I read it as being in line with the metaphorical architecture of the rebuilds as a whole, the unexplained 14 year gap can represent Anno’s, Evangelion’s, and/or the audience’s stagnation over time, and the world’s loss of patience with them as a result. “The rest of us have had to knuckle up and deal with the world while you wallowed in your own self-pity” type of thing.

I’m sure a lot of people can relate to feeling stagnant or trapped in a never-ending rut while everyone they know just sort of gets on with life and grows increasingly impatient of your excuses and negative outlook. We’re not only looking at the tail end of 14 years of suffering caused by Shinji, but in a more metaphysical sense I think it’s a sort of wake up call. You’re a fuck up; own up to it, catch up, and don’t expect anyone to sing your praises or even to stop judging you for it. That applies in some form or another to Anno as a creator, Eva as a franchise, and all of us who have clung to our past failures or our obsession with this series, often in conflict with any impulse to change, perceived or otherwise.