An Evangelion discussion? Really?
What's left to say?
I've been an Evangelion fan for over a decade, it's the only anime I like and the only piece of Japanese fiction I would ever seriously recommend. That said, I understand why people don't like it. When it first aired it was a deconstruction of the show that many were expecting to see. Today it's a meme or a joke depending on who you talk to. You can't start watching the series for the first time in 2012 without knowing that the ending is confusing, that half of Japan's objects feature Rei or any other number of things. You also can't start watching it without expecting to be either awestruck or outraged, so it might not be possible to give Evangelion a "fair" chance anymore. I feel the same way about shows that were big in mainstream culture when they aired like Lost or Battlestar Galactica - It's almost impossible to start one of these shows "fresh" if you ever left the house while they were on the air.
That's not to say that I discount any criticisms of the show. It's vague, it really falls apart at the end (the first time) and the live-action scene from EoE is pretentious. So, I get it. I just think it sucks that it's a joke.
Someone asked if the Rebuild movies are worth watching, and they very much are, but like the eleventh Star Trek movie they're made to be enjoyed on their own but are much better if you've seen the original.
