Psycho-Pass Discussion Thread

[Buckeye]

A sci-fi crime-fighting show where it is possible to measure someone's mind and personality.

Airs Sunday, October 11

Animation Studio: Production IG

ANN Entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14195)
Official Site (http://psycho-pass.com/)
Funimation (Coming Soon)

The series takes place in the near future, when it is possible to instantaneously measure and quantify a person's state of mind and personality. This information is recorded and processed, and the term "Psycho-Pass" in the anime's title refers to a standard used to measure an individual's being. The story centers around the "enforcement officer" Shinya Kōgami, who is tasked with managing crime in such a world.

Note
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[ookamigirl]

Poor little police girl newbie lol
They sure pushed her into action fast.
I like the guns they use, they're pretty cool ^^
Lots of nice explanations in first episode.
I liked that part.
I'll be watching this one!

[FUNiOP]

One year ago, I was very excited about a 22-episode noitaminA original by Production I.G with EGOIST songs. Let's hope Urobuchi can be the factor that saves this from ending up like Guilty Crown.

From the first episode? I really can't tell. It's honestly about exactly what I expected from everything we've known about it up to now. I guess that's more promising than it being a disappointment right from the beginning, but Guilty Crown also had a pretty promising start.

Definitely gets about as Urobuchi violent as you could expect from just the first episode of a series. For some reason, I don't mind this as much as I mind a lot of extreme violence. It just fits better with the writing than a lot of stuff, I guess. Akane has a great Hanazawa voice, but that Amano face really bothers me. I guess she'll end up being second to Shinya. That white-haired guy at the beginning is totally Koko from Jormungand.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ugh. That was not outright terrible, but was somewhere in the mediocore-to-bad and the rape was pretty fucking offensive. And any cheering over the director banning moe from being discussed is pretty laughable, as the main girl clearly draws much more from "moe characters" than, say, Kusanagi Motoko.

Anyway, aside from those two issues, its just mediocre. The writing was shoddy and the show is clearly pandering to people who think that dark, violent 90s OVAs are great simply because they're dark, violent, and fully of manly men. The show is pandering as much as any harem fanservice show, just in a different way, to a different audience. Also, that opening scene indicates it will not be short on meat for fujoshi.

If that's your thing, hey, that's fine (rape issues excluded). It's not like I have a problem with the show existing or pandering to that audience, and I certainly don't mind some good ol' ultra violence (read: action/fighting violence, not torture porn like Deadman Wonderland) if the show has enough other things going for it. But this show doesn't, and I don't have any interest in watching more.

[something]

So just how bad is the gore? Is it "slashed off a monster's head and there was a lot of blood" gore (ok fine), or more along the lines of sadistic gore, inflicted in detail on individuals unable to fight back (no thanks)? How I react to violence is very much related to how even the terms are under which it's inflicted, and in how much detail. If one thing stops me from watching it (besides a lack of decent subs) it'd be that.

Also not exactly excited about a rape, but so much rides on how it's depicted and what the consequences are. Rape for the sake of burnishing "edgydark" credentials, no thanks.

As for the "no moe!" thing, I've found the whole conversation that came out of that to be hilarious. And pathetic. It's amazing how profoundly gullible people are if you appeal to their desire to feel superior. Bravo on that marketing strategy, because it nabbed the intended audience hook, line and sinker.

Of course that won't matter if those people don't actually buy the show.

[HitokiriShadow]

So just how bad is the gore? Is it "slashed off a monster's head and there was a lot of blood" gore (ok fine), or more along the lines of sadistic gore, inflicted in detail on individuals unable to fight back (no thanks)? How I react to violence is very much related to how even the terms are under which it's inflicted, and in how much detail. If one thing stops me from watching it (besides a lack of decent subs) it'd be that.

Going to get specific in terms of who and how, so spoilers:
The only people graphically killed are bad guys. One in the first ~30 seconds that was actively fighting someone and the rapist at the end. The first guy gets blown into little chunks, but said chunks are on screen for like .25 seconds. The other guy blows up like a balloon. It's much more graphic but mainly for the ballooning body. He then bursts like a balloon into a shower of rain. Very bloody, but no graphic depictions of internal organs or anything like that. It's less graphic than Elfen Lied or Gantz in this episode.



