this is a really interesting take to me, I've never really heard anyone say it was boring/a chore. Lot of people that hate it but mostly because they think it is stupid. The first time I watched it when I was like 14 I thought it was cool but didn't get the HUGE appeal it has until I watched it again as an adult
I had to google Rei because I thought they were Asuka, and Asuka was full of herself imo so I didn't like her. Rei felt kind of robotic in nature, so I disliked that too. And don't even get me started about Shinji. So basically, the entire main cast is terrible.