Episode:24

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Title I	Saigo no shisha "The Final Messenger" (最後のシ者)
Title II	"The Beginning and the End, or 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'"
Directed by	Shoichi Masuo Masayuki
Written by	Hideaki Anno Akio Satsukawa
Air Date	13 March 1996
Previous	Episode 23
Next	Episode 25

"The Final Messenger" is the twenty-fourth episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Overview

Asuka's depression spirals out of control, so SEELE sends Kaworu Nagisa to NERV to serve as the replacement pilot for Evangelion Unit-02. Shinji and Kaworu develop a bond and become friends. However, it is soon revealed that Kaworu is the final Angel, and has been sent by SEELE to infiltrate Terminal Dogma. Kaworu commandeers Unit-02, forcing Shinji and Unit-01 to attack and defeat it. Kaworu reaches Terminal Dogma, but discovers that the giant, crucified being there is not Adam, but Lilith. He then implores Shinji to kill him to allow humanity to survive. Shinji hesitates, but grudgingly kills Kaworu. Misato tries to reassure Shinji that he did the right thing, but he remains guilt-ridden over his decision to kill Kaworu.

Synopsis

A young Asuka runs to find her mother after learning she has been chosen to be an Evangelion pilot, only to find that her mother has hanged herself. In the present, a bewildered Asuka learns of Kaji's death from Shinji. Asuka runs away, eventually finding a wrecked house to stay in. She lays in a bathtub, naked and emaciated, lamenting that life is not worth living if she cannot pilot her Evangelion. One of NERV's intelligence agents finally finds Asuka and returns her to NERV Headquarters.

Kaworu meets Shinji at the ruins of Tokyo-3.

Shinji stands before Evangelion Unit-02 wondering where Asuka is, and unsure about how to tell her about the truth of Rei's origins. He then goes to the shore of the new lake marking the former site of Tokyo-3. Shinji mourns the fact that he has no friends left after Toji and Kensuke have moved away. He admits he is too scared to face Rei after discovering who she really is. Shinji's thoughts are interrupted by a boy humming "Ode to Joy." The mysterious boy introduces himself as Kaworu Nagisa, and tells Shinji that he is the Fifth Child.

Misato is suspicious of Kaworu and his too-convenient arrival after Asuka is rendered unfit for duty. Her suspicion grows when Kaworu's synch ratio with Unit-02 is incredibly high, even though the Evangelion's core had not been reset. Kaworu soon meets Rei, hinting that he is aware of her true nature. Kaworu then takes a public bath with Shinji, stating he is deserving of sympathy[9] and that he likes him. Shinji ends up spending the night in Kaworu's room. He tells Kaworu about his life before he joined NERV, and his hatred for his father.

Meanwhile, the monoliths of SEELE discuss the fact that NERV, which was intended as an organization to execute their scenario for Instrumentality, has now become Gendo's "plaything." Keel says that Gendo will pay for betraying SEELE. Gendo is then shown standing in front of Unit-01, revealing that the embryo of Adam is embedded in his hand. He refers to the purple Evangelion as "Yui," and says that the time for his dream to be fulfilled is coming soon.

Kaworu, with SEELE's 15 monoliths

Kaworu stands on a headless angel statue amidst the ruins of Tokyo-3. He observes that humans, whom he calls "Lilin," cannot be gods. Fifteen monoliths of SEELE appear around him, explaining that Gendo's true intention is to become like a god. The monoliths admit that humanity, as the progeny of Lilith born from the Black Moon, are the usurpers of the children of Adam born from the White Moon: the Angels. SEELE reminds him that while Kaworu has Adam's soul, Gendo is in possession of Adam's body. The monoliths express their faith in Kaworu to execute their will. Misato observes Kaworu from a long distance, confused about his morning routine of taking walks and talking to himself. Kaworu turns around and seems to look directly at the distant Misato, startling her.

Meanwhile, Hyuga gives Misato the information she asked him to steal from Maya. Hyuga has learned that Kaworu has the ability to intentionally manipulate his synchronization rate with the Evangelions. Misato then visits the imprisoned Ritsuko, who tells her that Kaworu might be the final Angel.

