>>280808304
>Asuka is the only option that makes both in-universe and thematic sense.
Asuka is literally Shinji's last pick.
>there is a reason why EoE both begins and ends with Asuka and Shinji alone together
The scenes are meant to showcase that:
1 - Shinji hasn't moved forward one bit since the hospital scene
2 - Asuka is the last person Shinji will go to and he'll only do so for perfectly selfish reasons
>Asuka and Shinji have mirrored backstories, the fundamentally same traumas just with opposite coping mechanisms
Shinji and Asuka suffer from similar deep rooted, unresolved traumas, meaning they will only make each other worse. Each party is not only unable to fix themselves but they make the other worse in turn. This is the opposite of Shinji and Misato bonding over daddy issues they share and understand.
>The theme of the show is that you have to not just accept your own weakness
The theme of the show is to accept yourself by taking responsibility for your actions to eventually become a proper adult and find real happiness that's not escapism (through anime or whanot).
>other people are weak too and thus can't devote themselves to rescuing YOU
There are plenty of people Shinji can rely on, Misato, Rei, Kaworu, Touji, Kensuke (from NGE to RoE). Asuka isn't one of them, Asuka is someone who makes Shinji worse, and this works both ways.
>Asuka and Shinji is the most difficult relationship on the surface
Shinji and Asuka is a dead end, period. That's why EoE closed with them.
>thats also why its the correct answer
Actually it's the only wrong answer.
>Because its the relationship that requires them BOTH TO CHANGE
Actually it's the only relationship that cannot improve, because neither of them can nor want to help the other. They only want to used the other for their own selffish needs.
