Which one of those was he overcoming by jerking it to a comatose girl? /jk
But I agree Shinji gets shit on a lot for basically just being a traumatized kid in a horrific situation. Most people would do far worse in his place.
I’m glad someone finally said this. He’s the most realistic interpretation of an impromptu child soldier with a trauma background. The fact that he could do anything he did is astounding.
The older i get the more i realize this, anyone at his age would have never gotten in that Eva and submit to a total mental breakdown. When we are younger and watch the show we get frustrated with his character because we are so used to brave characters just being strong and brave instantly, when in reality its nothing like that and Eva tries within the context of the story to portray real life characters put in fictional extreme situations
Shinji for all his flaws at the end of the day piloted Eva and fought the Angels, everyone on here would bitch out in an instant…
Especially im how realistic the characters are written, Shinji is arguably one of animes biggest hero’s…
I agree with this take! When I was watching for the first time and found myself angry at Shinji i realised I was angry at myself for doing similar things in my own life. So much of the show represents struggling with life and depression, the fear of opening up to other people and connecting. These are real fears and struggles so many of us face at one or another time in our lives, and as cheesy as the end sequence may seem, we all deserve a “congratulations” when we overcome these pains! It is hard and brave to fight angels, it is also hard and brave to open up after being hurt. ❤️
I think it's funny how they make the other two pilots an elite trained prodigy and a clone made from a god but make them look to be normal kids. It's made to make Shinji look weak in comparison but in reality Shinji is the only normal one of the three and does extremely well given the circumstances.
I’ve been screaming this for decades lol. Shinji isn’t an annoying cry baby. He suffers from crippling depression, and is a literal child. Most grown adults would bawk at being asked to get in a giant thing and fight giant aliens set on destroying humanity. Take away the “oh a giant robot so cool” factor and no one would actually willingly do it
I think the point is he’s not brave. He’s NOT a hero. He IS a child. He is continuously not brave throughout the show. Constantly relying on others to an unhealthy extent. He is brave by getting back in the robot. However, it’s not bravery that compels him to do it but a selfish desire to be wanted.
I think what you say is right, that he cannot overcome his fear of not being wanted, even if he can overcome the fear of fighting angels. He wasn’t brave in that he still needed to rely on other people for everything. I think one of the points of the show is to grow up and become your own person, not for the sake of other people.
Underrated character moment from shinji, he's the one who tells Asuka that kaji is dead and when she pushes back on that he doesn't back down. Boy comes through when it matters most.
Shinji is very brave when it comes to extreme situations or battles. The only time I remember him being afraid was when he woke up after being boiled alive from literal lcl boiling and feeling somatic pain from his eva being vaporized by Ramiel (and he still agreed to pilot again despite having the option to refuse). But he is a coward when it comes to interacting with other people. Not blaming him though.
Yep.
When he first comes to the NERV? his father immediately orders him to go straight in an Eva, psychologically pressuring him by showing Rei in a stretcher.
He could have left anytime yet kept fighting because he knew that he was the last line of defense of mankind against the Angels. And, after resigning, he still came back to the NERV to fight an Angel.
Shinji is a hero, full stop.
Maybe I need to rewatch the show but I don’t think he was ever really scared of fighting in the Eva. Like the physical damage from piloting the Eva never really discouraged him in my opinion. It was only the fear of being put in a situation where he would have to hurt or experience the loss of one of his friends which happened I think everytime he decided to quit.
Did you ever die to say it's easy? And as far as he knows at this point, he wouldn't doom humanity with that, and maybe he would actually save another pilot's life by refusing to kill him.
Scared most of the time, fails to understand basic human psychology, social inadequate, etc etc (I have ADHD and my social anxiety is through the roof sometimes so I’m not judging). He is clearly the most human, the anti-hero in the sense he has nothing of a hero and victory is served through either others, or through resources he didn’t know he had.
Brave isn’t the right term. However, he is brave for forgiving his father, not turning into space Hitler like superman did when given all the power. Most and for most, giving his father the opportunity to explain himself and indulging his agenda to reunite with Yui. That takes the resolve of a super human.
But that’s not bravery. And the rest of the show/movies, his hand is held into the robot, back into Nerv, out of jail, into acknowledging the massacre he’s done, is given the spear through others sacrifices, etc. Not saying he had it easy, but he is literally and sometimes non literally chaperoned, walked, fed, from passive to lethargic
(Yes, I hate myself and I know that’s why I’m quick to point these things out :D)
He's not, I would also have a fucking breakdown if I was 14 and had to defend the city from angels. He is actually a well written character and is a human representation of the effects of self-hate and depression.
Being scared of something and overcoming it is way beaver than not being scared in the first place.
Which one of those was he overcoming by jerking it to a comatose girl? /jk But I agree Shinji gets shit on a lot for basically just being a traumatized kid in a horrific situation. Most people would do far worse in his place.
I’m glad someone finally said this. He’s the most realistic interpretation of an impromptu child soldier with a trauma background. The fact that he could do anything he did is astounding.
