Neon Genesis Evangelion - Episode 26 - Fans?

[mcarocks2003]

Any fans of episode 26?

Just rewatched episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion 26 and wow was it amazing. I appreciate it so much more than I ever did 7 years ago. I actually understand it now.

Do we have any experts in philosophy in this forum, does anyone agree that Shinji has the will and conciousness to choose his reality after so much endless suffering?

Also through interacting with others, this is how we learn about ourselves?

Also what we percieve as ourselves, is just a representation of ourselves, a conception of the mind and we as human beings, we use these conceptions to understand each other. For instance, the word 'honey' is just a word, a symbol and very different from actual honey.

Anyone have any thoughts? I feel you almost need genius IQ to fully absord episode 26.

[russ869]

Not really a genius IQ, but it does take several viewings and some pondering to really get at everything the writers are trying to say. I have no problem with Evangelion's ending, and I even like the End of Evangelion movie because I think it only expands on what the TV series ending was already doing (but in a much more extravagant and explicit fashion).

[MelancholicMariya]

I'd say episode 25 and 26 are absolutely perfect. As is The End of Evangelion. Whether you believe 25 and 26 happen in Shinji's mind during the beginning of The End of Evangelion or if you think they're just completely alternate endings, I think they're perfect.

That said, I honestly don't believe 25 and 26 are all that complicated. If you just pay attention and listen to everything which is said and everything which is shown, you'll get the point.

It's basically a simple message of what it is to be a person and how to cope with feelings and understanding yourself, but told in a convoluted way.

[FUNiOP]

I also love episode 26, and I pretty much agree with everything that's been said regarding what it was saying. I love going back to it every few years and seeing how much more I understand. I feel like I've got most of it down now, but there's really no telling if there's more I'm missing that I'll realize later, or maybe that I never will. Definitely makes me think more than almost anything else I can think of.

[mcarocks2003]

Wow thanks for all the great responces. I love episode 26, I think it's a masterpiece. I agree FuniOP, it's amazing how much more you learn when you go back to it. There's so much easten philosophy embedded in it.

'Time continues to flow and time brings change, your world is in a constant state of change, your capable of change whenever your mind percieve these changes'.

I agree with russ869 that End of Evangelion, at least the second half, is an expansion of the ending of the TV series. I need to rewatch that as well. So much more to learn.

[Doom86]

The ending (both ep. 25-26, and End of Evangelion) are incredible, and I agree with MelancholicMariya in that I found both to be really easy to follow. Maybe because other viewers who saw the series as it premiered weren't expecting it were so surprised they couldn't keep up with it, but going in knowing it would be mindscrew I found it easy to follow. I can only assume those who hail it as "the biggest mindscrew ever" haven't seen Serial Experiments Lain, David Lynch films, etc.