The "God" of Evangelion

[@Koshbiel]

Your discussion of the dual sides of Yui regarding escapism and how they manifest in Gendo and Fuyutsuki brought on a thought: they embody her different sides because of the roles she played in their lives. Fuyutsuki was a mentor to Yui, so her egotistical escapism manifests more comfortably with him because his mentorship encourages ambition and the drive of a student. Yui feels comfortable admitting to her own escapist tendencies to him, because he is the anti-escapist one in their relationship, and thus she can fill the role of the student seeking to escape the status quo. With Gendo, however, she takes on the role of the supportive one who encourages him to stop running from connections and to quit escaping life. She would be enabling him if she told him about her "monument to humanity's existence" plan, so she instead displays her optimistic side to him as the more mature and socially adjusted person in their marriage. Yui as this two-faced contradiction is very much concerned with roles, both gendered and within society. As a mother/wife, she projects anti-escapist ideals for the purpose of supporting others. But as a scientist and individual, she manifests her personal desire to do something of value, though selfish and oriented in escapism, because she craves recognition and a place in history.

[@PhulaTrox]

Amazing point, ties in well with Ritsuko’s mom

[@meinschmerz6074]

Am i weird for liking Human Instrumentality? Yeah i want to go back into the womb. But thanks for leaviong me with the choice Shinji. BB

[@IngeniousNinja]

Brilliant breakdown, very insightful!

[@edpistemic]

I like how you point out that Yui's plan was questionable too. She always felt like too perfect a character in a story which is all about imperfection.

[@quangle-zi2oz]

She could have killed all humanity if Shinji had accepted Human instrumentality. She put too much trust in a child that she only raised for 3 years. She literally play dice with all human's life. And somehow some fans call her the silent hero of the show! 😂😂😂😂

[@silent_stalker3687]

@@quangle-zi2ozoh her plans make sense and are fully calculated. “Hey if i fuck up enough stuff and put the entire pin point of humanity on such a flimsy dice roll that even god would have to intervene or get bored enough to set up another universe.” God: oh, well… *Updates Senji’s AI at the last minute.* … Reverts to save point. Version: 3.33 “Finally i fixed it.” Yui: the person who put the Typo in the Aliens Colonial marines AI. Thankfully the developer eventually fixed it… (seriously they know about it and still never fixed it. Even tweeting about it.)

[@quangle-zi2oz]

​@@silent_stalker3687 You are right! The god is Anno! 😂😂😂

[@P33NG0BLiN]

Maybe its a warning about idolization, much like Kierkegaard did with his woman

[@stormbreaker504]

@@silent_stalker3687lol I like re evangelion reference to shinji finally getting in the Eva unit 1 to understand his father

[@seacrystal6189]

On what you said about Yui: Basically, she just had a martyr complex. She told herself she chose to sacrifice herself to be the representation of humanity for extraterrestrial beings. However, there was definitely something egotistical behind the surface, considering how brutal the things she did to achieve that goal were. The biggest example is when she brought toddler Shinji to see her get merged with the Eva, traumatizing him and leaving him without a mother as he grew up, therefore guaranteeing that he will have a higher sync rate when he eventually pilots the thing with her soul in it. She absolutely wanted to be the eternal representation of humanity, but tells herself that it's because of a noble goal of perserving mankind after Earth ends. She got carried away by the beauty of her research and wanted to become a part of it. She didn't want to become God, but I guess it could be seen as a way of escape from her problems

[@descendingintodreams1768]

I like how kaworu’s self sacrifice could either be seen as a metaphor for Jesus dying for sin. In Yui’s altruistic views. Or like Lucifer falling for humanities free will- freedom. In the egoistic standpoint. Very interesting

[@PhulaTrox]

OOOOOO great point. It's beautiful how much every character connects to each other

[@Velociferon]

In a sea of eva analysis vids in the last decades, its nice to see a new take and new discussion!

[@PhulaTrox]

Thank you thank you, thats the goal

[@exhale4253]

Goodness me this is what I call a quality video

[@LogosSteve]

After comparing themes across a lot of anime and Japanese games I can actually explain basically everything that happens in EVA particularly because so many of these themes show up over and over across other works. Gendo's goal is a trope I like to call the Samsara Doomsday plot. You can see similar villain plots in things like Naruto with Madara's Moons-Eye plan, the Spirals in Guren Lagann, even in something like the Destiny Plan in Gundam Seed Destiny. It's all Japanese cycle of life and death themes as a way to cope with loss as well as self identity themes which are about affirming individuality in a period when the Japanese writers after 1995 felt alienated from the more typical group-focused Japanese mentality because of the failure of larger institutions. I have a long series of videos about all this I want to make to explain all this in more detail.

