Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, Episode 2, Testation.

 

Hello, and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, one episode at a time. I was nervous about starting this new project because I am new to the franchise. I will say though, the response by the fans has been nothing but amazing and supportive. Thank you to those people who commented because it made me smile. In today’s climate, a smile is everything. Before we get started, I want to mention something that stood out to me in this episode, the music. Yôko Kanno is responsible for the score in this series and is the frontwomen of my new favourite band, The Seatbelts, simply fantastic. It looks like she has had a great career, and I’m looking forward to learning more about Cowboy Bebop as well. Let’s get started with episode two.

The episode starts at the Kenbishi Industries testing facility, as a Tachikomo tank opens fire and escapes the base. The Major briefs the team about the incident, and points out that the multi-ped designer only died a week ago. No terrorist organisations are taking responsibility for the attack, and the military will not get involved till then. So, it is down to Section 9 to stop the runaway tank. The Major and Batou take a squad of Tachikomo, leaving Borma and Saito to wait for her orders. Aramaki and Togusa head to Kenbishi Headquarters to find out why this has happened, and give up any information that can help stop the vehicle. Togusa interviews the multi-ped’s co-designer Toshio Ooba, and after some hard questions, Ooba reveals the hijacker is Takeshi Kago! Ooba was persuaded to help transplant the original designer’s brain into the tank after his death. Takeshi suffered many birth defects and his parents denied him any cyber technology, due to their religious beliefs. Ooba believes Takeshi is on his way to avenge his parents for his sufferings in life. The tank heads into a densely populated area, and Aramaki finally persuades the CEO to hand over the information they need to stop it. The Major realises that she needs to remove the brain core and climbs onto the runaway vehicle. To help the Major, super adhesive missiles are fired at the tank, which eventually slows it down. Unfortunately, the multi-ped reaches its destination, as Takeshi’s parents leave their home. Takeshi points the tank’s guns at his parents, giving the Major a chance to hack into the brain core. As the tank shuts down, Takeshi’s memories are experienced by the Major.

I have only watched two episodes of this series, but I am impressed with the beautiful imagery and amazing writing. Togusa is a stand-out character for me. I think it’s interesting how the Major and the team are involved in this crazy road chase, and Togusa is just doing simple detective work. I enjoyed the look of the testing facility, the dome looked like something you would see in a blockbuster movie. It’s an animated series, but the standards set by the creators are exceptional. I’m guessing this is a stand-alone episode, as we don’t see much happening with the Section 9 team, and instead, we are given this story about Takeshi Kago. It’s a story of a man, who was simply looking for some recognition from his parents. I guess this is one of the main reasons I have enjoyed this franchise, the whole idea of life and death, and how technology has blurred the distinction between them both. The great thing about it is, you can’t come up with an answer.

I had to think about my conclusion for a couple of days. Maybe this is why I started this project in the first place. I want to understand great storytelling and learn how an idea can challenge our perception of reality. Would I let my child suffer if there was a way to end that pain with cyber technology? Probably not, but it makes you think about the implications of that decision. I thought this was just a stand-alone story and held no significance in the series, but now I realise it’s a very important episode, and involves a key moment I nearly missed. I think the writers want you to think about Takeshi’s fate and his parent’s decision. This reminds me of the Major and the decision her parents made for her. The Major had a glimpse of Takeshi’s life and is absorbed by it briefly, does she yearn for a moment like that herself? I also enjoyed how Takeshi realised that his parents did love his life’s work because they held his model tank in their hands as he faced them. I want to binge-watch this entire show, but I think I will get far more out of the series if I watch it, one episode at a time.

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