Note: The "Detailed Summaries" are an episode guide based on the design of the popular "Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5", which feature deep analysis of individual episodes of Babylon 5, a sci-fi series. They are mostly spoiler free, except to assume that you have watched the episodes up to the episode guide you are currently reading. Thus, someone reading the episode guide for episode 4 will see that the guide assumes the reader has seen episodes 1-4, but not episodes 5-26. The summaries are divided into several sections: Backplot (plot and subplot points that advance the story), Interesting Notes (extra "bonus" points not relevant to the plotline), Unanswered Questions (mysteries placed forward in the episode) and Analysis (detailed breakdown of episode).

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1 - Angel Attack
After 15 years of dormancy, the mysterious Angels, creatures that have threatened to destroy mankind in the past, have returned once again to wreak havoc. Not even the might of the combined UN forces are enough to stop the latest Angel from attacking Tokyo-3. In the midst of the chaos, 14-year old Shinji Ikari is told to meet his estranged father after years of separation. Knowing only that his father works for a branch of the Japanese government called NERV, he is met by Captain Misato Katsuragi and taken to their underground base. But what Shinji hasn't yet realized is that he has been called upon to be the embodiment of mankind's last hope in the Evangelions, NERV's top secret project and supposedly the only effective weapon against the Angels. Untrained and alone, Shinji must face a near-invincible Angel in his first battle. [Detailed Summary]

2 - Unfamiliar Ceiling/The Beast
Shinji's first attempt at piloting an Evangelion goes awry as the Angel causes serious damage to it. Waking up in a hospital bed, Shinji struggles with his jumbled memories of his first battle as the city recovers from the damage incurred by both the Evangelion and the Angel. An enthusiastic Misato takes in the recovered Shinji to live with her rather than leave Shinji alone and to himself. As Misato warmly welcomes him into his new home, it seems that Shinji begins to feel a small glimmer of happiness for the first time since being called back by his father - until he recalls the dreadful battle and his horror at seeing the deadly capability and true face of the Evangelion he pilots. [Detailed Summary]

3 - A Transfer/The Phone That Never Rings
Shinji learns more about piloting the Evangelions and continues his training, though he is hesitant to do so. Though he has been attending class at his new school, he is unable to make new friends. When it is found out that he is the pilot of an Evangelion, however, he gains many friends and admirers - as well as a couple of enemies. After a hostile encounter at school with a bitter fellow student, Shinji is forced to fight once again - this time against an Angel more powerful than the last. Shinji must forget the pain and hurt of what he has done and what he has gone through in order to defeat this new enemy...even if he is forced to protect the very people who hate him for what he is. [Detailed Summary]

4 - Rain, Escape, and Afterwards/Hedgehog's Dilemma
Dreading both those around him and himself, Shinji runs away from Misato, NERV, and life. Alone as he was before he is able to try and think through his reasons for piloting as well as decide on whether or not to return. In the meantime, NERV searches frantically for the lost EVA pilot, and finally finds him - but there is no sense of relief, only anger at his actions. Shinji now faces the termination of his short but turbulent employment with NERV, but he just might find a source of strength from two new friends. [Detailed Summary]

5 - Rei, Beyond Her Heart/Rei I
Making a fresh start in NERV, Shinji now turns his attention to Rei Ayanami, his quiet and enigmatic fellow pilot who always seems to be alone and by herself - that is, except when she's talking with his father. Shinji begins to wonder about the relationship between Rei and his father, and especially about Rei's odd behavior in general. However, he has no time to process any of what he observes, because a new and deadly Angel makes an appearance - and Shinji is first hand receiver of its primary weapon. [Detailed Summary]

6 - Showdown in Tokyo-3/Rei II
After being seriously injured at the hands of the Angel, Shinji is forced to pull back while NERV considers its options. Working against time, as the Angel drills to the Geo-Front below, Misato comes up with a last-ditch plan involving both EVAs and a highly experimental positron rifle that just may have the ability to eliminate the threat. Not only do both Rei and Shinji have to learn to work together, but they must also hold the entire power supply of Japan in their hands as they prepare for one last attempt at defeating the most powerful Angel yet. [Detailed Summary]