Also not exactly excited about a rape, but so much rides on how it's depicted and what the consequences are. Rape for the sake of burnishing "edgydark" credentials, no thanks.


Rapist gets killed, but the rape is pretty damn exploitative. It's there for shock value and as a plot device to bring about a specific situation at the end.

[something]

Going to get specific in terms of who and how, so spoilers:
Hmm, should a watchable version become available I guess I can try it, as it sounds borderline but not a total no-go. Torture would become a no-go though, and my tolerance in general is... hard to gauge actually. In a vacuum I'd describe it in a way significantly below Baccano or Claymore, but somehow I was able to watch both of those, though scenes here and there went over the line. After I was already committed to finishing the shows, though, which is an important consideration. Compare to say Total Eclipse, which put the icky stuff front and center, before I was at all sold on the show. So I dunno. I suppose if I'm not wowed by the first episode it'll just slip out of my schedule gradually.

[HitokiriShadow]

[ Torture would become a no-go though, and my tolerance in general is... hard to gauge actually. In a vacuum I'd describe it in a way significantly below Baccano or Claymore, but somehow I was able to watch both of those, though scenes here and there went over the line. After I was already committed to finishing the shows, though, which is an important consideration. Compare to say Total Eclipse, which put the icky stuff front and center, before I was at all sold on the show.

The big difference between this and Total Eclipse is that here, the nasty death's aren't happening to cute girls you're supposed to like. It's only happened, so far, to a faceless guy, and a horrible rapist. Also, what we see here is less nasty, I think, than the end of Total Eclipse episode 2. I'd say its slightly worse than Claymore though. Probably not as bad as Baccano though. Definitely lower than Elfen Lied or Gantz.

So I dunno. I suppose if I'm not wowed by the first episode it'll just slip out of my schedule gradually.

I think this will be a non-issue for after episode 1, because I really doubt its going to do do much to keep your interest anyway.

[Buckeye]

Akane begins work as an enforcer and is thrown into the wolves right away since the department is shorthanded. Her first case is to detain a serial rapist. They are equipped with guns that can measure someone's mental state and can only be used by its rightful owner as the criminal learned the hard way. The criminal is killed when the Psycho-Pass determines that he is beyond saving, and was about to do the same with the victim until Akane intervened, and she was downgraded to needing a paralysis shot instead.

I don't really know what to think about this show yet as it's all action so far, and hardly any story. Seeing how this is done by the same guys who did Guilty Crown, I should have expected that things start off with action. This show reminds me of Minority Report, a movie where Tom Cruise is an agent working for an organization that aims to arrest would-be-criminals before their crime is carried out using psychics, and here Psycho-Pass is being used to determine if someone is about to go on a criminal rampage or not. The character designs are nice, so I'll be sticking around for some more before making a decision.

[strangefour]

-Dude you have a gun. Why don't you try using it?
-Wait. Did you just shoot a guy after he fell out a window?
-HAH! It's being narrated by the fujoshi writing this BL.
-WTF!? Adorable robot cops?
-Correction. Robot cops with adorable robot boy holographic projections.
-So this is a cross between Ghost in the Shell & the Thunderbolts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbolts_%28comics%29)?
-With Judge Dredd's gun.
-Rape... gee thanks anime. Thanks for bringing in the worst writing trope to ever poison any medium. It's blighted so many comics, movies and tv shows. The shortcut to show your villain is evil and super serious. Never considering the woman in the situation as anything more than a prop. But you think you can do something new and edgy with it. Fuck you.
-Oh goodie. More of the rape scene.
-Crime is... contagious? Your politics are giving me a headache anime.
-WTF GUN!?
-Um... Dear writer you have gotten the rape/revenge story all wrong. The victim is suppose to get revenge not have it taken out upon them. You are beyond deplorable.
-Congratulations writer for not burning a rape victim to death... *headdesk*

That actually made me feel sick to my stomach. This is a horrible world. It can only get worse.

