9.3/103,126 votesLoading...#1 - Introjection
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/7/1996
Enraged over Touji's near-death at the hands of his own EVA, Shinji refuses to pilot an Evangelion again and prepares to leave Tokyo-3 for good. He is forced to reconsider that decision when an immensely destructive new Angel attacks just as he is about to leave...
Director: Masayuki
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
9.0/102,855 votesLoading...#2 - Ambivalence
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/31/1996
Evangelion Unit-03 arrives from the United States. However, its activation experiment brings out NERV's worst nightmare when it turns out to have been infected by the Thirteenth Angel. The other EVAs are dispatched to battle the Angel-infected abomination... even at the risk of killing its helpless pilot.
Director: Tensai Okamura
Writer: Shinji Higuchi
8.9/102,669 votesLoading...#3 - Splitting of the Breast
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/17/1996
Shinji beats Asuka in a synch test, much to her annoyance. Not too long after, the EVAs are dispatched to deal with a mysterious apparition, and EVA-01 is sucked into a shadowlike blackness that materializes out of nothingness from under it. While an emergency operation to rescue the captured EVA is concocted, Shinji goes on a trip into the depths of his own consciousness...
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
8.7/102,442 votesLoading...#4 - Weaving A Story (2): Oral Stage
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/1996
Shinji achieved an unprecedented 400% synchronization ratio with EVA-01 during the battle with Zeruel, to horrible effect. With the EVA having ascended to the status of a living God and Shinji absorbed inside it, Ritsuko unsuccessfully attempts to recover him.
Director: Masahiko Otsuka
Writer: N/A
8.7/102,361 votesLoading...#5 - Rei III
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/6/1996
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.
Director: Hideaki Anno, Shoichi Masuo
Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
8.7/102,593 votesLoading...#6 - The Beginning and the End, or 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/13/1996
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.
Director: Masayuki
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
8.6/102,395 votesLoading...#7 - He Was Aware that He Was Still a Child.
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/21/1996
Kouzou 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. Ryouji Kaji, meanwhile, decides to find out the truth, no matter the cost.
Director: Hiroyuki Ishido
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
8.6/102,459 votesLoading...#8 - Don't Be.
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 2/28/1996
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 Ryouji 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.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki, Akira Takamura
Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
8.3/102,582 votesLoading...#9 - Rei II
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/1995
Continuing from the previous episode, the Angel Ramiel is drilling down into the GeoFront to attack NERV HQ directly. After Shinji barely survived a direct confrontation with it, Misato devises a plan to have EVA-00 and EVA-01 defeat the Angel by sniping it from a distance using a positronic rifle which requires the total electric output of Japan to power up.
Director: Hiroyuki Ishido
Writer: N/A
8.1/102,466 votesLoading...#10 - Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/1995
Asuka joins Shinji’s class at school, and moves in with Misato and him in their apartment. As Asuka adjusts to Japan (or rather, everyone else adapts to her...), a new Angel attacks which is capable of splitting itself into two identical copies. EVA-01 and EVA-02 are defeated, and NERV is publicly humiliated. With the Angel in a week-long regeneration period after an N² Mine attack by the JSSDF, Asuka and Shinji must learn to "synchronize" with each others movements combat, in order to defeat it once and for all.
Director: Seiji Mizushima
Writer: N/A
8.1/102,290 votesLoading...#11 - Those Women Longed for the Touch of Others' Lips, and Thus Invited Their Kisses.
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/10/1996
It seems like it's an important day for nearly everyone at NERV. Misato and Ritsuko are going to a wedding; Shinji and Gendo are visiting Yui's grave; Asuka has a date. However, important things will spring from these seemingly mundane events.
Director: Naoyasu Hanyu
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
8.1/102,782 votesLoading...#12 - Take Care of Yourself.
Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 3/27/1996
Instrumentality continues. The focus is primarily on Shinji now, as he learns to accept the individual’s ability to shape their world, and how the self cannot exist without others to define it.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki
Writer: N/A
8.0/102,821 votesLoading...#13 - The Beast
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/1995
Shinji wakes up in the hospital, with no memory of defeating the Angel the night before. Rejected by his father, Misato decides to take Shinji with her to live in her apartment. Later that night, memories of the battle against the Angel come flooding back to Shinji.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Yoji Enokido, Yoji Enoto
7.9/102,250 votesLoading...#14 - She said, 'Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred.'
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/1995
Misato has been promoted to Major, but the celebration does not last long. A monstrous Angel appears in Earth orbit right when Gendo and Fuyutsuki are away, leaving her and the children to deal with a colossal kamikaze threatening to drop itself right on top of Tokyo-3.
Director: Hiroyuki Ishido
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
7.9/102,541 votesLoading...#15 - Do You Love Me?
