well, we have to do everything we can

neon genesis evangelion (episode seven, "the works of man")

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Misato is certainly Evangelion’s most charming character,¹ but up until episode seven you’d be forgiven for wondering why exactly she has her job. It’s not that she actively seems bad at it or anything, but unlike cool and hypercompetent Ritsuko, Misato always seems sort of goofy and unprofessional. Episode seven, however, puts the focus on the adults for a moment, and we discover that Misato is—in addition to being charming—extremely brave, clever, resourceful, and focused.

We also discover one other thing—whatever it is that NERV is up to at its highest levels, Misato doesn’t know about it. For that reason, in this episode, she almost dies.

I had absolutely no memory of this episode before I rewatched it—like I thought the show went straight from the showdown with the Fifth Angel to the introduction of Asuka. As the episode went on in its initial moments I realized this was not only not the episode that introduces Asuka (and her adult-in-tow, Kaji)² but I had no real sense …