[strangefour]

Anyway, aside from those two issues, its just mediocre. The writing was shoddy and the show is clearly pandering to people who think that dark, violent 90s OVAs are great simply because they're dark, violent, and fully of manly men. The show is pandering as much as any harem fanservice show, just in a different way, to a different audience. Also, that opening scene indicates it will not be short on meat for fujoshi.


This wasn't like a violent 90s OVA. They were more over the top ridiculous and in their own sick ways fun. This... this is pure grimmy dirty soiled exploitation with hightech guns. Good luck to the fujoshi trying to get any enjoyment out of this. Whoever wrote this is... Urobuchi Gen!? Teh hell man? Is Madoka the only good thing you've ever written?

[MelancholicMariya]

-Um... Dear writer you have gotten the rape/revenge story all wrong. The victim is suppose to get revenge not have it taken out upon them. You are beyond deplorable.
-Congratulations writer for not burning a rape victim to death... *headdesk*


Well, there's nothing wrong with turning that type of scenario on its head. Typically, as you said, the rape victim gets through it in the end and defeats the guy who assaulted them in a lot of fiction. In this case I suppose it's trying to tell you "it doesn't always work its way out like in the movies" and trying to base it upon the reality of rape where "winning" is something which rarely happens when it comes to this subject.

That said, I can't get through any kind of rape scene in anything. I avoid movies with rape scenes. This scene in particular wasn't very well done, but again there's nothing wrong with the woman not winning/dying because that kinda is how it happens in reality sometimes. This was just pulled off shit.

Good effort, I guess? I really like Urobuchi's writing, but something about this was, as others have stated, pretty try hard and gritty for the sake of being gritty.

[HitokiriShadow]

That said, I can't get through any kind of rape scene in anything. I avoid movies with rape scenes. This scene in particular wasn't very well done, but again there's nothing wrong with the woman not winning/dying because that kinda is how it happens in reality sometimes. This was just pulled off shit.


Yeah, what happened at the end with her wasn't really the issue. The actual rape scene itself was just really bad.

[ookamigirl]

Akane sure messed up her first day.
Shinya wasn't doing too well because of it.
Her second day was getting worse by the hour.
Little field work kinda improved it.
She's just lost and searching herself in her new job.
Pretty relaxed episode.

[FUNiOP]

It is absolutely necessary that Akane eat her breakfast ass-naked. I'm becoming increasingly more skeptical that Shinya is the main character and not Akane. Then again, we do have 20 episodes left. In another two-cour Urobuchi original, the main character hardly shows up in the first few episodes.

[William K]

Well, this is another show that improved a lot in the 2nd episode. Was expecting to drop this, but I guess I'm a sucker for the hesitant types like Akane. The darkish art-style and setting reminds me of the show Ergo Proxy.

[Buckeye]

After a rough first day, Akane is now working a normal day for a change. The day starts where computers can change the appearance of the room, cook meals, and change outfits in an instant. And Akane's second day was pretty rough as Shinya is recovering, and she had to go capture a would-be criminal disguised as mascots at the mall.

The second episode is a huge improvement over the first as it was more about Akane and less about the action. That Minority Report vibe I get from this show might convince me to continue watching.

[FUNiOP]

A bigger focus on the overall team more than one character in particular. Looks like Shinya is coming into the role of main character little by little, but it's looking like Akane is going to remain pretty equal at least for a while. This time, a guy who gets bullied all the time is the subject. Still pretty good stuff. I'm curious to see the plot develop more toward the area the opening scene of the series teased, with Shinya's enemy. We may have to wait a little longer, since I'm guessing that scene will be near the end, and the series is two-cour.

[ookamigirl]

An accident at a factory.
That factory manager was very suspiciously evasive.
Akane was as naive as ever...
Kogami sure knows how to "push" people to the edge.
Well, that's one was of doing things.

[ookamigirl]

Akane has developed a fascination with Kogami.
That guy is pretty observant and really good at his job.
It's no wonder she interested.
The Hayama case was ok, but their first and second case were better.
I like hands on approach better.
This online community-boards-avatars thing was so-so.

