You know? Psycho Pass is very good at using its build-up. This arc was rather strange at times, but what I really liked was the climax of this episode in which the villain of this arc was apprehended. The directing there was really good, the music rocked, and everything came together. Of course it got quite surreal in a way that wasn’t for everyone, but I liked how creative it was (also, that use of alcohol rocked).
I also liked how this episode went much more in-depth into the existance of online idols. Last week we were introduced to the concepts, but this time showed much more details, and what it means to be an online celebrity. The scriptwriter also really liked to quote famous philosophers in this episode. It also made me wonder: if someone killed me, and still kept posting at the same rate that I do… would people notice?
This also showed a bit more about the world of Psycho Pass: the world here seems to have its own method of determining psychological coefficients, but not optimal search algorythms: people still need to search smartly if they want to find something, because there is so much information. On the other hand, Holograms have gotten to such an advance state that even a computer can’t tell the difference; that, or there are tricks to fool the visual sensors for the computers (which is why everything looked so trippy).
Rating: 5.5/8 (Excellent)
The thing about Urobuchi (the writer) is that he doesn’t write anything without a statement he wants to say about it. Psycho Pass’ world is obviously a “perfect” world meant to avoid crime by using today’s current accepted system of determining criminals in its most extreme sense. However, that itself is its glaring flaw. Urobuchi is pretty much trying to say (like he has in his past major visual novels) that criminals, regardless of their actions, right or wrong, are still human. And we’re all capable of malice.
I believe the virtual world thing here was meant to emphasize another side of that same coin, though. You’d think this privacy thing was flawless, but a computer is still just a computer. There is no “perfection” in anything. If there is someone there to program something, there is someone else just as capable of hacking it.
As for privacy, which you brought up last time, I don’t think it’s a matter of whether or not it would make sense in this fictional future world. It’s Urobuchi, so I imagine he thought this would be the perfect setting to explore today’s growing virtual realities with possibilities in the future. And even though it might make more sense for privacy to be completely illuminated to the police in this world, that’s not necessarily going to be the case. And it’s not like he has to justify that since it’s just as plausible any other way. That would take up more screen time that could be used more effectively.
Psycho Pass has been very formulaic but it works really well. This isn’t an anime where I truly find myself caring about the show and the things in it, rather, I’m engrossed by the characters and story. I like Pyscho Pass a lot so far.
Formulaic? How? Episodic=yes. Formulaic=no.
Reaper I’m not entirely sure what you mean, you’ve mentioned not caring about the show and the things in it but aren’t the story and characters pretty much the “things in the show”.
@Kaiserin I suppose I do care a little bit, but my point was like this: There are shows you sympathize with on some level and their are shows that surround you in their waters. Simply put. Shows that first affect you from the inside and shows that first affect you from the outside. Psycho Pass seems like an outside kind of show.
Thats a colourful way of putting it but I get what your saying.
@entrav:Ah but I think that only goes to show her vulnerability.
Both. So far a similar formula for each episode has been followed, it’s being done outstandingly well though I’d say.
Pulling out the “I killed her” card. Get your act together Akane. Kougami sure is good at being a detective.
Well, because he used to be one.
It would appear that due to the mental-policing in the Psycho Pass society, ‘normal’ people are simply unable to comprehend the mental states of criminals … that puts Akane at a disadvantage when it comes to detective-work
I’m loving Psycho-Pass right now. I love the atmosphere of the show and I can’t wait to dwelve into the character’s background. At least now we know a bit more about Kougami.
Hmm… Killing criminals at first sight doesn’t seem to be the brightest police tactic. It would make more sense to try to interrogate them first (ie. where did this guy get his explosives). That is, unless the Sibyl System doesn’t actually want the police to do its job, and Lethal Eliminator is a convenient way to thwart unwanted investigation.
Anyway, great episode.
Yeah
It doesn’t make sense to kill people on sight like this, keeping him alive would have lead to them gathering more intel.. glaring flaw to the lethal weapon thing. Stun him, take him to jail, and find out all you need.
Agreed. Initially shooting him while he was making a run might have made some sense but finishing him off after hearing him talk to someone else was flat out stupid.
They killed someone who was unarmed knowing that he likely had an accomplice backing him. Real smart guys. Kill the pawn and let the mastermind escape. No wonder that villain manages to get away with what he does, they’re acting like a bunch of dolts, shooting first and thinking after.
Good episode, aside from the major flaw I mentioned above, I loved the reveal at the end, and it now kind of makes sense that megane kun seems to act like he’s got a stick up his arse all the time.
Great action too. They caught the criminal but there’s still the mystery of what the mastermind is after.