We’ve been focused on Shinji—or, as Asuka calls him this episode, “idiot Shinji”—but the past few episodes have not been kind to Asuka. She’s lost two fights in a row and nobody has time for her amid all the chaos of the last few months but she’s not doing very well. Her synchronization rate with Unit 02 is dropping precipitously. Being at work means being a failure. Being at home, around the mysteriously important and successful Shinji, is even worse. Even Kaji isn’t picking up when she calls. Granted, that is because Kaji is dead, but she does not know that.
Nobody’s told Asuka that she’s on thin ice and will be replaced if her performance doesn’t improve. But she knows. So when an Angel appears, she goes rogue and throws herself into action. This Angel, which does look impressively Biblical, is actually in outer space. Nevertheless, Asuka gets out a long range gun and tries to line up her aim, and then… the Angel makes contact with her. Whatever Angel’s intentions are here—it seems…
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