Postby Leonaxzz » Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:45 pm
I think one of the problems is that Asuka's arc was almost NOT resolved on her own.
Taking NGE as an example, we see Soryu’s situation is that she seeks praise and validation through piloting the EVA. If there was any problem that needs to be solved, it would be that she should not rely on EVA or self-centered but try to improve the interpersonal relationship with others by herself.
In other words, she is the protagonist or leader who to solve these problems, and the ultimate solution lies in her own heart and actions, not other external factors or people.
(Of course her problems remained unresolved till the end of EoE, but at least the story did not pretend everything went perfectly.)
But in NTE, Shikinami is almost on a very passive side.
Surely, she does have some characteristics similar to Soryu: relying on EVA and obsessing to be the best pilot.
But not like Soryu who seeks validation, she pilots EVA just to survive (would be eliminated and die if she failed to become the best), which makes the cause of her problem moved to the external environment and conditions.
Also as for obsession to become the number one, we see that after experiencing only one Angel battle and a pep talk with Misato, it was not even a big deal anymore in just one hour.
And then what's going on after 3.0 ? Asuka’s problem was further replaced by: being polluted by Angel and cursed by EVA, which were all external factors beyond her control.
She could not live a normal life because of the curse of EVA, there's nothing she can do.
She was considered as a trigger for disaster because of the Angel in her eye, there's still nothing she can do.
And Anno could have made a further depiction of her connections with other people, for instance, she could have try to make contact with villagers and seek happiness by herself even she was not human....but no, because this plot has already been reserved for Rei Q.
So the solution left to Shikinami can only be the external savior (ex: God Shinji).
Those salvations and redemptions were given to her by others, not earned on her own. She wasn't in control of her fate, could not reflect opinions, or even made her own decisions.
The person who can take care of her was Kensuke, a mature, selfless, kindness and perfect father figure; and Mari, a complete Mary Sue who has zero psychological flaws, with superb social skills that can even get along with Gendo who possesses the strongest A.T. Field in all humans. It's hard to believe that their friendship was won by Asuka herself.
So painful to pilot EVA? No problem, let's erase all of EVAs, world peace.
Can't grow up and live like a normal person? No problem, no EVAs means the curse of EVA no longer exists. Now you have a healthy 28-year-old body.
Want someone to care for you? Here, this is your pat.
Can't find a home to belong to? Sure, send you to Kensuke.
Most of the time Asuka seemed ineffective and irrelevant in dealing with her own issues, if there was anything she can dominate, it may only be the relationship between her and Shinji, but since the two barely interact or develop anything throughout the whole NTE, it turned out to be more like Asuka just said her own words while Shinji said his own, however Anno still tried so hard to let them act like they had resolved EVERYTHING including from NGE and EoE (otherwise I have no idea why and how we got that beach scene and Soryu's plugsuit which all come out of nowhere).