I’m pretty sure people who complain about how whiny Shinji is have missed the point of the show completely. The sort who demand endless exciting ‘robot’ battles with flashy animation (Gurren Lagann is this way, please). Evangelion was always a philosophical character drama, revolving around one very depressed teenager, nonetheless. I personally find Shinji refreshing as a main character, he’s never sure of himself, constantly worrying and running away, much like a real human being and not a bland action hero. Everyone feels self-loathing sometimes, it’s part of life. People critical of his character are quick to forget that he always gets back in the Evangelion eventually (even when the odds are overwhelming) and kicks some ass. He’s a very flawed character, and don’t we all know plenty of them in real life? That’s what makes it interesting.
