[EVA] Points of Interest

[e]

Brendan Jamieson wrote:
The line, thanks
> to the Literal
> Translation Project script, reads:
> Misato:    Considering that, the real world itself
> is not always bad.
> 
> Shinji:    The real world might not always be bad.
>            But, I hate myself.
> 
> 
>  - However, ADV Films version is vastly different in
> meaning.
> 
> Misato:    Considering that, *this* world may not be
> so bad.
> 
> Shinji:    This world might not always be bad.
>            But, I hate myself.
> 
> Of course, I personally lean towards the latter
> translation. But is
> there any definitive version or an explanation of
> this inconsistency?

As someone who interpreted that scene as Shinji
choosing reality, I never saw the ADV Films
translation as vastly different in meaning or
inconsistent, although I admit it is a bit equivocal. 
I always took the "this" to refer to the real world
(and the ADV Films version was the first time I saw
episodes 25 & 26).  To my mind, the context in which
those lines were spoken (eg the shattering of the
stage - a stage is usually associated with suspension
of disbelief, ie the unreal), as well the context of
the sentences themselves suggest this interpretation.

In any event, thanks to Olivier and Kazuki for
clearing up that translation issue.

But does that solve the issue of whether Shinji chose
reality (or had any choice)?  If not, there's a third
possibility: that GAiNAX intended that scene to be
ambiguous and left it to the viewer to decide.

> Personally, I can't reconcile the 2015/2016
> inconsistency,

Sorry, does this relate to the question of whether
Shinji returned to the real world?

the oddly
> 'heaven-ish' final scene,

As someone replied earlier, I'm not sure that scene is
to be taken literally.  Or if it is, I'd say it means
that when Shinji choose to return to the real world,
this didn't take effect immediately, but that there
was still some time during which he was connected to
community of souls.

and that the filmbook
> calls
> Shinji's face 'The Smile of Complementation' with
> the idea he rejected
> Complementation.

I personally have a harder time dealing with this, but
perhaps the answer to this depends on the meaning of
"Complementation".  The filmbook states that it's the
smile of the Complemented Shinji.  Complementation was
a process to fill a void in humans (IIRC, Ritsuko said
something like that).  That is, it's the smile of a
Shinji who's been Complemented in the sense that he's
had some of his fears allayed through the
Instrumentality of discussion with the others during
the process.  Having been Complemented in that sense
(so that his world-view changes), he then decides to
accept the challenge of returning to the real world.

Or, like the Angel/Lilith reference in the RCB,
perhaps the filmbook is just wrong  :P

E


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