[FUNiOP]

Interesting style in this one. Lots of Hanazawa and Sawashiro in cute avatars. Cool I guess. Shinya's still hardly a main character.

[FUNiOP]

Some very interesting visual styles. I'm not sure exactly what I'm reminded of, but I think it's probably some older stuff. Also, creepy Koyasu is always pretty epic.

Shinya is smarter than I expected. Akane is also becoming more interested in him and what exactly he's all about, and she starts looking into it. I guess we'll start learning more about him now. This should do well to establish him as a main character. It seems like Akane will always be the primary POV character, though. This is fine as well.

[ookamigirl]

The Spooky Boogie adventure continues...
I'm not much of a fan of these cyber cases.
So they're killing people behind the idol avatars to influence the net by being ghost avatars.
Interesting how whenever they went out on the field to catch the culprit they ran into traps.
That guy sure was a smart one, but seriously disturbed.
That was a pretty unusual case.

[ookamigirl]

Interesting flashback right from the start
Seems like Kogami has quite a few skeletons in his closet.
Akane found out about a few of his skeletons.
She's seems to be really interested in him.
The all girls school events were intriguing.

[FUNiOP]

Has there ever been an all-girls school not filled with lesbians? Well it was pretty obvious from the first second they showed her that the girl they all worship would be evil, and as soon as they showed her picture, her role was pretty obvious. And the real plot is coming along! Akane learns about Shinya's past and Makishima starts to be a major obstacle for the team to focus on.

[ookamigirl]

The story about the schoolgirl continues.
Kogami taken off the case.
Well, at least that was to be expected considering..
That didn't stop Akane to discuss about the old case with him.
That Yoshika schoolgirl is seriously deranged...
She's gonna kill off most of her schoolmates.
It's a mystery how she hasn't been caught yet.

[FUNiOP]

Ah, a couple of guys discussing the artistic and philosophical implications of extremely detailed paintings of dismembered girls and how they relate to the current state of the world, set to an increasingly more prominent backdrop of "Ode to Joy". Fantastic.

[FUNiOP]

Well that was quite the brutal way to dispose of that loose end. But Makishima has found his real fascination in Kogami. Things are definitely moving toward the main plot quite nicely.

[ookamigirl]

The interview with that cyborg guy was interesting.
His view of humanity's future progress was unique.
Well, it's no wonder he's a psycho as well.
Makishima sure has an interesting teacher.
Looks like they're not gonna quit killing either.

[ookamigirl]

#10

Those two investigating a case on their own was not a good idea.
Kogami is hellbent on finding his partner's killer..
Seems like they're targeting Akane's friends.
The hunt in the sewers, those two psycho's really are sick.
That girl was lucky Kogami was with her.
It sure was interesting watching this episode.

[FUNiOP]

The showdown between Kogami and Makishima beings with an inhumane "fox hunt"! Pretty gripping stuff. Of course they'd hide it in her bra. Well, the excitement should continue for the foreseeable future, so I'm happy.

[ookamigirl]

The fox hunt continues..
That gun that enforcers have really is something amazing!
Kogami is the best and that's a fact.
Makishima is no quitter, he's just a psycho with a plan.
I was surprised his crime coefficient was low.
Akane was powerless and the Dominator was junk.
It's impossible, Makishima has an inborn ability to fool Sybil system.

[FUNiOP]

Makishima may be a horrible villain, but goddamn does he make more sense than anyone else. He's living proof that this system is fucked, and he could've been easily eliminated if everyone wasn't so dependent on the judgment of it. Of course, he was counting on that fact, because although he doesn't seem like the kind of character who would mind dying too much to prove his point, it wasn't exactly on the top of his to-do list either. A fine way to end the first half of the series.

But yeah, the delay on the guns really made things a lot harder for Kogami than they should've been. Not the best weapon for a quick-draw fight.

This use of Ode to Joy is so great.

[Faris Kalin]

I thought this was a good ending for the first half. I kind of like the stand alone episodes more than the complex ones overall. However, I'm really curious to see where the second half goes.

