Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Asuka's synchronization continues to deteriorate after her defeat in the earlier attack on headquarters. Her confidence depends on being an exceptional pilot, and each poor result makes the ordinary tensions around her harder to bear. A telephone conversation with her stepmother briefly sounds cheerful, but Asuka tells Shinji that the relationship is largely an appearance. When Rei advises her to open herself to the Eva, she responds angrily and rejects the help. Nerv has little room to accommodate the decline: Unit-01 remains restricted, and another Angel appears far above the city. Misato assigns Rei the leading role, but Asuka insists on confronting it herself.
The Angel stays beyond the reach of Asuka's weapon and directs a beam at Unit-02. Rather than attacking its armor, the light forces its way into her mind, exposing memories and fears she desperately wants kept away. Misato orders a retreat, but Asuka refuses to accept another failure. Rei's rifle cannot overcome the enemy's protective field at that distance, and Gendo will not release Unit-01 to help. He instead orders Rei to take the Spear of Longinus from the giant below headquarters. Unit-00 throws it into orbit, piercing the Angel and ending the assault. The weapon is lost beyond practical recovery. Asuka survives, devastated by the invasion and humiliated that Rei rescued her.