I'm sure this has already been asked before, but I'm to awesome to check. When the Lance of Longinus goes at Asuka, it transforms into it's true form, as do all the other lances the MP Eva's shish kebab her with. What the heck triggers the lance to change back to it's original form?

err...

The presence of a high-energy AT-field perhaps. It did only change once it came into contacts with Asuka's projected field.

A critical moment in the script when the transformation will look really cool.

Reichu wrote:A critical moment in the script when the transformation will look really cool.

this

It probably was just to look cool. When Rei threw the lance at Arael it changed too, but before it penetrated its AT Field. Actually, then it transformed a little bit more, to propel itself through the ATF.

Yeah, I'm thinking an A.T Field, or maybe the pilot or whoever is controlling the Eva "tells" it to change. But then, there's always a chance it's a plot device to make it look good.

As a plot device, it was convenient. If you look at the entire sequence, thematically, that was the first, and perhaps your first time seeing EoE, time you see one of these weapons that the MPEs were using suddenly turn into a 2 pronged fork, or, something that looks like the LoL. All this time Asuka was fighting the MPE's, and even taking one of their weapons and sparring with one of them. But when you see one of those weapons suddenly turn into a LoL, and pierce through Eva-02's ATF, you feel as shocked as Asuka is. Of course, upon further viewings of EoE you know what they are.

Or in other words:

Reichu wrote:A critical moment in the script when the transformation will look really cool.

The CI says that the spears that are paired with each seed of life (like Adam and Lilith) have a will of their own. The MPE weapons could be clones of them, which might mean they could similarly shape themselves to a number of "shapes", including a single pronged spear (like the NPC of Ariel getting killed).

Anyways, just like how an impact grenade explodes on contact with a surface, you can think about the Lance of Longinus turning to it's screw-like AT Field piercing form once it comes in contact with a resisting AT Field.

Get it?

But the replica that comes in contact with Eva-02's ATF turns into its default pitchfork shape.

What does the LoL actually symbolize? I used to think that it was a representation of death, since it's the only thing that can disregard AT Fields (all living things, i.e. everything with a soul, will someday die: you can't shut out death with your soul and expect to live forever.) Also the LoL derives its name from Longinus, the Roman centurion who ultimately killed Jesus on the cross, hence the "Spear of Destiny" name. Again, death was the ultimate sacrifice of God to mankind.
But from what I've read here, nothing seems to point to that idea anymore, and now I'm slightly confused as to the claim that the LoL has a "mind of its own"...could somebody please explain?

AyrYntake wrote:What does the LoL actually symbolize? I used to think that it was a representation of death, since it's the only thing that can disregard AT Fields (all living things, i.e. everything with a soul, will someday die: you can't shut out death with your soul and expect to live forever.) Also the LoL derives its name from Longinus, the Roman centurion who ultimately killed Jesus on the cross, hence the "Spear of Destiny" name. Again, death was the ultimate sacrifice of God to mankind.
But from what I've read here, nothing seems to point to that idea anymore, and now I'm slightly confused as to the claim that the LoL has a "mind of its own"...could somebody please explain?

Sometimes cigar is just cigar - in LoL's case it isn't

It's the common assumption that the names of the Angels, the Spear, etc, were names given by religious zealots (i.e. Seele). Therefore, the original creators of the Spear had no intention of it being related to the Roman centurion, it was meant as a security device of some kind to keep Seeds of Life from doing something that FAR had not intended (whatever that is).

AyrYntake wrote:What does the LoL actually symbolize? <snip>

Its a gigantic Penis!

(in b4 Reichu)

The Spear of Longinus creates much disillusionment among fans due to its status as an all-purpose and unexplainable plot device, and hence analysis of its potential symbolic value is usually dropped in favor of "lol its a phallus".

Okay, it actually IS a phallic symbol in some scenes, so this isn't entirely without merit.

I was thinking about EoE in particular.

So many phallic symbols in that film.

And vulvae for that matter (as you continually point out Reichu).

May be it changes when contact with AT field?

Reichu wrote:Okay, it actually IS a phallic symbol in some scenes, so this isn't entirely without merit.

I KNEW IT WAS ALL ABOUT BLOWJOBS!!!!

Fazmotron wrote:I was thinking about EoE in particular.

So many phallic symbols in that film.

And vulvae for that matter (as you continually point out Reichu).

What better way to symbolize the rebirth of the human race? (If you've got an NC-17 rating, you might as well use it. =P )

Fazmotron wrote:So many phallic symbols in that film.

"ARE YOU A PIMP, GENDO?" :)

Enough thread derailment, peeps.