Authorial intent means jack shit if the movie does a terrible job expressing it. The only thing that matters is that the fucked-up world at the beginning of 3.0 (which is what everyone is blaming him for) literally is not his fault.’
Hell, the movies are actually less shit if you don’t know any of the not-actually-shown-in-the-movies background stuff and just assumed that the end of 2.0 actually was just Third Impact.
I will say, 3.0 and 3+4 suffered immensely from not being released back to back as was originally intended. 3's nastiness was clearly intended to lead right into 3+4's reconstruction. Unfortunately we got a nearly decade long time gap presumably due to Anno getting burnout. The nuance of it was somewhat mishandled. However, the overarching theme seemed largely intact. The way forward is never easy and for every one victory you may get slapped with seemingly disproportionate negative consequences. At times, it may feel like every one step forward heralds two steps back. But ultimately, if you persist and keep moving forward, you will reach something resembling your goal. It may not be exactly what you envisioned, but that's life. Maybe I'm just going easy on it because of nostalgia and the feeling of closure it offered, but ultimately I found it compelling.
What you outlined was the story Anno wanted to tell, not the movies I actually watched. I think there’s at least some interesting ideas and concepts there, but authorial intent means jack shit if the movie does a terrible job expressing it. The only thing that matters is that the fucked-up world at the beginning of 3.0 (which is what everyone is blaming him for) literally is not his fault. Hell, the movies are actually less shit if you don’t know any of the barely-shown-in-the-movies background stuff and just assumed that the end of 2.0 actually was just Third Impact.
I will say, 3.0 and 3+4 suffered immensely from not being released back to back as was originally intended. 3's nastiness was clearly intended to lead right into 3+4's reconstruction. Unfortunately we got a nearly decade long time gap presumably due to Anno getting burnout. The nuance of it was somewhat mishandled. However, the overarching theme seemed largely intact. The way forward is never easy and for every one victory you may get slapped with seemingly disproportionate negative consequences. At times, it may feel like every one step forward heralds two steps back. But ultimately, if you persist and keep moving forward, you will reach something resembling your goal. It may not be exactly what you envisioned, but that's life. Maybe I'm just going easy on it because of nostalgia and the feeling of closure it offered, but ultimately I found it compelling.
Edited my comment a bit - I don’t think the Rebuilds are a complete waste of time since I think it’s clear that Anno did have an actual story he wanted to tell, but the story as a whole is just so poorly put together, and suffers greatly from the bulk of its setup being formed by chopping up NGE and roughly stapling it back into something vaguely resembling a cohesive plot. Not to mention other highly questionable stylistic choices, such as the decision to turn the climactic fights into Hollywood CGI vomit.
After 3.0+1.0 came out I was giving it a pass due to hype and nostalgia, but half a year later I‘m realizing that I can’t point to a single aspect of the movies that I actually think was executed well, except the village sequence, and even then only when considered in isolation.
It is also his fault, what the fuck are you talking about. The movie uses TWO characters to say that it is his fault View attachment 3276222 View attachment 3276225 View attachment 3276226
If the authoral intent you are talking about here is your incapability of understanding these lines, I sure as hell can't do anything about it.
Fair point, going back to rewatch the ending of 2.0 it’s definitely portrayed as more cataclysmic than I remembered, with most of Tokyo-3 apparently being destroyed. That being said, “destroying Tokyo-3 because he didn’t consider consequences that he could not have possibly known about” is many orders of magnitude below “destroying the entire world and sacrificing all of humanity to create a hive mind where he won’t be lonely knowing full well the consequences of his actions” in terms of severity. Yet 3.0 clearly tries to conflate the two by also saddling Shinji with the blame for Third Impact proper when his culpability for this is much murkier, given that it is the direct result of actions by Gendo and Fuyutsuki taken months after he was removed from the equation completely. The narrative would just work a lot better if it’s clear that Shinji is just directly responsible for the crimes everyone blames him for. In EoE, it’s his choice to end the world; nobody manipulates him into doing it, there is literally nobody to blame but him. In the Rebuilds, he’s just an unwitting pawn of Gendo and Fuyutsuki’s master plan.
