NGE continuation series in the wake of the failure of the Third Impact. AotL is, at once, very original flavour and yet daring and inventive, ever ready to spring surprises. Much of the Eva tech and mythos is retained without too many new and/or exogenous non-series elements being introduced, but the author has also boldly removed many of the original cast at the outset. Gendo, Misato, Rei, Ritsuko, Hyuuga, Maya are all gone.
In keeping with the original series, there are three discernable levels at which AotL operates: (1) the inner or 'ego' level where the characters wrestle with their own thoughts and emotions, hopes and fears, (2) the interpersonal level especially amongst the Children and between the staff, and (3) between the various powers and organisations of which NERV vs. SEELE is the most prominent.
Particularly impressive to this reviewer was the duel between Fuyutsuki and SEELE. While the former may lack Gendo's arrogant brusqueness, he certainly is the wily old fox and the plots and counter-plots convey the tension and guile well. Treachery and conspiracy is thick in the air and it makes for gripping reading. The relationship development between Shinji and Asuka is also touching and is unforced.
Due to character depopulation, the use of ACCs is inevitable but has been handled deftly by the author, producing a balance between writing more than faceless 2D cutouts and god-like know-it-alls who hijack the entire story. My favourite ACC in this series is Dr. Calvin Robertson - what an asshole! But yet he seems loyal, hardworking and trustworthy.
My only gripe is one common to all continuation series - fight scenes with yet more angels. There comes a time when a 'new' angel either becomes an utterly bizzare mishmash import from other anime or a rehash of old angels. And there seem to be only a few permutations available of how angel/evas proceed and end. This is not a huge problem in AotL but it is a concern at the back of this reviewer's mind whenever he reads/writes about this sort of thing.
All in all, one of my favourite continuation series. Highly recommended.
SEELE-06
November 23th 2000
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