The Section 9 teams target the post-humans to prevent a nuclear missile launch. American forces and Purin complicate their efforts.
Episode 21 – “LAST RESORT / A Long Slumber”
Hmm.
Ghost in the Shell set up the game board with all the pieces around Geo City, so the episode starts the game. This late into the season, we should expect to see set action pieces. The action scenes are not noteworthy from a storytelling perspective. We need to pay attention to the pauses and the conclusions. Those areas are where drama, tension, and character development matter. The primary point of tension in the episode happened when the Americans offered to peacefully leave if they retrieved the failsafe code from Motoko’s forces. Was there a correct answer? Was there too much time wasted in hesitation?
The trust between America and Japan had already been severed when Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 started. But there was still hope of a return to historically friendly ties. It was thematically consistent that the post-human, Suzuka, took that choice away from Section 9 and the American Special Forces. America was responsible for Code 1A84 creating post-humans. And its heavy-handed responses brought Japan’s worst fear, nuclear detonation, back to its shores. The post-humans set up a scenario that exposed the danger of rigid national pride. Of course, joining N and worrying about the Thought Police, the Ministry of Love, and Room 101 is also not the answer.
Another fun thing to notice when comparing Japan and America in Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is how they developed armored military technology. Japan rides companion spiders, and America takes inspiration from Iron Man. Japan’s culture of sentient yokai, spirits, wolf gods, and robot maids fits the Tachikomas’ personalities. They are lesser than humans and regarded as servants, yet they are valued friends and team members. The Americans wear their versions of Tachikomas.
We don’t know the special forces’ relationships with their technology inside Ghost in the Shell. But we can see how recent media titles of Iron Man, Halo, and Batman match the Americans’ battlesuits. Technology augments the Americans’ abilities, making the suits more like fighter planes than armor. It’s a Japanese interpretation of American culture, though, because we can see how the ethos of the cowboy and the American West is more like taming and riding childlike mechanical spiders.
Heh.
Oh boy. Ghost in the Shell treats Navy SEALs like invading sea monsters. Technically true. Neat-o. I loved rollerblading by the beach too. Purin knows her way around an automatic rifle. Oh, it’s sunset. That means Purin, Suzuka, and Motoko will fight in the dark again. Purin just got her catsuit! We won’t get to admire it in optimal lighting! Oh, poor Borma. He showed how the normies can’t access the N Network. Purin is our only hope! Motoko plans to put Suzuka to sleep when Takashi goes into hibernation. That’s a fifteen-minute window. Can they make it? Suspense! Aw. Togusa took Standard along.
Purin needs to scramble over Geo City’s walls without mecha-rollerblades or Tachikomas. She doesn’t even have a sling for her rifle, so she climbs up ladders one-handed. Oho. Purin is the first one to meet Takashi. Ack! No ambush here. Takashi is a mind-wizard. His attacks look genuine and are imaginary, yet those inside the N-Network feel pain. The sound effects are terrible. I wonder if Takashi reused some from his video game in the first season of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. This is a clue that we should not have trusted anyone’s eyes inside Old Tokyo. Takashi dresses like Neo and dodges like him too. Wow. This is the most awkward physical fight between superheroes I’ve ever seen. Literal cliffhanger. Ouch. No worries. Purin’s body is identical to Motoko’s. She just needs time for the self-repair to work.
Where is Suzuka going, and why does she need a motorcycle? Motoko pursues her as Togusa targets Takashi. Is that okay? Takashi made Togusa disappear for two long months earlier in Ghost in the Shell. The Americans are still rollerblading. Ooh. Look at Suzuka leaning into her counter steer. The Tachikomas crack me up. They worry about Takashi falling when he hibernates. Green flare means go time! The Americans love their flares and gas bombs. Is that motorcycle brand the 2045 model for the Honda CRF300? Uh oh. The sleeping gas took down Suzuka. That’s tough leather.
Yoink! Ghost in the Shell plays keep-away with Suzuka’s body. How does Takashi’s body maintain its balance on a swaying crane arm as it hibernates? An apprehensive Togusa finds it difficult. Ah. Purin reboots. She must accept her artificial body now. Um, shouldn’t her bangs be hanging away from her forehead? Still, ouch. She wants to turn off her pain receptors. Has she realized she doesn’t get tired? More climbing.
My ears! The Tachikomas hate shooting at people. Motoko made a roadblock. Ishikawa downloaded Suzuka’s electronic fingerprints. They can turn off the android that controls the nuclear submarine now. If the Americans will let them! Stalemate negotiations! A tense standoff in Ghost in the Shell. And then Suzuka woke up! She made the Americans destroy the hard drive and kill her! When Takashi wakes up, nukes will launch! Not mission accomplished for the Americans, but scram!
The Americans need to go all in on Takashi before he wakes. Dude. Those guys have missiles! Down goes Saito’s sniper’s nest. Too late! Takashi woke up! Cliffhanger!
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 streams on Netflix in multiple languages and subtitles.
