Corner of solitude

The first episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion is action packed, right from the start we are thrown into the thick of things. The year is 2015 A.D. and the United Nations forces have gathered to do battle with Sachiel, a badass being of power and monstrosity. The meaning of Sachiel according to what I’ve read on the internet is “Born under the sign of sagittarius,” the purple coloured Arch-Angel of Thursday. A greenish monster that’s probably fifty to a hundred feet tall with a neckless birdlike head.

The first time we see of this lumbering giant is actually of it coming out of the sea swimming through what seems to be the remains of a deluged city. Alluding to the post apocalyptic condition of the world and the dystopian setting for this story. Making it’s way through what seems to be the Kanto and Chuba regions surrounding the Tokai district in central Japan. It’s a place that has been abandoned, like a calm before a storm it is also in silence, apart from the voice of impending doom on the intercom announcing a state of emergency.

As a female driver speeds through the streets of the abandoned city we cut to a solitary figure at a phone booth. This is the 14 year old protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion, or as I like to call him Shinji “I am a pussy” Ikari. He has been summoned by his father and is trying to get in contact with the hot chick in the photo he is holding. When he can’t get through to her he turns away and he sees an apparition of a schoolgirl, our first glimpse of Rei Ayanami.

At this point the real action starts. We learn from Fuyutsiki the subordinate of commander Gendo Ikari that it has been 15 years since an Angel (aliens from outer space) has attacked (why they have attacked? I don’t know, as we’re not given any explanation) and now they are back. As Sachiel wreaks havoc Shinji is rescued by Misato Katsuragi, the hot babe from the picture. In the meantime the U.N. forces launches an ineffectual offense, which doesn’t even halt Sachiel’s progress towards it’s target, Tokyo 3 an underground city described by Misato as a “Fortress for all mankind”. We learn once again from Fuyutsiki that this is because Sachiel can generate an Absolute Terror “A.T.” field, which invariably makes it invincible to any form of attack. The attack is entrusted to NERV, the secret paramilitary government agency commandeered by Gendo Ikari, Shinji’s estranged father who he has not seen in three years.

Misato (NERV’s chief of Operations) takes Shinji to NERV headqaurters. The real reason he has been summoned is because he is the third child, and must pilot the Evangelion Unit 01. Dr Ritsuko Akagi describes this gigantic Mecha as “man’s ultimate fighting machine, the synthetic life form known as Evangelion, Unit 01, built here in secret, it is mankind’s last hope”. A confrontation between Shinji and his father Gendo ensues, as he questions his motives for summoning him here.

Sachiel attacks NERV headquarters, and Eva Unit 01 for the first time activates itself inorder to protect Shinji, there is a very important reason for this that is revealed in a much later episode. Shinji comes to a realisation that he “mustn’t run away” and must pilot the Eva when he meets the hospital-ridden Rei Ayanami in a damsel-in-distress mode. He must also defeat the Angel at all cost as Gendo mentions “…unless we defeat the Angels we have no future…” The episode ends with the activation of the Eva and Misato’s words “…Shinji don’t get killed out there…”

To watch the episode just click here Angel Attack

The Beast »