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EP. REVIEW: Psycho-Pass 2


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Sobe



Joined: 04 Jun 2011
Posts: 879
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:11 pm Reply with quote
Kamui is spoiler[interested in Akane. This should put a good] spin on things in comparison to the last season. I wonder what spoiler[happened to the naive inspector who didn't learn to keep her distance.]
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Hellwarden



Joined: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 321
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:47 pm Reply with quote
What I'm usually thinking when Mika isn't ruining the scene-"Huh, that's pretty neat. I wonder where they're gonna run with that line of thought? Akane is pretty badass this season! Yada yada..."

When Mika is in the scene-"Just shut your stupid mouth Mika, holy shit. Just shut up. Picking on Ginoza when he's only trying to be helpful, and being more helpful than you! God, it's been a while since a character has made me hate them as much as I hate you. Mika, I just hate your stupid face so much..."
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RestLessone



Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 1426
Location: New York
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:16 pm Reply with quote
I'm glad Hope is taking this one on. Currently, we seem to share the same views.

The writing is a downgrade, and every character has such a mild personality, sans Mika who basically just spouts pro-Sybil non-arguments. Akane and Gino especially feel like they're just going through the motions. That they are blatantly and hamfistedly trying to draw parallels to Kogami is even more annoying. We get it, show. It's been two episodes and we get. it. Did we really need that gym scene? Couldn't have come up with anything more subtle? All that just so he can reveal his true colors later on and ~shock~ her.

One of the things I appreciated about the first season was that it didn't press into romantic relationships. Akane didn't need to end up with the male lead. Character dynamics were rooted in more than infatuation. So now, I don't like that Akane is sitting in her apartment, letting cigarette smoke seep into her clothing because she misses Kogami so damn much. I hope this season isn't intent on having her pine after him.
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Sobe



Joined: 04 Jun 2011
Posts: 879
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:27 pm Reply with quote
RestLessone wrote:


One of the things I appreciated about the first season was that it didn't press into romantic relationships. Akane didn't need to end up with the male lead. Character dynamics were rooted in more than infatuation. So now, I don't like that Akane is sitting in her apartment, letting cigarette smoke seep into her clothing because she misses Kogami so damn much. I hope this season isn't intent on having her pine after him.


How unfortunate. It seems like you're a masochist and yet you hate pain. Ironic seeing as how all the signs in season one pointed to Akane being the emotional epicenter of the cast for starters. And yet, in season two, that has not changed given her course of actions and personality. Are you just watching because it feels so good when you stop or because you need to see your fantasy turned reality with all the victims in the show thus far?

Rolling Eyes

Bless your heart, child.
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RestLessone



Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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Location: New York
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:45 pm Reply with quote
Uh, what are you getting at? Are you implying that I like seeing people or myself hurt? Were you so offended by my comment that you needed to make snide remarks? Jeez.

My problem is not with Akane being emotional. It never has been; I like characters to have substance and have meaningful interactions with others. Having a bunch of drones walk around isn't fun or fulfilling to watch. I would also argue that putting them through generic motions is no better. What I am taking issue with turning her into a pining character, which has not happened so far, but some signs are certainly there. Romance is neither inherently good nor bad, but it can be handled poorly. To repeat, I said pining; not missing. I would have her miss him and have that manifest in certain ways, but what was presented seemed desperate. Additionally, I am unsatisfied with Akane's dialogue and, as I mentioned, general mildness. I don't feel engaged.

This isn't even a bad season; it's a downgrade. Not that the first season didn't fumble with its writing, particularly at the beginning, of course. This season could improve too, and I do enjoy aspects of it. It's just the inherent problem with downgrades is that you have something to compare it to.


Last edited by RestLessone on Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Hellwarden



Joined: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 321
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:52 pm Reply with quote
I would actually like it if they kept romance completely out of the story as well to be honest.

Actual healthy romance doesn't seem possible in the society of Psycho-pass.

Akane missing Kogami was fine by me. Just don't have her jump into his arms or anything when he (probably) comes back.
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raich8



Joined: 25 May 2014
Posts: 17
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:01 pm Reply with quote
Kogami can stay away as far as I'm concerned. He was always a pretty boring character.

Goodness, the MWPSB just can't get away from lesbian antics at the office, can it?
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Knoepfchen



Joined: 13 Dec 2012
Posts: 698
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:21 pm Reply with quote
RestLessone wrote:
One of the things I appreciated about the first season was that it didn't press into romantic relationships. Akane didn't need to end up with the male lead. Character dynamics were rooted in more than infatuation. So now, I don't like that Akane is sitting in her apartment, letting cigarette smoke seep into her clothing because she misses Kogami so damn much. I hope this season isn't intent on having her pine after him.


Very much agreed. (Although part of the decision to keep the romance aspects minimal was probably motivated by wanting to give people the chance to continue shipping Kogami with Makishima, but, hey, same outcome, no harm done.)

I'm also happy Hope is covering this show. I really appreciated her reviews of Psycho-Pass and Fate/Zero.

I've yet to watch the extended cut of season one, so I'll know what to do until this season, hopefully, kicks off.
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HaruhiToy



Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 4118
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:39 pm Reply with quote
RestLessone wrote:
I'm glad Hope is taking this one on. Currently, we seem to share the same views.

I'll second this. The Ep 1-2 review is one of the more intricate critiques about an anime that I have read in a long while and did a lot to add my understanding of the story.

About the romance angle: Psycho-pass seems to be plain not interested in it. It isn't that the writer isn't capable of it, or the characters aren't capable of it. It is just that they want the story to be about something else. They are doing a pretty good job of it.

