This shows popularity is driven by its religious symbolism,it establishing of certain archetypes are forced pretentiousness.
Hipsters would say this show is "too deep for you" but all i got out of it is mediocre storytelling.
First of all this show follows a very typical monster of the week formula,with some strategy involved by Misato.
It referenced Christianity. HOW DEEP!The flaw of this idea is that
the Christian references are just there for show and they don't really add to the the story.
Some would say this show is a deconstruction.All i have to say is NO.Super robot anime at that time were also violent and even dark.Yes some were made for kids also but there were just as many made for older audiences too.
And these hipsters obviously never really heard of Gundam.
Then they say that this shows is deep characters.Still NO.
This show has no real character development.Nobody truly changed over the course of the story.
This show is simply about people trying to get the job done.Nice to look at how people deal with confilct, but means nothing outstanding.
Shinji likari-The Haruto from Valvrave, the whiny indecisive lead of harem animes, its his fault.In the beginning they were trying to develop him,but too much mind reading and contradiction from the movie made him the undisputed king of angst.
Rei- the quiet girl archetype.A fetish fuel and can be seen in some harem anime or romantic comedies.She stayed as a robot girl to carry commands.They tried in the movie but it was too forced and abrupt to take seriously.
Asuka-The super overboard Tsundere.Now you know where that archetype come form.
The polt is haywire .The motivations and actions of Seele are filled with plot-holes which you will find once you see the movie.Abrupt plot points.the2nd half of the anime of the movie is filled with mind reading,budget constraints to the point of shoehorning live action scenes.
For a show obsessed with mind reading.it isn't really that complex.
This show is just the basically repeating TWGOK's "Reality is a s@#tty game" quote.
This show is out of touch of reality.Not everyone is run by angst alone, or by a black and white view of reality.This show is just showing the black side/Hipster side of reality, hence its popularity.
I do respect its contribution though, as much of a mess it is.
