’t tell, I am desperately trying to avoid a ghost reference here, but I’m so tempted.) Her mother’s notes and messages are part of what remains, but so is her personality, of which three parts are spread about Casper. It’s rare for Ritsuko to speak as much as she does here, but I saw it as a commentary on the situation. It’s only here, while working on Casper (and the Magi in general) that Ritsuko opens up.
What the hell is going on in Neon Genesis Evangelion, y’all? I’m repeating the opening here at the end because as I get deeper into this story, the more bewildered I am by it. (Also a compliment, if you couldn’t tell.) I still have no idea what the Angels are, why they’re going after NERV, why Adam is so important, why Commander Ikari is full of secrets, what the hell Kaji is up to, or why pilots have to be fourteen. Yet as the show barrels forward, giving me new mysteries and new challenges, I can’t look away. It’s a bizarre apocalyptic universe, but I’m intrigued by the large cast of characters and how they react to such a hellish situation.
I think I’m hooked, y’all.
The video for “Lilliputian Hitcher” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
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– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be Death Note and Neon Genesis Evangelion. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
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