Toon Zone Talkback - Seasoned Spirits - "Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig" Vol 7

[Duke]

This is the talkback thread for Seasoned Spirits - "Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig" Vol 7 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=13629).

What perfect timing, considering the finale of 2nd GIG is about to be upon us on Adult Swim...

http://news.toonzone.net/images/2006-11/splash-gitsse7lg.jpg (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=13629)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I tend to agree with the overall thrust of the review, although I feel the more action-oriented nature of the conclusion is a nice respite from the headblowing jargon-heavy scenes this series still sometimes suffers from. Exposition is supposed to set up the action--we've already had basically 23 episodes of on and off exposition already. It's a bit of a catharsis, which is something this series is good at doing since it doesn't frustrate you to the point of the Oshii-directed GITS stuff do or the random footnote-heavy nature of Masamune Shirow's manga. However, yes I do agree it was a bit uneven in how everything was balanced. Even so, you had to admire the choreography of some of the action, such as the Motoko-hanging-from-helicopter scene. The breaking glass from the building was well done!

However, I was satisfied overall because I think the conclusion basically established the change in Motoko's character by planting the seeds for her disillusionment in the state system; not that she was ever politically naive, but she was a realist before--now she's beginning to be a pessimist. It also underlined just exactly why she is still different from someone like Kuze or the Laughing Man, in that she hasn't totally abandoned her humanity despite her increasing displeasure with the corruption of the state.

I also found it VERY intriguing when Kamiyama suggested that Kuze probably doesn't really remember her from his past, even though she still remembers him. This only serves to stress exactly why the Major is more complex a character than some fans are giving her credit for.

So basically, plotwise, I preferred the ending to GITS season 1. Character-wise, I preferred this ending.

I hope we get a 3rd gig one day. I have very little interest in GITS stuff in movie or one-shot forms, so Solid State Society interests me very little, except in how it would impact season 3.