Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of the original Ghost in the Shell movie. I’ve watched it countless times, and probably contributed an undue amount to the wear and tear of ‘s VHS copy of it while I was living in the TWP and working for Comcast. This drove me to rent Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex from Video to Go. This was, maybe, a month or two before I went to San Francisco. I soaked up that mind-bending wonderfulness as I listened to the Japanese cadence (not to mention the different levels of keigo used by the different characters). I wondered how the Tachikomas didn’t end up making it silly, despite their child-like voices and enthusiasm.

I loved 90% of the second series. After wrapping my mind around the idea of a Stand Alone Complex last season, and the subtle differences between direct manipulation and purposeful creation of copycat events through subtle changes in cultural cues and political shifts, I thought I was on pretty good footing. The second series, which held my attention with the usual crazy-awesome action scenes, political backstabbery, and angry Batou, broke my mind at the end. I was left, jaw open, stamerring out “what?” like the first time I saw Serial Experiments: Lain. I’m still fairly certain that I haven’t missed anything, but I have to admit to be disappointed in the seeming simplicity and directness of the reveal and closure.

I have to admit that I’m still trying to figure out who the guy is that was offering Gouda asylum. I know I’d seen him before, and I think he had shown up in regard to the treaty with the American Empire, but I’m not sure.

All in all, I gave it four out of five stars, because I loved everything except the ending. They were well-earned.