Because she was an awkward love interest/metaphor for Yui 20 years prior.

That's cool, I didn't know her backstory. So she's less a Mary Sue and more just knows what the hell she's doing.

Yeah, she had a lesbian crush on Yui in college and I guess at some point became (I assume) the first experimental pilot.

What ar you talking about? The first thing she does when meeting Shinji is sit on his face and tells him that the smell of blood turns her on.

It was just some stupid fan service. Throughout the movies she shows zero romantic interest in him.

Or anyone else for that matter. I think her longest conversation with another character is with Asuka when she asks her to hand her a gun during the fight in LILITH'S SKULL PIT!!!

I don't see how Mari being an undying golem that knew Shinji's mom in college really adds anything.

also I fucked up the re-submission link TWICE. I hate myself.