This is one of the greatest explorations of humanity I've ever seen. We see humanity's wish to evolve, its wish to die, and its wish to continue living as if nothing happened, all in the same breath, without even feeling cramped. We see an incredibly moving representation of sadness and joy. We feel every single emotion, all in one movie.

The content itself is phenomenal as well. Seele and Nerv are fighting for control over how the Third Impact, and in turn the Human Instrumentality Project, will be set off. In an attempt to take back control of this humongous, threatening project from Gendo Ikari, they set the Japanese Army on Nerv headquarters, and we watch a merciless slaughter of all our favourite characters. Seele prepares to set off the Third Impact by drawing out Unit-01, and using it as the vessel of all of humanity. And, despite Asuka's best efforts to stop Seele (in a really really cool fight scene), they succeed.

And so, the credits roll...about one half through the runtime.
Very epic troll, Hideaki Anno.

The second half is a deep, psychological analysis of Shinji - truly, one of the least heroic, yet most sympathetic and interesting protagonists ever made. We see how much the events of the series has impacted his mental health, and now he hates himself. This self-hatred is egged on by the series', and quite possibly "God's", insistence that Shinji cannot act, leading to horrible acts from Shinji and, in turn, yet another show I've watched greatly demonstrating the cycle of self-destruction. By making Shinji relatable from the start, then expressing some of his worst qualities, we see the director's message - we as humans need to grow and mature, or else we become like Shinji before he learns to accept himself. And change to the self can only come through decisiveness, something Shinji is demonstrated not to have.

In fact, Shinji is hurt so often by others throughout the series that he grows to hate humans, and when given divine power over all of humankind, decides that humankind should die. And he should die with them. This is, of course, Seele's successful plan of creating one, singular lifeform - Instrumentality. Watching Human Instrumentality unfold in such a horrifying, yet god-like way, is astonishing, and the feeling of helplessness at watching it all happen is so greatly executed, much like the entire movie. And so, we reach the ending, taking place immediately after the show's finale - where Shinji is now on the road to self-love again. He can finally grow, and in turn become kinder to others. He realises he must let humanity decide, individually, whether they accept instrumentality or not, a very mature decision to make indeed. Shinji is mature. Or so it seems.

We then get the final scene, and we find that both Shinji and Asuka are the first two humans to resurface, and possibly the last two humans ever. Seeing Asuka again, Shinji relapses into his old self, the one that clearly isn't gone - he remembers how cruel humanity was to him, especially this one girl. And so, he doesn't even attempt to talk to her - he just chokes her. How terrible.
But now, we see Asuka growing, as she strokes Shinji's face - a message to him that she understands him, and a message to us that her facade is gone. And so, Shinji releases his grip. But Asuka isn't moving, and it seems he's killed her. He starts crying again, horrified at what he's done, but Asuka's still alive. She looks up at him, her facade back up, and says "disgusting". What an impactful end, to summarise humanity as much as that. People with bad sides, good sides, and fake sides, all combined together in one jumbled mess.

The End of Evangelion is an Absolute Masterpiece. Nothing more, nothing less.