some angels die exploding, some don't..

[Megumi Hayashibara rules]

Hi everyone, maybe everyone already knows that, but I haven't figured
out an answer yet (maybe I haven't searched in-depth enough).

I noticed that some angels die exploding when they are hit in their red
core (most of them).
However some of them (I remember Shamshel, episode 3 and Ramiel, in
episode 6 and maybe someone else I forgot?) die without exploding when
an eva delivers them a lethal hit.

In fact later on Ritsuko and the Nerv guys are seen examining Shamshel
(they say it's quickly decomposing, by the way), and dead Ramiel is seen
crumbling over Neo Tokyo 3.

So I wonder, why some angels die exploding instantly, and why others
decompose? Any hypothesis?

[THM]

Megumi Hayashibara rules <trains...@pulpfiction.com> wrote in
news:CevMb.76676$VW.32...@news3.tin.it:

Now this is just a guess, but it may have something to do with the
use of the explosion as a last-ditch attempt to kill its opponent, or as
self-defence, etc. I don't think it's ever explained.

- THM

[Lion-O]

> In fact later on Ritsuko and the Nerv guys are seen examining Shamshel
> (they say it's quickly decomposing, by the way), and dead Ramiel is
> seen crumbling over Neo Tokyo 3.
>
> So I wonder, why some angels die exploding instantly, and why others
> decompose? Any hypothesis?

I think its a combination of self sacrifice (taking your opponent with
you) and the structure of the angel. When looking at Shamshel you'll
see that weren't it for Shinji's bold move it would have finished off
the EVA.

If the Angels had indeed some form of concious and were also studying
the EVA's during their attacks (the trying to make contact with the
pilots would suggest as much) it could be very likely that Shamshel
didn't have enough understanding of the EVA and as such considered
himself in the winning position.

Ramiel is another story; it was "a real flying fortress". When Shinji
shot it you could see a lot of flames bursting out from the side and it
also caught fire. For all we know it did explode but his massive shell
took the full blast.

Most other angels which didn't explode were either caught by surprise or
simply couldn't. Sandalphon had no chance in all the lava, Matariel was
caught by surprise, Ireul was simply told to die ;), Areal was struck
down by the lance and as such also caught by surprise (instant death by
the lance?)

I think this theory is proven by the deaths of Bardiel and Zeruel. The
only way an angel could explode is by the use of its AT field I think.
When Zeruel was attacked by Unit 1 he was totally overpowered. Just
before Unit 1 finished him off you could see an AT field appearing as
well as Bardiel "head" light up. The total collapse of the AT field
proves to me the dominance of Unit 1's AT fielt; Zeruel had no chance to
detonate, even though he tried. (PS: Anyone got an idea how the hell
they managed to get Unit 1 back in the cage? Lured him with EVA snacks
or something? ;-)).

As for Bardiel; almost the same issue I think, apart from the fact that
he acted like some symbiot. While Kaoru could overtake the EVA when it
wasn't bonded; Bardiel had to be the full opposite. So the moment Unit 1
broke the neck of the EVA its pilot was immediatly helpless (being fully
synced) and as such I think the angel also couldn't do much more.

Just my 2 cents :)

--
Groetjes, Peter

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