"What exactly is the definition of 'human' in a society where a mind can be copied and the body replaced with a synthetic form?"
Episode 1
Section 9 is requested to assist in a hostage situation. Cybernetic geishas have been hacked and are holding a key military figure and the Minister of Foreign Affairs hostage.
In a fantastic action sequence our protagonist, Kusanagi, storms the building and takes down the geishas. She also manages to hardwire herself into a geisha and find the source of the hacking. After a chase scene, Batou apprehends the hacker, but before he can be questioned he burns out his memory.
Back at HQ, the military reveals that the Minister of Foreign affairs is being investigated due to his interest in a report detailing the steps the military would take in the event of a national crisis. The military had granted the request but had posted an agent to follow the Minister just in case.
There is an interesting exchange between Kusanagi and Togusa, in which Kusanagi reveals that one of the reasons Togusa was enlisted by Section 9 is his lack of cybernetic enhancements. Apparently, Section 9 has a philosophy that a lack of diversity will always lead to extinction.
Togusa, upon investigating the scene of the hostage situation and CCTV footage, reveals that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had actually had his mind swapped/hacked by an unknown agent of the American Empire.
Before the American agent could leave the country in the body of the Minister, Section 9's leader, Aramaki, has the Minister stripped of his government position and placed under arrest.
What I liked
As is the case with the movies, the T.V show plots are fast-moving and complex. Ghost in the Shell deals with existential issues and the concept of reality (not unlike Phillip K Dick). If you don't find philosophy interesting, you're probably not going to enjoy Ghost in the Shell.
The first episode of the T.V series has amazing action sequences, and even better music - two trademarks of the movies.
Kusanagi is her usual badass self. She really doesn't seem to be bothered by much. Batou, her side-kick and seemingly only friend is the opposite - inwardly emotional and not afraid to joke around.
The plot might be difficult to follow if this is your first foray into Ghost in the Shell, and I would highly recommend watching the 1995 movie first - both for continuity reasons and to develop an understanding of the universe the T.V series is set in.
What we learned
The most interesting thing we learned from this first episode is that relations between Japan and the American Empire are extremely strained. I get the feeling that there may have been a serious conflict in the immediate past that hasn't been fully revealed to the viewer as yet.
We also got a better look into the leader of Section 9, Aramaki. It seems he is an extremely well-regarded individual with strong political connections.
Episode 1
Section 9 is requested to assist in a hostage situation. Cybernetic geishas have been hacked and are holding a key military figure and the Minister of Foreign Affairs hostage.
In a fantastic action sequence our protagonist, Kusanagi, storms the building and takes down the geishas. She also manages to hardwire herself into a geisha and find the source of the hacking. After a chase scene, Batou apprehends the hacker, but before he can be questioned he burns out his memory.
Back at HQ, the military reveals that the Minister of Foreign affairs is being investigated due to his interest in a report detailing the steps the military would take in the event of a national crisis. The military had granted the request but had posted an agent to follow the Minister just in case.
There is an interesting exchange between Kusanagi and Togusa, in which Kusanagi reveals that one of the reasons Togusa was enlisted by Section 9 is his lack of cybernetic enhancements. Apparently, Section 9 has a philosophy that a lack of diversity will always lead to extinction.
Togusa, upon investigating the scene of the hostage situation and CCTV footage, reveals that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had actually had his mind swapped/hacked by an unknown agent of the American Empire.
Before the American agent could leave the country in the body of the Minister, Section 9's leader, Aramaki, has the Minister stripped of his government position and placed under arrest.
What I liked
As is the case with the movies, the T.V show plots are fast-moving and complex. Ghost in the Shell deals with existential issues and the concept of reality (not unlike Phillip K Dick). If you don't find philosophy interesting, you're probably not going to enjoy Ghost in the Shell.
The first episode of the T.V series has amazing action sequences, and even better music - two trademarks of the movies.
Kusanagi is her usual badass self. She really doesn't seem to be bothered by much. Batou, her side-kick and seemingly only friend is the opposite - inwardly emotional and not afraid to joke around.
The plot might be difficult to follow if this is your first foray into Ghost in the Shell, and I would highly recommend watching the 1995 movie first - both for continuity reasons and to develop an understanding of the universe the T.V series is set in.
What we learned
The most interesting thing we learned from this first episode is that relations between Japan and the American Empire are extremely strained. I get the feeling that there may have been a serious conflict in the immediate past that hasn't been fully revealed to the viewer as yet.
We also got a better look into the leader of Section 9, Aramaki. It seems he is an extremely well-regarded individual with strong political connections.
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