Season 2 of this cyberpunk anime thriller is off to a tame, but promising, start.
Guns that only fire at the guilty, a huge system that judges people’s emotional stability and benefit to the city, and one person who has to live with a truth that would destroy society. Psycho-Pass ended strong and left us with some questions as to what would happen next. The first episode of Psycho-Pass 2 doesn’t do a lot in its first 20 minutes, but it could build up to a big takedown of systems of power.
Psycho-Pass season 2 sets up what will hopefully be an extension of themes from the first season two years ago. Jumping right into a new conflict, main protagonist Akane Tsunemori, still an inspector at the Public Safety Bureau, brings an optimism not often seen right from the start of cyberpunk.
The first season of Psycho-Pass set up the premise for an advanced city-state that can pinpoint the members of society who do not benefit the system as determined by the Sibyl System. Thanks to Sibyl, police don’t have to do traditional detective work, but instead rely on the “Psycho-Pass” of individuals that determines their probability of committing a crime based on that person’s mental state, actions, and motivations (or “crime coefficient”). An advanced gun called the Dominator works with Sibyl and won’t unlock its safety unless it’s pointed at someone with a high enough crime coefficient. Even people who have not committed a crime yet can be taken in for therapy for a cloudy Psycho-Pass to protect the residents of the city from harm.
When the Public Safety Bureau encounters a criminal who falls outside of Sibyl’s judgment, newcomer inspector Akane Tsunemori discovers the truth behind the system condemning people for crimes they could commit and assigning people work placements based on their mental state and aptitudes. Akane firmly disagrees with the system but realizes the people of the city rely on it.
One and a half years later, Akane is leading her division of the Public Safety Bureau with Mika Shimotsuki, who joined in Psycho-Pass‘s first season finale bookend. Mika doesn’t know the true form of Sibyl nor does she approve of Akane’s way of doing things. Akane treats enforcers, the “dogs” of the bureau with higher crime coefficients, as equals, and they work with her unquestioningly not because she’s their superior but because they trust in her individual sense of justice. With Mika questioning each of Akane’s decisions in this first episode, it’s clear the relationship between two will be a point of tension in this season.
Season two begins with the news of a medicine called Lacouse that helps people keep their Psycho-Pass clear. It’s become evident the Sibyl System helps a privileged few — like Akane herself, a bright citizen who aced her exams and had many top tier companies willing to take her on as an employee — while actively punishing those who are frustrated to the point of agitation. One such person, named Kitazawa, had high promise but has ultimately been assigned menial labor due to his cloudy Psycho-Pass. After Kitazawa detonates a bomb and accuses the Sibyl System of hurting people, the Public Safety Bureau is off to investigate and detain him.
The season two premiere has neither the level of intrigue found in the first season’s premiere nor the tension to make the episode a standalone masterpiece. Akane navigates around another division so that she can de-escalate Kitazawa and lower his crime coefficient enough so that she doesn’t kill him. Akane’s actions are bound to have repercussions — especially with Mika questioning Akane — but it never really feels like there’s much happening beyond an opportunity for Akane to show the audience where she stands on Sibyl’s justice. The situation is resolved before it’s ever allowed to build, but the premiere nails one thing: Akane’s conviction.
Titled “The Scales of Justice <299/300>,” Akane knows Sibyl is not infallible. Unlike Mika, who believes in Sibyl completely, Akane is willing to put her life on the line to save the lives of people Sibyl condemns to death. When Kitazawa’s coefficient reaches 300, Sibyl switches the Dominator to an extinction mode.
Akane isn’t the ideal inspector — she questions Sibyl — but at the same time, we know Akane is exactly what the Public Safety Bureau needs: someone smart who understands both why society relies on Sibyl now and the value of a person’s life. To Akane, everyone matters. After empathizing with Kitazawa and making him feel needed, Akane is able to get the Dominator to switch back to the nonlethal paralyzer. After all, Akane knows the literal and figurative weight of a revolver; she knows the Dominator can be a tool rather than a guide.
It feels good to see a group of people who believe in Akane. Her character growth will probably come in parallel to people challenging the Sibyl System. The system has blessed Akane with private knowledge of its inner workings because it trusts her to work with it, but she also isn’t willing to blindly trust it. In addition, Mika will no doubt provide tension as she’s already stated she thinks Akane’s actions are wrong. These inner tensions haven’t fully materialized yet, but they’re bound to increase the drama later on.
The first episode is over in what feels like no time at all. Like a good first episode, the writers introduce new conflicts in this new medicine that’s able to fool Sibyl and a person at the very end of the episode who appears to be an antagonist. In this brief appearance, he reminds me a lot of Makishima, the antagonist of last season who orchestrated dozens of crimes unchecked by Sibyl, and I can only hope that he will be a different but equally interesting villain.
At the same time, the first episode doesn’t allow much to happen until the teaser of an antagonist. Truthfully, it feels like a second season of Psycho-Pass is completely unnecessary. The first season wrapped up cleanly and answered all of the important questions while leaving the future up to speculation but with a clear sense that Akane would work to change the system. I’ll be interested to see whether we will witness the fall of Sibyl and how this will affect people in the short-term. After all, there’s also a movie confirmed to premiere after this season.
Still, this first episode shows that the writers are aware of the many questions left unanswered in the first season. Sibyl isn’t going to go unquestioned. In addition, one of the new enforcers stands out — he didn’t do much this episode, but there’s a focus on him in the opening theme. And what about Kougami? While there’s no mention of him in the first episode, his impact from the last season’s finale has affected Akane, and it’s possible he’ll appear in this season.
Bottom line: The premiere of Psycho-Pass 2 doesn’t feel as impactful compared to the previous season’s premiere, but it’s a good setup for the rest of the series. Future episodes will tell us whether this will live up to the near flawless execution of the first season.
Recommendation: If you loved Psycho-Pass, the second season appears to be continuing similar themes. This first episode won’t leave you on the edge of your seat, but it’ll grab your attention by the end.
[rating=4.0]
