The writers have come out and said that about half of it is just Mind Screw for Mind Screw's sake. So yeah. That's what was going through their heads. =P

And you can't stop watching because you want to find out what happens to darling little Shinji.

I liked it when it did that. I also like what happens in the movie, but I'm not gonna spoil anything.

Plus: The team who did NGE did a great job (Probably cuz they did the Mind Screw for the sake of it XP), IMO.

I love that series. The first manga series is just like the anime though, so I might start reading Angelic Days.

What was going on in the writer's minds when they thought this up?

Assorted drugs and depression.