Episode Summary
Neon Genesis Evangelion opens in a world already pushed to the brink. Massive beings known as Angels threaten humanity’s survival, and the fortified city of Tokyo-3 stands as one of the last defensive strongholds. As sirens blare and civilians evacuate, the sense of urgency is immediate and unrelenting.
We’re introduced to Shinji Ikari, a quiet and emotionally withdrawn teenager summoned to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father, Gendo Ikari—the commander of the secretive organization NERV. Before Shinji can understand why he’s been called, an Angel attacks, effortlessly overwhelming conventional military forces.
Shinji is brought deep underground to NERV headquarters, where he learns the truth: he’s expected to pilot Evangelion Unit-01, a towering biomechanical weapon designed specifically to combat the Angels. The episode closes on hesitation rather than triumph, emphasizing fear, pressure, and the emotional cost of survival.
My Commentary
This anime was recommended to me by a friend and came highly regarded as one of those must-watch classics. I’m only one episode in, but I can already tell this is absolutely a staple of the medium. You can immediately see where so many later anime themes—and even entire story structures—pull inspiration from Evangelion.
It also reminds me of one of my other favorite anime, Black Lagoon, not in setting, but in how it throws characters into brutal situations without romanticizing them. So far, the setup feels simple on the surface: a young boy, son of a mad genius, potentially the only hope humanity has left. But even in Episode 1, it’s clear this series isn’t interested in easy hero narratives.
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