o installment of Neon Genesis Evangelion to date has been quite like the one before, and this fourth release in the series is no exception. Where the first two episodes were intriguing and depressing, the second two understated to the point of immobility, and the most recent two subtly fascinating, episodes 7 and 8, here together on a single tape, have more standard action and excitement than any of the others.
Young test pilot Shinji Ikari is finally learning to express himself naturally, to say what he thinks despite the reactions of those around him. But even his freer attitude can't put a dent in the ego of his slovenly, beer-swilling roommate, NERV Operations Manager Misato Katsuragi. The sniping between them at home, however, disappears on the battlefield, as they risk their lives to save Old Tokyo from a malfunctioning robot designed by a rival company determined to replace the Evangelion battle mecha with a cheaper alternative.
Nor does Misato's flippant attitude save her from embarrassment as she runs across a loose-lipped old flame aboard the battleship delivering the newest Evangelion mecha and its loudmouthed, energetic pilot, 14-year-old Asuka Sohryu. Asuka seems clearly poised to turn all existing relationships inside NERV upside down with her flamboyance, competitiveness, and jealousy, but first she and Shinji are going to have to fight their way past the latest alien invader.
Never a dull moment
In this latest in the Evangelion series, viewers get their best look to date at the contradictory character of 29-year-old Captain Misato. She's a study in unusual characteristics for an woman in anime -- clearly uninterested in anything domestic (she can't cook or clean, and her diet consists of beer, takeout and pre-packaged ramen), uninvolved romantically although the males around Shinji can't stop drooling over her, brave in combat but bored with formality. Her presence alone makes this an intriguing pair of episodes.
And so does the ever-changing nature of this ongoing title. Given the degree to which the series to date has been introspective and quiet, it's odd how much of Genesis 0:4 is spent with characters running, screaming, blowing things up and trying to keep things from blowing up. It's all very exciting, with much more motion and activity than in past installments. And these whirlwind changes in tone and mood between installments are guaranteed to keep viewers wondering what could possibly come next.
One guess is that the series is just going to keep getting more complex. These episodes have a lot of quiet hints at what's to come as the series develops. There are a lot of satisfying clues about what Shinji's father is really up to, how far he's willing to go to accomplish his goals, and what NERV is hiding from the world about what the alien Angels are really like. Tune in next month ...
