I think I just had overly high expectations based on years of hearing about it being one of THE best animes - and I can see why it has that title, the art was gorgeous and the storyline compelling, I just forgot to consider that it is still very much an anime.

But yes, an amazing cast! I was so relieved Eva wasn't just some shallow villain there to highlight how our protagonist is such a nice man - there were a couple of times I worried! I also really enjoyed Grimmer's arc. (A fondness for emotionally damaged supersoldiers? Moi? It couldn't be.)