7 - The Human Creation/A Human Work
Misato's somewhat insane plan to take out the last Angel has made the voice of NERV nay-sayers even louder, and this time, there's someone out there to oppose the Evangelion Project. A scientist unveils Jet Alone, an automated robot which can supposedly run more efficiently than the power-inhibited EVAs and perform just as well. At first, Ritsuko and Misato are abashed at being shown up by this new upstart project - but when "JA" goes out of control and threatens to destroy an entire city, only an Evangelion may be strong enough to stop it. [Detailed Summary]

8 - Asuka Strikes!
Finally, NERV Japan is getting the first Production Model Evangelion into its hands via the UN Navy, along with its overconfident and somewhat brash pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu. As the future is seen in EVA Unit-02, the past is also represented in the appearance of a familiar person from Misato's past. But reunions and hopes are both interrupted when a sea-faring Angel appears to take on the fleet and its precious cargo. Asuka and Shinji must now test out the EVA Production Model - even if it's going to be in a real battle. [Detailed Summary]

9 - With One Accord in a Flash/Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Just a few days back from the long trip at sea, the Evangelions face their newest challenge yet - a powerful Angel that splits into two parts that attack in tandem. Seemingly invincible when separated, the Angel humiliates Asuka and Shinji in their first team battle. Misato, Ritsuko, and Kaji come up with the perfect countermeasure to the dual Angel - make the Evangelions fight in perfect sync, using dance music to make the process easier. But it's going to take a lot more than just music to get the likes of Shinji and Asuka working together, and Misato has to resort to extreme measures in order to get the job done. [Detailed Summary]

10 - Magma Diver
While Asuka adjusts to life in Japan and Misato struggles to keep the annoyingly charming Kaji out of her hair, an amazing discovery is found. NERV has a perfect opportunity when a developing Angel is found in the depths of a volcano. Seeking to retrieve an actual live sample for study, Asuka is sent with her EVA in a lava/heat resistent suit to investigate. But it takes some quick thinking on Asuka's part when the Angel decides to incubate faster than anticipated, breaking out of its energy cage and attacking the helplessly suspended EVA Unit-02. [Detailed Summary]

11 - In the Still Darkness/The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still
The power has been mysteriously cut off from NERV, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Yet another Angel has made its appearance, attempting to burn its way down into the Geo-Front, and Rei, Shinji, and Asuka must make their way down to the depths of NERV where their Evangelions are kept, forced to use emergency ducts that descend underground. Meanwhile, the NERV staff struggles to prepare the Evangelions for a manual launch, racing against the Angel in an attempt to save Tokyo-3 from destruction. [Detailed Summary]

12 - The Value of a Miracle Is/She Said "Don't Make Others Suffer for Your Personal Hatred"
Misato fights the demons of her past and her memories of the Second Impact, while a very powerful space-traveling Angel is detected descending on Tokyo-3. In the absence of Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki, Misato has ultimate authority over NERV operations. But she must stave off her own personal hatred for the Angels in order to come up with a solution to the latest Angel attack, coming up with a tactical solution that puts all three EVAs and their pilots at the most gravest of risks. [Detailed Summary]

13 - Angel Invasion/Lilliputian Hitcher
NERV has faced many outside Angel threats and has somehow managed to get through them all. But this time, the attack comes from within as a microscopic nanomachine network is the latest Angel to attempt to destroy NERV. With the Angel being too small and too risky for the giant Evangelions and their pilots to fight, it is now left to Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, Maya Ibuki, and the rest of the technical staff to defeat it. In order to stay on par with the Angel's superior mechanical knowledge, Ritsuko decides to employ the MAGI, the computer system developed by her mother, in order to finish the job. But with even the MAGI being infected by the Angel, Ritsuko is on borrowed time in order to eliminate the threat before it activates the irreversible self-destruct sequence that will level NERV HQ. [Detailed Summary]

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