Okay, first off, Please, people, do NOT turn this into a "Shinji & Asuka realtionship doesn't work" debate!
The main thing I want to ask, although it may be something of a "duh!" answer what with Yui-sama's famous quote, is this:
Do you think Shinji & Asuka, not can, but WILL find happiness together after Third Impact?
Yes, it would take a lot of work on their part with dealing (properly! eg, talk-therapy or some such thing) with the negative aspects of their personality that they want to change, while accepting the rest (Perfection is impossible, after all), but I think it would most certianly happen.
Despite this: (sorry, but you sum these things up 10x better than I ever could!)
Reichu wrote:What makes Asuka's story sad, for me, is that, when all is said and done, Asuka gives us no sign that she has learned anything from all that has happened, or done ONE SINGLE THING to change her ways. She decides to come back: Well, that's a start. But, aside from that, we get one confirmation -- ONE! -- that she has acknowledged her innermost feelings in any way. But she immediately dampens this achievement of the highest order with her final two bitter words, spoken "in the coldest voice possible".
Reichu wrote:Well, I certainly think he's still of the belief that he needs her in order for himself to be complete (isn't that what the Significant Other is?) -- the achievement of Complementation in a world where we can still be individuals. On some deep level, Asuka's caress implies that she feels the same way, however difficult that sentiment is to express due to her own problems in general. I probably don't need to say that her troubles extend FARRRRRRR beyond Shinji and, if not for them, their compatibility could be fully achieved. Looking at Asuka's greater moments with a fresh eye -- that is, where she isn't throwing her own psychological pus at Shinji -- says a lot about how these two really CAN get along. I think that's what Anno is really getting at, and why the anti-shipper attitude is missing the point.
Incidentally, this is also echoing humanity's failure with the Angels: "We neglected and rejected each other even though we're all human." Take it out of context, and, voila! Thematic pay-off strikes yet again!! :slap slap slap:
I think the caress is a symbol of hope, that she'll slowly-but-surely change for the better, as will Shinji.
I mean, the fact that she decides to live on again has got to mean SOMETHING, right?
This espeically, has got to mean SOMETHING, right?
EYED wrote:What is love, till it comes Home to you?
Discuss.
EDIT: Post edited for clarification.