In a world where your criminal activity can be monitored by a computer network and even the potential of committing crime can put you in jail, what happens when there is a flaw in the system? As a new recruit for the MWPSB, our fictional police force in this show, Akane Tsunemori works with other detectives and latent criminals known as Enforcers to bring down those who the computer network, known as the Sibyl System, views as a threat to society.
Psycho-Pass is one of those circumstances where the show feels almost perfect in length. Sure, there could've been another 10 minutes or so given to summarize what occurs in the last episode, but 22 episodes is a very solid length for this season. I particularly enjoyed this length because it wasn't pointless at any time whatsoever. Sure, the first episode or so had almost nothing to do with the main plot, but it provides exposition, something some shows tend to neglect. Then, once those first few episodes pass, everything from there on out focuses on the main plot, with only an episode or so of filler. And the really cool thing is that you don't even realize that all these different crimes are interconnected until a ways into the series, and once this is revealed, things really start to pick up.
The interactions between the detectives and Enforcers may just be the most entertaining thing about this show. Criminals in this society are viewed so poorly that Enforcers, even though they devote their lives to working for the police, are restricted from leaving the MWPSB headquarters. And so to see the detectives interact with these supposed criminals is very interesting, as just being around someone with a higher Psycho-Pass (the scale used to determine your functionality in society) can alter your own. Yet, these criminals are very much needed, as they know how other criminals think and are vital to the conclusion of most cases. The Enforcers are all also quite unique and enjoyable characters, even if they do come across as a bit gruff sometimes. This isn't to say that the detectives aren't enjoyable, but they definitely didn't appeal to me as much as the Enforcers did.
I can't say much for the soundtrack in this show and I don't know if that's good or bad. The opening themes are very different, but each is good in their own way, and the ending themes were okay, though I did rather enjoy the 2nd one quite a bit. But as for the actual soundtrack, I didn't really notice it. And that's not entirely bad. Soundtracks enhance a show, they don't make the show, so if all you can get from a show is its soundtrack, that's not good. On the other hand, if a soundtrack isn't detectable at all, then what point does it serve? I know it was there, for sure, but I can't honestly sit here and give you and example of when it was a stand-out sort of thing.
Animation is solid. The show is fairly new so I didn't expect much else. The times when the Dominators (the guns used by the MWPSB) and other components of the Sibyl System were used were definitely the highlights of this shows art style, but in the end, it was, as a whole, nothing really spectacular.
Psycho-Pass, at least I feel, caters to a very specific audience. Those who love crime shows and mysteries will love it, though anyone who is looking for something else should look elsewhere. However, even if it doesn't incorporate everything that makes masterpiece shows great, the show does what it needs to and does it very well.
Positives:
+Great opening themes
+Ending themes were also better than what I'm used to
+Characters, especially those of the Enforcers, were fantastic
+Plot was genuinely thrilling and mysterious
+Characters deaths actually made me feel something
+Animation is kinda decent, though is does excel at certain times
+One of the greatest villains and rivalries I've seen in a while
+Perfect length with little filler
Negatives:
-Soundtrack wasn't anything special
-Ending was sudden and didn't wrap things up very well ( though there is a second season )
-Only would appeal to people who want to watch something specifically like this; not for just casual viewers
Psycho-Pass is highly enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to watch a good crime show or something just on the darker side of anime. With a whole second season I have yet to watch, I'm excited to get started soon, as this show is very good at capturing your attention. So give it a shot. You may just like it as much as I did.
And that's why I give Psycho-Pass a 9/10
