Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig Part 2 Episodes 5-8

When the Prime Minister becomes the subject of death threats, Section 9 is called in not to solve the crime, but to take point playing her bodyguards.  As the name “Individual Eleven” begins to reemerge, acts of terrorism begin to bombard the city.  Section 9 finds it’s hands tied and unable to work at their best, if not by the PM’s need for security then by the twisted plots of their supposed rivals, Goda and the CIS.  There’s more to this Individual Eleven case than anyone realized and it’s starting to give a feel of déjà vu for Section 9.  What is the Individual Eleven and what does a white skinned cyborg who feels no pain have to do with them?

If I had to give a one word description for this weeks set of episodes, it’s gotta be FRUSTRATING.  And let me be clear, it’s nothing to do with disliking the series, on the contrary I still think it’s great.  I just think it sucks that Section 9 seems so left in the dust when it comes to the Individual Eleven, the PM and most infuriatingly of all GODA!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ahem, sorry got ahead of myself there.  That being said, more pieces are in play to shake things up for the second season.  It’s pretty clear this escalating conflict is going to be more serious than the Laughing Man ever was.

Like is said, the story is fine but it’s Section 9 being denied a win, or a stand alone case just for them, that really bugs me.  Between the Kayabuki constantly needing Section 9 as her bodyguards and Goda’s smugness pulling their chain along, Section 9’s being treated like easy marks unable to do what they do best.  Even two cases that should have been decent stand alones ended up being tied to Goda’s freaking hidden agendas.  It’s clear that this scar faced bastard is up to no good and he’s shoving Section 9’s face in their inability to do anything about it.  And after that sly grin Kayabuki gave Motoko after their first meeting, I was disappointed to see that she was so easily scared and disrupted by death threats, an assassin and a box of severed cyborg fingers…granted that might freak anyone out, true enough.  But I’m beginning to see her as a woman unsure of what she needs to do beyond be protected by Section 9.  I’ve gotta side with Batou’s frustrations this week.  Section 9’s hands are being tied and it doesn’t sit well with me at all.  My one tiny bit of satisfaction from all of this was during Section 9’s para drop operation.  You can tell Batou was going to have fun with Goda being scared of his first air drop…haha you son of a…ahem, apologies again but anytime that guy gets ass kick handed to him, im going to revel in it.

The introduction of the samurai sword wielding Kuze was a high point this week.  His brief showdown with Motoko at the Zen shrine had a bit of a Spike vs Vicious from Cowboy Bebop feel, just in the sword vs gun action.  There was plenty to be curious about in regards to Kuze as well, from his body (being able to take so many bullets and still keep going, plus his mouth never moved as he spoke) to his history that, of course, only Goda seems aware of.  Could tie into more of the world building we have seen so far and what we’re bound to see more of as we possibly see Kuze’s history explored.

Speaking of history explored, we got to take a trip to Tokyo this week with Togusa and a Tachikoma.  We got a bit of background on refugee and other labor forces following the end of the last war.  But the scariest takeaway for me was seeing Tokyo mostly submerged under water.  It’s almost hard to believe that in the shining city where society thrives and Section 9 polices, that parts of the world like this exist, scared battleground and remnants of time long since passed.  More of this will no doubt play heavily into coming weeks regarding both Kuze’s past and the growing powder keg issue that is the Refugees in Dejima.

I have to say that im really hoping we get to see some stories that are more self contained beyond the two we saw last week.  Despite appearances from two of them, every episode ended up being connected to one another, a move that Season One only did in a couple of two parters and then the final seven episodes of that season. Point is, there was room for different cases.  Here though, everything had to have a tie back to Goda or the Individual Eleven.  That could make this series a bit harder for new viewers to jump in on.

Section 9 never seemed to get a legit win in this week and that’s something that will hopefully improve in the coming weeks.  Kayabuki needs to toughen up, Goda needs a punch to the face and kick in the ass…and hopefully Motoko Kusinagi will in some way be the one to deliver to both characters…or Batou, if anyones earned the right to sock it to Goda it’s him…man I really don’t like that guy.