There's so much I could write, but I wouldn't know where to start. Instead, I'll just say once again how impressed I am with how the show has progressed. The story has developed at a comfortable pace, the characters have had their moments in the spotlight, and now the stage is set for one hell of an ending.
Then again, I've been burned by enough GAINAX endings to be worried about what "one hell of an ending" really means, but at least the show has been an enjoyable ride up to now, rising above and beyond my original expectations. It continues to push all the right buttons.