At first glance, nothing new or earth-shattering really occurs in this episode. Nearly every theme touched on in this episode had already been explored relatively thoroughly in the previous 3 episodes. Shinji's hedgehog dilemma, the development of his protective instinct when he feels people are being placed in harm's way due to his action/inaction (Rei, Toji, Aida), his messy relationship with Misato, etc. Have all been effectively established. We're also faced with a gratuitous minute-long still frame shot at the episode's conclusion. However, what we also get here is beautifully subtle visual storytelling, the foiling of Shinji with Aida, and further exploration of character dynamics and parallels.
For the vast majority of the episode we're watching Shinji process everything we've seen transpire. He attempts to flee from his lofty responsibilities by isolating himself from anyone remotely close to him, while simultaneously wallowing in a fierce combination of self-pity and self-deprecation. Many shots in this episode appropriately capture him bowing his head in shame. One of the most powerful scenes of the episode comes when Shinji is walking through Tokyo-3 at sunset. The sunset is almost oppressive with the use of vibrant saturated colors. It hammers home how dire the circumstances would become with Shinji's departure. He hears the tortured cries of the many thousands of people that he would be abandoning if he refused to pilot the Eva. He sprints away, fleeing to the quiet serene countryside. Despite his efforts, his eyes keep returning to the city skyline (depicted with a beautiful shot reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich's "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog"). It's a hauntingly beautiful scene that perfectly places the viewer in Shinji's state of mind.
Shinji's "slumber party" with Aida in the aforementioned countryside is incredibly touching, with a twinge of characteristic Evangelion melancholy (especially on rewatch). Aida becomes an increasingly tragic character as the series unfolds, with a yearning to defend his home against an unknown enemy that never gets resolved. He longs to be in Shinji's place, but empathizes with Shinji wholeheartedly after spending time in the entry plug with him in the midst of intense combat. This affection is completely different from the praise that Shinji previously thought he had been piloting the Eva to garner (from authority figures). This empathy and companionship from Aida and Toji, coupled with some blunt advice from Misato, ultimately leads Shinji to return to NERV. Through his interactions with Misato we also gain a deeper understanding of how Misato sees herself in Shinji, and how she is desperate for him not make the same mistakes she did in her past.
Despite its flaws, this episode is definitely one of my favorites in the series from a character writing and artistic standpoint. It's a solid 9/10 from me.
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