So there is no break in-between seasons, correct? I don't want to have to wait to continue the series.

[FUNiOP]

So there is no break in-between seasons, correct? I don't want to have to wait to continue the series.

No season-long break, no. Just two weeks because noitaminA and New Year's.

[Faris Kalin]

So there is no break in-between seasons, correct? I don't want to have to wait to continue the series.

No season-long break, no. Just two weeks because noitaminA and New Year's.

Thanks! I really appreciate the info. I'll be looking forward to the new episodes soon.

[Faris Kalin]

Yes! Psycho Pass is finally back. I liked the back story episode.

[ookamigirl]

Interesting episode. I liked this side story.
It was nice to see the prisoner's life from their point of view.
We never got to see where the apprehended ones ended up till now.
Also, the process of making/choosing Enforcers was shown as well.
Yayoi's life turned around in a flash. Going against her friend was hard.
At least she got the necessary motivation to become an Enforcer.

[Faris Kalin]

Back to complex episodes.

The revelation that Ginoza is the son of Masaoka was rather surprising. I'm liking Masaoka more and more. I like his old school detective ideas and style. I do hope that we get to see more of his past and how he got that new arm of his.

[ookamigirl]

I think they are relaying on Sibyl system too much.
If someone were to control it, they could control everything.
No system is perfect, which means this one was flaws and blind spots.
Akane was feeling down because of that Makashima thing.
All in all a very interesting episode.

[ookamigirl]

Wow! Now that was an interesting beginning.
Think the helmet made it possible to circumvent Sybil system.
Killing people at random, pretty scary.
This is bad. The helmet thing is not an isolated case.
Makishima's plan seems to be working.
Kogami's powers of deduction are always a nice surprise.

[FUNiOP]

This show definitely works unpleasant scenes more often and more successfully than any other current ones I can think of. Sudden murders, carried out slowly and easily, in public with no resistance, and no need to worry about that possibility. Makishima is doing a great job at showing off how being too dependent on the system is such a terrible idea.

[William K]

This show definitely works unpleasant scenes more often and more successfully than any other current ones I can think of. Sudden murders, carried out slowly and easily, in public with no resistance, and no need to worry about that possibility. Makishima is doing a great job at showing off how being too dependent on the system is such a terrible idea.

That's the most interesting part in the episode actually. That the onlookers didn't do anything to stop the 2nd incident because if the Sibyl system doesn't say it's a crime, then it's alright. That's the danger there in that humanity is overly dependant on the Sibyl system to do the thinking for them.

Kind of reminded of the movie Demolition Man (ok, it was a horrible movie) which was about a future where aggression has more or less been bred out of society and they had no idea how to handle a violent criminal.

[FUNiOP]

Ah, we're reaching the opening scene of the series. Very exciting. I greatly look forward to seeing where things head from here.

But goddamn things have gotten insanely brutal. It's definitely ramps things up enough to really put you on edge.

[ookamigirl]

The helmet trend is spreading...
Once again criminals are taking over the streets.
So much for their precious Sybil system.
Makishima is truly a genius, too bad he's so evil..
Wonder is he wants just chaos, of the removal of Sybil system as well.
Looks like it's the latter. Great episode!

[ndm]

That's the most interesting part in the episode actually. That the onlookers didn't do anything to stop the 2nd incident because if the Sibyl system doesn't say it's a crime, then it's alright. That's the danger there in that humanity is overly dependant on the Sibyl system to do the thinking for them.

Kind of reminded of the movie Demolition Man (ok, it was a horrible movie) which was about a future where aggression has more or less been bred out of society and they had no idea how to handle a violent criminal.

Really, you liked that part? It actually made me give up on the series. Being culturally nonagressive is not the same as standing around watching someone be beaten to death in front of you. The idea that not one person tried to stop him or even called the police was too ridiculous for me to watch. I don't believe humans would be that passive unless they're putting something in the water.

Also, why not give the police a secondary nonlethal means of capturing possible criminals? Give them sleep darts or tasers or something. All machines can fail, even super death weapons, and I doubt giving the police tasers as well as a backup would cause society to crumble.

