Evolution of Section 9.
Are we our bodies? Are our bodies just a tool? If our bodies are a tool, then what are we, a soul?
The power of an idea, the hero as idea/meme (hearkening back to the concept of Stand Alone Complex)
How a "full human" fits in a cyborg world.
Loss, what happens after a tragedy.
We see a much more sensual Major in this, and after seeing this, it makes sense why Major was never one for much romance.
Speaking of Major, there are some sweet scenes in the cyber world, with some moderate fanservice, but this reminds me of how much less fanservice there is overall in this series compared to others.
The thing that grated me watching this episode was the multiple versions of Major and other characters. Sometimes you would see multiple versions of the same person in a single shot. It's like one animator started the first half of the scene, then someone else with a slightly different style finished it.
The fact that black market underground trading is providing so many plot points feels a bit underwhelming to me. I can only say "meh", and hope they end up writing diverse stories.
