What Happened after the Third Impact in The End of Evangelion? Theories Explored

The End of Evangelion clarifies a lot of what happened in the Evangelion anime’s last two episodes, though it also leaves behind just as many mysteries. Among these is what happened after the Third Impact in The End of Evangelion.

This moment serves as the film’s climax, and it is the moment that the entire series has been building up to. More than just a world-changing event, it also serves as Shinji Ikari’s most important moment.

Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for The End of Evangelion, so proceed with caution.

What Is the Third Impact?

Credit: Gainax, Production I.G

As revealed in the TV anime and The End of Evangelion movie, there have been two major Impact events that are important to understand for the Third Impact.

The First Impact happened in prehistoric times when the being known as Lilith accidentally landed on Earth after Adam. Lilith was one of the Seeds of Life (soon called an Angel) sent out by the First Ancestral Race.

Only one Seed of Life is intended for each planet, so Lilith's landing on Earth resulted in the first Angel Adam being suspended by the Lance of Longinus.

Lilith was supposed to be the one suspended, though her Lance was lost.

Credit: Gainax, Production I.G

Meanwhile, the Second Impact was when a group of scientists discovered Adam in Antarctica. They reawakened Adam while trying to merge his and a human’s DNA, thus initiating the Second Impact.

This event led to the events of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, and it also led to the Human Instrumentality Project, which has a goal of bringing forth the Third Impact.

Essentially, the Third Impact aims to gather all human souls as one being by awakening Lilith.

While having everyone become a single being means the human race will effectively vanish, the singular consciousness is believed to be the next step in human evolution.

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What Happened after the Third Impact in The End of Evangelion? Theories Explored

Credit: Gainax, Production I.G

As shown in the film’s events, the Third Impact begins when Lilith responds to Shinji’s wish to reject individuality.

What follows next is the film’s dazzling and unnerving Third Impact sequence. As it happens though, Shinji realizes that despite how painful it is, having everyone be one consciousness is an empty existence.

Thus, the Third Impact ends, with Shinji waking up back in his body on a post-apocalyptic Earth. There, Shinji is joined by Asuka. The film ends after a final moment between the two.

Credit: Gainax, Production I.G

It’s not clear what happens next, though it’s likely not the end for humanity. That’s because Rei/Lilith notes that souls can regain their human forms if they find the determination and will to live.

Still, even if most of humanity comes back, they seem to now have to survive in an Earth ravaged by the Third Impact’s events.

There are many theories about what will happen next. Do you think humanity can bounce back from the Third Impact? Let us know in the comments below.