But it's interesting how his impact on the characters from the very beginning is undeniable. He's not what the universe revolves around, but he is an important fulcrom in many of the relationships of the main characters that we follow. One of the most enjoyable things to watch was how the various characters find ways to cope without him around after he made himself so integral to their lives in the regular series.

As of the beginning of the 3rd season, everybody was still enough broken in their various ways that losing DJ started to pull them all apart. To the point where things were just starting to look a little like the last third of the actual NGE story. But not quite. And his return helped patch things.

But as of the timeframe of the movie, everyone is more or less at a point where they can function on their own. And do find their own paths. As a capstone to the regular series, this was very fullfilling. NXE is truly an ensemble character effort, and anyone who thinks that it's being dominated by an SI character just isn't getting it. And by this point, they'd have to be willfully not getting it.

-Logan

	I would enter your sleep if I could, and guard you there, and slay the thing that hounds you as I would if it had the courage to face me in fair daylight. But I cannot come in unless you dream of me. --Prince Lir, The Last Unicorn