In a story that’s supposed to be about taking responsibility for one’s actions, making said actions the direct result of being actively manipulated by greater powers just muddies the message.
I like both Mob and OPM and think it’s kinda stupid to pick a fight about one over the other.
And Shinji getting constantly shit on and going through massive amount of trans is kinda the point. It’s only at the end of the last movie where he finally goes “okay, fuck this shit.”
Let's also keep in mind that Shinji didn't know he was starting the N3I. If he did not do the N3I it would have just resulted in a 3I anyway when the angel he stopped got to Lillith unless you think Shinji could have beat it (and lost Rei) through conventional means. The authorial intent and stated opinion of some characters in universe is that it's Shinji's fault but I don't see how anyone from the audience's perspective (and hell, Misato's perspective too) can't assign nearly all the blame to Team Gendo/Fuyutsuki.
I also really, really hated the notion that Shinji should've just let Rei die in 2.0, as saving her was choosing an escapist fantasy that doomed the world or some crap.
Not to get too in-depth or end up power-leveling, but I found myself feeling really empathetic to Rei's character, especially after seeing how she and her relationship with Shinji grew over the first two films. She went from being just an unfeeling drone to learning to love and care for someone, and her action at the end of 2.0 was her basically doing it for him, basically taking his burden onto her shoulders.
At the end, she's essentially stuck in a pit that feels she doesn't deserve to be saved from, due to her nature as a clone, and can be easily replaced. Shinji choosing to save her anyways, reaffirming that she does in fact deserve to live, as her life is precious to someone I found to be one of the most heartwarming moments in the entire franchise, and something I could relate to. It's basically saying that, no matter how you were raised or born, your life is worth rescuing and isn't easily replaceable.
And then 3.0 just craps all over that, saying that, no she deserved to die, and her life was worthless after all, as she is little more than a symbol for escapism, which Anno infamously despises. It is incredibly spiteful, and also doesn't make much sense given the overall message of the series which is to reaffirm one's will to live and the like. But hey, it makes you feel something and is meant to be seen purely from a thematic meta-commentary perspective, so that makes it all thought-provoking or some crap. Even if it again, acts as little more than a middle finger for me daring to empathize with Rei's character as being more than just a symbol.
Granted, the next movie would try to backtrack on that, but for 8.5 years, that's what I was told by the fans over and over, and what was being shown in the film. It's just one more reason why 3.0, for me at least, is the weakest.
The whole concept of fault for the action of 13 year olds who are supplied minimal information and put under massive pressure is gay anyways. I don't think there's ever a point in the series where Shinji not only has full context of what his action will do, time to deliberate his action and an alternative action to take, which is the thing that we demand as a society to establish guilt.
It's like the bullshit trope of "by pressing that random button you killed an orphanage, you are a bad person".
I also really, really hated the notion that Shinji should've just let Rei die in 2.0, as saving her was choosing an escapist fantasy that doomed the world or some crap.
Not to get too in-depth or end up power-leveling, but I found myself feeling really empathetic to Rei's character, especially after seeing how she and her relationship with Shinji grew over the first two films. She went from being just an unfeeling drone to learning to love and care for someone, and her action at the end of 2.0 was her basically doing it for him, basically taking his burden onto her shoulders.
At the end, she's essentially stuck in a pit that feels she doesn't deserve to be saved from, due to her nature as a clone, and can be easily replaced. Shinji choosing to save her anyways, reaffirming that she does in fact deserve to live, as her life is precious to someone I found to be one of the most heartwarming moments in the entire franchise, and something I could relate to. It's basically saying that, no matter how you were raised or born, your life is worth rescuing and isn't easily replaceable.
