Discussion of a Character- Asuka

[Tainted_Eden]

Hallo! My attempt at making a discussion thread. THSU! Please do not post simpleton posts like 'OHM!!! ASUKA ROCKS!' or 'Gah, she sucks!' We is going to be intelligent and have an intellectual dicussion of her. Mostly as to why so many people like/hate her.

Ack! Sorry, heh, which Asuka, dur. @_@ From Eva, but of course.

Personally, I don't think she's a strong character at all. One, she relies too heavily on the Eva for an identity. If she can't accept that she's someone even without the Eva, then she's obviously not a strong person. Another reason is because I know if the type of person she is existed in real life, we wouldn't get along.

She's head strong, whining (she constantly has to gripe about something), and picks fights with people for no apparent reason other than to prove that she's better. Again, it's for self gratification to justify her existance. Like the big bad bully (alliteration!) who feels good when they take down the young'uns.

Anyone agree, disagree?

[EvaXephon]

Please do not post simpleton posts like 'OHM 'Gah, she sucks!'

...Well, there goes my post. o_o;

We is going to be intelligent and have an intellectual dicussion of her. Mostly as to why so many people like/hate her.

The reason that I didn't like her as a character was because she was so mean all of the time. That may sound like a simple reason, but it's supported by a few others. You see, me and Shinji are like exact duplicates of one another, similar in innumerable ways. While I was watching the series, I was sort of make-believing I was Shinji and thinking about how I would have handled whatever situation he was in. Thusly, whenever Asuka would hurt Shinji, verbally or physically, I would feel hurt, as well. Being the hypersensitive person that I was, it didn't take much of this to make me grow a strong abhorrence for Asuka. Most people grow used to something after being exposed to it for a long time...But, as for me, I just grew more and more pissed off at Asuka, no matter how often she was mean.

Personally, I don't think she's a strong character at all. One, she relies too heavily on the Eva for an identity. If she can't accept that she's someone even without the Eva, then she's obviously not a strong person. Another reason is because I know if the type of person she is existed in real life, we wouldn't get along.

I had been feeling that she was a strong character, but your post made me reconsider that. After remembering how she broke down after she couldn't pilot the Eva, now I agree with you.

She's head strong, whining (she constantly has to gripe about something), and picks fights with people for no apparent reason other than to prove that she's better. Again, it's for self gratification to justify her existance. Like the big bad bully (alliteration!) who feels good when they take down the young'uns.

...Well, of course, there is also the possibility that Gainax was seeking some comic relief, but, yes, I agree with everything that you're saying.

...One thing I do like about Asuka is her voice actress. Tiffany Grant is type-cast, type-cast, I say, into those 'firey redhead' roles!

[Digitalex]

Hallo! My attempt at making a discussion thread. THSU! Please do not post simpleton posts like 'OHM!!! ASUKA ROCKS!' or 'Gah, she sucks!' We is going to be intelligent and have an intellectual dicussion of her. Mostly as to why so many people like/hate her.

Ack! Sorry, heh, which Asuka, dur. @_@ From Eva, but of course.

Personally, I don't think she's a strong character at all. One, she relies too heavily on the Eva for an identity. If she can't accept that she's someone even without the Eva, then she's obviously not a strong person. Another reason is because I know if the type of person she is existed in real life, we wouldn't get along.

She's head strong, whining (she constantly has to gripe about something), and picks fights with people for no apparent reason other than to prove that she's better. Again, it's for self gratification to justify her existance. Like the big bad bully (alliteration!) who feels good when they take down the young'uns.

Anyone agree, disagree?

It's weird because, I kind of agree and disagree...

The way I see it, she wasn't as strong as she wanted people to believe. I definitely liked her character though. You have to consider her past and what she has gone through. Remember, her mother went insane at such a tender young age. She was subjected to scenes of her mother talking to a doll while referring to Asuka as the other girl. Ultimately, she sees her mother commit suicide. She experienced all this and then tries to hide behind her version of maturity. Fear of lack of attention becomes her flaw. That's what drives her to succeed in all things...graduating college at a young age and becoming an Eva pilot. She shows strength there. However, her weakness is easily exposed when Kaji and Shinji ignore her after her various attempts at flirtation. In Kaji's case, he just knows she is too young. In Shinji's case, he's got his own issues to contend with and doesn't know how to deal with Asuka until late in the game. It's a two way street with Shinji so don't get me wrong. I'm just analyzing this from Asuka's perspective.

In her mind, the best defense is offense and that is by being aggressive in all facets of her life, either by attracting guys, being an ace pilot, or an A+ student. When she fails on all accounts she feels she has nothing left. All because she just needed some motherly attention. I feel for Asuka in that respect.

On a side note, I personally wish Shinji took control during the kiss scene. However, if he did, I'm sure it would have diffused the inevitable breakdown of Asuka's spirit.

[GloryQuestor]

You are right, she was never a strong person. In fact, she and Shinji are just the same on the inside -- confused, angry, abandoned.

SPOILER BLOCK

At the beginning, she's not like that mainly because she closed off her mind to the sadness and pain of her mother's death. Her constant defeats and Shinji's continuing victories did some emotional damage, as was being "examined" by the 15th Angel in Episode 22. In the end

[Digitalex]

You are right, she was never a strong person. In fact, she and Shinji are just the same on the inside -- confused, angry, abandoned.

So do you agree that Shinji was a weak character as well then?

[Tainted_Eden]

Of course Shinji was a weak character. He was emotionally unstable. He didn't have a self esteem, if you were with him it was kind of like handling glass. Of course, if he were my friend, I'd snuggle him and love him lots, 'cause I wuv Shinji. *glompage of EvaXephon* I wuv you...

