The Case against Gendo Ikari

Note: Contains spoilers for Neon Genesis Evangelion

            Gendo Ikari may well be the biggest bastards ever.

For those of you who are watching Neon Genesis Evangelion on Cartoon Network, or have watched it in the past, you know what I mean. Gendo Ikari, the commander of NERV and the leader of the Human Instrumentality Project. He’s the cold, unfeeling bastard that’s in charge of, well, everything. As I’ve watched the series unfold yet again, this time on Cartoon Network, I’ve just been bowled over time and time again of just how much of a bastard this man is.

In general, Gendo is not supposed to be liked. He’s the guy in charge and as Machiavelli pointed out, for guys in charge, it’s better to be feared than loved. However, this is a man that takes being a bastard to a new level.

For one, let us consider possibly the most popular character on the show, Rei Ayanami. Rei is the clone (and possibly reincarnated spirit) of Yui Ikari, Gendo’s wife and Shinji Ikari’s mother, who died under tragic and mysterious circumstances. Since she is the clone of Yui, would stand to reason that Gendo would be affectionate towards her. However, there is some evidence in the show to support the theory that Gendo is more than a little affectionate towards her. While the theories of molestation and abuse may just be wild theories, few can deny that there is clearly more to the relationship than is immediately shown (especially if we include the events of the movie).

Additionally, time and time again, we see Gendo fluctuate between his determined protection of Rei and his general indifference to her well-being. During the activation test for Unit-00, Gendo burns his hands trying heroically to save Rei. But then, he casually orders her to go out to fight the third angel even when she can barely sit up. In giving those orders, his callous tone and vicious sentiments about her expendability just chills the soul.

Secondly, we have the main character of the show, Shinji Ikari, Gendo’s son. Gendo seems utterly indifferent to Shinji at best and seems to downright hate him at worst. In the series, it’s never explained exactly when, but Gendo gets rid of Shinji shortly after Yui’s death (in the comics, it’s explained that he was pawned onto Gendo’s brother). Gendo has absolutely no correspondence with Shinji until he ‘has a use for him’ and summons him to join NERV (thus putting himself in mortal danger). As the series progresses, we see Gendo time and time again disregard his son, completely uninterested in Shinji’s life, well-being or development. This is often escalated by his blatant favoritism towards Rei, which Shinji never reacts to beyond mere confusion.

Another point to consider is Gendo’s actions towards his own wife, Yui. Little is shown in the series regarding their relationship, but some facts can be deduced. On a hiking trip, Yui confesses to Professor Fuyutsuki (her mentor) that she’s been seeing a lot of Gendo and that ‘he’s really a very sweet man; it’s just that no one knows him like I know him’. While this may be, Gendo and Yui are never seen together in the show and there’s little evidence of any level of affection from Gendo to Yui.

However, there may be more than love in the relationship. Fuyutsuki accuses Gendo of pursuing Yui because her projects are receiving financing from SEELE, an organization that apparently has the political and financial clout to bully the UN committee (an accusation that Gendo disregards without a response). Additionally, when the two are married, Gendo takes Yui’s name rather than the other way around, a highly suspicious act.

When Yui dies, Gendo apparently disappears for a week, supposedly in mourning. Yet, after the week is up, we never see Shinji with Gendo again (until the start of the series, some 9 years later) and Rei appears mysteriously. Also just after that week, Gendo comes to Fuyutsuki with remarkable news about a new direction for NERV (then Gehirn), the result of ambitious pressure against SEELE.

And still, there is the question of Gendo’s faithfulness to Yui. He’s shown having a relationship with Dr. Akagi and later her daughter, Ritsuko Akagi. But there have been issues about that relationship beginning before Yui’s death (or perhaps being linked to Yui’s death). Both relationships are confirmed to be cold and distant by the women, with Rei as a child almost-happily confessing to Dr. Akagi that Gendo sees her as an ‘old hag’.

Lastly, we have to question the character of Gendo directly. The very nature of the project for which he is in charge of (besides NERV), the Human Instrumentality Project, is an ambitious project, one meant to artificially ascend humanity to heaven or perhaps godhood. The very nature of this project is disturbing and plenty has been written on it, but it does bear noting that this is Gendo’s ultimate goal, to rise up next to god.

Also, there is the news of Gendo’s abandonment of the Antarctic Research Station with Dr. Katsuragi’s team. Gendo leaves the icy continent just one day before Second Impact, bringing with him the entire research team’s notes. This highly suspect act is called into question by many, including Fuyutsuki (who, when he confronts Gendo with evidence of his foreknowledge of the event, is only able to be silenced when offered a position with Gehirn/NERV). Why he did not alert the team to the impending danger that he clearly knew about before hand or did not take some measure to protect against it is unknown.

In summation, facts of incest, neglect, and a history as a self-serving tyrant surround this man. Gendo’s position is in no way enviable. He is the director of humanity’s last and only real line of defense against an invasion of seemingly-hostile aliens. However, his detractions are great and the nature in which he deals with his assignment and how he addresses others around him is highly suspect and calls into question just what, if any, morals he might have.