This was a terrific introductory episode that easily surpassed my expectations. I felt it was paced superbly, since it immediately introduces what's likely to be the primary conflict with the opening sequence, followed by an excellent immersion into the world and the technological system that strictly governs it's citizens. The gritty tone is quite refreshing, as the story revolves around a nihilistic, dystopic setting. I'm looking forward to the formation of the larger narrative, as the story's gradual development will likely prove extremely interesting and quite thought-provoking.
The introductory setup was rather simple, as Akane begins her first day on the job, and, although it was slightly unrealistic that she would suddenly be given such authority, this was essential in order to deliver the necessary world-building. Although the momentary rape was a slightly contrived development with which to show the cruelty of the world, I thought it was effectively portrayed. The criminal's death was particularly violent, but not nearly as brutal as the incredible sequence that followed, in which the Enforcers, along with Akane, chase after the victim due to the fact that her criminality level had risen. Due to the uncertainty displayed by Sibyl in the concluding sequence, the system seems inherently flawed, and this particular theme will likely be a recurring element to explore and eventually unravel as the story continues.
The premise is very intriguing, as citizen's psychological traits are detected and consequently assigned a numerical identity by Sibyl, a technological entity that regulates the world, and, depending on the severity of their potential criminality, these likely criminals are controlled, and occasionally killed, by the government. It will be interesting to see whether the inspectors, such as Akane, will be able to maintain order, since, even at the end of this episode, she, due to the ethical dilemma that presented itself, momentarily rebelled against the idea of executing a victim, eventually causing her to fire upon Shinya. This moment was great, as it illuminated a certain moral ambiguity that seems certain to play an ever-increasing role in Akane's development. The complexities surrounding this violently governed society are thoroughly compelling.
Although Akane seemed to be the sole lead in this episode, I definitely expect Shinya's focus to increase considerably as the story progresses. Tomomi was great throughout, particularly in how willing he was to explain to Akane the subtleties within the work she's required to administer and the violence she's ordered to prevent. The characterization was strong for an opening, allowing insight into Akane's naive perception, creating a noticeable contrast to the knowledgeable, unsympathetic mentality of her superiors and the Enforcers she supervises. It will be interesting to see what sort of consequences await her, due to her ill-timed disobedience. The development of these characters, particularly Shinya, is probably the most interesting aspect moving forward.
The visuals are fantastic, highlighted by the impressive manner with which they illuminate the grimy, violent darkness that permeates the world. The environmental backgrounds are highly impressive as well, since they're suffused with a stunning level of detail. These artistic elements combine to create a distinctly dystopian aesthetic. The animation was consistently good. There were some rather fantastic facial reactions, effectively displaying the subtle transitions in emotion, thus foreshadowing future actions. Although largely unnecessary, the CGI is surprisingly well-implemented, and considerably less jarring than I had initially expected. The character designs are likely the weakest element of the show, but they work much better in motion.
The direction was solid. There were a plethora of interesting camera angles that excellently depicted the deteriorated nature of the city. The music is great and suitably atmospheric, complementing the cyberpunk setting extremely well. The writing, for the most part, was really good, constructing an oppressively grim world of governmental control and a society that's littered with psychological flaws, while also maintaining a firm grasp on the necessity for disparate personalities and flawed characterizations. There were some minor contrivances in the story and a bit too much expository dialogue, but nothing that overtly distracted or seriously compromised the realistic, believable tone surrounding the various developments.
The ED song was excellent. Comparatively, the musical selection for the OP was less enjoyable, but still pretty great.
All in all, Psycho-Pass, so far, has proven to be well worth the hype. The first episode was very impressive and considerably satisfying. This is definitely one of the most promising shows of the season, due, in large part, to it's strong, compelling narrative and the dystopian setting it inhabits. |