And then 3.0 just craps all over that, saying that, no she deserved to die, and her life was worthless after all, as she is little more than a symbol for escapism, which Anno infamously despises. It is incredibly spiteful, and also doesn't make much sense given the overall message of the series which is to reaffirm one's will to live and the like. But hey, it makes you feel something and is meant to be seen purely from a thematic meta-commentary perspective, so that makes it all thought-provoking or some crap. Even if it again, acts as little more than a middle finger for me daring to empathize with Rei's character as being more than just a symbol.
Granted, the next movie would try to backtrack on that, but for 8.5 years, that's what I was told by the fans over and over, and what was being shown in the film. It's just one more reason why 3.0, for me at least, is the weakest.
>the next movie would try to backtrack on that
It really didn't. In the end of 3.0, She asks Asuka what Ayanami would do, asuka says she doesn't know, and asks her what she wants to do and leaves Mark.09.
Then later, when they are near the entry plug, Shinji drops the walkman and she picks up and carry with her, without anyone ordering her.
So to say it was backtrack on that is really false.
Not that the anime ever did a really good job with her even in the 90's. Sadamoto's Rei will always be her best version.
The whole concept of fault for the action of 13 year olds who are supplied minimal information and put under massive pressure is gay anyways. I don't think there's ever a point in the series where Shinji not only has full context of what his action will do, time to deliberate his action and an alternative action to take, which is the thing that we demand as a society to establish guilt.
It's like the bullshit trope of "by pressing that random button you killed an orphanage, you are a bad person".
The whole concept of fault for the action of 13 year olds who are supplied minimal information and put under massive pressure is gay anyways. I don't think there's ever a point in the series where Shinji not only has full context of what his action will do, time to deliberate his action and an alternative action to take, which is the thing that we demand as a society to establish guilt.
It's like the bullshit trope of "by pressing that random button you killed an orphanage, you are a bad person".
Yep, let’s run this down again:
1. Gendo and Fuyutsuki are possibly the only people in the entire world who know that Unit 1 eating the angel’s core will awaken it and cause N3I. Ritsuko seems to have some knowledge of what’s going on, but obviously did not feel it was necessary to brief Shinji on the possibility beforehand.
2. He’s just finished a fight and is high on adrenaline, and is under great pressure to make a quick decision
3. His commanding officer is telling him that he should go save his waifu
4. This entire scenario (including getting him closer with Rei) was the direct result of Gendo and Fuyutsuki’s machinations
5. And, oh yeah, he’s a hormonal child soldier.
Compare and contrast with EoE:
1. Shinji knows full well exactly what will happen if he starts 3I, and does it anyways. He literally says something along the lines of “…then everyone should just die”.
2. He’s at absolute rock-bottom and fully flips his shit once he sees Asuka get torn apart by the MPE’s
3. Everyone’s plan has fallen apart at this point, there’s nobody shouting encouragements in his ear and no greater powers manipulating his actions when he’s sitting alone in Unit 1
4. SEELE is the only party with any semblance of control by the end, and he isn’t really part of their plan, and can thus be considered free from their influence and manipulation
5. He sure still is a hormonal child soldier alright
In End of Evangelion, you can understand why he chose Instrumentality, but it’s ultimately very clear that he’s consciously making a decision that he knows will have an immediate negative effect on literally everybody, where he forces his own desire for a unified hivemind onto the entire population of Earth without caring that maybe some people are happy with the way things are.
On the other hand, his decision to save Rei with no regard for consequences that he could not have possibly known about in a heat of the moment decision isn’t some character flaw, it’s what literally 99% of people would do in the same situation. That’s where the movie fails the authorial intent - I simply cannot buy into the idea that Shinji acted in a uniquely selfish manner by choosing to save Rei. Not when he had no possible way of knowing what’s at stake, not when his actions are being obviously manipulated by Gendo, not when his commanding officer is actively cheering him on telling him that he’s doing the right thing.
