Well, that was intense.
I’m seeing now that this has the set-up-the-rules-so-you-can-then-break-them-all structure. To be truthful, I don’t think we needed three and a half hours to properly convey all the specifics of the Sibyl System (especially considering how Episode #1 might as well have been a video game tutorial level for the amount of exposition it went through), but at least the show has offered enough interesting ideas along the way. This isn’t a case where the show doesn’t “get good” until Episode #11.
We are finally at a part where I can start doing some proper plot speculation, though.
First order of business, of course, is my read on Tsunemori’s nightmarish predicament of a blatantly-violent sociopath registering an ever-decreasing Crime Coefficient on her Dominator. I think the implication here is that your Psycho-Pass is really just a measure of internal conflict - - your yin warring with your yang, as it were - - and this artiste Makishima is simple so at peace with his bad self that he has no internal conflict. He knows that this is just the way he is, and he’s known that all his life.
In contrast, every prior suspect this unit has dealt has perhaps been grappling with telltale guilt about their nasty little thoughts. While his speech runs on too long, for sure, the reasoning Makishima espouses really made me think of similar villainous monologues in the likes of VANISHING POINT and 8MM where the bad guys are just so blasé explaining why they’ve done what they’ve done. There’s no childhood trauma, no hidden obsession, just an almost arbitrary reflex to keep taking the wrong turn at any fork in the road.
Considering how they really did go ahead and off Tsunemori’s friend, I’d say that all bets are off at this point. Kogami might actually be out of the picture, due to how seriously his injuries have been presented, and it’s hard not to see Tsunemori’s Psycho-Pass getting more than a little clouded after this horrible experience. Thoughts of revenge are surely swimming in her head, now; all-but-guaranteeing a turn to a latent criminal, right?
Watch this episode, "Saint's Supper” here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
