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Sep 30, 2008 7:40 AM
#1

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Jan 2008
6961
THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE MANGA BEYOND THIS EPISODE.
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Nice back story on Saito. Lol at newbie Batou XD
Oct 1, 2008 6:09 PM
#2

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May 2008
176
I think that episode 14 of 2nd Gig has probably got to be one of the best episodes of the season.

It devotes the whole episode to Saito, his former occupation prior to joining Section 9 and his forced recruitment by the Major. This episode also explains briefly the events (conflicts in S. America after WW4) that have happened prior to the present day setting of the GitS storyline.

I also would like to add that the episode is very well made, the attention to detail, the physics of combat (sniping) and even the music complemented the whole story! The encounter between Saito and the Major at the hospital rooftop has got to be my favorite scene! The inclusion of a Gregorian chant in that scene made it more memorable and intense! For me it gave you a look into Saito's realization that this could be his last battle!

Overall, the episode was very good! Magnificent to say the least and it gave us a peek into the origins of section 9!
"We practice selective annihilation of mayors and government officials, for example, to create a vacuum, then we fill that vacuum. As popular war advances, peace is closer"
Nov 19, 2008 1:31 PM
#3

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Aug 2008
2537
Very good for know a little of the past of the integrants of Section 9.
Mar 30, 2009 12:43 PM
#4

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Sep 2008
346
Amazing episode! In my opinion one of the best ones so far this season.
Aug 3, 2009 1:25 PM
#5

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Jun 2009
15302
IMO, any back story on Motoko is win automatically. On top of that you have Saito, as well as Batou's first mission with the Major and Ishikawa. Awesome, I love this season.
"Yes, I have been deprived of emotion. But not completely. Whoever did it, botched the job."

- Geralt of Rivia
Aug 27, 2009 7:51 AM
#6

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Jan 2008
30
does anyone know the backround music being played when saitou was doing the sniping?
Nov 15, 2009 6:12 PM
#7

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Jan 2009
2296
I thought this episode was going to be really slow and kinda boring. But it was great, Saito meeting the Major was pure win. Loved this episode.
Nov 26, 2009 8:52 AM
#8

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Apr 2009
322
Great episode. I loved the encounter with the major and the excellent background story on Saito. I love how he walks away in the end all confident, knowing he won. He's such a badass.
Nov 26, 2009 4:30 PM
#9

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May 2008
176
Drgentile777 said:
Great episode. I loved the encounter with the major and the excellent background story on Saito. I love how he walks away in the end all confident, knowing he won. He's such a badass.


Yup, he "won" because the Major spared his sorry ass. If you've seen the original version with English subs, Saito said the thought made him squeak in his boots! That's how afraid he was of the Major at that time being so close to death and all.
"We practice selective annihilation of mayors and government officials, for example, to create a vacuum, then we fill that vacuum. As popular war advances, peace is closer"
Jan 1, 2010 2:18 PM

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Feb 2009
733
Well I guess this ep settles the fact that the major is like the baddest soldier to have ever existed anywhere.
Pantyshots are a different matter entirely



Apr 16, 2010 4:35 AM

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Nov 2007
3017
Awesome episode O_O! With all the flashbacks of the members I reckon this was the best so far with Saitou, nice to see Batou when he was a newbie xD but Saitou walking away at that moment you know he had the winning hand xD
Dec 3, 2010 2:45 AM

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Oct 2009
3293
Pretty awesome ep, best back story out of all them atm imo, funny how Batou was when he was a newbie x)
Major is the most badass chick of all time! ♥
Dec 6, 2010 11:02 AM

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Mar 2009
79
I love that we're getting all of the backstories in 2nd Gig.
Dec 31, 2010 11:13 AM

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May 2010
8126
Wait....Motoko in a suit!!??? HAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAH

What happened to that brown suit of hers? I like that one better

I honestly think they should just give the command to Motoko lol, that idiot commander is useless.

Batou is like "Wait, I am a rookie?"

