Psycho-Pass Volume 2 [Anime review]

About 2 weeks ago I reviewed the first half of Psycho-Pass. I've finished the series. What a series.
I actually chose to take my time and slowly watch it, I wanted to absorb every episode, carefully.

Welcome to your new iHome.

In the future jail look a lot like THX-1138.

The first half of Psycho-Pass scored an impressive 4.5 stars out of 5, and the second half does not disappoint either.

4.5 out of 5 stars

The series loses no pace and does not lessen the tension nor the story in the second half.

It's dangerous out there, take this.

Psycho-pass plays with a lot of powerful themes. I'd like to claim it as being first and foremost a story about responsibility. So much in the series revolves around what it means to be responsible, and what taking responsibility entails. The simplest example is the responsibility of Investigators to control the Enforcers. The largest and most overwhelming allegory is the Sybil System - a system of totalitarian control that has essentially abrogated people's responsibility for their own lives.

There's something different about Ginoza in this picture...

Amber waves of grain, there is a metaphor here.

However there is an even more poignant story about responsibility. What if you knew the system was 'broken,' but in revealing that problem to the public, you destroyed the system and the republic. Yes, there is a chance something better could come, but there is also a great chance for chaos, death, & destruction. Could you take the responsibility for the act of destroying the system, or even worse... could you bear the responsibility of unholding that system for the sake of others, even though you know that it is broken. This almost becomes Star Trekian - does the good of the many outweigh the good of the few or the one? 

This is at least one of the major themes running through the primary conflict - and many of the secondary stories.

However it would be foolish to say that it is the only theme. No... there are many.

But damn, if Psycho-Pass was not good.

The depth of the drama, the power of the story, the subtle themes. I am thrilled to hear that in Japan, this July they are re-releasing season 1 as 11 re-edited one hour episodes. Unless there is significant additional footage, I doubt that there will be any reason to watch it over the 22 half-hour episodes. The better news is that following the re-release of season 1, season 2 will be starting up in October. Yes, a second season. Following that there will be a movie.

I am looking forward to these immensely. I have no doubt that the second season will be utterly amazing.

I hate to actually agree with a companies tag line, but Funimation is right, You Should be Watching.

The circle is complete.