Which Character Should Kill Gendo?

Discussion of the new series of Evangelion movies ( "Evangelion Shin Gekijōban", meaning "Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition"). The final instalment made its debut in Japan on March 8, 2021.

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Which Character Should Kill Gendo?

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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:57 pm

Hoo boy. . . Where do I begin?

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In this time of 3.0, with everyone in the movie being so cold hearted to poor Shinji. It's easy to forget who the real culprit for the planets misfortunes is.

Two Words. Gendo. Ikari.

I've been quite vocal in my opinion of sheer dislike for the bastard. I hated him in the original series, but in Rebuild he is truly the most despicable bastard I have ever seen in any medium.

Tricking his own son into committing mass genocide. . . . I think it's safe to say that quite a few of us here on Evageeks want to see him get offed, but who will do the deed?

Which character would have the most to gain from his death? Which would be the most thematically poignant? Would letting him live be better or worse?

In this post, the name Gendo and "the bastard" are to be used interchangeably.

Which character would be the most likely to off Gendo? I've whittled it down to four or five likely subjects.


1. Shinji


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The most obvious choice, since the Rebuild films are Shinji centric. Given he's lost everything (including the love and trust of his surrogate family) because of his father, was manipulated into causing not one but TWO impacts, having the deaths of billions on his soul, and then being made responsible for the death of the only person who still genuinely cared for him (Kaworu). Shinji only has two people in the world left to blame for his suffering, Gendo and himself. What else does he have left other than hate for his father?

A big thing I felt was missing from EOE was Shinji and Gendo having a face to face final confrontation with each other. It would have been a lot more satisfying (for me at least) to see Shinji get Catharsis through a final confrontation of some sort with Gendo. I hope we get that in Final. I would love as much as anyone to see Shinji finally get revenge on the bastard for taking away his friends, family, and hope for a meaningful life.

However, given Shinji's mental state at the end of 3.0, and the fact that he was not particularly revenge prone in the original series or the previous two Rebuild films. This seems rather unlikely.

He would fight his father if given some kind of recovery period, but actually killing him? Even now after all he's been through that seems unlikely.

2. Rei-Q

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In a similar vein to the way Rei betrayed him in EOE. Where Gendo never expected her to develop feelings and free will, she took Adam along with his arm, and gave the power to reshape the world to Shinji. Now, it appears that neither Rei nor Rei Q hold Lilith's soul like in the original series and EOE. So it is extremely likely we will not be getting a repeat of that in Final/4.0.

So how would Rei-Q betraying Gendo work thematically in Final?

I believe that Rei Q developing feelings for Shinji and taking action, to the point of physically killing Gendo either to avenge or defend him would be an excellent and Karmaic way to off Gendo. It could be seen as her equivalent of finding emotion and forging her own path, especially given her origins and existance in the shadow of both Gendo and her predecessor. It would be a good and somewhat ironic counterpoint to the original Rei slapping Shinji for daring to speak against his father, if an Ayanami-type was the one to off Gendo.


3. Misato


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She's been fighting a losing war against the bastard for 14 years, he turned Shinji from the boy she loved as a surrogate son, into a pariah for the deaths of billions. Even if she likely will never forgive Shinji for the (unintentional) part he played in his plan (likely brought on by being forced to relive her childhood trauma at N3I), I feel its safe to say she blames Gendo more than Shinji.

Even if the emotional bridge between Shinji and Misato is gone forever, I feel her hatred of Gendo is fueled primarily by what love she has left for Shinji.

Perhaps she kills Gendo in one last genuine act of love for Shinji? In an attempt to atone for her treatment of him in 3.0 leading to Fourth Impact? (I know it's more complicated than that) It could work thematically, one parental figure, eliminating another for the sake of the child. But given it would likely rip away the narrative focus from Shinji, I doubt Misato will be the one to do it.

4. Unit 01/Yui & Rei

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It happened before, it could happen again. . . especially given Gendo's plan and motivation do not appear to be all that different from the original series. Gendo still wants to be with Yui again, damn the consequences, and damn anyone who dares get in the way of him being with the only woman who ever loved him again.

