Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Part 4 Episodes 13-16

The Post Human Investigation takes a dire turn when Togusa goes missing while investigating teen Post Human Takashi Shimamura.  But Section 9’s search for their missing teammate will have to wait as they become tasked with securing a vital asset who may have some rare insight into the origin of all Post Humans.  However, this puts Motoko and her team on a collision course with Post Human Suzuka Mizukane and the American Empire, both of which will stop at nothing to get this vital intel for themselves.  Meanwhile, Purin speaks directly with a Post Human infected cyberbrain, only to be led into a trap that could spell dire consequences for the aspiring tech girl and the whole of Section 9.

As I noted at the end of Monday’s review, there was a 2 year hiatus between the two halves of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045.  A lot of that wait more than likely had to do with the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic but you’d think it would allow Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki to tweak and refine a few part of the story and animation to bring SAC_2045 to its full potential after a fair but not quite stellar launch.  Well…I’d say they both did and did not succeed.  SAC_2045’s animation might still be a major point of contention but I think it’s larger problem is that its borrowing and rehashing ideas from not just previous seasons of SAC but also the Ghost in the Shell movies too, resulting in something that feel more lazy and unoriginal the more these tropes come up.  However, when it comes to new characters like Purin and PM Tate, there’s still proof that Stand Alone Complex can grow if it chooses to be different and not just stick to tired old tropes.  Anyway, onto the start of SAC_2045 Part 2.
 

GBT#12-RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez8

Some Gundams are remembered for their designs.  Others are remembered for their awesome feats on the battlefield.  The Ez8 is remembered for both.  Not only is this a unique and more militaristic model but it’s also part of one of the greatest battles in the entire Gundam franchise.  In fact, all of the mecha in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08^th MS Team feel the most “real robot” in a franchise that birthed the term for Mecha Anime.  Well, it doesn’t get more real than the Ez8 and it’s been one of my favorites since I first saw 08^th MS Team.  And when it came to building it, yeah, it lives up to its unique nature and design nicely.  It’s not perfect…but then again that’s kind of part of the point.  I’ll get to that when I talk about the build itself.

 

T5W#410-Top 5 Worst Power Rangers Crossover Events

Over the course of most of the franchises 30 year history, each season of Power Rangers has focused solely on one new team of teenagers with attitude.  However, it seems to be almost a tradition for the previous team to pay the newbies a visit close to the end of their series for a special team up event.  There’s nothing wrong with this at all, the more the merrier.  Plus, if the previous seasons Rangers are awesome, it’s equally awesome to see them kicking ass again.  But not every team up is gold and not every crossover works as well as planned.  On today’s Top 5 Wednesday continuing our celebratory look at the Power Rangers franchise, I’m counting down the Top 5 Worst Power Rangers Crossover Events.  Trust me, these all could have been better (and one maybe shouldntve happened at all).

 

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Part 3 Episodes 9-12

Under the direct request of Prime Minister Tate, Section 9 has been reassembled with all of it’s original seven members.  Their new mission: track down and capture a new breed of individual dubbed “Post Humans”.  Stronger than any Cyborg and possessing little to go on in terms of motivations or ideals, the Post Human begin leaving a trail of carnage across the city.  And it’s only a matter of time before the interference of Motoko and her team gets their attention and leads Section 9 into a showdown even they aren’t prepared to face.

Well it only took about 8 or so episodes but we’ve finally brought Motoko and the Gang back home for a big ol family reunion.  Section 9 is back in action and ready to take on the Post Humans and whatever shenanigans the Sustainable War is bound to throw their way.  While it’s good to be back in familiar territory, SAC_2045’s Season One conclusion feels sometimes a bit too familiar.  Familiar plots from both Stand Alone Complex and SAC: 2^nd Gig peek in and make me wonder if Kenji Kamiyama is either trying to merge them together into one new case or is he just being lazy?  Despite this, it does feel like SAC_2045 is trying to get back to basics with Section 9 hard at work in the city, even if some of the silly visual ideas from earlier episodes refuse to go away (looking at you Purin and the giant fish…thingy).
 

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Part 2 Episodes 5-8

Motoko and her team find themselves in the employ of a shady NSA Agent for what should be a simple mission, the extraction of a high value asset.  But many unknown variables plague the mission, including the sneaking suspicion Motoko and the others aren’t meant to survive.  As Aramaki and Togusa race to save the lives of their former teammates, Motoko and the others come face to face with a terrifying new foe, one whose capabilities surpass even those of the most advanced of cyborgs…and maybe even the skills of Motoko herself.

Ghost in the Shell is a saga centered on exploring the deepest depths of the ever blurring futuristic line of Man and Machine.  Just how much of ones Human soul is left after they convert nearly their entire bodys into cyborgs?  Beyond that, the first two seasons explored the impacts on society beyond this debate with Season One focusing on a Healthcare Conpsiracy and 2^nd Gig centering on a growing influx of immigrants following a global conflict.  Both of these topics proved fascinating watches for their respective stories and it was fun to see how Section 9 fit into it all.  That said, I just watched a segment of SAC_2045 where Motoko and Batou fought a black stared man in a bathrobe who moonwalked his way around bullets before ditching the robe and doing backflips up a stairwell, completely nude…is this really the same Stand Alone Complex I remember?  Cause now I’m worried.