But yosh! I like how in this thread it's mostly the people who don't like Asuka, I'm surprised that no one has really gotten into her defense.

Oh! About her mother, even though she had been abandoned 'n at, I still don't feel sorry for it. While being offensive and angry and over all a huge ass bitch was her escape from abandoment, she still pissed me off. She expected so much from Shinji 'n at though, y'know?

She expected him to act like a regular boy, like a normal teenager. Even if she was offensive 'n at, she should have at least seen that he was obviously NOT a healthy young lad. What she should have done was just to leave him alone or maybe try to, I guess, pity him. She did none of this, having to decide to attempt to rile him up and get him angry 'n at.

I do like though how she kind of did that in one of the episodes, I forget which. She was all 'Our leader SHINJI should go off and do something or another!' and Shinji was all 'Yeah! I'll show you how a man does it, fo'shizzle!' Then he gets all eaten by the angel and screams Misato's name like a baby. I wuv Shinji, he's like a little puppy. *snuggles EvaXephon again*

[EXODO]

I think that Asuka is a very good character I liked her. But I disagree when you say that she is a strong character. Her only purpouse is for other persons to like her. She is so emptly form the inside. She seems to be a strong character because she acts as a strong character to make people beleave she is strong. But in the inside she is weak and fragil she dose not have a father nor mother and she thinks that by acting cool and agresive to other persons she can hide her true feelings. Asuka is a poor little girl that just wants to have a mother. I think she is pretty cool and amazing but she is not true to her self.

[Digitalex]

But yosh! I like how in this thread it's mostly the people who don't like Asuka, I'm surprised that no one has really gotten into her defense.

I like Asuka a lot...especially after going through the series a second time around (and seeing EoE). However, I can like her and STILL agree that she is not a strong character.

As for people who don't like Asuka, there are are equal amount of people who find Shinji and Rei equally repulsive. If you think about it, NO character is strong. Even the almighty Gendo has a glaring weakspot.

Oh! About her mother, even though she had been abandoned 'n at, I still don't feel sorry for it. While being offensive and angry and over all a huge ass bitch was her escape from abandoment, she still pissed me off. She expected so much from Shinji 'n at though, y'know?

And Shinji kept running away. That wussy should have taken Asuka like a man when she kissed him. How do you like that for an Asuka defense?

She expected him to act like a regular boy, like a normal teenager. Even if she was offensive 'n at, she should have at least seen that he was obviously NOT a healthy young lad. What she should have done was just to leave him alone or maybe try to, I guess, pity him. She did none of this, having to decide to attempt to rile him up and get him angry 'n at.

Shinji should have had the same consideration instead of constantly running away. Both characters had moments of "connecting". The problem was that they were both out of sync when one clearly could have used each other's companionship. That tragedy was masterfully scripted throughout the series IMO. It kept me throwing things at the TV when Shinji kept missing the signals.

I do like though how she kind of did that in one of the episodes, I forget which. She was all 'Our leader SHINJI should go off and do something or another!' and Shinji was all 'Yeah! I'll show you how a man does it, fo'shizzle!' Then he gets all eaten by the angel and screams Misato's name like a baby. I wuv Shinji, he's like a little puppy. *snuggles EvaXephon again*

Shinji needs a swift kick in the ass and be a man. Take Asuka, look her in the eyes, hold her tight, kiss her deeply, and tell her that Rei means nothing to him.

<Asuka defense mode off> [/quote]

[Tainted_Eden]

*dies from laughing* Aahahaha, I wuv you Digitalex!! Nice, nice, definte Asuka lover ye be! Anno, I must disagree with making Shinji into a "man".

Just 'cause he didn't grab her ass and made hot rabid bunny sex to her at that moment doesn't mean he's a guy. To me, he's more like an uke. >> I know, odd term but I can't really say much else 'bout it. Shinji doesn't seem the type to take control.

If anything, Asuka would be the one takin' charge of that relationship. *gags* I'd loathe to see that. Those two are defintely NOT for each other. Asuka would just feel more like a guy, because she's the type to feel that if she's a girl, then she should be treated like a girl with a man's right.... Gack, did that make sense?

Anyway, I'd much rather see Shinji and Rei, or Shinji and Kaoru. At least those two gave Shinji the patience and love he needed. Neither would really harm him or whatnot. >> Gah, gomen, if you can see, I'm a Shinji fan. He's such a freakin' kicked down puppy that needs care!!

[madbunny]

Interesting topc.

Asuka had her strong points. On the balance of things, for an emotionally unstable 14 year old trying to save the earth with Shinji (mostly useless and all wussy. He was most effective when 'not' in actual control of his EVA if I remember correctly.) and Rei, who acted like an automaton half the time. You would think, however that being in such a 'high and respected' position she would have a bit more by the way of self assurance (as opposed to bravado).
Add in some personal scars such as actually seeing her mother suicide, and some other bits and peices that I can't remember at the moment.

Eventually, the fact that she had about a ton or so of emotional baggage caught up with her. Stuck with Misato (who acts like a sex kitten half the time and a college frat member the other half), a whiny "I don't wanna save the world, nobody asked me if I wanted to so you can't make me" pair of roomates. Probably the penguin was the most sane member of that apartment.

Ironically, (I think) what she needed wasn't a 'real manly man' to take charge and 'make her a woman', but a more mature person to slow her down and show her that it's ok to just be who you are. Probably not something she would be likely to find at that age, although given the crop of candidates she was in school with you would think there would be some pretty exceptional people there.

On the whole, the entire show was a plethora of emotional trauma and baggage.