The only thing keeping this from happening again is the fact that instrumentality, is likely to be a vastly different scenario from what it was in EOE. Gendo isn't planning to unite everyone into one giant hive mind like he did in NGE. It appears in the Rebuild continuity Gendo is being selfish, he only wants eternity for himself and Yui. Since the Rebuilds obviously focus on Shinji's emotional journey and not on the majority of the other characters. I wouldn't mind if Gendo was bitten in half by Yui/Unit-01 in Final ala what happened in EoE.

However it already happened once. . .so If Anno is planning to have him be rejected again by Yui when instrumentality commences I hope he has a much better plan than a repeat of EOE.

5. Fate Worse Than Death:

This the fate for Gendo I am personally hoping for in Final/4.0 . A fate so horrendous, so despicable, so perfect, that we cannot imagine it until we actually see it in the film.
A few of the best choices.I've seen suggested for Gendo's Fate.

Yui and Rei being pulled from Unit 01 and Reunited with Shinji while Gendo is trapped in Unit 01/ Unit 13 forever as it's sent out into space.

Gendo is turned into a blob of living LCL goo doomed to crawl through the ruins of Tokyo-3 and Nerv Headquarters for the rest of eternity.

Life Imprisonment trapped in a catatonic state like he did to Shinji.
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How do you think Gendo Ikari should die? Should he die at all? What would you personally want Anno to do to the bastard in Final?

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Postby TMBounty_Hunter » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:10 pm

Gendo should be killed by his shiny new visor.

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Postby Dima » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:17 pm

Misato after a battle between Wunder and Neo Nerv-Wunder (if it exists).

I would like also to see Asuka doing it just because to meet each other eye to eye even for once.
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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:19 pm

You're assuming Gendo still HAS eyes.

I'm thinking Wunder vs The Black moon.

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Postby robersora » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:27 pm

Mari should kill Gendou, because she sorely needs a purpose. It also would be hilariously dissatisfying.
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Postby Dataprime » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:28 pm

I'm all for "momma bear" Unit 01 killing Gendo
Something about Gendo getting killed by a 'monster' holding the soul of the person who
he loves the most is somehow bitter sweet, I think

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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:41 pm

But it's already been done once before in EOE. I hope Anno does something a bit more creative with it if he decides to have Unit 01 be the one to do the deed.

Mari already has a purpose, Merchandising!

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Postby Dataprime » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:46 pm

View Original PostRay wrote:But it's already been done once before in EOE.

But isn't Evangelion a series about repetition?
Maybe it's destined to happen again?

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Postby Dima » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:46 pm

View Original PostRay wrote:You're assuming Gendo still HAS eyes.

I'm thinking Wunder vs The Black moon.


Oh i am sure he still has eyes. Wunder vs Black Wunder will happed but i doubt Anno will choose to kill Gendo during the fight (if he dies at all).
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Postby Nuclear Lunchbox » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:49 pm

For all we know, Gendo could find a way to redeem himself in final. Yeah, it's a long shot, but I'm not going to call any kills until I've seen :||.

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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:52 pm

View Original PostNuclear Lunchbox wrote:For all we know, Gendo could find a way to redeem himself in final. Yeah, it's a long shot, but I'm not going to call any kills until I've seen :||.


The man tricked his only son into commiting Genocide and Gaiacide! He is irredeemable!

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Postby tzigi » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:58 pm

If we're going for revenge, then... who was killed as a direct result of Gendo's machinations? Kaworu. So, who could get revenge on Gendo? Nagisa-kun :devil:
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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:02 pm

He's dead, Tzigi.

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Postby Gendo'sPapa » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:38 pm

Be nice to see Fuyutsuki do it.

But I wouldn't be surprised if it's Yui again OR Gendo through some grand way kills himself.

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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:39 pm

I'd like to see the look on Gendo's face when/if that happens.

But Fuyu is a broken, jaded, bitter, old man still slavishly devoted to a man who tricked his son into commiting mass genocide. It probably not going to happen.

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Postby tzigi » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:43 pm

View Original PostRay wrote:He's dead, Tzigi.

And?

