If Shinji were to die in the final film.

[Geometer]

Part of eva is about accepting life no matter how awful it seems. Shinji dying either through suicide would greatly undermine that. Hell even a heroic sacrifice would feel like an easy way out that avoids Shinji's the real problem in a strange way. The only other way is death through execution or accidental during a battle or for some other reason. Eva isn't the kind of series where people drop dead out of no where for the sake of it so I would find the latter very unlikely. I highly doubt an execution either, it just doesn't fit with eva, and would pretty much nullify all eva messages. Shinji can't grow as a person if he is dead. So I don't think there would be much to gain from Shinji's death especially considering rebuilds haven't had the time to focus as much on the other characters.

The only believable reason if Anno actually wanted to through away the message of NGE or to attack the fans. It could be a "you've had your chances to but
you through them away" type deal as a condemnation of both Shinji in universe and the fans who love eva but never followed its message.

[kuribo-04]

A lot of people here seem to think that Shinji dying in the final film isn't going to happen because it would "undermine the message of Eva".

I'm pretty sure the last film will be about dealing with a past that you cannot recover.
After 3.0 shows that getting it back is impossible, now it's time to show how to deal with it.
And a dead person doesn't have to deal with anything.

[imprimatur13]

And a dead person doesn't have to deal with anything.

Hmmm... Unless.... Afterlife? (One never knows.)

P.S. I love the avatar. Kill La Kill is my new favorite show, after I watched it a few weeks ago. Ryuko-chan FTW!

[Cybermat47]

Hmmm... Unless.... Afterlife? (One never knows.)

P.S. I love the avatar. Kill La Kill is my new favorite show, after I watched it a few weeks ago. Ryuko-chan FTW!

SATSUKI KIRRRRRRYYYYYUUUUUUUIIIIIIIIIN!

[C.T.1290]

I'm pretty sure that Asuka would want to kill him at some point, as do some other members in Wille. Because of what happened, it goes beyond a point of repair, so things could be over for him now.

It seems that the only way Shinji could make things up with the people he once cared about could be with his death, then we'll see how the others will feel.

[pwhodges]

No; it will be hard for either side in the Shinji vsRest of the world face-off to learn to deal with the other, and it will also be hard for Anno to write that convincingly for everyone to accept - but not to do that, in the context of the point we've reached, would simply be a cop-out. And I don't think Anno will be going the cop-out route after all he's put into this story.

[C.T.1290]

No; it will be hard for either side in the Shinji vsRest of the world face-off to learn to deal with the other,

How will it be hard for Shinji and the others?

It's apparent that they don't want him around, so there's nothing left in it for him. No reason to be with the people who viewed him as a monster who ended the world. I'm sure that Wille wouldn't have any problems if he died at some point.

And also, some fans don't seem to like him as much, so I don't see how badly it would affect them. The same could be said for the Wille crew, such as Misato and Asuka.

[pwhodges]

How will it be hard for Shinji and the others?

Lack of trust, both ways - the hardest aspect of failed relationships to rebuild.

[Settie]

No reason to be with the people who viewed him as a monster who ended the world. I'm sure that Wille wouldn't have any problems if he died at some point.

Technically they never said that, the one that told him the rest of humanity felt that way and blamed him for the state of the world was Kaworu, and he had ulterior motives for doing so.

[Guy Nacks]

Of all the things that Anno could conceivably do with the last entry in the series, I think that this is the least likely...by far.

I would sooner expect a five-way Asuka/Mari/Shinji/Rei/Sakura shipping confirmation than Shinji dying for good in Final.

[Lennik]

I'm pretty sure that Asuka would want to kill him at some point, as do some other members in Wille.

Even though 3.0 completely contradicts this very idea in every way? Jesus, not this again.

[C.T.1290]

Even though 3.0 completely contradicts this very idea in every way? Jesus, not this again.

How did it contradicts?

[pwhodges]

Simply the number of times when it would have been possible, even logical, for them to kill him - but they don't. Misato even appears to express frustration with him rather than anger, while Asuka goes back for him at the end.

[Reichu]

Misato even appears to express frustration with him rather than anger

Is this based on Allison Keith-Shipp's reading of "Shinji...!" toward the end? If so, Misato doesn't even sound frustrated in the original line reading -- more worried.

[pwhodges]

It's the word that came to my mind listening to the Japanese (which I am more familiar with in this case). But yes, worry is good too. Either way, she's not saying: "I want you dead".

[C.T.1290]

Is this based on Allison Keith-Shipp's reading of "Shinji...!" toward the end? If so, Misato doesn't even sound frustrated in the original line reading -- more worried.

I saw the dubbed version of 3.0, and she does sound a little more angry/frustrated than being worried about him.

[Reichu]

I saw the dubbed version of 3.0, and she does sound a little more angry/frustrated than being worried about him.

It's a complete misfire of voice direction, unfortunately. You should listen to the original performances at least once to help account for discrepancies like this.

The script comment for Misato's final "Shinji-kun..." is interesting, however cryptic. It says that Misato is "shinjitai", "wanting to believe". In what/who, exactly, it leaves to context. So I would assume that she's whispering "Shinji-kun..." under her breath because she's hoping that Shinji comes through. This calls back to Eva 1.01 when Misato declares to Gendo that she believes in Shinji. Back then, she did believe; now, she wants to believe.

[Gendo'sPapa]

3.0 is the first time Anno's work in the universe has moved towards subtlety. After the pretty straightforward 1.0 & the scream it loud emotionality of 2.0 Anno takes a strong turn into internalized conflict with the supporting cast. Even NGE is very loud & in your face when it comes to emotions.

Subtlety is sadly the first thing to go in changing language because the translators (dubbing actors) have to to put their spin on deliveries to feel authentic.

[C.T.1290]

So, what would Shinji have to do to earn everyone's forgiveness and trust? And how will the people of WILLE make up for the cold treatment they've given to Shinji? Especially Misato and Asuka? From the look of things, they might have a lot of work to regain each other's trust. And it might take a long time, or it may never happen at all. And it's uncertain what will happen to Shinji or what WILLE plans to do to him.

[Joseki]

I believe that in the real world all you need to do is sit at table, be yourself and be honest. At the same time I understand that in a narrative actions are also needed, especially for characters like Asuka.

My 2 cents (that I'm going to lose, it's Anno that is making the movie...) are on Shinji getting inside Unit 01 with the right intent at the right moment as a final redemption moment, similarly to 2.0 but hopefully with a different outcome. Anno loves callbacks and 3.0 had many callbacks to 1.0, so it would make sense if 3.0+1.0 had callbacks to 2.0 and the open plot points from that movie.