This episode starts with a flashback to 22 days before Shinji came to Tokyo-3. Rei is in Unit 00 and it goes crazy during an activation experiment. In the experiment, Rei is badly hurt. We get to know Rei in this episode, she is very quiet and minimizes her contact with others, but she opens up to Commander Ikari for some reason. When she is around Commander Ikari, she acts like a normal person. Shinji does not understand how this girl can be closer to his own father than he is. An angle attacks and Shinji goes off to fight. Before Shinji could fight the Angel, he is hurt by an energy blast. The next episode picks up with the Angel shooting Shinji. They bring him down but he is hurt. Misato makes a plan to destroy the Angel by using an experimental weapon but it will need all of Japan's power. Before the battle, we learn a bit more about Rei's feeling about Evangelion and her reasons for being a pilot. The Angel and Eva both shot at each other but miss. The Angel then shots while the weapon is cooling, Rei protects Shinji by standing in front of the blast. At the last moment, Shinji is able to shot the Angel but Rei is hurt. Shinji rushes to help Rei and in the end she smiles for Shinji.