[@LogosSteve]

But to explain it all briefly, Gendo is motivated by the loss of his wife and wants to prevent all future loss by destroying the cycle of life and death. Villains not being able to let go of dead loved ones is classic Japanese Buddhist theming, they can't let go. However by merging all souls into one this destroys the idea of individuality as well as prevents the cycle of life and death from continuing which are big values Japanese stories like to promote which is why he is the villain. Shinji's arc is about him realizing he doesn't need affirmation from his father which is how the show does the self identity theme and he sees the value of living.

[@LogosSteve]

Rei is another character who strongly demonstrates the self identity theme. She starts being who Gendo molded her to be, the key to do what he wants by the end, but chooses to give Shinji the power at the end instead, thus affirming her self identity instead of doing what Gendo wants. Her being a clone is because of this theme as well as her line in the infamous elevator scene, "I am not a doll", her affirming her self identity.

[@PhulaTrox]

Interesting thoughts Eva does give off the impression that it's responding to Japanese collectivism so this all makes a ton of sense

[@LogosSteve]

@@PhulaTroxIn 1995 both the Hanshin earthquake and the Tokyo sarin gas subway attacks happened, combined with the economic fallout of the burst of the bubble economy and you have the recipe for understanding how Japanese creatives felt at the time. Isolated and disillusioned with things like the government, the economy, you named it, and dealing with loss. They chose to express this as the self identity theme where characters who merely followed orders, did what they were told, or were looking for validation from outside themselves were looking in the wrong place. Shinji wasn't just a character, he was The character of the moment that perfectly reflected how people felt at the time which is largely lost on us as outside viewers. The self identity theme has been embedded in most well written Japanese works ever since.

[@LogosSteve]

Gurren Lagann is a great companion piece to Eva since it tells a thematically similar story but with a much more uplifting tone throughout and more positive outlook. Eva came out right in the epicenter of all that disillusionment but by time Gurren Lagann was out enough time had passed.

[@ChaunchoCYM]

This was a great watch, especially the deep dive on Yui. Thank you for sharing your perspective and I certainly plan to explore this channel more!

[@PhulaTrox]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ensarhasanic4963]

Yeah, I also wish Yui's new fate as Unit 01 in space amounted to something more than a floating statue. She could've become a new Seed of Life, spreading Liilim on a new uninhabited planet, as Lilith was intended to be, and it would still be fitting to the differing interpretations we have of her, both as a savior mother figure, a god complex having megalomaniac or a young woman living in a doomsday secret society her whole life, looking to make her own fate, believing that to pilot and use the Eva is the only thing she can do, paralleling her own son's struggle in that way. This last one makes would make her even more tragic, since in the end she is stuck in there forever, in solitude, and that's what she made of herself and now that's all she can ever be

[@JabamiLain]

That idea is what I do in my "Post-Third Impact" fic. It's through Yui and the remnants of Instrumentality that the "Star Wars" galaxy is filled with humans, and how "Phantasy Star" humans come to be as well. I might expand this idea to other sci-fi series that include humans, but no planet Earth.

[@crumpet5559]

i think that youre right that shinji is an avatar for humanity, this also nicely coincides with him with being represented by the planet earth, our planet, the only one full of life.

[@lukesterlord404]

Really great video. I've seen a lot of Eva analysis but I don't think I've seen someone summarize everything so concisely before, really well done video.

[@chunkygumby443]

Finally, a video about the show instead of analyzing the show. Don't get me wrong, I love those essays about evangelion that analyze the shows themes but man, this is refreshing. To find a video and someone who is willing to talk about the characters of Evangelion as people, not charactures, not embodiments, or symbols but as characters with motivations that act like people. Evangelion is a great show but I feel like too many people love to analyze externally instead of internally.

[@havocbringer2100]

This is the best video on Eva I’ve watched in a while. I thought everything was said and done about the characters and themes, but it seems there is still much to discuss. The bit about Fuyutsuki and Yui was astonishingly insightful. Great work, please make other videos! In the meantime I’m subscribing to your channel.

[@espelhodasconstelacoes]

Beautifully put video, brother! God bless ya and Jesus loves ya!

[@phantom-boogie]

Marvelous take. Seen Eva many times since age 15, 30 now. great voice over and edits too. Should have way some subs! Suscribing. Greetings from Buenos Aires!

[@PhulaTrox]

Thanks for the sub!

[@ghoastar]

Deadass the best analysis video i’ve seen on evangelion Maybe any youtube video

[@PhulaTrox]

Thank you!