…so now, when he ACTUALLY does something like that at the end of 3.0, where literally everyone (including the guy who made the plan to pull out the spears in the first place) is telling him to not pull out the spears but he refuses to listen to them and does it anyways, instead of being yet another instance in a recurring pattern of destructive selfish behavior that reinforces the central themes of the movie, it comes off as Shinji turning into a flaming retard because the plot demands it.
So MHA Vigilantes is ending next chapter and its been an already ride despite the last arc dragging a bit. I'm not up to date with the main series but I kind of prefer Vig over it for a few small reasons, although I'll only recommend it if you can at least stomach MHA.
There's also some speculation that the reason why Hori has been on hiatus is he's trying to incorporate Koichi into the main series. This latest chapter they reveal that where he's been while the main series happens and from spoilers I guess its possible, but I doubt that's gonna the case.
So MHA Vigilantes is ending next chapter and its been an already ride despite the last arc dragging a bit. I'm not up to date with the main series but I kind of prefer Vig over it for a few small reasons, although I'll only recommend it if you can at least stomach MHA.
There's also some speculation that the reason why Hori has been on hiatus is he's trying to incorporate Koichi into the main series. This latest chapter they reveal that where he's been while the main series happens and from spoilers I guess its possible, but I doubt that's gonna the case.
That's gonna be hard to do since everything is pretty much wrapped up. Pop is mostly fine, schizo Six is dead, AfO legit lost interest, even KD somehow lived.
Only way to crash it is if the main series decides to drag it down with it.
It is also his fault, what the fuck are you talking about. The movie uses TWO characters to say that it is his fault View attachment 3276222 View attachment 3276225 View attachment 3276226
If the authoral intent you are talking about here is your incapability of understanding these lines, I sure as hell can't do anything about it.
not read the new chapters yet since im waiting for them to finish the garou arc. from what i have seen, the plot is all over the place and cant decided if it wants to be serious or a gag manga.
i dont like Garous new design. its so flashy and dramatic while the web comic was simple yet, cool. what made the Garous battle so good was beacuse it was not just a battle of physical strength, it was a phycological battle as well with Garou pushing himself further and further, breaking new limits he didint think were possible, just to keep up with saitama. he simply refuses to break and treat their encounter as the most important moment in his life. than it becomes a battle of philosophy with Garou trying to get a serious answer form saitama why he wants to be a hero and trying to justify his own ideas, refusing to admit the path he took was wrong and what his doing is real justice. the manga seems to trade off those moments for a more, flashy and cool looking fight and treats the other stuff as secondary concerns or as a joke. Garou teaming of with metal bat to taken on the giant centerpied or Garou bullies from his school days, showing up out of nowhere, somehow recognizing the kid they bullied in his monster form, and APOLOGIZING for what they did and just run away. i dont like the direction the manga is going. was looking forward to this fight but now, i just want it to be over.
saw some spoiler's from the latest chapter but, is it confirmed that Boros is still alive?
wouldn't it been cool to continue Garou story arc with him hunting down his old bullies only to find out that they have moved on with their lives and maybe the head bully, becoming a loser or a deadbet dad as an adult? would have been interesting to see how web comic Garrou would react in that situation
wouldn't it been cool to continue Garou story arc with him hunting down his old bullies only to find out that they have moved on with their lives and maybe the head bully, becoming a loser or a deadbet dad as an adult? would have been interesting to see how web comic Garrou would react in that situation
Gonna take the opportunity here to recommend Jagaaaaaan (number of a’s probably incorrect), whose premise is a blend of Parasyte and One Punch Man done in the style of Gantz (e.g. lots of sex and over-the-top violence). One of the arcs basically deals with the exact scenario you described.
It really is because it's an actual underdog story that focused on Koichi and his growth. Meanwhile the main series tries to pretend it's a underdog story yet Deku got handed a busted quirk that only continues to get stronger from the get go like that one part where he gets seven new abilities at once.
Hell Deku doesn't even feel like the main character anymore since half the manga at this point is just Todoroki family drama.
