No one has posted here in a while...but, whatever.

My favorite pairing in Neon Genesis Evangelion is Asuka x Shinji, by far. In my opinion, they have the most interesting relationship dynamics; one pushes the other away as a misleading cry for attention, while the other flees, as an unfortunate result which sickens his interest. The two have excellent chemistry and sync with each other to a remarkable extent (as seen in my favorite episode, "Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!"), and actually have many things in common that allows them to relate to each other. Neither of the two die (always a plus), and they actually like each other underneath it all--Asuka is the person Shinji would like to be with most (End of Evangelion) and Asuka is truly upset that Shinji rejects her "advances" ("You won't help me! You won't even hold me!" Asuka, Director's Cut of Episode 22). Alas, if only these two could properly express their feelings for each other...But, I have conviction they could work things.



Ah, it always disappoints me when someone starts a post in a thread like this by stating their dislike of one character. These inferiority complexes are tiresome. Why do you so many people here (not just Scyfon) feel compelled to justify their choice by explaining how much they hate the "rival" girl?



Asuka isn't especially violent. She shouts her anger more often than uses her fists. She's more violent in the beginning when she's more of a comical character, and nobody here takes comic violence seriously, right?

Besides, isn't it Shinji that's choking the life out of Asuka in End of Evangelion? Twice! Like they say, it's the quiet ones you need to watch out for...



Way to defeat one argument against Shinji x Rei!



Uh, have you ever looked at two pictures of Rei and Yui, side by side? The resemblance is undeniable; most of the differences are due to the age difference (most fifteen-year olds don't quite look like a woman in her thirties) and Rei's odd, albino traits.



I'm curious about that text since hardly anything in it sounds true. For one thing, how often can you think of Shinji going "crazy?" And when does Asuka show her feminine side? Do you remember these two happening at the same time? Probably not.

Shinji's craziest sexual act happens when Asuka is comatose (I hope no one considers this as Asuka using her female side). His most insane violent acts against her happens after his mental image of Asuka rejects his plea for help, and while Asuka is laying down on a beach, doing nothing.

As for Shinji wanting to be apart from Asuka the rest of the time, End of Evangelion strongly disagrees with that.



Go on.



Your reference isn't quite accurate, spatel7. What Shinji says is that he thinks Rei wrings a cloth like a mother would. It hints at Shinji viewing Rei as a mother-type figure, but this idea is never really developed in either the anime or the manga. Never is it outright spoken that Shinji believes Rei looks like his mother.



Kind of thought of her when she was away? He clearly begs her to come back when she's in the coma. Asuka is the girl Shinji reaches out to when he feels completely isolated at the end of the series.



When did Shinji go "crazy 'bout Rei?" You should supply examples when you make statements like this, so people like me don't question your validity.



Asuka likes him. It's all there in the subtext.

That is subject to interpretation. It is hinted in End of Evangelion, but it's not crystal clear.
In my opinion Shinji and Asuka like each other, and sort of just fit as a couple.
Asuka has some bloody weird mood-swings but Rei just seems empty/boring, therefore I like Asuka better as a match for Shinji.

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I think someone already said this, but I don't think anything will come in the form of relationships between Shinji and Rei/Asuka. With that said, I would choose Asuka. Why? I can't give you a good reason. Really, after seeing the anime (movies included) and reading up to the latest chapter, I for some reason like Asuka more than Rei. Which is a bit confusing for me since I really sympathized with Rei after reading the manga. In the anime, Rei's feelings for Shinji are only implied, but the manga pretty much lays it out for you. This is especially apparent in the one line that I thought was really sweet: "The first time I touched them, I felt nothing. The second time, I little sick? The third time, I felt warm. The forth time, I was happy. Can I touch them again... Ikari's hands?" I was really surprised by this line since there was nothing remotely close to that in the anime. That line made me sad when that Rei died. I didn't particularly feel sad when Rei "died" in the anime, but I did when it happened in the manga (even though I knew it was coming).

With that said, I really couldn't see anything coming from that. The thing about Rei and Shinji, is that I don't see a romantic relationship developing between the two. I think Shinji said it best. Something along the lines of, "When I think of my feelings towards Rei, the words "like" or "want to go out with" don't come to mind. It's like as though she is a part of me that I lost some time ago." I personally don't see that as love, but more as if she is an important part of him. Whether as a sibling, a really close friend, or, like I personally believe, because his subconscious can sense the aura of his mother whenever he's near her. So I don't see anything developing between those two.

Asuka's relationship in the manga is a bit more ambiguous than it is in the anime (at least that's how I see it). I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I just don't feel the same connection. The one thing in the manga which I found that is more significant in his feelings for Asuka than in the anima is the hospital scene where he visits the comatose Asuka. He desperately pleas for Asuka to wake up saying, "The person I want to protect isn't this empty shell" (or something like that). That shows more significance in terms of feelings than in the movie where goes on to "pleasure himself" at the sight of Asuka's breasts. Also in the movie, his pleas seem more selfish, only stating that he's afraid of Rei and Misato. In the manga he also mentions this, but it also gives off the impression that he wants her to recover because he misses her, rather than in the anime where the impression is that he only wants her there because he has no one else (almost like a last resort). That was a big rant, but the point is that I have no clue what to make of their relationship.

