Asuka prepares to strike!
Misato brings along Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke on a trip to Ito and meet with the UN's Pacific Fleet, which is in charge of transporting Eva Unit 02 to NERV. On the Over the Rainbow carrier, the group meets the unit's pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu, and her escort, Ryoji Kaji, the latter of which turns out to be Misato's ex-boyfriend. However, when the sixth angel Gaghiel suddenly attacks, Asuka and Shinji are left with no choice but to pilot Unit 02 and stop the Angel from obliterating the entire fleet.
In the aftermath, Kaji delivers some mysterious cargo he was carrying to Gendo, who reveals that it is "Adam, the first human being."
Tropes in this episode include:
- Accidental Unfortunate Gesture: Downplayed. While Toji dropping his pants in front of Asuka was meant as a rude and insulting gesture, the script makes it clear that he only intended to show her his own underpants, but was so furious that he ended up using too much force and accidentally yanked them along down with his pants, instead ending up full-on flashing Asuka.
- Call-Back: When Asuka starts up Unit-02, the cognitive noise from Shinji causes it to interfere with the unit's German-language interface, similar to what happened when Kensuke and Toji entered Unit-01's entry plug in "A Transfer".
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Once Gaghiel approaches the Pacific Fleet, it quickly destroys the bulk of the battleships brought against it.
- Dragged into Drag: Asuka forces Shinji to dress in one of her plugsuits when she drags him along in Unit-02.
- Establishing Character Moment: After Asuka greeting Misato, the latter comments on she has grown since she saw her last. Asuka then wastes no time in adding that she has not just grown taller, but has also grown into a woman in other ways too. This is basically one big Foreshadowing of Asuka's whole inferiority complex about desperately wanting to be seen as an adult rather than a child.
- Expecting Someone Taller: Asuka, having already heard some of the rumors about the Third Child and his capabilities, is rather disappointed by her first impression of Shinji, verbally declaring him "unimpressive" after studying him up close for a moment. Shinji is visibly offended by her assessment.
- Funny Background Event: Misato's NERV ID Card is briefly shown. It lists the standard data points of sex, height, age, and blood type, but also, for some strange reason, her measurements and weight. What makes this funny is Misato has crossed these latter data points out with a sharpie. There is also her picture on the card, where her expression is less than enthusiastic.
- For added hilarity, she also crossed out her age. "No one wants to be the last one single at 30".
- Gratuitous German: Upon activating Unit-02 using the German-language interface, Asuka says:
- Original Japanese: "LCL Füllung. Anfang der Bewegung. Anfang des Nervenanschlusses. Auslöses von Links-kleidung. Synchro-start."note
- ADV English dub: "LCL Einlass. Anfang der Bewegung, bestätigt. Anfang des Nervenanschlusses, bestätigt. Anfang nächster die Herzmonitor, bestätigt. Synchro-start, nun!"note
- Netflix English dub: "LCL Füllung. Aktivierung jetzt starten. Nervenverbindung initiieren. Die plugsuits jetzt aktivieren. Synchronisieren."note
- I Will Show You X!: In the Netflix English dub, Asuka says the slapping was a price for the treat. Toji responds "I'll show you a treat!" and pulls down his pants. Asuka's reaction when she slaps him again?Asuka: How dare you!
- The Load: The very instant Unit 02 falls into the water, Asuka degenerates into this trope. She does nothing but yell at Shinji, beat on his head and pull at his hair, more concerned about the fact that he's touching Unit 02's controls than the fact that Unit 02 (and by extension them) are all trapped in an Angel's mouth!!
- Military Maverick: Captain Katsuragi, who technically has no business giving orders to a captain (as he ranks above her, and clearly doesn't take kindly to her intervention). Her know-how and strategical skills, however, stop the Sea Monster and save the day.
- More Teeth than the Osmond Family: Gaghiel.
- Never My Fault: Asuka is told multiple times that she can't fight underwater with Unit 02 in the Type-B configuration, but expects Shinji to do something about it after she told him to stay out of her way.
- Reused Character Design: The designs for the Over the Rainbow captain and first officer are recycled from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, in which said designs were also used for the USS Abraham.
- Shout-Out to Shakespeare: Some of the ships share names with the titles of some of Shakespeare's plays, such as Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest.
- Sinking Ship Scenario: Once Gaghiel arrives at Tokyo Bay, it sinks some of the UN battleships attempting to destroy it.
- Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Trailer: Noted by Hideaki Anno as one of the few episodes where Rei is completely absent.
- Tempting Fate: At the end of the episode, Kensuke and Toji tell Shinji that they don't have to see Asuka ever again. Cue Asuka entering the classroom and introducing herself.
- Unknown Rival: As soon as she learns about Shinji's accomplishments as a pilot, Asuka immediately takes it upon herself to prove that she is better than him. Shinji on the other hand spends the entire episode being wholly ignorant of her animosity towards him, acting more confused by (and a bit scared of) her behavior.
- You Remind Me of X: When Misato informs the captain that NERV ultimately overrides his own authority, Shinji comments that it sounds like something the steadfast Ritsuko would say.
