Remember Ginoza’s therapist?

They’re meeting in the dark, in front of a fireplace. Even though we later see that it’s still daytime. I know we’re supposed to be doing symbolism for things coming to an end, but this is a bit much.

The theme of this episode is Ginoza spelling out things explicitly that were previously just implied.

Granted, most of these continue to be things that Ginoza probably wasn’t able to admit to himself until recently. Nevertheless, he refuses to go into therapy right now; the current tasks at work are more important. Hm, where have we heard that before?

Also, this is not how a progress bar works.

Despite a sudden round of Kogami-style analysis, Tsunemori’s not doing too well, either. She ends up in the computer lab, and Karanomori tries to help.

Her Psycho-Pass, that is. A part of my brain is still insisting that this is manipulation by the Sibyl System in order to serve its own needs, but the evidence isn’t really leaning that way. Tsunemori takes it harshly, though: “Just how coldhearted am I?”

When Karanomori tells her that her Psycho-Pass and her heart aren’t the same thing, it doesn’t really help. “What on earth is a Psycho-Pass?” Tsunemori responds, then, “What is a heart?”

“What is a Psycho-Pass” is an important question, or at least was at an earlier point in the show. But that’s not really the point here.

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Kogami goes to visit Professor Scarf, who gives him the “seriously?” look.

He also has his jacket and tie back on, ruining my symbolism point from last time.

(Okay, I admit I just wanted a screencap of him tossing the apple.)

They have a talk. Professor Scarf denounces anarchists as good-for-nothings, but also gives the philosophy a more nuanced perspective than I’d expect.

I’m not sure I’ve heard anarchy described as being interested in building anything. Then again, I don’t know that much about actual anarchist movements. Regardless, the two of them are not putting Makishima in this bucket, because he’s too interested in the destruction.

This show has taught me not to trust anyone, and that nagging bit of uncertainty from last time says there’s still a chance that the professor is actually in contact with Makishima. Or could be an ally. He’s a good enough liar to conceal it from us, and possibly from Kogami.

Professor Scarf asks Kogami what Makishima would contribute to their discussion (most of which I’ve skipped). Kogami can vividly imagine it, and the suddenness of the switch makes me think he’s been tense ever since the end of Episode 17.

Scarf knows what Kogami’s sensitive to. He later asks if Kogami thinks he and Makishima are alike.

Which, as I mentioned the first time around, I don’t think they are. They’re both cultured, well-read men who know a lot about human nature, but they have very different drives, desires, and effect on other people. That’s not to say Kogami couldn’t become an underground leader in the same way as Makishima, but…for once I think the show missed its mark.

As they talk about Makishima’s original motives, Kogami reluctantly accepts the comparison, at least partly, and comes up with some pretty good insight. Makishima must have at some point realized he was different, that his Psycho-Pass out of everyone’s couldn’t be read.

“In this society, if the Sibyl System doesn’t acknowledge you, in a sense, isn’t it the same as not being recognized as a human being?”

It’s a theory, but it fits pretty well. We’ve never really seen Makishima happy. Satisfied, yes, but not settled and happy.

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Ginoza goes one more time to visit Chief M. It’s unclear exactly what he’s asking for, but the main thing is that he wants their team to be responsible for hunting Kogami.

Chief M seems…less engaged than usual.

It seems like Ginoza gets what he wants for a change, but he’s still angry when he comes out. Masaoka’s not helping, and finally Ginoza snaps, worse than ever before.

He accuses Masaoka of…well, pretty much everything Masaoka actually did last episode. Honestly, though, I don’t think that’s the relevant part right now; Ginoza has just had his anger and frustration building for too long. Finally he lets this slip out:

I’m not sure he’ll be able to come back from this.

Masaoka is sympathetic but can’t help. He explains that this happens when your pride won’t let you follow the path you know is correct.

I miss the arc 1 opening.「僕はなぜか光が見えなくて」

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Professor Scarf turns out to be a forum junkie, showing that Kogami can still be taken by surprise. He’s come up with a clever way to figure out what Makishima might do next: lazyweb.

My symbolism senses are ringing off the hook, but I don’t actually have much to say here. Generic statement comparing cultural homogeneity with genetic homogeneity! More interesting is the actual plan the internet comes up with.

This is possibly a more visceral threat in Japan, which today is a net importer of food (if I recall correctly). The show spells this out again later in case you didn’t get it by intimation.

What made me less happy is how data-dumpy this section was. We’ve only heard a little about international relations (cf. Choe’s “I’m just happy to be able to live here”), and pretty much nothing about agriculture or where food comes from. I know Psycho-Pass isn’t a mystery and it doesn’t actually matter what Makishima’s plan is, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

Still, that’s it. They burned a day figuring out what Makishima’s going to do, and now Kogami’s heading out. He did just doom Professor Scarf to a life in prison

but at least he can smile at the thought of killing Makishima; Scarf shouldn’t worry about dumping that on him.

I think this is the happiest we’ve ever seen Kogami. *sigh*

But while that’s going on, the Sibyl Collective has made a decision. Tsunemori is working late, and…

Episode end.

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Not too much to add to this one. We’re well past the exploration phase of the show, and setting up for the final showdown(s). I could try to speculate on what exactly Sibyl wants to do with Tsunemori, but we’ve gotten so little on this that it really would just be speculation. I could see this show ending with Tsunemori leaving the MHSBC, or with her staying to reform it, or even with absolutely nothing changing—a rather hopeless but quite plausible ending.

Three episodes left!

This entry was posted on June 17, 2017. Tags: Psycho-Pass, Psycho-Pass watchthrough