Although a bit of kissy-poo might be interesting, I would personally be more interested in developing Akane's relationship with the Sybil system. She seems to be a marginally accepting collaborator but if this season is going to be really good it has to how she ends up challenging the system to either change or eliminate it.

I don't agree that Ep 1-2 is really a "step down" from season 1 which after all would be a very tough act to follow. It might be better to step back from resolving the social order of the world and focus instead on a sci-fi mystery while laying the groundwork for the aforementioned apocalypse.
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Jajanken



Joined: 23 Jun 2014
Posts: 680
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 5:18 pm Reply with quote
B...B....Wtf
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Doodleboy



Joined: 23 Dec 2013
Posts: 296
PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 5:57 pm Reply with quote
Episode 2... yeah Mika is the weakest link of the show so far. I do understand why Tow took her in a different direction. As a writer you kind of want as much freedom as you can take... But the direction so far is not so great.

I feel like episode one was the writer saying "Yes I've watched Psychopass, and to show you I've watched Psychopass here's the main character summing up that show". Episode two was more "Now I'm going to try to say my own things because the last thing you want is a second-rate Urobuchi".

Fixing Mika... Hm... I suppose she could a decent foil if she was like Akane during episode 1 during the first few episodes. But her reveal of Sibyl's truth lead her to the opposite conclusions that Akane made. No idea how one would do that. Or instead of making Mika the foil, you already have great foils being the other MWSB team.

Well we got some characterization out of the Enforcers. The Redhead is clearly suppose to be... an otaku. And that's honestly I thought that was neat. Of course an Otaku who have trouble fitting into society and socializing might have a muddy hue.

As for the "traitor" enforcer I kind of wonder if the Kougami emulation is purposeful. spoiler[There has been some speculation that he's an Sibyl android, so it could be a way for Sibyl to examine/control Akane]. But that's all speculation.

I think the oddest thing is Akane and Mika's relationship. Akane making sure she knows her enforcers, yep consistent from season 1, that's her way of doing things. I wonder why she is completely ignoring Mika, their work relationship is pretty important. She laid the smack-down on Ginoza for constantly belittling her authority, so why hasn't she done the same to her junior?

Eh I'm going to give the show a little more rope, if it hangs itself then I'll be throwing vegetables like everyone else.
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Sobe



Joined: 04 Jun 2011
Posts: 879
PostPosted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:04 am Reply with quote
RestLessone wrote:
Uh, what are you getting at? Are you implying that I like seeing people or myself hurt? Were you so offended by my comment that you needed to make blunt observation? Jeez.


Of course. Rolling Eyes Someone had to outline the pink elephant.
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JacobC
ANN Contributor


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 3728
Location: SoCal
PostPosted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:34 am Reply with quote
Sobe wrote:
RestLessone wrote:
Uh, what are you getting at? Are you implying that I like seeing people or myself hurt? Were you so offended by my comment that you needed to make blunt observation? Jeez.


Of course. Rolling Eyes Someone had to outline the pink elephant.


Not only needlessly rude, but got your idioms crossed, I see.

The phrase you're looking for is "elephant in the room." Pink elephants are the opposite of that. They're something you see that doesn't actually exist at all, usually attributed to being blind stinking drunk.

That said, let's not be mean to each other for no reason, okay? Behave. Be nice. No personal attacks or bullying, (especially considering I can't even tell what you were upset about!)
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Tanteikingdomkey



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 2345
PostPosted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:31 am Reply with quote
Yay this season is a very obvious step down in quality all round.

To be fair though there were very few characters season one that I cared about. and I am sorry but am I the only one who is HAPPY kogami is gone, I felt like he became almost intolerable in the final episodes of season 1.
I really wish they would have been able to get a lot better music for season 2 that was close to season 1 in terms of quality because when you inevitably compare them to season 1s opening and endings man is it night and day.

Also am I the only one who spoiler[thinks that it actually is the psychiatrist from earlier who is the new villain ]
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Knoepfchen



Joined: 13 Dec 2012
Posts: 698
PostPosted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 3:52 am Reply with quote
Doodleboy wrote:
As for the "traitor" enforcer I kind of wonder if the Kougami emulation is purposeful. spoiler[There has been some speculation that he's an Sibyl android, so it could be a way for Sibyl to examine/control Akane]. But that's all speculation.


Definitely the first thing that comes to mind, considering the kind and amount of exposure he gets in the OP. The working out scene, the cigarettes, and the way he's talking to Akane, supporting her theories are clearly there for... something. spoiler[To illustrate how Akane is missing Kogami? To make us suspect the lovely system is toying with her emotions in some way? Well, I'm pretty sure it's not going to be Kogami himself, having found some way to transfer his mind into almighty android form like was offered to Makishima (followed by his lovely I-love-the-miracles-of-life-that's-why-I'm-going-to-beat-you-to-death-now speech).] Nah, that's not it.

Kamui could be an interesting counterpart to Akane. In the first season, we had a lonely humanist on the dark side vs. a lonely wolf character out for revenge. Now we get what looks like it could be an actual humanist (with questionable tactics, but, hey, spoiler[he was crying], and it's a crap sack world) vs. a character who's not only a good team player, but bases her decisions on her respect for humanity (something that was, at most, secondary to Kogami's motivations). So maybe there could actually be some sort of connection being established here, or any sort of positive outcome being achieved, who knows. (Probably not, because there's still the upcoming movie.)

Also, I'm really glad it's almost impossible for non fans to recognize Sakurai's voice (not just because the character barely spoke 3 sentences so far). I was in fear they would really try to pull some sort of "spoiler[Makishima might come back]" nonsense, which would have been disastrous.
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