Do such petty things really bother Kaworu? Remember when he died in NGE ep. 24 and showed up just a day or so later to comfort Shinji during 3I? I wouldn't put resurrection past him (or if there's really a Kaworu in each coffin on the Moon then he could just spring up from the next one and go make Shinji miserable... that is, of course, happy again).
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Postby xyz346 » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:54 pm

Well Kaworu DID say he and Shinji would meet again...
...

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Postby Jornophelanthas » Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:31 pm

My guess is a very complicated and specific one. The long version something like this:

- Gendo's master plan is finally realized. He has used the Key of Nebuchadnezzar and can now control the fate of humanity.
- He chooses to be reunited with Yui. Yui appears and rejects him for what he has done to Shinji. (Remember how Unit-01 rejects the dummy plug in 2.0 and Gendo whispers "Why do you reject me, Yui?" under his breath?)
- Gendo is dumbfounded. His entire plan hinged on the assumption that Yui wanted it too.
- Shinji appears, and offers him forgiveness and redemption. (Shinji is no longer running away.)
- Shamed and remorseful, Gendo refuses Shinji's offer and hurls himself directly into the core of Unit-01, effectively unbirthing himself and subjecting himself to Yui's eternal rejection. (Gendo is and has always been more prone to running away than Shinji by far.)
- Like Yui alone in EoE, now Gendo and Yui separate-but-together remain as a testament of humanity in Unit-01's fossilized remains that drift away into the depths of space.
(- Only Rei Ayanami is there with them. She represents the hope that one day the barrier between Gendo and Yui may be lifted once more.)

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The shorter version is that Yui rejects Gendo, that Gendo can't let go of the past and prefers Yui's eternal rejection over the possibility of a new future with Shinji and the rest of humanity. If he can be said to still feel remorse, this may be explained as self-imposed eternal punishment. However, it could also be explained as a refusal to take responsibility for his actions, and a selfish denial of the points of view of others.

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The really short version is "fate worse than death", but willingly self-inflicted.

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Postby pwhodges » Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:27 pm

Gendou will die ignominiously and randomly (untargetted) during Wille's final assault on Nerv, after Fuyutsuki refuses to help him by taking part in the last defence. There will be no satisfaction for him or anyone else through his being killed personally by any of the protagonists; each remaining character will have to resolve their issues for themselves.
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Postby Ray » Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:36 pm

View Original PostJornophelanthas wrote:My guess is a very complicated and specific one. The long version something like this:

- Gendo's master plan is finally realized. He has used the Key of Nebuchadnezzar and can now control the fate of humanity.
- He chooses to be reunited with Yui. Yui appears and rejects him for what he has done to Shinji. (Remember how Unit-01 rejects the dummy plug in 2.0 and Gendo whispers "Why do you reject me, Yui?" under his breath?)
- Gendo is dumbfounded. His entire plan hinged on the assumption that Yui wanted it too.
- Shinji appears, and offers him forgiveness and redemption. (Shinji is no longer running away.)
- Shamed and remorseful, Gendo refuses Shinji's offer and hurls himself directly into the core of Unit-01, effectively unbirthing himself and subjecting himself to Yui's eternal rejection. (Gendo is and has always been more prone to running away than Shinji by far.)
- Like Yui alone in EoE, now Gendo and Yui separate-but-together remain as a testament of humanity in Unit-01's fossilized remains that drift away into the depths of space.
(- Only Rei Ayanami is there with them. She represents the hope that one day the barrier between Gendo and Yui may be lifted once more.)

---
The shorter version is that Yui rejects Gendo, that Gendo can't let go of the past and prefers Yui's eternal rejection over the possibility of a new future with Shinji and the rest of humanity. If he can be said to still feel remorse, this may be explained as self-imposed eternal punishment. However, it could also be explained as a refusal to take responsibility for his actions, and a selfish denial of the points of view of others.

---
The really short version is "fate worse than death", but willingly self-inflicted.


Most of this. . . except Yui and Rei are pulled from Unit 01 and is there for Shinji to help him rebuild his life, while Gendo is doomed to be forever alone in the remains of unit 01 and/or 13 as he is jettisoned into deep, deep, DEEP space.


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