Ritsuko's guess proves to be true.. Kaworu activates Unit-02 without the use of an entry plug and heads toward Terminal Dogma. It is suggested that Kaworu is able to do this because he and all of the Evangelions, except Unit-01, are children of Adam. In addition, the soul within Unit-02 has withdrawn itself as a response to the psychological trauma inflicted on Asuka by Arael, the fifteenth Angel. NERV sensors render Kaworu as Pattern Blue: he is indeed the final Angel. Fuyutsuki expresses disbelief that SEELE would send an Angel to NERV, but Gendo tells him that the "old men" have decided to use NERV to skip a step in fulfilling their version of Instrumentality. 

Shinji is beside himself with disbelief that Kaworu could be an Angel, but Misato orders him to take Unit-01 and join the battle. When he sees Kaworu towing Unit-02 towards Terminal Dogma, Shinji yells out that Kaworu has betrayed him, just like Gendo. Misato asks Hyuga to be prepared to trigger the self-destruct for NERV headquarters if Unit-01 fails to stop Kaworu.

Shinji absently apologizes to Asuka for fighting her Unit-02. Kaworu notes that because the Evangelions are born of Adam, humans should see them as abominations. He is perplexed that in a desperate attempt to survive, the progeny of Lilith would actually resort to employing Adam-based life forms. Shinji attempts to attack Kaworu with his progressive knife, but his weapon is blocked by the final Angel's A.T. Field. Kaworu explains that all life possesses an A.T. Field, which he describes as the "inner wall that we all possess." He then expands his A.T. Field to an unprecedented level of power, blocking NERV's ability to monitor the situation.

Kaworu glances at Shinji (and Rei)

NERV sensors then detect a second A.T. Field within Terminal Dogma that neutralizes Kaworu's field. Rei, the source of the second A.T. field, stands above Terminal Dogma watching the confrontation. Kaworu hovers before the crucified being in Terminal Dogma, which he calls "Adam." However, Kaworu quickly realizes that the giant life form is not Adam, but is actually Lilith. Kaworu contemplates this discovery as Unit-01 discards the defeated Unit-02 behind him.

The victorious Unit-01 grabs the final Angel in its hand. With his A.T. Field neutralized, Kaworu asks Shinji to grant him his final wish: death. Glancing knowingly at Rei standing above them, Kaworu tells Shinji that only one of the Angels or humanity can exist on Earth. After spending time with Shinji, Kaworu has decided that humanity deserves to live. Grudgingly, after a long hesitation, Shinji kills Kaworu. A severed head is seen dropping into the pool of LCL beneath Lilith.

Later, Misato and Shinji are standing at the lakeside site where Shinji first met Kaworu. Misato tries to convince Shinji that eliminating Kaworu was necessary in order to save humanity. Despite her attempt, Shinji remains haunted by killing Kaworu, someone he saw as human. 

Differences between the OA Version and the Director's Cut

Main article: Guides: Episode 24 OA vs. DC

• New scenes were added to the DC version of this episode:
  • Asuka's shocked expression after slapping Shinji at the news of Kaji's death (along with the spilled coffee-pot from The End of Evangelion).
  • The brief appearance of the embryo of Adam on Gendo's palm.
  • The expanded conversion of Kaworu saying Rei is "the same as him".
  • A scene in which Kaworu converses with the SEELE monoliths at the lake, while Misato spies on him.
• Lilith's appearance is altered to reflect the regrowth of its lower body in the DC version of Episode 22.
• The DC version shows a preview of the video version of Episode 25' Air, (Consisting of animatics of Asuka battling the MP Eva Series, Ritsuko surprised at Casper's betrayal as well as Misato saying goodbye to Shinji).

