I finally got around to watching Rebuild, and a friend presented this theory to me. I was skeptical at first, but I then sat down and rewatched both the series and movies. The impression I got of Rebuild on the second watch was kind of Battlestar Galactica - "All this has happened before, all of it will happen again."
In the original episodes 25 and 26, remember that Shinji is recreating the world. They're often discarded as nonsensical or too complex, not making enough sense, but I've always liked them. I think they're important to consider.
Explanation(very long):
Shinji gets the option to create the world he wants. We see him construct and unravel several realities over the course of the final episode, including one in which he's a normal teenage boy mostly concerned with whether the new girl at school will have a nice ass. His mother is alive, his parents get along well, and presumably he does with them. He still has all the people he cares about, and things are generally happy. He realizes that this isn't what he wants either, and the reality around him shatters as he realizes that what he wants is to be who he already is and in the world he is in, he wants to save it, and stands up and declares "I want to continue living!"
In these circumstances, I would suggest that this is what Shinji experiences in the Ark during Third Impact. (Presumably Lilith) speaks into his mind as the Tree of Life forms, "As Rei is your heart she embodies your hopes and dreams. What is it you wish for?" The scene proceeds to the same vein as Episode 26, and his final response is important too: "Is it OK for me to be here?" That being the same resolution to the internal conflict.
Fuyutski notes that "the door to both the beginning and the end the end of the world is open at last."
Finally, as all souls are being drawn in to Lilith, there's a vocal montage that includes the phrase (Misato? sounds like) "There's no way we can just start all over again, you jerk." Though this is paired with a lot
The rendering of the planet may be irrelevant in EOE, but it appears that Lilith rises out of the south pole immediately following that sequence.
After that montage and song, a short bit of real video which ends with Rei and Shinji talking:
"So where is my dream?"
"It is a continuation of your reality"
"But where is my reality?"
"It is at the end of your dream."
I believe this is the point where the original episode 26 ends within the sequence. I doubt Rebuild was planned as such at the point this was made, but likely the concept was already conceived. Some of Lilith's final words hint that Shinji will recreate the world to succeed: "The power of imagination is the ability to create your own future and the power to create your own flow of time. But if people don't act of their own free will then nothing will change at all. So you must regain your own lost form by your own volition, even if it means your words will become lost or confused with the words of others. Anyone can return to human form as long as they are able to imagine themselves within their own heart."
I think it's important to consider that the original was the way Anno intended it to end, and that End was intended to expound on the original and offer more coherence, rather than discard the original ending.
Though I'm biased in that on the last watch I was looking for what might support the idea - so I have to worry about the possibility of a confirmation bias. Still, looking at it objectively this is how I always interpreted the ending. Not that Shinji and Asuka are left as Adam and Eve, but that Shinji did recreate a world where he and the ones he cared for could be happy - but also a world where he was himself. It's been noted in this very thread that it's a 'happier' world but also more devastated.
The Sea isn't full of blood, exactly, or not all blood. it's the Sea of LCL after End of Evangelion, as well as the blood of Lilith. Note in Episode 16, when Unit 01 is inside the Angel and Shinji is freaking out he says "what is this? LCL...it smells like blood." (or something to the effect) That's been addressed elsewhere of course.
It's all speculation, naturally - but I think it fits.
For your time-screw, use Second Impact as a focal point. It's not necessary to manipulate time, simply perception. People are 'reborn' as they were at Second Impact, and move forward from the events of Third Impact calling it Second Impact - because the two are one. The Angels present at Second Impact in Rebuild could be the mass production units, the scene has a lot of similarities to Third Impact in EOE on its own.
And for Shinji to be who he is, and his friends to be who they are, but to still be able to make the world a good place, the bad stuff has to happen too. They need to be Eva pilots, and for that the Angels need to attack, so Second Impact needs to have happened, and so forth.
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance »» The Sequel Theory
