Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Episode Guide (Episode 3)
Episode 3 - A Modest Rebellion: ANDROID AND I
Original Air Date: October 24th, 2002 (Japan)
Spoiler Free Summary:
Why would a handful of obsolete androids commit suicide? A computer virus and a lovesick computer-hacker hold the key to the mystery.
Synopsis:
A series of android suicides prompts Section 9 to investigate the manufacturer. While Aramaki questions the plant manager, Kusanagi and a tachikoma covertly hack into the plant’s database to try and uncover any possible wrongdoings by the manufacturer. As it turns out, all the androids were of the same model, an obsolete product known as the GA07-JL android, dubbed the Jerry by it’s small but loyal fanbase. The Genesis Jerry-model android was so popular because of the ease with which an end-user could modify it to their own specifications, not unlike the Sony AIBO. While the plant manager half-jokingly comments that the Jerry’s have grown despondent because of their obsolete status, Kusanagi discovers that a virus has been inserted into the mainframe, probably by an end-user who had sent his Jerry back to Genesis for refurbishing.
Ishikawa analyzes the virus, and confirms that it was not created by the same culprit who made a virus which has infected computer systems in the Capitol…however, he also discovers that the virus harbors a protection code, which would protect the virus’ manufacturer’s own Jerry unit from becoming infected. Aramaki reasons that the virus maker must then own his own standard-issue Jerry.
A short interlude introduces us to the virus-maker, a caucasian male, and his Jerry unit. Though we don’t know why he created the virus at this point, upon discovering that the police are onto him, he decides to make a run for it along with his Jerry…to which he seems to have developed a twisted amorous attachment.The Jerry seems a little reluctant to return his affections, but goes along anyway.
While running down the list of suspects, Togusa and Batou stumble upon the virus-maker’s apartment, finding it empty…though Togusa is successful in determining that the virus is present on the suspect’s computer. A quick call to Kusanagi interrupts a shakedown in progress (disappointing Borma, who was enjoying the chance to flex his muscles). Ishikawa confirms the suspect’s identity; he’s Marshall MacLachlan, the son of a Canadian diplomat. A satellite tracks down MacLachlan’s car, and Aramaki instructs Kusanagi, Togusa, and Batou to take him down while he works on having MacLachlan’s diplomatic immunity revoked. MacLachlan has a significant lead until Kusanagi hacks into his car’s GPS system, creating a virtual roadblock ahead, tricking MacLachlan into taking a dead-end side road. MacLachlan flees on foot into a forest glade, and soon finds himself surrounded by Section 9 operatives. MacLachlan threatens Togusa and Batou with a handgun, but is taken by surprise when his Jerry overpowers him, finally free from his influence.
The episode ends as Kusanagi and Batou debate MacLachlan’s motives over a few drinks. Togusa returns home, only to find his wife watching an old French film, the dialogue to which eerily echoes the final words of MacLachlan’s Jerry.
Notes:
What do you get when you cross Jean-Luc Godard and AIBO? Well, you get the plot of this episode, for one thing. Though there’s very little action (none in fact), this is a tight little story. It relies a little too much on allegory at times, and probably won’t hold too many thematic riches to anyone who hasn’t seen a Godard film, but overall this is good stuff. The animation seems to have taken a turn for the better (not that it was ever bad), and the understated atmosphere actually works to the episode’s benefit. Also, the allegory to the homebrew AIBO-mod community is a fun little jumping-off point for a story that is deeper than the opening scenes suggests.
- The opening scene is very similar to Oshii’s Patlabor 1: The Movie, which featured the film’s ‘from-beyond-the-grave’ antagonist jumping to his death, not to mention the flock of birds.
- License plates: Kusanagi’s car: NH-a 224, Aramaki’s car still bears the same plate…nice continuity, MacLachlan’s car: NH-a 1347, Batou’s car: F0-a2362
- Don’t bother going to the website listed for the Genesis Android company in the episode…there’s nothing there.
- A joke is made at one point when a news commenator reporting on the incident comments: “There’re rumors that the robots are starting to gain Ghosts like in a certain old SF comic.” I trust I needn’t explain the joke.
- The movie listed on the film cannister that Batou picks up is Alphaville, a French sci-fi classic by Jean-Luc Godard in which a private eye named Lemmy Caution squares off against an AI which controls the populace of a dystopian, neo-fascist society. The other film, A Bout de Souffle (aka Breathless), is also by Godard…this film is about two outlaw lovers on the run from the authorites. It’s pretty easy to see the allegorical connection to the episode, and why this episode’s antagonist would be watching these films. If you look at his bookcase, you’ll notice a number of other Godard films, as well…including Vivre sa Vie, Made in U.S.A., and Pierrot Le Fou (which, incidentially, is also about two doomed lovers).
- The antagonists’ name, Marshal MacLachlan, is obviously taken from Canadian media-theorist and philosopher Marshall McLuhan, who has been credited with, among other things, forseeing the internet, and wrote many groundbreaking works on the subject of mass-media (the most significant of which is Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man). At one point, Batou mentions that MacLachlan left Canada to avoid the draft – a sly bit of humor, methinks.
- The android has clearly been modified to look like actress Jean Seberg, who died of a mysterious drug overdose in Paris, France in 1979. Seberg co-starred in the aforementioned Godard film Breathless.
Ms. Seberg and her animated twin.
- Kusanagi mentions that she was transferred to a cyborg body when she was a child – in fact this is established during the opening credits in a quick sequence showing the child Kusanagi accidentally crushing a doll with her new cybernetic hands.
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