The one thing about the manga that makes me lean away from the POV I had after watching the anime (Shinji doesn't deserve anyone because he is a little bitch), is how Shinji's character is portrayed in the manga. He's more assertive, talkative, and seems like more of a normal person than in the anime. He still suffers from his inferiority complex, but it doesn't effect him to the point where he completely lets everyone walk all over him like in the anime. Because of that, I lean a little more to the side that he should at least have that much in his life (a relationship). And for whatever reason, I want that person to be Asuka. Maybe it's because I read that Doujin Re-Take (which is brilliant, I recommend that to every Evangelion fan who hasn't read it yet). But what ever the reason, I choose AsukaxShinji over any otheer possibility.

I'm curious to see how the ending in the manga differs from the movie. I figure not much since it's looking almost identical so far, but I'm anticipating this thing to end (which probably won't happen for a year or so, sucks it releases once a month).

P.S.: I figured I should touch up on this since it was mentioned. Kaworu can never happen. Their relationship is portrayed significantly different in the manga than in the anime, and I hold this somewhat biased belief that what happens in the manga is how the story is supposed to be. Although there is an unusual closeness between the two in the anime (almost enough to make think Shinji is gay, or bi), that closeness is non-existent in the manga. For most of the time, Shinji can't stand being in the presence of Kaworu. He shows a strong dislike and uncomrtableness (not a real word) around Kaworu, until the time when it comes to kill him (in which he shows hesitation to show that he at the very least he thought of Kaworu as an acquaintance). So, KaworuxShinji, eh, no.

I just can't see anything other than Shinji and Rei.

Yeah I know, boring but I like it.

I know what you mean. Rei is a sweet girl, but that Rei that was sweet and falling in love with Shinji is gone. Now the only Rei that is left is the Rei that we all got to know in the beginning, emotionless and no feeligns for Shinji (although there does seem to be some traces of her subconscious remembering the feelings that the last Rei had for Shinji, or his dad). It was sad to see Rei go after she finally developed human emotions like that, but when you think about it, don't you think it's for the better? I mean she isn't even human (not really), could they really be together? It's too late to answer that now, though.

Last edited by sandman1008 at 2:43 pm, Feb 7 2008

asuka, because i´m weak to tsundere characters

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ççççççç[Ô .Ô] tsutopodus© will eat your manga and steal your cats!

It can't be Rei cuz she was mass produced. asuka all the way, i mean he u no all over her. that's gotta be worth somthin.

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"Hip-hop was set out in the dark. They used to do it out in the park"

For me, it goes (in terms of who should be paired with Shinji): Asuka, Misato, Rei.

Just a little side comment on the relationships after reading all the responses:

I think of if this way:

Rei: The type of person that will be forever in dream land with shinji > in other words a perfectly happy couple in a utopia. Its fragile.

Kaworu: The type of person that will help shinji and make him grow up. He is the best match for Shinji in terms of personality because he heals him.

Asuka: The type of person that will make shinji grow up for real and teach him to either enjoy life or (die). In other words she will be the best in terms of gf/wife etc because she will set him straight and develop a backbone. The road will be rough, but it will be worth if (if he survives lol)

I think that Kaworu has the best personality yet he is more of a best friend than lover

(I HATE YAOI if you were curious)

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"But one day she realized her beloved boxing rejected her...The day she clearly realized she was a girl... However much she wanted it, she couldn't have it. So she had to give it up. And the fastest way to give it up is to hate it, right?"

~Katsu - 22 -
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Touch and Katsu!---sincerely amazing
ADACHI=genius

romance! + mystery fan (shounen)

HINAgiku-chan LOVE!!!

Neon Genesis Evangelion = genius

i agree on all of what you said ^^ personaly~i would've loved to see shinji with Asuka XD it would have so great....ahhh....what a frustrating series it was >_>;

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lol

Last edited by GreenTeaStrawberry at 7:19 pm, Sep 25 2008

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Lots and lots of blood!

Shinji should forever be alone in a sea of LCL dreaming of congratulations... if not then [Rei II]xShinji

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Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?

In order
1. Rei
2.Asuka
3.Misato

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Anta Baka?

Asuka all the way!!! Whether in anime, manga, doujin, hentai doujin, or vidoe games.

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Erm, that doesn't mean anything. In NGE, the anime came way before the manga and the manga is actually like a spin-off of the anime, not vice-versa like usual. It isn't even finished...

Personally, I don't mind Kaworu's change from anime to the manga. He's got more personality in the manga, he's more human, with weaknesses.

I once read that Rei is supposed to represent Shinji's mother (well, no surprise here) and Kaworu his father. o.o; In other words, Kaworu is giving Shinji the love he'd like to receive from his father, etc. which means that Asuka is really supposedly his partner, IF he had one.

But as for me and my personal opinion... I like Kaworu/Shinji better. In the anime, Kaworu is definitely the one Shinji opens himself up to and who can 'heal' him. In the manga, they didn't get along, but in the end Shinji realizes that he never hated Kaworu and was attracted to him nonetheless.