Psycho Pass Re-Edit Episode 10 [ Penultimate Truth ]

Kogami is on the hunt before time runs out on the Sybil updates, even showing up to Professor Saiga’s house. Meanwhile his old comrades are given one decision: spare Makishima and kill Kogami if they see him. The mutual chase begins, as Makishima begins to try and unravel the Sybil system.

Even now, Akane’s real concern is Kogami’s status as a killer. She doesn’t want him to cross the line and become a killer no matter what. . . but she isn’t sure what to do. Makishima develops a plan to destroy Japan’s food source and Kogami is on his trail as well. Akane is led somewhere by Sybil and before she can see the truth, we see some key additions to this version. For instance, how simply Kogami can channel what Makishima thinks or will do.

We see flashbacks showing the world has become one where researching and history is. . . .almost forgotten. And it seems important that it is always written over and lost. . .  and told this society is the perfect one.    History in and of itself has become…twisted and changed to make the current system seems correct. In retrospect to that, akane learns the truth..and realizes, she learned the system was absolute…and realized it was all wrong when she saw the truth of it all. sybil. . .the minds. . . of the criminally asymptomatic. . .have made things as they are.

meanwhile Makishima begins his plan to end the safety and comfort of life in this facade. Murder and dismemberment are nothing to him to end this facade. . . and perhaps….isn’t that true? Isn’t this monstrous world run by these evil people. . . evil in it’s own right?

Akane is horrified by this and ..rightfully so. This conversation is the most humiliating and disgusting thing about humanity in this world all in one. The implications of this addition to the series are profound. The series is now . . . highlighting just how essentially fucked the Sybil System is. Before it was important but now even moreso this episode shows us exactly what the world has become. Shogo Makishima doesn’t want this fate because he wants the real implied power of reactions and humanity. Kogami can’t stand this world because it almost glorifies the truly criminal of the world. Then we have Akane Tsunemori who is the most relatable character to us. Akane is struggling to find out who she is and figure out where she belongs in the world.

So what does she find? That the ‘truth’ is being hidden from people, that Sybil is altering the past to make it seem as if it’s solution is the only way. Akane is seeing how Japan is being manipulated by the brains over and over. The criminally asymptomatic claim to be creating a society for the best, but it instead seems like they merely cannot stand the idea of their rule coming to an end. They rule with the promise of peace and lack any true morality, seeing normal people as puppets.

This episode. . . is the most important moment for Akane. Akane forces the system to make a deal – Makishima’s life for Kogami’s. If they want Makishima to live they must allow Kogami to exist and withdraw their order. She even puts the dominator to her chest and tells them to kill her if they want to find someone else to do their work. She proceeds to have inner conversations analyzing memories. The way her friends reacted to her test scores. The way Kagari reacted to her life. The way Makishima forced her to either kill her friend or watch her be killed.

The results are heartbreaking. Akane loved her friends, and she understands Makishima’s cynicism. But in her mind she screams so clearly, “So you have the right to decide our worth?!” and in the most painful scene . . . a phantom of Yuki asks her if she thinks she was really happy living such a phantom life, to which Akane simply says:

“I think you could have been. Anyone can do it. . .as long as they’re alive.”

 

Akane now becomes the head of the MWPSB’s squad one in this investigation. . . .and it’s up to her to stop Kogami from taking Makishima’s life if she wants him to be saved from Sybil. To conclude the look at this episode I want you all to stop and take a moment, look at the second opening of Psycho Pass again. Look at the scene where Akane points her dominator with wide eyes at Makishima and he looks to her, and the other side is Kogami with a gun. Akane’s eyes, which are normally brown, are green in this one slide and Makishima and Kogami’s are their normal yellow and blue. If you mix yellow, the cynicism of the system and the desire to change everything, with blue, a steadfast desire for justice beyond what the system will allow- you fine Akane, who has to fight her realization the system is wrong and do her best to make justice and this new society meet in some way.

Akane’s happiness, Kogami’s will to fight injustice, and Makishima’s isolation- all will finally come to a head. In truth, can’t we even say Akane and Makishima are the true opponents, individuals who were different than others with an ability to do as they pleased? Yet Makishima was isolated, and Akane found happiness. One Kogami loves, and one he hates.

Next week. . .the painful conclusion of the Re-edit. . . and soon after, the sequel that will answer the question:

What is the value of human souls in Sybil’s world?

Oki