Actually thinking about it seriously, he certainly would have been better-adjusted as a person.

In the Gundam universe, there's always more than just a handful of mecha on the protagonist side, so there isn't the same "you absolutely must pilot the robot because you're the only one compatible with it and there's huge pressure on you to get results because of how few robots we have" type of scenario. Even if Shinji were piloting the sole Gundam in the show, there are still other mobile suits out there piloted by other people who could also get results. The human race isn't on the brink of extinction, so even if he fails life will continue on. Of course, there's no guarantee that the supporting cast will be any better (Zeta is a good example of why), but certainly things can't be much worse than in Eva.

But then why don't the older pilots make a decent Gundam pilot/MC?

>a decent Gundam pilot/MC

Before, or after he becomes a newtype?

>>23814371
This almost seems like Alex and Bernie are fighting an Angel.

>>23814449
>he certainly would have been better-adjusted as a person
Wouldn't that mostly occur if Shinji is surrounded by people who are supportive of him, and if Gendo didn't exist? What role would Gendo play if he was also in the same Gundam universe as Shinji?

>>23816087
absent father who was too preoccupied with his job (which may involve Gundam engineering) to be a loving and supportive father

which is the vast majority of them

>>23816087
Worst case, Gendo would be the leader of the Gundam's faction, with his own sinister agenda that may run counter to everyone's best interests. But in a situation like that, he had damn well better be a kickass commander because otherwise he would get replaced or rebelled against real fast (again, in Gundam there usually isn't a "humanity is on the brink of extinction and everything is fucked so we need everyone" situation to protect him). About the closest comparisons we really have are Athrun and Patrick Zala, and Suletta and Prospera Mercury; in the first example the agenda wasn't really hidden, and the second example is more of what happens when you have a clusterfuck written by Okouchi but without the funny trainwreck that usually results.

>>23816087
Assuming this is U.C., and limiting it to the OYW.

>role would Gendo play

"Shinji, pilot the RX-78 1 for combat data". Then immediately dumps Shinji away once the GMs were rolled out. This is assuming he survives the initial colony attack.

>>23814371
He's literally Amuro

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>>23814371
uso is the proto-shinji

>>23814371
He just needs a serious mentor, something he didn't have in Evangelion because they were all misfits pretending to be adults.

He'd probably have serious trouble taking an enemy pilot's life, when Toji nearly died at his hands it was extremely traumatic for him.

>>23818430
How? Uso was literally groomed to be a killing machine. Shinji is just a normal kid with a estranged dad.

>>23818430
No it's definitely Amuro. Maybe a dash of Kamille in there, but Gendo is definitely an evil foil to Tem Ray.

>>23819151
>>23819151
i was thinking
>almost same age
>same anxiety about having to fight
>awkward relationships with women
>mommy and daddy issues
>anno liked Victory
but when you point out the Gendo-Tem connection i guess that makes sense

>>23819151
i was thinking
>almost same age
>same anxiety about having to fight
>awkward relationships with women
>mommy and daddy issues
>anno liked Victory
but when you point out the Gendo-Tem connection i guess that makes sense

>>23814371
Who are those two around the lamppost?