So far I haven't seen one happy person in this series anyway so I don't know why they're so keen to keep the sybil system.

[FUNiOP]

And so we reach the beginning. This was the moment I've been waiting for so long for. Also, I just finished re-watching Fate/Zero, so I was reminded how much I love Urobuchi's writing. Too bad things don't look so good at the end...

[Faris Kalin]

And so we reach the beginning. This was the moment I've been waiting for so long for. Also, I just finished re-watching Fate/Zero, so I was reminded how much I love Urobuchi's writing. Too bad things don't look so good at the end...

The battle with Makishima was pretty cool. Also, oh man, the ending of this episode was surprising. I'm not really sure why the chief was there or why she was a half destroyed android though. Did I miss something?

[ookamigirl]

Nona Tower infiltration.
Makishima and his accomplices were up to no good.
Well, that's to be expected.
This time, Makishima really went big.
Kougami vs Makishima! Good for him that Akane showed up.
Poor Kagari, that just sucked, but now I'm dying to know what Sybil system really is and why their boss is a robot.

[ookamigirl]

Finally, the ordeal with the helmets is over.
This whole incident seriously shook up the system.
Makishima escaped once again. No surprise there.
So the old woman, Kasei, had him with her.
Their whole discussion was sort of disturbing.
OMG! Sybil system is truly a sick thing.
Hope Kogami and the rest find out the truth soon.

[FUNiOP]

Well that explains everything I suppose. And puts things in a very interesting situation. There's no resting from here on out. This show is really damn good.

[FUNiOP]

Yeah, fuck the system. Let's hope everything works out for Kogami, since he's obviously doing the right thing. And everyone back at HQ as well, other than the "chief" of course. Akane had some great moments as well.

[Faris Kalin]

Well that explains everything I suppose. And puts things in a very interesting situation. There's no resting from here on out. This show is really damn good.

Yeah, this show has some great stand alone and complex episodes. I'm really enjoying the way it is progressing as well.

I guess the question that you have to ask is, "Do the ends justify the means?", concerning Makishima's actions.

[ookamigirl]

Makishima escaped once again.
That chief cyborg is really getting on my nerves.
Kougami has become too much of threat for her.
She actually pushed Ginoza to kill Kougami, incredible.
He was lucky Akane stunned him to save him.

[FUNiOP]

Ah, having Kogami on a different path from the rest of the team but both having the same ultimate goal makes this even better. Now we get to follow yet another story that intersects with the rest, and without the organization to hold him down, following Kogami is very interesting.

[ookamigirl]

Ginoza having hue issues.
Kogami doing his own thing since the escape.
Still hunting Makishima without success.
Looks like Akane could be similar to Makishima.
Nothing effects her psycho-pass color.
Things are getting complicated.

[ookamigirl]

Akane finally got to see the truth for herself.
Wonder if Makishima is doing a good thing or bad.
If we exclude the serial murderer thing, he's trying to show people the truth.
But still, he's too extreme in his actions.
I was surprised Akane managed to strike a deal with the Sybil system for Kogami.

[FUNiOP]

Another episode continuing on this very interesting path. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all ends up.

[FUNiOP]

Only one episode left. I hope the final episode manages to pull everything together as well as it should considering how good everything's been getting.

Poor Masaoka. And Ginoza will have all that guilt now. At least he should be driven by his father's message, and he'll be taking after him with a robotic arm as well.

[ookamigirl]

Akane and others arrived at the facility.
Makishima was immersed into his plan there.
Kogami wants him dead, but Akane just wants to beat him to the punch.
It would be better for Kogami if Akane got to Makishima first.
Now we have yet another casualty of the hunt for Makishima..

[ookamigirl]

Kogami vs Makishima! That was what I was waiting for!
Akane's hope for Kogami was just amazing to watch.
She really trusted that guy in every way.
Kogami - Akane team really was the best.
Makishima was the type of guy who never quits.
He just needed someone to stop him.
That Sybil system is truly a disturbing thing when you see its true form.
Pretty good final episode.