This was one of those delightful episodes that I think shows Urobuchi Gen’s writing at its best: it just kept coming with its eloquent dialogue that makes you think, on top of throwing in a bunch of big plot twists that completely turn around the plot, as hinted in the previous episode. It’s where the series changes completely.
Last episode I said that there were two possibilities: Shougo escapes, or he doesn’t. In the end the first turned out to be true, but he did it in a really good way: I really thought that that woman would end up being the main villain of this series, but instead the creators intended Makishima to be the one. His arrest was really meant to show the truth behind the world, along with how he really is a special person who can overthrow the society.
The soundtrack also really helped. The thing is that this series does not have a coherent soundtrack: it uses just whatever the hell track it pleases, and this does result in that you can’t expect what kind of thing it will pull next. That worked really well in this episode. The voice acting also really helped with the really long monologues throughout the airtime.
And yet, there is still that one question that makes me wonder: why does nobody in this world believe in security? Just… something to prevent things from going horribly wrong. I keep seeing more and more in this series that everybody seems to act under the beliefs that everything will go right.
Rating: 6/8 (Awesome)
I honestly didn’t liked how the revelation was handled (I liked the concept itself, though); they went out of their way to keep the Sybil true image a secret and the immediate next episode they show it on a recorded video, that just seems pointless to me (I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was revealed using the last episode’s climax, but maybe that’s just me). Other than that it was a solid plot setting episode, too bad the production values were so terrible, they must’ve spent too much money in the last episode fights.
I completely agree. All that buildup about what the Sybil system actually is…and then the answer is handed to us on a silver platter in the very next episode. No fun at all 🙁
I agree as well. The series built up the Sybil from the start and the reveal was pretty anti climatic. At least it wasn’t saved for the final episode for a rushed ending. I’m thankful for that much. Wonder how Kougami and Akane’s going to take it when they learn about it (because you know they probably will).
What disappointed me the most by revealing Sybil through the camera footage was that it didn’t show us Kagari’s obvious fate when the lens would’ve been able to catch it. There seems to be a double standard for this show and its portrayals of gore. It wants to say that Sybil will do anything for its “justice” and that the heroes can be as messed up as the villains at times. But the heroes aren’t subjected to the same brutal imagery and treatment from the Dominator for cruel irony? Nope, it’s just the villains! Not even floating ash or an off screen sound effect to indicate a hit. It’s a bit sad really.
I loved the episode. This show is going pretty well. There is security, but isn’t it all Sybil? Sybil itself would have been more dramatic had it everything been hard wired together like some big neurol blob, but I like the idea of treating the brains as pieces of a circuit. I just don’t think a lot of people would really “feel” that though.
“And yet, there is still that one question that makes me wonder: why does nobody in this world believe in security? Just… something to prevent things from going horribly wrong. I keep seeing more and more in this series that everybody seems to act under the beliefs that everything will go right.”
Remember the conversation between Ginza and his dad about how people used to lock their doors and now they don’t even think about such a thing? For the Sybil system to work it requires everyone to believe in it completely, and just like he said – as soon as he began to doubt it, he became an enforcer because his crime coeficient was no longer ‘safe’. So if you believe in the system completely, you also believe that a crime is somewhat impossible to occur, so who needs security if the ‘criminals’ are removed before they can commit ‘crime’. The new ‘lock’ for keeping things safe is the Hue and C.C. scanners all around. And everyone was pre-conditioned to believe those ‘locks’ were unbreakable (recent plot events have proven that untrue)
One detail I’d like to point out is that the Sybil Logo is basically a stylized brain. So of course that’s what the system is.
http://i5.minus.com/i19kiGvVXTyWJ.png
I like the plot however the way it was too easy for Shougo to escape. He was under full control however he could attack a cyborg with a book to put it in disarray and furthermore subdued it physically. In addition that they could have millions of automated tranquilizer guns aimed at him real-time. Or they do want him to escape.
Well they clearly underestimated him, especially that touma guy who thought just because they were buddies and (he thought) shared the same ideals, that such precautions would not be necessary. When I saw makishima run his fingers on the book’s helm, I knew someone was in trouble.
One thing that impresses me with this show is that it not only managed to survive its big reveal, it did it without losing any appeal and raising the plot/stakes even higher for everyone. Fantastic.
He had a hidden gun. He is not that stupid.
Anyways, a great show. Looking forward how it will continue from now on.
True, Touma wasn’t(isn’t?) that stupid. I did feel if they weren’t that close prior, the entire setup on the helicopter would have been less personal.
I am curious (and a bit worried) about how they will wrap this all up with the remaining number of episodes left. I sincerely want this to have a conclusive/proper ending.
If Sybil is made of human brains, why was Shougo left free for so long? It should have been able to see or predict Shougo was cheating the system long ago. Or is Sybil only able to judge and unable to enforce? (meaning they need an enforcer team) Or do they not even care?
All the Sybil system does is use the massive network of brains to analyze a persons Crime Coefficient and Hue on the fly based on a persons’ thought pattern. A person who has perfect conviction that everything he does is ‘right’ will always have a clear hue and low/zero coefficient. These ‘special’ people are wanted by the Sybil system because they allow the system to become more perfect and eventually even the Makashima’s would be detectable.
This episode also opened up a new path for this series , a possible alliance between Shougo and Kougami/Akane. This system is obviously wrong and will be annihilated at the end.
First , Makishima reveals a more humane side (not compassionate) since he shows interest in people’s life/path. As an observer , a fake perfect world is rather pointless, whereas our (current) world is so more entertaining with all its flaws and uncertainties.
Second , Kougami/Akane will also work toward the shutdown of this system since they will find out about the death of their former colleague. Every episode seems to stain Akane’s purity of resolve (even if i love the fact that for once a female manga heroine is quite strong and resistant).
i liked they constantly cut to the image of a helicopter flying before we find out that makashima is in one
big reveal isn’t shocking.