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/20/1996
Instrumentality has begun, and now its inner process, the joining of all souls into one, will be depicted. The episode is primarily driven by dialogue, the background usually complete darkness. White text often appears on a black screen, an omniscient voice questioning the characters.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: N/A
7.8/102,410 votesLoading...#16 - Asuka Strikes!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/1995
Misato brings Shinji, along with Touji and Kensuke, to a massive UN naval convoy transporting Evangelion Unit-02 and its fiery German pilot, Asuka Langley Souryuu, to Japan. Escorting Asuka is Misato's old boyfriend, Ryouji Kaji. After some awkward introductions and reunions, the fleet is attacked by a massive aquatic Angel. Asuka powers up Eva-02, and decides that she will defeat the Angel by playing "hopscotch"...
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Yoji Enokido
7.8/102,309 votesLoading...#17 - The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/1995
Tokyo-3 comes to a standstill when sabotage knocks out all power, and the personnel must scramble to launch the EVAs manually when an Angel appears in the middle of the blackout.
Director: Tetsuya Watanabe
Writer: Yoji Enokido
7.7/103,026 votesLoading...#18 - Angel Attack
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/1995
Shinji Ikari is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father Gendo, commander of the special agency NERV, to defend the city from a giant Angel by piloting the only weapon capable of battling the monster: Evangelion Unit-01.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: N/A
7.7/102,623 votesLoading...#19 - A Transfer
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/1995
Shinji begins attending his new school in Tokyo-3, and has a difficult time dealing with the fame of being an Evangelion pilot. Touji Suzuhara, who's little sister was injured in Shinji's fight against the Angel, is angry at Shinji. A new Angel appears, and Shinji must once again pilot EVA-01 to defeat it.
Director: Hiroyuki Ishido
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
7.7/102,473 votesLoading...#20 - Rei I
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/1995
EVA-00 is finally repaired, and Shinji tries to get to know its enigmatic pilot, Rei Ayanami, better. However, he is confounded because she is extremely insular, has no friends at all, and the entire record of her past has been erased. In the midst of this, a very powerful Angel, the floating monolith Ramiel, attacks Tokyo-3.
Director: Keiichi Sugiyama
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
7.6/102,598 votesLoading...#21 - Hedgehog's Dilemma
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1995
Misato is upset with Shinji for ignoring her orders in the last Angel battle, and he is so overcome by the stress of being an EVA pilot that he runs away. After wandering around Tokyo-3 for several days, Shinji is faced with the choice of quitting or staying in his new home.
Director: Tsuyoshi Kaga
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
7.6/102,266 votesLoading...#22 - Lilliputian Hitcher
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/1995
A routine test involving the EVA pilots turns into a struggle for survival when a wholly new type of Angel appears and spreads inside NERV HQ. This new, computer-like angel threatens to set off the self-destruct for the entire facility, leaving Dr. Ritsuko Akagi in a race against time to save the GeoFront and destroy the Angel.
Director: Tensai Okamura
Writer: Akio Satsukawa, Mitsuo Iso
7.6/102,198 votesLoading...#23 - Fourth Children
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/24/1996
A NERV branch in Nevada is obliterated in a catastrophic accident, and NERV headquarters prepares to station a new Evangelion in Japan. The Fourth Child is selected, unbeknownst to Shinji.
Director: Minoru Ohara
Writer: Shinji Higuchi
7.5/102,382 votesLoading...#24 - A Human Work
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/1995
Ritsuko briefs Shinji on the real nature of Second Impact, the Angels, and the Evangelions' mission to defeat them. Misato and Ritsuko attend the public demonstration of a new Angel-fighting robot, Jet Alone, built by a rival defense contractor to NERV. However, the nuclear-powered robot quickly runs out of control, and Shinji must use EVA Unit 01 to load Misato onto Jet Alone so she can she can enter in its automatic shutdown code, before it melts down in a nuclear explosion.
Director: Keiichi Sugiyama
Writer: Yoji Enokido
7.4/102,307 votesLoading...#25 - Magma Diver
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/1995
The EVA pilots are disappointed to find out that they are not allowed to go on their class trip to Okinawa, because they have to stay at Tokyo-3 to stay on-call in case of an Angel attack. Meanwhile, a new Angel is discovered in a chrysalis-like developmental stage deep within the magma of the volcano Mount Asama.
Director: Tsuyoshi Kaga, Hiroyuki Ishido
Writer: Akio Satsukawa
The Best Episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion
Every episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion!
At the turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind's last remnants moved...
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyAnimationDrama
Network:TV Tokyo
Best Episodes Summary
"Introjection" is the best rated episode of "Neon Genesis Evangelion". It scored 9.3/10 based on 3126 votes. Directed by Masayuki and written by Akio Satsukawa, it aired on 2/7/1996. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ambivalence".