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[ café reviews ]

Ritsuko and Gendo discuss what to do with young Shinji.

eva_0000.gif

Shinseiki Evangelion
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Episode 4: Rain, Escape and Afterwards / Hedgehogs's Dilemma


Copyright: 1995 TV Tokyo / GAINAX / NAS (Japan), 1997 AD Vision (North America)
Length: 30 minutes
Rating: Contains Violence and Mature Situations, Parental Guidance Suggested
Format: Subtitled/Dubbed (VHS)

Screenplay: Anno Hideaki Director: Anno Hideaki Producers: Yamamura Atsuko (TV Tokyo) Sugiyama Yutaka Character Design: Sadamoto Yoshiyuki English Version Executive Producer: John Ledford (A.D.V. Films) Translation by: Kimrua Kuni


[ plot summary ]

vhs jacket

Shinji is emotionally lost. Unable to copy with the pressures of being an EVA pilot, he finally runs away from his new home. Misato isn't too surprised, either -- his attitude and method of coping was going to be a liability in the long run, and Misate let him know in no uncertain terms. Shinji, unable to turn to family, and not having any friends, wanders the countryside as he tries to sort out his feelings. Along the way, he happens across Aida Kensuke, the video-camera toting classmate who hangs around with Toji. Shinji sees a bit of himself in Aida -- motherless, and a social misfit. But eventually, Shinji's location is discovered by NERV's secret service, and Shinji's announcement that he was resigning his position guarantees him a one-way ticket out of Tokyo 3...


[ capsule review ]

Shinji's personal crisis has come to an impass. As might be expected, Shinji copes in the only manner he know -- he runs. There are some rather incongruous character traits as well, such as Aida running around, playing war with fake automatic weapons. Doesn't quite seem right for a high school student, does it? There are times when I wonder if some of this is actually one of the creators or script-writers self-indulging in a childhood fantasy or two. (Aida's character bears a remarkable resemblance to some of the interview subjects in Otaku no Video. Or is it mere coincidence that both the shows were GAINAX productions?) Throughout Shinji's own voyage of self-discovery, the viewer is never concerned that he would actually permenantly resign from NERV, or Misato would actually let Shinji leave without saying goodbye, or that Aida and Toji would not become Shinji's friend. It's just not that well written. The only thing I'm curious about is this: what songs are on tracks 25 and 26 of his SDAT personal player? - AN

Enough's enough, and Shinji's run away from his home with Misato. Five days away from school and he's run off to be alone and to think, or perhaps not to think. Two of his classmates are worried about him enough to call on his residence, but of course he's not there. More development on Shinji's character and a touch on Misato's as well. We've got a pretty good idea of Shinji's character from the previous episode and it's further confirmed here. That he will do things that others want in order to fit in is only part of it. That he'll (mildly) complain about it as well and possibly get on other's nerves at the same time is also part of it, but he isn't only doing it for that. This episode is primarily for character development and is pretty slow on action (although watching that kid play both roles in the mock battle was rather quaint). We get a bit more of an idea what happened to Tokyo-2 if the movie Shinji watched was any indication. Still knowing what we know, and considering what Shinji said to his two classmates just before going to the train platform, the ending to this episode was predictable enough. The scene just prior, between the three schoolboys though was really cute. What with one boy getting hit and the other exclaiming in pain... definitely a touch different. Things are interesting enough to want to see what happens next in this series although we can sincerely hope that they come up with a better idea for the power source for Evangelion... - JYN



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/A 2 stars N/A
Direction: N/A 3 stars N/A
Acting: N/A 4 stars N/A
Animation: N/A 3 stars N/A
Music: N/A 3 stars N/A
Translation: N/A 4 stars N/A
Overall Rating: N/A 2 stars N/A



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