Evangelion is not a very based show and it is definitely not for everyone. All the characters are, at their core, philosophical representations for "the other"; parts of the mind that differentiate internal and external objects, people and desires. If you are familiar with Schopenhauer and Kierkegaard's writings/ philosophies you'll get the more subtle and surreal aspects of the show, but that doesn't mean you'll like it. If philosophy mumbo jumbo is not your cup of tea there are other stand out aspects of Evangelion that are enjoyable, crisp smooth animations, an excellent orchestral soundtrack that enhances the show and giant mechs fighting giant surreal entities that defy the laws of physics. Neon Genesis Evangelion ran out of funds to complete all the original episodes, resulting in a strange low budget and unsatisfying finale. The subsequent Evangelion films rework, retell and complete the story. Those might be more accessible if you don't want to sit though an unfinished series that you may not like.