The WORST episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion
Every episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion!
In the year 2015, the Angels, huge, tremendously powerful, alien war machines, appear in Tokyo for the second time. The only hope for Mankind's survival lies in the Evangelion, a humanoid fighting machine developed by NERV, a special United Nations agency. Capable of withstanding anything the Angels can dish out, the Evangelion's one drawback lies in the limited number of people able to pilot them. Only a handful of teenagers, all born fourteen years ago, nine months after the Angels first appeared, are able to interface with the Evangelion. One such teenager is Shinji Ikari, whose father heads the NERV team that developed and maintains the Evangelion. Thrust into a maelstrom of battle and events that he does not understand, Shinji is forced to plumb the depths of his own inner resources for the courage and strength to not only fight, but to survive, or risk losing everything.
#1 - The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Director's Cut)
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 7/3/1998
Too frightened to face Misato or Rei, Shinji runs away yet again, only to meet and strike a friendship with Kaworu Nagisa, the replacement pilot for Eva-02. Kaworu's openness and friendliness provide much-needed comfort for the disturbed Shinji. However, suspicions abound over Kaworu's incredible synchronization abilities, and when he reveals that he is the Seventeenth Angel, Shinji must battle his newfound friend or face the threat of world annihilation.
#2 - Rei III (Director's Cut)
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 7/3/1998
Asuka sinks into deep depression after Arael's mental probing, and is unable to pilot when the new Angel Armisael arrives. Armisael begins physically fusing with Eva-00 and threatens to do the same to Eva-01, prompting Rei to sacrifice herself to save Shinji, only to appear alive soon afterwards. Under threat by Misato, Ritsuko opens the door to a room in Terminal Dogma to reveal the dark truth about Rei Ayanami.
#3 - Don't Be (Director's Cut)
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 2/4/1998
Asuka's synch rate is on a downward spiral after her defeat at the hands of the Fourteenth Angel, Zeruel, and her frustration with Rei, Shinji, Misato and (unknown to her, dead) Kaji is on the rise. Angrier and more disturbed than ever, she is forced to relive her dark, traumatic past during the encounter with the Fifteenth Angel, Arael.
#4 - He Was Aware That He Was Still a Child (Director's Cut)
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 2/4/1998
Kozo Fuyutsuki is kidnapped and interrogated by Seele, who are horrified over the results of the last encounter with an Angel. He recounts his past, providing flashbacks into the creation of Nerv. The pasts of Misato Katsuragi, Ritsuko Akagi, Rei Ayanami and Yui Ikari are also revealed. Ryoji Kaji, meanwhile, decides to find out the truth, no matter the cost.
#5 - Do you love me?
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/20/1996
The Human Instrumentality Project begins, and the souls of humanity merge. The Eva pilots confront the nature of their existence as reality dissolves.
#6 - Take care of yourself
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 3/27/1996
The Human Instrumentality Project continues. Shinji must decide whether to accept a world alone, or embrace connections with others.
#7 - Weaving a Story
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/3/1996
As Seele reviews NERV and Gendo's actions with the Third through Eleventh Angels, Ritsuko conducts a test in which the Eva pilots switch Units.
#8 - Fourth Child
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/24/1996
NERV-02 in Nevada vanishes, along with the Eva Unit 04. With Unit 03 on the way, Gendo orders Ritsuko to assign a pilot to it.
#9 - Magmadiver
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/1995
NERV learns of an Angel in dormant embryonic form inside a volcano. Using equipment designed for magma, Asuka is sent to retrieve it with Unit 02.
#10 - Hedgehog's Dilemma
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1995
Stressed out following his last battle, Shinji runs away from home and meets Kensuke. After NERV brings him back in, Misato offers him a choice.
#11 - A Human Work
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/1995
Ritsuko tells Shinji about the classified true cause of the Second Imapct. Then she and Misato attend the field test for an Eva competitor mecha.
#12 - A Transfer
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/1995
Word gets around school that Shinji is the Eva pilot; his classmate Toji resents him for it. An Angel appears and Shinji must pilot in combat again.
#13 - Lilliputian Hitcher
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/1995
An Angel infiltrates NERV, quickly taking over the MAGI supercomputer, Ritsuko proposes writing a program to forcibly evolve Ireul to its extinction.
#14 - Rei I
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/1995
Unit 00's pilot Rei Ayanami appears to have recovered, but she has no friends, no records of her past, and no interest in getting to know Shinji.
#15 - Angel Attack
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/1995
In the year 2015, an Angel returns to attack on Tokyo-3. Misato Katsuragi transports Shinji to the NERV base overseen by his estranged father, Gendo.
#16 - The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/1995
Tokyo-3 loses power just as another Angel is detected. The Eva pilots must enter the base from the surface while NERV preps the Units manually.
#17 - She said, "Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred."
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/1995
With Gendo and Fuyutsuki in Antarctica, a newly promoted Misato is in charge when a new Angel appears about the Earth, aiming to bomb Tokyo-3.
#18 - Don't Be.
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/28/1996
Asuka's synchronization ratio continues to drop, undermining her self-confidence. Determined to show her worth, she ignores orders during battle.
#19 - Asuka Strikes!
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/1995
Shinji and his friends accompany Misato to meet Eva Unit 02 and its pilot Asuka at sea. Misato's old friend Ryoji Kaji is aboard with his own agenda.
#20 - He was aware that he was still a child.
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/21/1996
Seele kidnaps Fuyutsuki and interrogates him about NERV and Gendo's true intentions, revealing events from the past. Ryoji goes missing.
#21 - Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/1995
Asuka and Shinji face another Angel but it gets the upper hand. They now have six days to learn synchronized moves to destroy it completely.
#22 - Those women longed for the touch of others' lips, and thus invited their kisses.
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/10/1996
For the first time in years, Shinji meets his father at his mother's grave. Ritsuko, Misato and Ryoji attend a wedding and Asuka goes on a date.
#23 - The Beast
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/1995
After piloting the Eva Unit 01, Shinji wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the battle. Feeling sorry for him, Misato lets him move in with her.
#24 - Rei III
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/6/1996
Despite her struggles, Asuka is ordered to assist Rei in battle against Armisael. When she fails, Rei makes a desperate move in order to save Shinji.
#25 - The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/13/1996
Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child, comes to NERV to pilot Unit 02 in Asuka's place. He's friendly to Shinji, but he's shrouded in mystery.