What if Evangelion had leaned further into its Ultra-inspired origins? Well, it wouldn't be this, but it wouldn't be *unlike* this, either. The important thing about a "slow-burn-plot character-focused existential mystery" anime is the characters, and these ones shine, being far deeper than they appear at first. I want to hug all of them, including the villain, *including* after she's been outright abusive. (I mean, first I want to stop that. But then the hugging.) Plus good battles fun.