[@xxbennyboygamerxx]

what a fantastic video im ngl i think this is the best evangelion analysis video ive seen. fuyutsuki, seele, gendo, and yui were pretty much the only parts of neon genesis evangelion i had a LOT of questions for that i am a little too dumb to figure out myself but this video encapsulated and answered pretty much everything i was wondering in a satisfying, unique, relatively simple way. i hope u make more evangelion videos in the future this is great 😃😃😃

[@arlokraft]

Honestly one of the best analyses of Yui I’ve seen. Great video!

[@franz4445]

Thx for making this video

[@grapes9h5]

Awesome analysis. Been awhile since I’ve seen a new good Eva analysis

[@Jp-1377]

This is one of the best analyses of Evangelion I’ve seen

[@PhulaTrox]

Thanks!

[@zuro181]

Just seeing that there's a new vid by PhulaTrox and I just know it's gonna be the best analysis ive seen on that piece of media

[@PhulaTrox]

LMAAOAAOAOOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOO thank you

[@johnaa007]

I'm glad I clicked. Great video 👍

[@queefcheif9306]

its wild how the main creator of the whole series made it while he was deeply depressed, making the end goal of the series convoluted to the point where the creator himself doesn't know the end goal of the series

[@GenJuhru]

Yeah, how can you write a happy ending, one with positivity when you yourself is still in the dark.

[@JabamiLain]

It's his loss for not understanding anymore.

[@raiji9013]

Great video - Logged into YT just to say that you should invest in a good mic! Your content is really high quality and you deserve more recognition, I think your vids would perform a lot better with better audio quality (and maybe editing), but I don't mean this as a back handed compliment. I really enjoyed the vid and it helped me understand Gendo and Yui better.

[@angellllx1634]

Just cried, the amount of seineness just overwhelmed me!! 😭

[@wisefoolwillow]

This was wonderfully explained. Thanks!

[@warpdriveby]

Hold up. You've missed a huge point, and possibly more importantly questioned whether an original episode is cannon. IT'S the ORIGINAL! Gendo wants to be THE ONE making the wish, HIS instrumentalitu with his Ego intact during instrumentality. Shinji is brought to thanatopsis, a comfortable view of death WANTING oblivion, in such a state Lilith's (or Adams) original instructions to seed life would continue but now including the record and will of humanity too. The scene seems confusing until you understand that the outcome depends upon the individual will who chooses what everything is remade into, Neo-Lillith now with humanity's collective consciousness makin a new form of immortal life in OUR image is SEELE's goal, Gendo wants to merge with Yui specifically not humanity, he wants to break her out of unit 01. If you remember that Yui's plan was to enter the Eva so that humanity's existence would be known as long as the universe exists it's obvious why Gendo lost his shit and turned into an anti-social megalomaniac, Yui wasn't just dead, he'd never see her again even after death or instrumentality if it went SEELE's and Yui's way.

[@Hera3.14]

This was a good one well done

[@anemone_]

no thank YOU for yet another bomb ass video 🔥

[@gscsilvavaladares7065]

So all the symbolisms , phylosofical reflections , complicated plot and the character strugles of Evangelion is basically to make Otakus go out and make friends?

[@JabamiLain]

It's kinda like "Undertale" and its Genocide route. The two main boss fights are to break your patience and have you give up the route.

[@jmiquelmb]

First video I’ve found where Yui’s questionable agenda is discussed. I always disliked her and I felt that the show doesn’t really delve much in how much she was like Gendo in her own way

[@JabamiLain]

I like characters like Yui. Always loved the "brain behind the throne" kind of characters. They encourage my adventurous side. There is always an angle to explore that happy endings won't reveal to you.

[@BeverageEnjoyer]

Really solid video!!

[@PhulaTrox]

Appreciate it!

[@WonderSparkPuppets1]

Didn’t SEELE have a way of discerning if someone was lying? It would make sense that Gendo would tell half-truths in order to pass this system. They suspected him anyway.

[@PhulaTrox]

Hmm I don’t recall this. But if they did then it would explain that scene

[@H-mz4hy]

Gendou is an outsider, some guy who married an important man's daughter. He's failed them from their perspective, they'd suspect him lying machine or not.

[@ethanloh1785]

I never thought you would be able to capture every detail of the ending and character I kinda lost on those parts as well

[@ufinc]

I said it before and I'll say it again... Yui is the real villain of Evangelion!

[@JabamiLain]

I think it's still SEELE, since she got the idea from them.

[@DominusNox106]

There are some messages that are missed when looking too deeply. One of the more important points to me is making a heaven for yourself everday.

