Sync Ratios: a Neon Genesis Evangelion discussion podcast
By Ben Collins
Sync Ratios: a Neon Genesis Evangelion discussion podcastNov 15, 2019
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Luke, Ben, and Kevin discuss, at length, the forth and final of the Evangelion rebuild movies. Is this the end of Sync Ratios?
3.33.2 You Can (Not) Redo
Back again for the second part of our discussion of the third evangelion rebuild movie!
3.33.1 You Can (Not) Redo
Luke & Ben are once again joined by Kevin Phillips to discuss the third Evangelion rebuild movie, in this long and confusing two part episode!
Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance
Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone part 2
Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone part 1
Welcome Back
30 End of Evangelion Part 2
29 End of Evangelion Part 1
End of Evangelion
28 DEATH(true)2
27 Those Men Longed for a Mailbag Episode and Thus Invited Audience Questions
26 The Beast that Shouted I at the Heart of the World
25 Do You Love Me?
24 The Final Messenger
23 Tears
22 Don’t Be.
episode 22
21.21 Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion 4D Attraction
21 The Birth of NERV
20 Weaving a Story 2: Oral stage
episode 20
19 A Man's Battle
episode 19
18 Ambivalence
episode 18
17.77 You Can (Not) Speculate
17 The Fourth Child
episode 17
16 Sickness Unto Death, and...
15 Lies and Silence
episode 15
14.44 Netflix!
Netflix finally released Evangelion! Ben & Luke take a detour from the normal schedule to talk about it!
14 Seele, the Throne of Souls
13 Angel Infiltration
Ben and Luke are joined by their friend Lacey Valentini to discuss her history with and perspective on the series in general and to navigate the technobabble of the densest episode yet!
12 She said, 'Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred'
The suffering of previous generations seems to be the thematic focal point this week, with flashbacks to Misato’s past and subtle allusions to the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah. In a world that feels like it could end at any moment, what is the value of parental praise?
11 Within the Darkness
The power is out in Tokyo III, leading to one of Ben and Luke’s favorite episodes, a funny and exciting standout with sharp editing, UCC coffee and moments of satisfying characterization for pretty much the entire cast. Beyond the episode, however, they also delve into the spirit of the manga and Anno’s initial intentions for the ambitious project that would eventually reshape the landscape of Japanese animation.
10 Magma Diver
Ben and Luke welcome you as honorary members of their super sophisticated anime watching club “The Red Tojis” in this exciting episode about class trips, shitty chocolate, Ghostbusters II, and the interesting shift from defensive to offensive posture on the part of both Nerv in the battle against the angels and Asuka in the battle of flirtation with Shinji. Also, what’s up with Misato switching beer brands?
09 Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Ben and Luke spend a lot of time analyzing cartoon kisses and talking about the Peanuts gang on this week’s episode. They also highlight the variety of musical influences on display in each character’s musical theme and Luke begins the potentially dangerous experiment of watching Evangelion with his children.
08 Asuka Strikes
Asuka’s here and dammit that should be enough but if you want more, this week’s episode also dives into the frustrating Netflix premiere announcement, the cultural relationship between anime and techno music, the importance of power poses and the concept of the Eva pilots as embodiments of Freud’s Id, Ego and Superego. What are you, stupid? Listen to our best show yet.
07 That Which is Man Made
This week Ben and Luke cover the ins and outs of corporate espionage, the timing of anime comedy, the origins of Jet Alone and even the smell of blood. They also address the age-old subs vs dubs debate and take a look at the filmographies of two of Japan’s top voice talents: Megumi Hayashibara (Rei) and Kotono Mitsuisihi (Misato).
06 Decisive Battle in Tokyo-3
Ben and Luke discuss the value of individual arcs within long-form storytelling, the joys of narrative symmetry, and the structural parallels between episode 06 and Hideaki Anno’s Shin Godzilla. What should you do at a time like this? You could try smiling!
05 Rei, Beyond The Heart
An examination of the show’s cryptic opening kicks off the most mythologically dense episode yet. Hear Ben break down Shinji’s awkward apologies to Rei and Luke break down and awkwardly apologize to Gundam fans on this week’s Sync Ratios!
04 Rain, After Running Away
We know Shinji “mustn’t run away” but what about wandering away and aimlessly riding trains for awhile? Join Ben and Luke as a cursory google unlocks the mystery of the two titles, several corrections and omissions are addressed and the cultural conversation surrounding Japanese mental health is pondered. And, of course, we’ll have more discussion of fan service for you too!
03 The Phone That Doesn't Ring
Ben and Luke bond over the story of teenagers struggling to connect in an episode full of background exposition and Freudian womb imagery. Take a seat (right hand side in the back by the window, please) and explore the mysteries of AT fields, Osaka dialects and the post-apocalyptic propensities of Japanese pop culture. Sync Ratios, lift off!
02 Unfamiliar Ceiling
Shinji gets some cold stares from both Eva 01 and his new hot springs penguin roommate in episode 02, “Unfamiliar Ceiling.” This week Ben and Luke examine the delicate balance of broad comedy, domestic drama and post-apocalyptic sci-fi that characterizes the series’ introductory episodes. Sync Ratios, welcome home!
01 Angel Attack
Ben and Luke discuss the world-building, character introductions and utilization of anime tropes in the premiere episode of the series. How does the structure compare to that of a western, live action TV pilot and, seriously, how great is Misato? All this and more! With so much to dig into, who can be expected to remember to say the name of the podcast at the top? Sync Ratios, lift-off!
00 - Sync Ratios Introduction
Ben & Luke explain the origin of the podcast and how they each first encountered Neon Genesis Evangelion