Psycho-Pass 2 is a cyberpunk dystopian, crime fiction series that premiered today, October 9, 2014. The series has manga and light novel adaptations in addition to its anime series. The series will be adapted into a film in January 2015.
This season is the direct sequel to Psycho-Pass. The general plot for the series is as follows: In a not so distant future, Japan has implemented a new tactic to getting rid of crime in the country. That tactic is known as the Sibyl System, which consistently evaluates the population’s mental states, personalities, and probability of committing crimes. This is done by a “cymatic scan” which produces an individual’s “Psycho-Pass.” If an individual’s probability of engaging in crime exceeds the Crime Coefficient Index designated level, the individual is pursued by the police where they are either apprehended for therapy or exterminated if necessary. This series follows a specific team of policemen who are dedicated to maintaining public order through the Sibyl System.
OPENING THEME: “Enigmatic Feeling” by Ling Tosite Sigure (Rin Toshite Shigure)
It’s nice to hear another song with Ling Tosite Sigure again. The song is fitting for the show’s subject matter and conveys the emotions of the series well to the viewer. The visuals that accompany this song also help to set the mood of the series. TK’s voice does an excellent job of creating a sense of despair and struggle in the song, which sums up the show’s theme relatively well. Overall, Ling Tosite Sigure was an awesome choice for this season’s OP theme.
If you’d like to hear the OP theme, you can check it out here.
WARNING: The following information includes major plot points from the episode. Continue to read at your own risk.
MAJOR PLOT POINTS
- New cast dynamic.
*There are a lot of new characters introduced in this first episode of this season. The three that are the most noticeable are Inspector Shimotsuki, Enforcer Togane, and Enforcer Hinakawa. Most of the cast remains the same from the previous season, which is nice, but it will be interesting to see if a certain someone will make an appearance. (Since he was “hinted” at in the OP theme, the chances of him showing up are likely.) The episode didn’t give the viewer enough time to adjust to these new characters, but showcasing aspects of their personalities was good enough. First impressions shouldn’t always be lasting impressions. Viewers may find some characters interesting and others annoying now, but there is a lot of room (and time) for character development, so give them time. Still, Togane seems like he will be an interesting character even if he can’t replace Kogami. - Akane has become a “BAMF.”
*It seems that Akane has developed a lot since the viewer last saw her in the first season. The timid and naive Akane is no more in this season. She has grown into her role as an inspector very well and does an excellent job leading her team. While some characters might question her methods, it is clear that she really did learn a thing or two from Kogami. Akane is a lot more driven and focused in this season when compared to her previous character. It will be interesting to see how she has changed in the season since the incidents of last season. Her desire to question the Sibyl System will probably be one of the many themes in this season’s plot. If an elaboration isn’t given on her change in character, it will feel like she’s simply taken Kogami’s spot as the calculating detective. (Then again, maybe Togane is supposed to take that spot.) The viewer will have to keep watching to find out.
EPISODE RATING: 5/5 – This episode did an excellent job of briefly introducing the cast of the series while setting up plot’s main focus. The pacing in the episode was on point and there was never a dull moment for the viewer. It seems that the OP gave away a lot of spoilers to how the series will play out, which is somewhat unfortunate, but this episode proved that it is still worth the watch. Starting “in medias res” worked well with Psycho-Pass in its first season and it worked well with this one. While the characters don’t seem as fascinating and “lovable” as the original cast from the first season, they all seem like interesting characters with backgrounds worth learning about. Overall, the episode did a great job of recreating the intensity and suspense of the first season while offering a new cast and plot for the viewer to see develop.
(Is there an anime you’d like to see reviewed? Send requests and recommendations to ramensoupreviews@gmail.com! Don’t forget to follow @RamenSoupReview on Twitter! You can also subscribe to Ramen Soup Reviews via Email. Just click the sidebar on the left side of the blog to reveal the “Follow” button!)
~K