Guy Nacks wrote:Shinji is not a coward...at least not moreso than the average 14-year-old would be in his situation
But that's what I'm saying. And yes, he is, for the most part of the time (or at least, half of the time if you want). And I said, "he overcomes some of his issues". And I'm not even saying that it's a bad thing, in the series is a good character (in the series). And I'm not even judging him as a person should be, only as a character. If you're going to quote, quote correctly.
Guy Nacks wrote:This is all to say the people who complain about Shinji's actions in the first half of EOE as being illogical or irrational aren't taking into account how much shit this kid has been put through for roughly the past half-year and has now been officially pushed into having a complete psychological meltdown. So, of course his actions aren't going to seem rational.
I am taking acount of it. And I'm judging him through his words in EoE. If he was mentally broken or completely irrational, he wouldn't be able to justify himself with Misato. He exposes clearly that he doesn't want to do a thing, because the only thing he does is killing people when he pilots the EVA. But, when Maya says Asuka is DEAD (FREAKING Asuka YOU KNOW, THE PERSON HE CLAIMS FOR HELP), he simply doesn't give a damn. But when he says the EVA-02 being eaten, he suddenly does?? That's a big inconsistency!! If you want to make the character totally mad, or sunk in depression, or totally irrational, do it. If you want to make the character with depression but still rational, do it. But the Shinji in EoE is neither, and that's my problem with him.
And besides, depression (I mean, depression at its purest, most destructive way ) doesn't make you irrational. It makes you DON'T CARE. If he were totally deppresive, I mean reeealy deppresive, he wouldn't claim for help. He wouldn't give a care any moment (and he does, when he sees the EVA-02). He wouldn't care about Asuka, or anyone. And that's not the case.
Guy Nacks wrote:But with that being said, he had no way of knowing what was going to happen to Asuka at that point. So I suppose the degree to which her death is his fault is ultimately up for the viewer to decide.
I've got a lot to say about that. If he wanted to, he clearly could have helped Asuka. Misato says: "You can choose between running away of get into the EVA." Even with the bakelite, he could get into the EVA. When he hears Asuka in danger, maybe he could try breaking the bakelite or something. You know, at least TRY. But to me, his decision of doing nothing (even when the poor girl is dead, no kidding) is merely a plot device so that Asuka can die and the EVA-01 can activate afterwards.