Cliché: n 1. A trite or overused expression or idea. (as quoted from The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd Edition). Some things are so immediately identifiable that their use should not be allowed in any media except in cases where it's a) factual, or b) a parody. The Hallelujah Chorus is so well known, that it's hardly used anymore in any context, save cheap comedies. But what makes this particular instance even more unforgivable is that it's not the first time that Anno's used this too-often heard piece: yep, you've guessed it, he used it in Gunbuster as well. This episode was proceeding so smoothly, that I was caught completely off guard, and started laughing. And is someone drawing faces in Asuka's psychograph? Any of you remember Bruce Willis and Hudson Hawk? Well, at least the latter was an attempt at comedy...

It's too bad that our brains are so dependant on associative learning -- that is, we tend to relate certain events with memories. Take out the Chorus, and you've got a fairly decent episode. More background about Asuka's not-so-happy childhood, and her source of emotional detachment. The relationship between EVA and the pilot. Perhaps most effective was the use of high-speed cuts between Asuka's mind being invaded, and the words used to represent the emotional terror that she was subjected. The only other weakness here was Miyamura Yuko's acting ability... or lack of it. She's not up to the task at hand, so much of this scene could have just as well been from your typical dubbed package. There's also a very long scene involving Rei and Asuka in an elevator -- 51 seconds long. The pause was meant to be so long that it makes you uncomfortable; but in this case, you'll have time not only to go grab a coffee, but grind the beans and brew it too! More budgetary constraints, I wonder?
- AN, 98.05.10