Psycho-Pass Forum

And we’ve at last reached that inevitable point in W&L where my episode-by-episode commentary on a show starts more-or-less riffing on the same notions for each installment. In PSYCHO-PASS’ case, it’s some mild disappointment over how such an intriguing, provocative premise has lead into what’s essentially a by-the-numbers cop show. Indeed, only a few salient details really seem to separate this from an episode of CSI. The cliffhanger with our psycho artiste preparing her new canvass felt more like it was leading into another commercial break and, if this does prove to be the middle portion of a three-parter, then even the minute-to-minute breakdown will roughly correspond to an hour-long’s run time.

That isn’t necessarily awful. And it’d definitely be a “pot calling the kettle black” predicament if I faulted this show for that after I’ve so often snickered over the classic foreign entertainment folly of fans regarding another country’s pop entertainment as art merely because it’s subtitled. Still, I do think this show could benefit from being a bit less dour and a bit more unconventional.

It’s still a little unconventional, of course. The other part of my “standardized critique” is that this is a cop show coupled with some genuinely thought-provoking ideas. In this episode, your noodle’s getting tickled by questions of the role of art in society and whether a lot of artists might be anti-social by definition. If we really are trying to purge society of bad thoughts, who’s to say if the nightmarishly-creative thoughts of somebody like H.R. Giger aren’t to be removed? We’ve been playing that idea out in a sci-fi context since FAHRENHEIT 451, at least, but this seems to put a more practical spin on by making it an economic matter of percentages. If potential criminals are getting busted for thinking about crimes, where's the true difference from somebody who's thinking about crimes for a piece of art?

Again, I want to believe that all these ideas might be leading up to some greater conjecture but - - getting back to the first part of my standardized critique - - I suspect it will all wind up being sprinkles to amuse you on the way to a conventional gunfight with a bad guy. Then again, many of you keep insisting that things are about to get a lot more interesting soon, so maybe PSYCHO-PASS will eventually rise above.

Watch this episode, "Symbolism of Bletilla Striata” 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

I hate CSI,

Rewatched this just to make sure i didnt spoil things.. but we learn some stuff an things here .Sure its not the most action pacted episode an i can see how you could say its just like csi..or any of the cop shows csi rips off that came before them.But this ones a world builder.

Now the art part is touched on. True ture but its not done with the answer . We do learn in this world no one questions things much an most things "worth living for" has been outlawed.The answer to the art question Tom Pinchuk asked about thsi will be answerd i think next episode. Oh an " I’ve so often snickered over the classic foreign entertainment folly of fans regarding another country’s pop entertainment as art merely because it’s subtitled." mostly as i recall they are called http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture) least in this neck of the woods.Tho the use may be ment more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(1940s_subculture) or maybe a blur of the two /shrug.

But um i said before art it self is just opion.Now i woun't go as far as to say this series is high art.But it does ask some questions by acident that few anime even look at.Surprised tho Tom Pinchuk didnt find people used stres care so much to such a unhealthy degree.For years now more studies show geting angry an leting off steam is healthy http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/121227/expressing-your-anger-good-your-longevity-says-new-study

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7793481/Getting-angry-can-be-good-for-you.html

theirs more out there about it.

But the irony here a society who regulates thought for your own good causes people to die .Another irony here is the artists child sees her fathers work in a difrent light than he did.Interpertation can be just a funny way of saying opion when wrong.But in this case hers is wrong to what he ment in his works.Or how she refers to the mischief makers as brats .How right she was in her case.a very selfish violent brat.