She's a strong woman...

[Olin of Xephon]

Been wondering about this for a while, ever since I watched the director's cut really.
What was exactly was going on in that one scene where Ritsuko is standing naked in the Seele hall?

Seele: ...It is not our intention to bring any shame upon you
Ritsuko: (naked) I don't feel any shame...

They go on to mention that "she is a storng woman it is no wonder Ikari wants her to be near him" and also they inform Akagi that she was sent here instead of Rei.

I understand the Rei bit, they didn't know she was a clone of Lilith/Yui and wanted to know for sure. Gendo was trying to throw them off track.

So why send Ritsuko?
And exactly what kind of "inquiry" was being conducted?

[The Eva Monkey]

This is one of those things that has bothered me forever, it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever from any functional standpoint.

[sadsadshinji]

seemed as though she was the next best thing (director of project E) for seele

[mike]

Having Ritsuko strip down could have a purpose after all. Nudity is a form of passive torture that makes a subject feel vulnerable and exposed and more likely to tell the truth during an interrogation, so maybe the guys at Seele aren't just perverts after all.

[Hexon.Arq]

Naw, they were perverts. Perhaps Anno wasn't really thinking about the "kind" of interrogation and simply made her nude in order to really drive home the point that she was subject to humiliation for the Commander.

[Olin of Xephon]

If the Eva monkey is lost, thee must not be a anwer...hmm... guess I'll make one up!

Seriously, I didn't think about the torture bit. Thinking of it in those terms actually makes that scene work.
Like in the manga, when Kaji captured Fuyutski, Seele just had him sit in the chair with no food, water, or sleep, a simple but effective form of torture that may have gotten them what they wanted to know.

I guess they didn't get it out of Ritsuko though...and Kaji saved Kouzo.
I agre with hexon on the symbolism, I just think thee had to be a rational answer, this sounds like a good one.

Any other possible reasons for this scene?

[Dave]

Anno likes seeing cartoon woman naked.

[Olin of Xephon]

Ahh! Now It all makes since!

(smacks forehead) Duh! Now I understnad what was up with the nude harmonisc test, and why Misato was always hanging around with nothing on but a towel, oh, and all that stuff with Rei!

Anno likes seeing animated girls naked! It all makes since now!

[wildarmsheero]

I like naked cartoon girls too.

[ShoKenju]

Naw, they were perverts. Perhaps Anno wasn't really thinking about the "kind" of interrogation and simply made her nude in order to really drive home the point that she was subject to humiliation for the Commander.

only sound was aloud.


i know this for sure due to the episode with Sasquiel(sp?{the space angel}) Gendo asks if Shinji is there when he's right in front of the monitor.

[Kiel]

Not having seen the DC of Eva, I haven't seen this scene...

but I've got a pretty good idea of what went down...

04 (Sound Only): So you see, Dr. Akagi, that is why we have summoned you here.

Ritsuko: But why must I be naked?

06 (sound only): Oh, It's cool. We can't actually see you...uh, being sound only...and all.

Ritsuko: But what about those video cameras beside your obalisques?

07 (sound only): Oh those? They're just recording you for our...reseachers...don't worry, our researchers are cool.

Ritsuko: Alright, what about those other cameras that say "worldwide live feed" on them?

04 (sound only): Are you implying that the world is not cool?! *fap fap fap*

Ritsuko: what's that noise? Some kinda ceiling fan?

Seele (sound only): ...uhh...

[Dave]

It wasn't a new scene for the DC's Kiel....

[Kiel]

Really?...

Geez, I don't really remember it in the regular series...

*scratches head* Gonna hafta watch the last couple disks again, I guess...

[Olin of Xephon]

It's in the episode with Rei tank. I think.
At 2:09 in the morning, my brain is working weird, and I might have made a mistake there.

But in the orignal version you only see her face and some of her neck.
You don't (well, I didn't) instantly assume she's naked.

In the Director's cut, you have a full body shot.

I was like: Hold the phone! What's going on here!?

[Reichu]

This is one of those things that has bothered me forever, it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever from any functional standpoint.

Actually... It does.

Shin-seiki from ANF has found was is, IMO, the answer to this cryptic scene, and it's actually kind of shocking -- but it makes perfect sense. The really neat thing about it is that it also gives us the best possible clue for what Gendou's mystery line from EoE is. Unfortunately, I'm sworn to secrecy until Shin-seiki officially announces his theory. So that's... all I can say... about that...

[The Eva Monkey]

The only two things I've toyed with are the following.

A) Trying to make her uncomfortable and receptive to their questions.
B) She got pulled right out of Gendo's bed.

*shrug*

I have no idea.

[Reichu]

The only two things I've toyed with are the following.

A) Trying to make her uncomfortable and receptive to their questions.
B) She got pulled right out of Gendo's bed.

*shrug*

I have no idea.

Well, stay tuned. Like I've said, I really think Shin-seiki is onto something with this one (not that that's anything unusual with him). The solution is surprising, but IMO it ties everything together.

[Treeves056]

I just think Seele is a bunch of old perverts who wanted to see a hot blond scientist naked

[the_seventh_child]

I just think Seele is a bunch of old perverts who wanted to see a hot blond scientist naked

That sounds right.

[Olin of Xephon]

I'm waiting with (somewhat) baited breath.

When is this big theory going public?