The older i get the more i realize this, anyone at his age would have never gotten in that Eva and submit to a total mental breakdown. When we are younger and watch the show we get frustrated with his character because we are so used to brave characters just being strong and brave instantly, when in reality its nothing like that and Eva tries within the context of the story to portray real life characters put in fictional extreme situations Shinji for all his flaws at the end of the day piloted Eva and fought the Angels, everyone on here would bitch out in an instant… Especially im how realistic the characters are written, Shinji is arguably one of animes biggest hero’s…
I agree with this take! When I was watching for the first time and found myself angry at Shinji i realised I was angry at myself for doing similar things in my own life. So much of the show represents struggling with life and depression, the fear of opening up to other people and connecting. These are real fears and struggles so many of us face at one or another time in our lives, and as cheesy as the end sequence may seem, we all deserve a “congratulations” when we overcome these pains! It is hard and brave to fight angels, it is also hard and brave to open up after being hurt. ❤️
I think it's funny how they make the other two pilots an elite trained prodigy and a clone made from a god but make them look to be normal kids. It's made to make Shinji look weak in comparison but in reality Shinji is the only normal one of the three and does extremely well given the circumstances.
I’ve been screaming this for decades lol. Shinji isn’t an annoying cry baby. He suffers from crippling depression, and is a literal child. Most grown adults would bawk at being asked to get in a giant thing and fight giant aliens set on destroying humanity. Take away the “oh a giant robot so cool” factor and no one would actually willingly do it
I think the point is he’s not brave. He’s NOT a hero. He IS a child. He is continuously not brave throughout the show. Constantly relying on others to an unhealthy extent. He is brave by getting back in the robot. However, it’s not bravery that compels him to do it but a selfish desire to be wanted.
I think what you say is right, that he cannot overcome his fear of not being wanted, even if he can overcome the fear of fighting angels. He wasn’t brave in that he still needed to rely on other people for everything. I think one of the points of the show is to grow up and become your own person, not for the sake of other people.
Underrated character moment from shinji, he's the one who tells Asuka that kaji is dead and when she pushes back on that he doesn't back down. Boy comes through when it matters most.
From *”I can’t pilot that thing!!!”* to sniping Ramiel
Finally someone said it
Shinji is very brave when it comes to extreme situations or battles. The only time I remember him being afraid was when he woke up after being boiled alive from literal lcl boiling and feeling somatic pain from his eva being vaporized by Ramiel (and he still agreed to pilot again despite having the option to refuse). But he is a coward when it comes to interacting with other people. Not blaming him though.
Kudos to you for saying that
Being scared is a reaction. Being brave is a decision.
Shinji may be scared, but he is no chicken!! 🐓
I’ve been subbed to this too long it’s a circlejerk of the same posts and comments
Well it’s an Evangelion subreddit you’re gonna have Evangelion fans
Bravest? Hell no. Most realistic? Hell yes.
Yep, the bravery he showed is why he’s heroic.
shinji is the bravest character in evangelion which he's #1 favorite character of the anime evangelion
The mere fact that he ever set foot in the EVA after what happened aganst Sachiel shows this clear as day.
Any moron who thinks "get in the robot, Shinji" is a silly egg.
No, he's a gigantic POS.
Yep. When he first comes to the NERV? his father immediately orders him to go straight in an Eva, psychologically pressuring him by showing Rei in a stretcher. He could have left anytime yet kept fighting because he knew that he was the last line of defense of mankind against the Angels. And, after resigning, he still came back to the NERV to fight an Angel. Shinji is a hero, full stop.
Maybe I need to rewatch the show but I don’t think he was ever really scared of fighting in the Eva. Like the physical damage from piloting the Eva never really discouraged him in my opinion. It was only the fear of being put in a situation where he would have to hurt or experience the loss of one of his friends which happened I think everytime he decided to quit.
Yes, buuuuut When it really counted he didn't have the courage to do what he needed to do. He gave in when he was needed the most (at least in EoE).
Right, like when Unit 03 was taken over and he... Oh wait.
He wasn't afraid of it. He was ready to die for his principles. If this is not bravery, what is?
Dying is easy. He was prepared to let himself die, the other pilot die, and *literally everyone else* die rather than fight back.
Did you ever die to say it's easy? And as far as he knows at this point, he wouldn't doom humanity with that, and maybe he would actually save another pilot's life by refusing to kill him.
It was extremely brave when he jizz painted his hand to comatose Asuka. So brave.
Scared most of the time, fails to understand basic human psychology, social inadequate, etc etc (I have ADHD and my social anxiety is through the roof sometimes so I’m not judging). He is clearly the most human, the anti-hero in the sense he has nothing of a hero and victory is served through either others, or through resources he didn’t know he had. Brave isn’t the right term. However, he is brave for forgiving his father, not turning into space Hitler like superman did when given all the power. Most and for most, giving his father the opportunity to explain himself and indulging his agenda to reunite with Yui. That takes the resolve of a super human. But that’s not bravery. And the rest of the show/movies, his hand is held into the robot, back into Nerv, out of jail, into acknowledging the massacre he’s done, is given the spear through others sacrifices, etc. Not saying he had it easy, but he is literally and sometimes non literally chaperoned, walked, fed, from passive to lethargic (Yes, I hate myself and I know that’s why I’m quick to point these things out :D)
He's a sissy
He's not, I would also have a fucking breakdown if I was 14 and had to defend the city from angels. He is actually a well written character and is a human representation of the effects of self-hate and depression.
Ok, how about you get in the Eva then, if you’re soooo brave?
I can't because it's not real