Section 9 Springs Into Action in The Ghost In The Shell Episode 2

Episode two of The Ghost In The Shell kicks off with Section 9 officially getting the green light from Aramaki. The team starts their first real investigation into a mysterious super hacker known as The Puppet Master. Things move quickly from office banter to a high stakes situation when an interpreter is hit with a dangerous computer virus, forcing Kusanagi to jump into the fray.

While the mission itself is exciting, a heavy handed fan service sequence involving Kusanagi creates some major issues. The scene feels forced and conflicts with the professional, sharp persona we see from The Major in the rest of the episode. It is disappointing to see the series rely on a cheap joke that undercuts her competence, especially when the show is trying to establish her as a serious and capable leader.

Thankfully, the episode finds its footing once it moves past the unnecessary distractions. A quiet, well written dialogue scene between Kusanagi and Togusa highlights her growth as an off field leader. We get to see her calm, confident side as she guides her team, which is a welcome shift for long time fans.

The action picks up as the team tracks the hacker, leading to an impressive chase sequence featuring the Tachikomas. The animation here is fantastic, showing off the speed and fluid movement of these machines with great detail. Despite the rocky start with some questionable choices, this episode succeeds in building tension and setting the stage for what looks to be a thrilling investigation.