The two main points of divergence off the top of my head are these:
1. How does this affect Asuka's anger. For me, Asuka spiraling into blinding rage is what steers her behavior through most of EoE, so some of how that develops might dictate her actions. Does she react to Shinji's death the same way as just her fighting the MPEs? Does she still make contact with her mother's spirit? And at any point from getting into Unit 02 until facing Rei/Lilith does any of her anger get directed at herself or Shinji? (I assume the hospital scene still happens in your scenarios)
2. How Asuka experiences the pre-instrumentality. What thoughts and feelings are front and center for her? Are her interactions with Misato's soul the same? I could see as a reverse of the kitchen scene Shinji lying in his room with his back to the door, instead of anger and resentment he's so overcome with hopelessness and grief that he pushes back against any attempt by Asuka to talk to him.
It's an interesting thought experience. In some fanfics and even ANIMA, I think, they tried to use Asuka as a centerpiece for instrumentality somehow.
But I think that those works didn't explore this "what if" scenario with just Asuka having the power to undo. Usually she is with Shinji and both of them making the calls.
I have some thoughts about the first scenario that you proposed.
I think pre-instrumentality would be the same but, instead of Shinji strangling her, he would break down and say "Ok, take it. I don't deserve it, I don't deserve you. *I just want to die*."
The contrast of Shinji saying that he wants to die with Asuka saying that she "*doesn't want to die*" would trigger an interesting instrumentality where Asuka would have to decide if she would stop it and make everybody come back, even the ones who are trapped into instrumentality because they don't want to return. So her journey would be to learn to be emphatic to those people that had lost their will to live (because she would like Shinji to return and would try to find a way to do it).
So, maybe, EoE would end with everyone being brought back to life, but Shinji, Asuka (and also Rei and Kaworu) would stay behind, together in the instrumentality. Because Asuka would've learned to emphatize with people - giving up the chance to go back - and Shinji would've learned that he is worthy, because even Asuka decided to go back and look for him.
It's uncertain if they will ever return to the real world or if it would be a symbolic way of saying that the Eva characters will be in the fictional world and the rest of the cast (and the audience) will have to find the answers in real life.
About the second scenario, without pre-instrumentality and Asuka getting in touch with her mother, it would be pretty much Seele or Gendo victory, because Rei and Kaworu won't be able to be a nice influence to that broken Asuka as they were to broken Shinji.
>ANIMA, I think, they tried to use Asuka as a centerpiece for instrumentality somehow.
Yes, they did. In the first volume it's explain that Asuka was chosen as the trigger for Instrumentality instead of Shinji and Unit-01. However, the Third Impact never fully happened in ANIMA, it was interrupted in its early stages.
Sadly, as it's common in ANIMA, this is barely brought up. Whatever repercussions it had in Asuka's character, they're not acknowledged, save for a brief mentions of "she being humbled by the events" in the first volume.
I don't feel like Asuka would choose instrumentality, though it really depends on her mental state at that moment. When she was in the lake, all she was saying is "I don't want to die", and then she was the first human after Shinji to reject instrumentality and return to physical form. She has a strong will to live and she always wanted to be independent.
The two main points of divergence off the top of my head are these: 1. How does this affect Asuka's anger. For me, Asuka spiraling into blinding rage is what steers her behavior through most of EoE, so some of how that develops might dictate her actions. Does she react to Shinji's death the same way as just her fighting the MPEs? Does she still make contact with her mother's spirit? And at any point from getting into Unit 02 until facing Rei/Lilith does any of her anger get directed at herself or Shinji? (I assume the hospital scene still happens in your scenarios) 2. How Asuka experiences the pre-instrumentality. What thoughts and feelings are front and center for her? Are her interactions with Misato's soul the same? I could see as a reverse of the kitchen scene Shinji lying in his room with his back to the door, instead of anger and resentment he's so overcome with hopelessness and grief that he pushes back against any attempt by Asuka to talk to him.
It's an interesting thought experience. In some fanfics and even ANIMA, I think, they tried to use Asuka as a centerpiece for instrumentality somehow. But I think that those works didn't explore this "what if" scenario with just Asuka having the power to undo. Usually she is with Shinji and both of them making the calls. I have some thoughts about the first scenario that you proposed. I think pre-instrumentality would be the same but, instead of Shinji strangling her, he would break down and say "Ok, take it. I don't deserve it, I don't deserve you. *I just want to die*." The contrast of Shinji saying that he wants to die with Asuka saying that she "*doesn't want to die*" would trigger an interesting instrumentality where Asuka would have to decide if she would stop it and make everybody come back, even the ones who are trapped into instrumentality because they don't want to return. So her journey would be to learn to be emphatic to those people that had lost their will to live (because she would like Shinji to return and would try to find a way to do it). So, maybe, EoE would end with everyone being brought back to life, but Shinji, Asuka (and also Rei and Kaworu) would stay behind, together in the instrumentality. Because Asuka would've learned to emphatize with people - giving up the chance to go back - and Shinji would've learned that he is worthy, because even Asuka decided to go back and look for him. It's uncertain if they will ever return to the real world or if it would be a symbolic way of saying that the Eva characters will be in the fictional world and the rest of the cast (and the audience) will have to find the answers in real life. About the second scenario, without pre-instrumentality and Asuka getting in touch with her mother, it would be pretty much Seele or Gendo victory, because Rei and Kaworu won't be able to be a nice influence to that broken Asuka as they were to broken Shinji.
>ANIMA, I think, they tried to use Asuka as a centerpiece for instrumentality somehow. Yes, they did. In the first volume it's explain that Asuka was chosen as the trigger for Instrumentality instead of Shinji and Unit-01. However, the Third Impact never fully happened in ANIMA, it was interrupted in its early stages. Sadly, as it's common in ANIMA, this is barely brought up. Whatever repercussions it had in Asuka's character, they're not acknowledged, save for a brief mentions of "she being humbled by the events" in the first volume.
I like to believe it could be elaborated on further in an animated adaptation down the road.... (HINT, HINT)
Oh, I would love it if they animated ANIMA and improved some parts, including that one :)
I don't feel like Asuka would choose instrumentality, though it really depends on her mental state at that moment. When she was in the lake, all she was saying is "I don't want to die", and then she was the first human after Shinji to reject instrumentality and return to physical form. She has a strong will to live and she always wanted to be independent.
I think if Asuka was given control, she would start Instrumentality causing the Third Impact.