Wonder if the chief existed back then...
Even when I was in crowd, I was always alone
Apr 29, 2011 10:06 AM

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Nov 2009
1567
Another great episode, I really enjoyed learning more about Saito, as well as being able to see the Major, Batou, and Ishikawa work together before the current Section 9 was formed.
Jun 2, 2011 8:10 PM

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Dec 2009
1641
Another back story episode, I liked this one too! Great series (:
Jun 19, 2011 2:01 PM

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Apr 2011
72
finally someone with a nice background....
My mission: Save the world! My weapons: a controller, a bunch of friends and lots of Anime!
Dec 3, 2011 11:09 AM

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Feb 2009
3436
I must say that I highly enjoyed this episode, especially being the fan of war movies that I am . The only thing I was missing in GitS was the exploration of the other members of Section 9 as well as their backgrounds and we've been getting that lately. This episode in particularly delivered amazing character development and info on the past of many of its members, all the while telling a great story.

Saito is a very interesting guy, I'm glad his episode came out perfectly done.
Jan 17, 2012 1:19 AM

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Jul 2009
3344
damn the Queen Kong and The Major kicks ass!!!!!!

i also like how the music plays between major and Saito.

the fact that Saito keeps replaying the outcume really tells us how Motoko is just badass and know how to fight.

and yeah seeing rookie Batou makes me smile :)

all in all great episode, love the animation plus the music.

the face that the "Poker Face" can be deceiving and deadly.

why did Saito didn't case it in???? he already won the whole thing!!!

can't wait for Bomer, Ishikawa and Batou's backstory!!!!!!

love the series!!!!!
Mar 12, 2012 11:43 PM

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Aug 2010
3232
This episode was superb. Awesome back story.
Jun 9, 2012 6:41 PM

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Jul 2011
4411
Another, more random backstory episode. However, I didn't care. I rather enjoyed it. Apparently in my mind, any backstory with the Major is automatic win.

I love how the "commander" couldn't really do squat. The Major practically lead them all.

Rookie Batou! XD
Jul 24, 2012 4:45 AM
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Dec 2009
169
Any back story of a sniper will always be great. After Motoko, Saito would probably be my next favorite character in Section 9. Love this episode, t'was thrilling.
tag©.androgynous
Oct 15, 2012 4:15 PM

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Nov 2011
1980
Haha, that episode was the pinnacle of epicness! Holy crap! =D

"I like to expose what people hide. I'm an intellectual rapist." - Furudo Erika
Oct 18, 2012 8:56 PM

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Mar 2012
2884
Haha, this episode reminded me a bit of that one episode from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that had about the same premise. Great episode.
Oct 29, 2012 11:33 AM

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May 2012
2364
WOW!!! That was a super awesome backstory of Saito... and another 100 points for Major.. she is really cool.. also nice to see the Batou as a rookie :)
Dec 25, 2012 11:40 AM

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Jan 2012
2608
I think this was one of the best episodes this season. I was glad to finally get an episode about Saito. That whole sniper battle was awesome.

Jan 2, 2013 5:02 PM

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Nov 2011
129033
Excellent episode.

Wow, that sniper duel was amazing indeed when the two bullets hit each other. Goes to show how skilled the both of them are although Makoto in this case is the superior imo.
Feb 7, 2013 9:07 AM

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Aug 2012
231
Just like episode 2 referenced Taxi Driver, this episode referenced Saving Private Ryan. I love the recurring back-story episodes, which is really helping flesh out Section 9 unlike the first series. Excellent stuff here people.
Feb 16, 2013 3:37 PM

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May 2012
25828
Not a bad backstory but well the pace could have been better...
Mar 3, 2013 11:10 PM

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Jun 2008
15842
Moral of the story. Don't ever EVER! fuck with the Major(except if it is literally, then it is worth it even if you may die).
Mar 29, 2013 10:47 AM
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Aug 2011
1165
Aaaahhh DELICIOUS character development!
Apr 17, 2013 1:44 PM

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Sep 2012
142
Another back story and I'm totally fine with that. It was nice seeing Saito's past and how he joined the Major. Seeing Ishikawa on the field and rookie Batou on his first mission was an added bonus.
Jun 14, 2013 11:48 AM

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Apr 2013
2282
Finally we've got to see Saito's back story. It's great that in Gits SAS 2nd GIG they pay more attention towards the supporting characters. The showdown on the roof between Major and Saito was indeed epic. The background music hit the spot. And hey Batou was still a rookie back then :P

Amazing episode 5/5.
Dec 15, 2013 6:15 PM

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May 2011
534
Great episode on Saito. Really like snipers on the battlefield, as they are the ruthless ones that will always manage to knock an enemy down decisively, with accuracy. And that distance Saito was from the guys...expert sniper.
"If you reject me, I'll blast a hole in you!" Kanzaki H. Aria
Just kidding.

