1.) Finally! An ending that doesn't make my brain bleed! More in a moment...

2.) I've got to dig out my old copy of In Nomine. I'm feeling all nostalgic, suddenly. I've always had my doubts about book-literal Christianity, but angels make for such *cool* fiction.

...Ahem.

Now, as I was saying, this is just a splendid conclusion to NXE, and one that I think everyone at EPU should be proud of. I don't have a lot of insightful commentary on it right now, since it's nearly six AM, and at any rate I'm so used to the characters now that flaws don't jump out at me as much. Never mind the ever-so-slightly-corny-but-fun moments.

I have to say that what got me about A.N., and indeed the rest of NXE, is the polished, professional touches put on it to make it seem like a cinematic production, complete with a simply lovely "THEME-SONG-KICKS-IN-AND-EVERYBODY-GETS-COOL-NEW-POWERS-TO-SAVE-THE-DAY" moment. Most anime shows in the mecha-fighting-aliens genre have these, but the one in NXE has that signature Apocalyptic flair. I dug Michael's line so much, it has been stolen for my sig, which I think flows rather nicely into it. :)

Now, before I wrap this up and stop lavishing praise on this thing, I'm also impressed by the deft tie-up of the loose ends. Marriage proposals, the Ultimate Cameo Appearance, the revelations concerning the whole backstory, all quite good. I'm a little nonplussed by Gendou's shining moment, as I have a difficult time believing that there's a chance in Hell (pun intended) of that accomplishing anything, but to give him that moment seems so *right* that I can't grumble too much.

I also had a bit of a double-take with the idea of SEELE sending anyone out in Unit 01 at that stage in the game. I'd have dismantled the thing, thoroughly and personally, and I'm not even an immortal Demon Prince. Still...the story would have been a bit derailed if it hadn't been that way, and I've already commented that NXE has a few glitches like this, but that it has too much else going for it to dismiss it for a continuity flaw.

Oh...and the truth about Yui was just sublime.

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Bring on the Storm.

I am ready.

"Welcome to the War, kid." - Michael, the Archangel of War

It's a weapon. They're in a war. It's been quiet, even allowing a pilot to use it and fight with it. The weapon gets used. Beyond that simple calculus, either you're discounting one rather large psychological factor or I misunderstood part of your post. Natlateth is a Demon Princess. This is an entity who, in the words of one IN fanwriter, exudes selfishness with every waking breath. She also seems to be quite powerful, strong enough to play power politics with Heaven and Hell. This level of power and twisted, self-important solipsism lends itself well to extreme arrogance.

On a purely logical level, I agree with you. EVA-01 had no business being anywhere near that fight. At the endgame, I don't want a random element like that involved. A simple check against Murphy's Law should have derailed any plans along those lines. But at the same time, they've had indications that the unit is under control, that Lucifer's presence is not wreaking the kind of carnage it had earlier. Mix that with Natlateth's arrogance and the psychological appeal of using the First Balseraph as the mere tool of a pawn... well, it seems pretty understandable to me, at least.

In a way, Natlateth's own arrogance is self-defeating. She's the Princess of Betrayal and in many ways, the greatest betrayal was not to God (she may not have ever truly met Him) but of herself. Her own arrogant assumption that she could control the pilots, that Lucifer was controllable, that the Lance of Longinus could be used against DJ's will, etc. The Greeks had a word for this, hubris, where someone is undone by their own flaws and arrogance. Natlateth is the latest in a grand literary tradition, her own hubris conspiring with events to lay her low.

Don't take my word for anything, of course, I'm just some near-lurker with a couple of lit courses, but it seems to me that EVA-01's presense at the final battle was not just beliveable but right in so many ways. It was perfectly in-character for Natlateth in several ways to make that decision... and it was necessary for the plot anyway. Apotheosis Now is not just a story of the redemption of the Lightbringer but a story of the humanity of the greatest beings in existence (at least there)... and humanity is, by its very nature, fallible.

I'm partial to Azrael's myself, because along with the commentary on how his motivations are tied to his role during the council scene at the end, it seemed so fitting that after all the crap they've gone through that Vengeance personified would finally show up to lend a hand.

"All good things come to an end...somehow I think Disney didn't get the memo."