Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time

Asuka removes her eyepatch when she discovers Unit-02 no longer responds to her commands. This act reveals that she has been housing the Ninth Angel within her body since her near-fatal encounter with it fourteen years earlier. The revelation transforms Unit-02 into an EVA-Angel hybrid, similar to how Shinji's Unit-01 became an Angel during the Near Third Impact.

Asuka's eyepatch was first introduced in previous films as a mysterious accessory, hinting at a deeper secret.

Rei gradually fades away because she lacks the LCL fluid that sustains her cloned body. Throughout the series, Rei's physical form depends on LCL, and in the village settlement, she has been without it long enough to begin dissolving. She gives Shinji a bittersweet farewell before completely disappearing.

Rei's earlier appearances showed her connection to LCL pools in NERV headquarters, establishing her dependence on the substance.

Gendo seeks to use Unit-13 to initiate the Additional Impact, a catastrophic event that will trigger the Human Instrumentality Project. This project, originally designed by SEELE, aims to forcibly evolve humanity by merging all human souls into one. Gendo's personal motivation is to reunite with his wife Yui, who was absorbed into Unit-01 during the original Third Impact.

Gendo's obsession with reuniting with Yui has been hinted at throughout the Rebuild series through his willingness to pursue any means necessary.

The Human Instrumentality Project is a conspiracy orchestrated by SEELE to catalyze human evolution through a catastrophic event called the Impact. By triggering an Impact, all human souls would merge into a single collective consciousness, eliminating individuality, pain, and human conflict. Gendo reveals this agenda was the hidden purpose behind creating the Shikinami and Ayanami clone series.

SEELE's monoliths and the Dead Sea Scrolls throughout the series have referenced humanity's evolution through catastrophic events.

Misato sacrifices herself and the Wunder ship to create the Lance of Gaius, an essential weapon that grants Shinji the ability to reshape reality. While the Wunder crew evacuates, Misato stays behind to orchestrate this magical phenomenon, using her death to empower Shinji for his final confrontation with Gendo and his chance to reset the world.

Misato's character has consistently prioritized protecting Shinji and the world over her own survival throughout the entire series.

The Anti-Universe is a bizarre metaphysical space where Shinji and Gendo clash during the film's climax. It exists outside normal reality and serves as a battleground for their confrontation. Within this space, Gendo unveils the Black Lilith, a entity intended to ignite the Additional Impact. Shinji experiences visions of Gendo's traumatic past, including the loss of Yui, which drove him to pursue his obsessive plan.

The concept of a metaphysical space for psychological confrontation has appeared in previous Evangelion works, particularly in the TV series' final episodes.

The Ninth Angel resides within Asuka's body as a result of her battle with it fourteen years prior. Rather than being killed, the Angel was absorbed into Asuka herself, which is why she wears the eyepatch to conceal this fact. This connection makes her a unique being, part human, part Angel, and allows her EVA Unit-02 to transform into an EVA-Angel hybrid when she finally confronts this truth.

Asuka's traumatic near-death experience with the Ninth Angel in the previous film established this hidden connection.

Shinji decides to reset the world after gaining a profound understanding of the cyclical nature of events through his conversations with Kaworu and the original Rei. He chooses to create a world where humanity can thrive free from the burden of EVAs, a definitive "Neon Genesis." This resets all existence to a state before the Angels, EVAs, and the trauma of the Impacts, allowing everyone to live normal lives without the psychological damage of the past.

Kaworu's repeated existence in loops has consistently hinted at the cyclical nature of the Evangelion timeline.

The Key of Nebuchadnezzar is a mystical artifact that allows its user to transcend humanity itself. Gendo uses this key to achieve god-like powers, enabling him to pilot Unit-13 and attempt to reshape reality according to his will. It represents the ultimate tool for executing the Human Instrumentality Project.

References to Nebuchadnezzar appeared in earlier Rebuild films, building anticipation for its significance in the finale.

Gendo's obsessive drive to reunite with Yui stems from profound trauma: she was absorbed into Unit-01 during the original Third Impact, leaving him devastated and unable to move forward. This loss twisted his purpose, leading him to pursue the Additional Impact as a means to retrieve her from the Evangelion, even at the cost of humanity's evolution or destruction.

Gendo's cold demeanor and his willingness to sacrifice anything for his goals have been consistent character traits throughout the series, all rooted in his love for Yui.

Kaworu realizes he and Shinji are trapped in a repetitive cycle of events. Through conversations with the resurrected Kaji, he understands that his happiness should not depend solely on Shinji. This realization allows him to support Shinji's choice to break the cycle by resetting reality, rather than trying to maintain the familiar but painful pattern.

Kaworu's repeated appearances and his cryptic messages about being "the first" or "the last" have long suggested a cyclical existence.

The final beach scene represents the definitive end of the Evangelion saga. Shinji waits peacefully until Mari arrives, symbolizing the dissipation of her Evangelion Unit-08 and the end of all EVAs in the new world. Their romantic reunion signifies hope and a new beginning, unlike the original series' ambiguous ending, this provides closure with a hopeful outlook for the future.

Beaches have appeared in key moments throughout the series, often symbolizing transitions between states of existence.

Wille is an anti-NERV organization led by Misato that opposes NERV's plans to trigger Impacts. Their primary mission is to prevent the Additional Impact by any means necessary, including fighting NERV forces and restoring cities damaged by previous Impacts. While NERV seeks to evolve humanity through catastrophic events, Wille fights to preserve the current form of human existence.

The tension between WILLE and NERV has been the central conflict driving the Rebuild series since the beginning.