Neon Genesis Evangelion/Recap/Episode 16 Splitting of the Breast

While Asuka chews Shinji out for his constant apologizing and passive attitude, Kaji leaves a phone message on Misato’s answering machine, revealing that the two of them, despite Misato's claims to the contrary, are back together. Asuka is upset by this, and leaves in a huff.

Later that day, the pilots are called in for another sync test. Misato gives Shinji the result; He has surpassed Asuka in synch rate and now sits on the best score. Shinji is greatly surprised and uplifted by that bit of news, while Asuka reacts with barely concealed anger.

Next, day a weird, reflective sphere-shaped apparition appears over Tokyo 3. NERV is completely caught by surprise, and with Gendo and Fuyutsuki out on business, Misato takes command. As the MAGI are hesitant with classifying the apparition as an Angel, the EVAs are send out to investigate it.

Asuka teases Shinji, telling him that he should take point, as he is now the pilot with the highest sync rate. With the test results still boosting his confidence, Shinji uncharacteristically accepts her challenge and volunteers for the position, much to her and Misato's surprise.

As the EVAs closes in on the apparition, the tension gets to Shinji and, in moment of rashness, he fires a shot against it. A massively black shadow suddenly appears beneath his feet, and he starts sinking into it. The alarm goes off as the MAGI finally declare the apparition to be an Angel.

The shadow of Angel starts spreading over Tokyo 3, and sucks in cars, trees, and buildings. Asuka and Rei narrowly escape the same fate, but Shinji continues to sink down, screaming for help all the way, until the head of the EVA goes under, and his radio goes silent.

At sunset, Shinji and Unit 01 are still stuck in the shadow. The EVA’s power cable was pulled out, but nothing was on the other side. Misato personally leads the search and rescue operation. It is estimated that the battery in Unit 01 can uphold life-support for 16 hours. If Shinji is not out by dawn, he will die.

Asuka says that Shinji himself is too blame for the whole situation, claiming that he got what he deserved for aiming for the top. Rei, upset by her comments, calmly asks her if she is only "piloting Eva just for the praise of others", and Asuka angry retorts that she "don't need anybody's approval but my own!" Misato interrupts the brewing fight, stating that Shinji did indeed break orders, and will be punished when he comes back.

Meanwhile, inside the shadow, Shinji is attempting to sleep, while waiting for his rescue. Looking at his watch, he notes that he has around 4-5 hours worth of power back.

Ritsuko gathers NERV’s technicians around her to explain her findings. The Angel is in fact the shadow itself, while the sphere is a three-dimensional shadow. Unit 01 has been sucked into an inverted AT Field, and is stuck in a pocket dimension, a so-called "sea of Dirac."

Shinji wakes up and notices that the filtration in the entry plug has stopped working. With the plug being filled with fragments and smelling of blood, he panics, and calls desperately for help while attempting to manually open the plug, but to no avail.

Ritsuko reveals her plan to Misato. Fighters will dump all 992 N2 mines in the world into the shadow, while Units 00 and 02 activate their AT Fields, hopefully creating enough energy to push Unit 01 out. Misato questions Shinji's safety, but as Ritsuko answers that saving the EVA will be enough, she angrily slaps the scientist. Ritsuko announces that she is going to take command of the operation and will follow through with her plan.

Nearing death, Shinji suddenly finds himself on a train. A younger version of himself, a spectre created by the Angel, sits opposite him. The other him starts questioning him, asking him about his life, his need to be praised, his fear of being hated, his relationship with his father, especially the public rumors that Gendo killed Yui. The other him accuses Shinji of running away from others because he is afraid of rejection, and tells him that he is only piloting EVA to get other people's approval. Shinji responds that he is good at piloting EVA and it makes him happy, asking what is wrong with that.

Awakening once again in the cold and dark plug, Shinji knows he is minutes from death, and closes his eyes again, but he suddenly notices a light in is there with him. A ghostly woman comes towards him and he realizes that it is his mother. Flashing back to a lakeshore, a young, happy Shinji holds a red marble up to his mother, whose face is covered in shadows. She says: "Is this enough? Well, that's good for you."

Meanwhile, Ritsuko is about to carry out her plan when the shadow suddenly starts to crack. A roaring Unit 01, moving on its own power, breaks free of the sphere covered in the Angels blood, which now rains down upon the city. Everyone looks on in horror. A disturbed Misato asks herself what NERV plans to do with the EVAs once the Angels are defeated.

Shinji awakens to an open plug and a crying Misato who embraces him. He mumbles "I just wanted to see them again..." before slipping back into unconsciousness. Asuka asks Misato if she is still planning on punishing him.

As the Angel’s blood is being washed off Unit 01, Ritsuko tells Gendo that Misato is growing suspicious, but he tells her to "Let her be for now." Ritsuko tells him that "If Rei or Shinji were to find out the Eva's secrets, they'd never forgive us."

Shinji awakes in the hospital, with Rei sitting on a chair nearby, having watched over him. Seeing that he is conscious she stands up and starts to leave, telling him that he can just rest for now. Shinji tells her that he is feeling fine, to which she responses: "Well, that's good for you." Remembering his mother saying those exact words, Shinji’s eyes widens in surprise as he realizes who Rei reminds him of.

His gaze follows her out of his room, and as she opens the door, he catches a glimpse of Asuka lurking in the doorway. Doing her darnest to pretend not to care, she quickly hides. Amused by this, Shinji puts up his hand to his mouth to suppress a chuckle, and notices that it still smells of blood.

Tropes

 * All There in The Script: The Angel of this episode is Leliel, designated the Twelfth Angel.
 * Yank the Dog's Chain: The episode starts with Shinji being at the top of his game: He is starting to get used to his job, has friends who accepts him, and is now leading in sync score. This being Evangelion, happiness like that can't last.