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In "The Birth of NERV," the filmmakers offer the viewer glimpses of the main characters' childhoods in scenes that hint at the sources of their problems and sorrows. And the penultimate episodes are dominated by sorrows at NERV, the organization that handles the Earth's defenses against the invading Angels. Asuka has grown so hostile, she can no longer bond with her Eva. After being badly injured in battle with the 15th Angel, she's removed from the program she lived for. As Commander Ikari insists on keeping Shinji's Eva in "cryostasis," Rei is left to face the serpentine 16th Angel alone: rather than be overcome by it, she destroys her Eva, the Angel, much of the surrounding landscape--and herself. Shinji is shattered by her disappearance. After decoding a message from the murdered Kaji, Misato forces Ritsuko to reveal to her and to Shinji the hideous truth about the creation of the Evas. But Misato, Shinji, and Ritsuko are only pawns in the larger game being played by the ruling cadre of the sinister SEELE organization. The 16th Angel has been vanquished and, according to the predictions they have derived from the Dead Sea Scrolls, only one remains to appear. These fragmented episodes showcase the singular mixture of Christian symbolism, sci-fi action, and Eastern mysticism that has made Evangelion one of the most widely--and hotly--discussed series in the history of anime. Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up: robot versus robot violence, minor nudity, and grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon
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