The show, I feel, is one that is best appreciated by the group. If you watch anime as a loner for your own benefit but never discuss it with others, then this series may not be for you. That is to say that this anime's strong points include its ability to branch off into fan fiction, openness to personal interpretations, and its overwhelming popularity which has led to constant outside references. Although it would be wrong to say you couldn't understand NGE by simply watching the show, it does rely heavily on implications and towards the end jumps from one scenario to the next abruptly. By the conclusion the viewer should read up on the back-story through other means to fully comprehend the non-explicitly stated or easily missed plot points.
To put it simply, NGE is ultimately an enjoyable yet extremely and intentionally bombastic series. This is where and how it allows for the immense amount of fan fiction, yet standalone the series is simply a face-value story. I have seen other reviewers delve deep into the apparent symbolism (specifically the religious aspects) of the show when in reality there is little to be had. The viewer is immediately introduced to the idea of Angels and then later on Adam, Lilith, along with a litany of other Christian expressions and names. Fans of the show have written extensive theories regarding the interrelations between these figures and their symbolic meanings. However, when asked about them directly, the Assistant Director of the series Kazuya Tsurumaki was quoted saying that they had "originally used Christian themes and symbolism only to give the project a unique edge against other giant robot shows, that there is no Christian meaning to the series and that it was not meant to be controversial." Overall, if you would like a show that will lead you to reading more about the anime outside of the episodes, one that will leave room for you to make your own theories on a particular aspect's significance NGE could be a good fit. If you want a show deliberately designed to incorporate intellectual symbolism or hidden meanings then you should look elsewhere.
If you are an anime lover and are a frequent visitor to anime communities, you will no doubt have been exposed to one or more of the Evangelion's cast. Personally I hold Misato Katsuragi, one of the main characters, as one of my favorite characters of all anime. She is without a doubt the most real of the cast members and has the most persistent character story within the show. Aside from her there is no real character progression per say, the viewer is slowly clued in to the true nature that has always existed within each character more so than the characters learn from their experiences and grow. Tensions build as these characters struggle with realizing their own identity and the show makes for a different style on the coming of age motif. Unfortunately most characters end up simply remaining or even intensifying their role as one sided caricatures of the trope they were originally introduced as.
Many, including myself, say Steins;Gate truly takes it's time to get into the meat of the action and relies on a large number of episodes for set up. Neon Genesis Evangelion arguably takes even longer to come into its own. Once it's pacing finally sees an increase it also seems to rush itself to fit everything possible into what little amount of episodes they had left for broadcast. As the anime begins to come to its conclusion, the writers implement several incredibly deus ex machina and convenient plot points that allow for the shows rapid development but more highlight the staff's lack of foresight. Additionally, it still confuses me how an anime so highly rated can have its final episodes be so poorly done and poorly received by the public that it needed to have a theatrical release to re-write the action for an alternate finale. The story would be best described as alright but can still be interesting given the proper mindset for the show. It's ambiguous enough to allow for those who want to go deeper to be able to, clear enough to understand where it's going even if not everything is explained.
Themes can hit hard in NGE yet are more tropes than anything else. You will see overwhelming amounts of pacifism from several characters to the point where it becomes irritatingly redundant and occasionally bizarrely inane. It is a problem in many anime where they have a deluded character with an estranged sense of righteousness that has no problem with allowing hundreds of their closest family and friends die as long as they themselves as a single character don't have to feel the guilt of cutting short the life of a single enemy. You will also find the ancillary character who, while prepping for and participating within a war, exclaiming they don't want to kill people. The most prevalent and persistent theme however would be the question "what makes a person human?" This anime is first and foremost an elaborate identity crisis for each character. Are they themselves when they are forced to make decisions against their will, does doing the right thing by conventionally bad methods mean they are a bad person, what is the meaning of their existence or even of man’s origins in general, are they defined by the connections they have with others, are their entire beings in existence to prove something to someone else or are their internal drives truly intrinsic? Each character will break down into some form of trying to understand themselves rather than trying to improve a self they already understand. Unfortunately I would say that the majority of the questions posed go unanswered or are poorly concluded within the anime itself.
The art of the show can be impressive, especially when compared to other anime of its time. Its colors are usually vibrant, its animation is typically smooth, and there isn't too much re-use of older frames. The art is one of the stronger points within the show itself as it portrays everyone throughout their lives within a real light yet still with the distinctive anime proportions. During flashbacks the characters can look notably different and younger while still retaining their individual identity.
Personally, I found the soundtrack for the show to be pleasing as well. The opening theme always got me into the mood for just one more show even if I wasn't exactly satisfied with the plot development in the previous episode. The sounds are all realistic as well as fit the tone and mood of the show.
Overall, this show is one that should be taken for what it is: a popular show with great potential to expand upon. Shinji is a weak willed protagonist who even with the proper influences around him still fails to comprehend the situation he finds himself in. While some defense can be made given his young age, as a viewer it becomes difficult to continue to watch a character go through the exact same problems week-in week-out without much progression towards improving his character's mindset. The story can be fun for viewers who enjoy shows as they come and don't worry about the unexplained nature of action buzzword themes such as NGE's use of 'berserkers' or the lack of detail for much of the driving forces behind the majority of the cast in terms of why they fight the angels. Most of the series showcases a dedicated group blindly fighting an unknown enemy out of the idea of self-preservation which could be seen as a symbolic theme of the necessity to understand each other, however such symbolism is ruined when a major character makes a nearly nonsensical and again unexplained monologue about how only one life form, humans or angels, can exist on Earth at the given time.
The plotline is enjoyable and even if it's not exactly surprising, it still takes twists and turns along the way. Its animation is clean, its soundtrack is good and it is a nice reference anime. As an anime I reviewed it as a 6 while personally I enjoyed it. It is better than your run of the mill anime although more popular than it is technically sound. Its popularity has led to its great fan fiction potential and after almost 2 decades still retains many raving fans. NGE also includes several rebuild movies in addition to the series and alternate ending.
I recommend this anime for those who like to watch or discuss anime in groups, would like the understand references made to one of the most popular anime series of all time, or fans of the mecha genre. If you are looking for a well-constructed anime with consistent pacing, no plot holes/deus ex machina, or no emphasis on following up through additional reading or movie-watching then NGE is not for you. It is neither a confusing anime nor one that is hard to understand simply one lacking in explanation within the confines of the episodes themselves.