Dec 25, 2013 8:58 PM

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Apr 2012
644
One of the best episode so far. I want more shit like this.

Now, this makes me want to see Major's military days.
Jan 20, 2014 11:46 AM

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Aug 2013
4245
Saito was a boss. Pinning down that whole team. It was a nice background on that character.

I like how all these newbies had big head and all, until they saw his straight flush. Booya motherfucka!
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Feb 7, 2014 11:01 AM

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Feb 2013
620
Yay more Character development :D. Saito's backstory was pretty awesome, he was a bad ass even back then, though the major still kicked his butt haha. Pretty interesting the way he was actually recruited, I'm interested to see how they all actually ended up joining section 9.

Honestly they should just make a series about the Majors past, showing how she became the bad ass she is today. I think that would be pretty interesting honestly.

Also now I just need an ep dedicated to Ishikawa and ill be content.
May 15, 2014 8:03 PM

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Aug 2007
783
Such a good episode. Really highlights the greatest traits of both the Major and Saito. She commands respect and then earns it. So good.
Jun 15, 2014 4:04 AM

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Nov 2011
7621
4/5

The past comes back to haunt the poor Saito. XD
Flashback has the merit of showing the first steps of those who will form the S9.
Interesting plot, narrative quite interesting.
It draws important lessons from this episode, the leader must be one who excels in everything, so the only group that is formed can be quality and not having cohesion problems.
Drawing with ups and downs.
Ishikawa is a funny guy! XD
Oct 2, 2014 5:16 AM

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Jul 2011
498
y30y430i said:
Just like episode 2 referenced Taxi Driver, this episode referenced Saving Private Ryan. I love the recurring back-story episodes, which is really helping flesh out Section 9 unlike the first series. Excellent stuff here people.

Pretty sure it was Full Metal Jacket that they were evoking, the entire battle sequence was basically straight from the famous sniper scene.
KellhusOct 2, 2014 5:46 AM
Jan 13, 2015 7:22 PM

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Jun 2013
68
wow great bit of back story. loved this episode
Feb 17, 2015 9:34 AM

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Nov 2013
3811
I think this was my favourite episode so far of 2nd gig, even though it doesn't have a massive impact on the series as a whole. So perfect, a nice study on another member of the team who isn't featured as often, just like the previous episode :3

Also him walking away knowing he has the winning hand already was glorious!
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Apr 13, 2015 6:52 AM

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Feb 2015
1009
How did the major have a fully cybernetic body in 2020?
Apr 21, 2015 3:51 AM
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Nov 2014
26586
Newbie Batou lol'd. Nice episode, Major was a badass even in the old days :P
May 13, 2015 10:46 AM

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Feb 2013
7532
Sweet, now a Saito episode to follow up Pazu's. Will Borma get his spotlight too?
Aug 9, 2015 10:50 AM
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Jul 2018
564084
Everyone dies except the future S9 staff. How nice.

"but I seem to recall an old movie with a plot that was awfully similar to that"

Fuck, GitS is becoming sentient! *runs*
Dec 28, 2015 1:34 PM

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Jun 2015
3948
This episode was amazing! Character driven episodes are usually the best.
Feb 13, 2016 1:10 AM

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Jun 2015
37
When facing a menacing full bodied cyborg, you're either scared shitless or admired her outwitted you.
Feb 20, 2016 12:38 PM

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Aug 2014
1867
This episode reminds me of Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket.
Great Episode.
Jul 29, 2016 2:09 PM

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Jul 2016
45
I really liked this episode. Always wondered about Saito's past.

Two things were out of place in this episode though, The Major with a suit and Mexico being referred as 'south america'.
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