Quotes

• Kaworu (after humming "Ode to Joy", to Shinji): "Singing is great. Singing enriches the soul. It's the crowning achievement of the civilization that the Lilin created. Don't you feel the same... Shinji Ikari?"
• Kaworu (to Rei): "You're the First Child, aren't you? Rei Ayanami. You're the same as me. So, both of us ended up in the same form as the Lilin while we inhabit this planet.
  Rei: "Who are you?"
• SEELE member: "NERV, the organization formed to be SEELE's executive branch..."
  SEELE member: "It was created in order to put our scenario into practice."
  SEELE member: "But now, it has become an organization in the possession of one individual."
  SEELE member: "Precisely, we must take it back."
  SEELE member: "Before the promised day."
  Keel Lorenz: "NERV and the Eva series must be in their true forms. Ikari, you will bear the responsibility of your malfeasance towards SEELE."
• Gendo (standing in front of Unit-01): "The time that has been given to us runs short. But the Spear of Longinus that stood in the way of our desire is no more. Soon, the final Angel will appear. If we destroy it, our wish will become true. Just wait a little longer, Yui."
• Misato (to Pen Pen): "I'm glad we're on the outskirts of the city, because it kept you from all that. But there's no guarantee that will be the case next time. So the Horaki family will be taking care of you starting tomorrow. This will be a goodbye for a while, Pen Pen."
• Kaworu (to himself): "Humans cannot create anything out of nothingness. Humans cannot accomplish anything without holding onto something. After all, humans are not gods."

Notes

• Episode 24 was originally going to comprise Episodes 22 and 23, but Kaworu's role was somewhat diminished later in production, and some details like information on NERV's secrets were moved to other episodes.
• "I believe this is a memo I sketched right after reading Junichi Sato’s ards for episode 5. Rei lived in a desolate room as though imprisoned there, and the only nice thing she saw was the light that passed through the beaker. Rainbows have long conjured up images of a pathway to heaven, and I suggested, “wouldn’t the scene leave an impression if [a rainbow?] looked like it formed just from the moonlight?”[1] At the time, I was working on proposals for multiple episodes simultaneously, and I forwarded the notion of this beaker room appearing again in the much later episode, 'The Cat and the Transfer Student'." - Mitsuo Iso Animation Works: Preproduction
• See Episode 24 Drafts and translation by Reichu of the earlier draft, The Cat and the Transfer Student on Arqa Apocrypha

References

• Kaworu places his hand on Shinji's the same way Misato placed her hand on his in the previous Episode. While the sexual intentions on Misato's part are plainly obvious, and drew Shinji's immediate disgust, he does not react to Kaworu's touch, and is in fact confused about what he has in mind. Despite implications, Kaworu's gesture might merely have been a sign of trying to comfort Shinji rather than a sexual advance. In one interview, Masayuki mentions the storyboard says Kaworu merely touches Shinji's hand, instead of holding it, but he did not notice this when animating it as Gainax was in a hurry to deliver the episode. Meanwhile, Seele meets to discuss Gendo's betrayal of their trust. The next scene is Gendo discussing his goals with Unit 1's soul, and it is revealed that Adam's embryo has been grafted into his hand.
• The Next Episode Preview after the end of Episode 24' is a preview for the video-released version of EoE's first episode, Episode 25' (Which consists of animatics of Asuka battling the MP Eva Series as well as Misato saying goodbye to Shinji). The video version of 26' Next Episode Preview is shown after Air's video version (This consists of live-action footage of Studio Gainax). The video version of The End of Evangelion was released on LD and VHS along with Episodes 25 and 26 of the series as Genesis: 13.
• There is a rather popular theory that Asuka attempted to commit suicide, such as by sliding her wrists in the beginning of this episode, but there is sufficient evidence to prove she instead was starving herself and simply waiting to die, having lost the will to live, but did not want to die either. See Theory and Analysis:Asuka and the Bathtub.
• Theory and Analysis:Kaworu's Agenda
• Japanese title, "saigo no shisha" (the last passenger) / Kaworu Nagisa　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　1. You can get "Owari" by moving "Kaworu" forward one character in each in Japanese. The meaning is "last", = "saigo". 　　　　　　　　　　　2."Shisha" is "シ"(katakana) + "者"(kanji), but if we look at "シ" as a kind of kanji part: "氵"(sanzui), "氵" + "者" = "渚". "渚" is Kaworu Nagisa's "Nagisa".　So "saigo no shisha" has two meanings: "the lasy passenger" and "Kaworu Nagisa".