The series begins in a similar vein to the original just a year and a half later, it reintroduces the main characters and the rules of the Sibyl System as well as the Dominator, and shows us the new characters for this season. Right away we are introduced to the integral question of Psycho-Pass 2, "What Color?'. Anyone familiar with the Sibyl System knows that this a particularly intriguing question, as color is everything in this world. Those that lack the proper color are killed or are sent away to facilities to be rehabilitated, where they wish they were dead. This bleak overtone characterizes the Psycho-Pass series as a whole, and continues to the second season. This season also has a significant more amount of bloodshed, as in the first season it was a real treat to get to see someone active lethal eliminator mode, in the the sequel people are firing thar lazer every episode. The antagonist of this season is very similar to Makishima in his behind the scene operations as well as his "transparency". I wish they could have fleshed out another type of problem with the Sibyl system instead of going with a very similar plot. The secondary antagonist is actually much more interesting than the main "bad guy", and the reveal of what he truly is as well as his actions is kind of shocking to see. The second plot has an overarching theme of science and advancements that have gone too far, and that just because it may be possible to do something doesn't always mean it should be done, and the moral and physical consequences could be disastrous. The story was not as strong as the first and relied heavily on similar themes, but it had high notes specifically during the middle arc of the show where the action and the mystery really picked up.
The art of the series once again looks wonderful, but appears slightly more bleak this time, possibly to match the darker tone as well as the accompanying bloodshed. The art of the opening was kind of jarring to watch, and I found myself skipping the opening because its just images repeated over and over. A contrast from the first series, where i thoroughly enjoyed both openings and the endings.
The characters are Psycho Pass are quite good for the most part, with some exceptions. Akane is back as the lead protagonist, and its nice to see her grow without Kogami helping her out. She still clings to her clear hue and strong sense of morality and justice in the first season, still refusing to activate that Dominator when its in Lethal mode. She shows off her skills as a detective and is pushed to the breaking point several times, but always manages to keep her cool and work towards a morally right decision. She seems to be cracking a bit, as she has picked up a smoking habit, but otherwise its the a more mature Akane we saw at the end of the first series.
However her partner Shimotsuki, who fans of the original will recognize from an earlier arc and the final episode, does not fare as well. I'm going to be frank, she is one of the most annoying characters I've seen in a while. All she does is question Akane and whine for the whole series, and treats her enforcers like crap. She does have some great intuition about one of the villains, but in the end just manages getting herself drawn up into something she can't handle until Akane has to rescue her ungrateful ass. One of the new enforcers Togane is introduced as a competent enforcer who performs well in the field, and is trusted by Akane. It pains me to say that Ginoza's presence is greatly diminished, as his fall from grace in the first season made him an interesting character to watch, and I wanted to see more of his adjustment as an Enforcer.
I enjoyed watching the second season of Psycho Pass, but it was a very different mindset from the first, which seemed much more thought out and meticulous. I was put off by the first episode, but found that the season recovered and the middle arc was easily the best part of the show, as the ending was a little lackluster after the big reveal. Psycho Pass 2 is a solid series, but unfortunately does not hold a candle to its first series. Its a fun show to watch that will make you think and try to shock you with excessive imagery, both doesn't really try to break through the bar that was set by the first series
