Dumb question: why was Shinji alone at the start of Eva?

[popcorn]

Hi everyone. I've registered here just to find an answer to a dumb question that's haunted me for years.

Shinji arrives in Tokyo, a heavily fortified city, and waits to be picked up by Misato. In that time, a state of emergency is declared, and everyone hauls ass to a shelter. So why the hell is Shinji standing around outside like an idiot, waiting to get stamped on?

Is this a plot hole or just something that I don't get?

[Mr. Tines]

I'd assumed that he was the only one getting off the train at that stop; all the automated services were still running, but nobody was around.

[pwhodges]

And he's a hick country boy, new to Tokyo-3, and quite likely unaware of the Angel precautions and shelters.

[unz]

I thought Misato was late and he didn't know where the shelter was but I don't remember the details. I remember boobs on a postcard. Maybe he was busy

[xPearse]

Yes, it is a plot hole. A very big one. Just like how did Shinji work with Unit-02 when they were on Over the Rainbow or whatever the fuck you called it. Nah. I wouldn't think too hard of it inverse, it's just a plot device like everything. Even more so seeing how the plot and characters are second to the meaning of the show.

I thought Misato was late and he didn't know where the shelter was but I don't remember the details. I remember boobs on a postcard. Maybe he was busy

Busy? Yeah, jerking off. I mean, this is Shinji we're talking about.

[popcorn]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. None of the explanations really satisfy me to be honest, so I guess it's a plot hole after all.

I wouldn't think too hard of it inverse, it's just a plot device like everything. Even more so seeing how the plot and characters are second to the meaning of the show.

I think you're exactly right here, though there are plot elements to Eva I find really exciting. For example, the Rei reveal is really thrilling. I just wish some of the loose ends were taken care of so they don't distract from the bigger things.

A bigger plot hole for me is why everyone continues to live in this city when it's repeatedly attacked by cosmic beings of mass destruction...

[NemZ]

I'd assumed that he was the only one getting off the train at that stop; all the automated services were still running, but nobody was around.

This. How would he have any idea what was going on or where he was supposed to go?

[MarioAyanami128]

I have to disagree.
Misato says she is preety late to pick him up.
I think it's preety safe to assume that they arranged the meeting in Tokyo 3.
The Manga, while not a direct representation of what happens in NGE, kinda gives an idea of what the director wanted for the audience to infer.
While not explained to the viewer, I don't think that it's a plot hole. Evangelion has a distinct detail, that its beginning is minimalist, and goes right to the point, with few introductions, in a matter that the audience can find itself in the plot and what is going on based on their own judgement. ^^

[popcorn]

This. How would he have any idea what was going on or where he was supposed to go?

He would follow the masses of people rushing to shelters and evacuation zones.

e: In the event of emergency, Tokyo trains stop immediately.

[NemZ]

Misato is ALSO late, yes, but Shinji is still just wandering around in a completely empty train station. We don't see any crowds of people fleeing, just him, so presumably they've already all gotten to shelter before he arrived in the middle of things with no clue what is going on.

Shutting down the trains in an emergency isn't going to happen when the key to resolving the emergency needs to get where he's going on a train... surely Nerv could pull some strings to make sure that single train keeps moving.

[popcorn]

Misato is ALSO late, yes, but Shinji is still just wandering around in a completely empty train station. We don't see any crowds of people fleeing, just him, so presumably they've already all gotten to shelter before he arrived in the middle of things with no clue what is going on.

Shutting down the trains in an emergency isn't going to happen when the key to resolving the emergency needs to get where he's going on a train... surely Nerv could pull some strings to make sure that single train keeps moving.

All this stuff is possible, but you're having to concoct elaborate speculations to account for it.

I always thought I just misunderstood something but I'm increasingly suspecting not.

e: I mean, the more you think about this, the sillier it is. If the key to defeating the angels is Shinji, why did Nerv send for him by train at all? Like, why didn't the Nerv secret service guys just show up at his house and say "Hey kid, get in the helicopter?"

(Not that any of this is important, really.)

[pwhodges]

Gendou held off summoning Shinji as long as he could (part of the trying to spare his son side of him that people occasionally mention and acknowledge, I suppose), but the Angel turned up that bit too soon. Just coincidence to suit the plot, and not requiring any more explanation than that.

[Mr. Tines]

Like, why didn't the Nerv secret service guys just show up at his house and say "Hey kid, get in the helicopter?"

There was a special train laid on for him when he was about to quit, later; doing the same on the way in would make sense. It would explain why it stopped to let off a passenger even while an emergency was being signalled.

And he would get off and follow whatever directions he had been given, in true Shinji fashion, right into the middle of a war zone.

[Rei IV]

This is the first time I ever heard Shin-chan is from the country side or is a hick. Sauce?

[BlueBasilisk]

Where the heck IS Shinji when he gets off the train anyway? Seems like they have a fairly long drive before getting back into Tokyo-3.

[pwhodges]

This is the first time I ever heard Shin-chan is from the country side or is a hick. Sauce?

No source; headcanon. It's just that he's come from outside Tokyo 3, and is clearly not familiar with the setup. How many other cities have been able to be rebuilt since second impact is unknown, but I imagine the resources were swallowed up by Tokyo 3 anyway.

[Sachi]

Yes, it is a plot hole. A very big one.

How is it a plot hole, and why is it a big one?

[Iuvenal]

I'm late to this party, but I'd say the reason is that "NERV is not a well-run organization". It's one of about a dozen times that a "rocks fall, everyone dies" ending was averted by serendipity.

[unz]

I second the minimal thing.

[Compiling_Autumn]

He would follow the masses of people rushing to shelters and evacuation zones.

e: In the event of emergency, Tokyo trains stop immediately.

Yeah. Shinji would be the guy to just wander around town when everyone else is running for cover.

"Hmm, maybe I should go to the shelter. No, I'm supposed to meet Misato here. I'll just stick around."