[@PhulaTrox]

simple message but so impactful

[@TheKnightOfZ0]

I wish people made more videos like this on Code Geass both are my top 2 animanga.

[@zuro181]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqPWimd8ipVkd8Usi=Xby2WKzASRuUgYIK You're not gonna believe this

[@taien-z7l]

Ohhh so that’s the “god” of evangelion

[@PhulaTrox]

yeah

[@jacob133]

​@@PhulaTroxwait what is the god of Evangelion is it yui Ray Shinji or something else

[@PhulaTrox]

Yui is the “god”, Rei is the god

[@jacob133]

@@PhulaTrox they're both the same God

[@metal6948]

Honestly it's safe to say that End of Evangelion is my favorite movie. On top of all the things I already appreciated in it, videos like this shine a light on even deeper layers to the characters and story.

[@aliceinthewired]

You've been on a roll lately. The Sopranos, Shingeki no Kyojin and now Evangelion? Perhaps you can cover Serial Experiments Lain one day.

[@PhulaTrox]

Hmm I haven't watched that. What's it about?

[@MiloDoes]

@@PhulaTrox anime

[@aliceinthewired]

​@@PhulaTroxPeople start getting emails from someone a girl who committed suicide in regards to something called The Wired. Supposedly it's a program that connects everyone and everything. It's heavily inspired by Jung and others. I can't say anymore without it being detrimental.

[@aliceinthewired]

​​@@PhulaTrox"An adolescent girl develops a unique connection to a virtual reality network known as The Wired." Lot of Jungian shit in there.

[@PhulaTrox]

Damn that's a cool premise. It's really short too

[@quangle-zi2oz]

I remember there was a scence in the show where Gendo look at his hand with Adam embryo implanted standing before Eva-01and said : " Just a little longer Yui, OUR plan will succeed " What did he mean by saying " OUR PLAN " ?

[@PhulaTrox]

I think he failed to understand Yui and assumed she'd be on-board with their reunion

[@hollowify_tensa_zangetsu]

I actually REALLY LOVE gendo. After watching the movies he got me to his side

[@elasteroidedepapel]

I totally buy it. GREAT analisis. Thanks

[@charliekowittmusic]

Do you have any comment on the idea that Yui, knowing what Seele and Gendo will do, planned this all out to save humanity? I’m also wondering where you found out that Yui “could come back if she wanted to”. My understanding was that Yui’s very soul is bound to the core of Unit 01. I thought there were essentially 3 sides to the conflict: Yui/Fuyutsuki, who believe in humanity. Gendo’s single-minded desire to reunite with Yui. And Seele’s mystical belief in the evolution of the human species.

[@JabamiLain]

...Yui's M.O is not too different from mine in some games like "Mass Effect", "Deus Ex", "Shin Megami Tensei" and "The Council". But that still does not sway me to change my ways. Should I be worried how that guides my actions in real life ?

[@CookedGambler]

Chat I’m the 1kth sub trust I have da power

[@PhulaTrox]

GOATTTTTTT

[@pingutune]

I love the videos you're making!! I hope you get recognition soon by the algorithm. If there's anyway we can support you more lmk! (I'd happily pay.)

[@PhulaTrox]

Thank you hahaha. Just sharing, commenting, and liking is enough to support my channel. If you're looking to support financially I have a Patreon open soon :)

[@danielbloomquist9810]

The Gospel of the New Millennium never ceases to ensnare those who, like myself, would seek to explore the sort of depths from which that amateur Jim Cameron would conjure an AT field in fleeing. My takeaway has always boiled down to the epiphany which revealed to me that despite how bleak our world and existence unquestionably are, they are ultimately preferably to the alternative, to instrumentality, to perfect oblivion. To quote the desperately urgent wisdom of Happy Harry Hard-On, "Giving up is not going to make you strong. Living WILL."

[@nectimusmaximus]

I'm missing context here. Who is Jim Cameron. What is the Gospel of the New Millennium.

[@danielbloomquist9810]

@nectimusmaximus Gospel of the New Millennium just means Neon Genesis Evangelion, and by the other bit I mean, I am terrified of the ocean but I would rather join James Cameron in a submarine headed for the sea floor than to have to make the unimaginable journey the center of the self, as Ikari Shinji is made to.

[@surew1n353]

Love it

[@Alchemuma]

I see Eva I click

[@MustardMan22]

how depressed you gotta be to understand all this?

[@astrosmithsin3153]

I am still confused what is becoming god truly mean in Evangelion Universe

[@slyapbg]

The Catholichos (the whole) and the Oecumene (the habitable) rolled into one Eidos (appearance).

[@JP-xh3mt]

I'm pretty sure yui can't return to being human because she has no physical body, just like how misato also can't return because her soul has left the body so the yui part is not necessarily trying to stay away

[@PhulaTrox]

I don’t think so, Asuka was able to return even though she died

[@djw232]

An NGE video with original thought? 10/10

[@plentyoflulu4694]

Im sorry, i enjoy ed this theory and video but... People dont.. Think the ending of evangelion Is Canon? What Is Canon then? The movie that was made under duress?

[@PhulaTrox]

Some people think 25-26 and eoe are separate canons, some people think 25-26 happens at some point during eoe, some people think they’re technically separate but complementary and show the same events just in different ways

[@Nemo7The7Pirate7]

I still have no understanding wtf is going on.

[@pngCOATS]

holy shit this is dence

[@rapp8901]

I love evangelion

[@SVoltage1]

nice.

[@gawixone]

yw for watching

[@Sarllacc]

You say that like it’s a chore 😭 this video peak

[@gawixone]

@@Sarllacc it's not a chore, i'm just this way kozo...

[@slixnoir]

tl;dr Pen Pen is the real God of Evangelion

[@BlownMacTruck]

0:48 That doesn’t beg the question at all. That RAISES the question. “Begging the question” is a completely different concept and you shouldn’t use phrases you don’t actually know the meaning of.

[@PhulaTrox]

"begging the question" has multiple meanings 1. (of a fact or action) raise a question or point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question. "some definitions of mental illness beg the question of what constitutes normal behavior" Google definition ^ beg the question If a statement or situation begs the question, it causes you to ask a particular question: Spending the summer travelling around India is a great idea, but it does beg the question of how we can afford it. ^ Cambridge dictionary it can absolutely be used synonymously with "raise the question". the rhetorical use you're likely thinking of is another use of it and is not the only way

[@zuro181]

This isn't reddit buddy

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@PhulaTroxIncorrect. You are referring to a colloquial meaning. By definition, that is a meaning which has been forced onto something because people are too stupid to understand what it actually refers to. You can’t even cite a definition properly, so it should be of no surprise that you ended up falling back on to a colloquialism and doubling down on it.

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@zuro181 Ah yes. The “I don’t have a defense so I’ll lump you into something that refers to pedantics” argument. Always an effective response that goes a long way towards moving a conversation towards any kind of insight or resolution.

[@PhulaTrox]

LMFAOOO ait man, i'll never ever ever use a colloquial meaning ever again i'm so deeply sorry and thanks for the engagement

[@noofzoof]

Kino video

[@squiddle5193]

S E A L

[@PhulaTrox]

arf arf

[@DuelistRL]

Brother, it's pronounced SAYLAY not SEAL.

[@larsg.2492]

Buddy, it's Seele, not seal. We're in 2024, you have no excuse to look up a "how to pronounce" vid or just ask google.

[@fartamplifer]

I always felt that Yui's desire to spend eternity alone in the empty void of space was perhaps also a way to punish herself for what she put Shinji through.

[@ensarhasanic4963]

Her desire originated long before the contact experiment. I think it stemmed from her desire to give her life agency, after being under her SELLE family's thumb her entire life, a drive to give that oppressed life meaning, as an eternal symbol

[@AwooPatrol]

I cringed everytime I hear seal instead of say-lay, breaks immersion

[@slyapbg]

The word Seele is German and it's not even pronounced say-lay. What are you on about?

[@AwooPatrol]

@@slyapbg The sub goes for ze-re "Zay-lay", and the dub usually says "Say-lay". Whether either of those are the actually correct pronunciation, that's what the series itself uses.

[@Lesistius]

It’s German and is pronounced “Zaeyluh”

[@thedappermagician6905]

Bro, how are you going to watch the show enough yo know this lore in and out but pronounce SEELE like "Seal". 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@TheSchmuck2]

You're pronouncing a bunch of names and terms wrong.

[@githrenmoonpetal3232]

😂😂😂

[@AwooPatrol]

Yes it's so rage inducing. Does the sub say any differently? because the dub says Say-lay, and I don't see how anyone who has watched the show , let alone enough to understand and analyze could make that mistake multiple times

[@PhulaTrox]

LMFAOOOO my bad

[@PhulaTrox]

@AwooPatrol Brother I watched the sub and I don’t listen to/hear the exact pronunciation that’s said in Japanese

[@AwooPatrol]

@@PhulaTrox ah I guess I understand. I deleted my comment about ghostwriting, but tread carefully. Evangelion in its original medium leaves little room for mispronunciation as it is all said. With that being the case, my immediate assumption as to how those pronunciations came about is someone reading from a script

[@datmarticussy]

Himothy trox