The worst episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
It's the day of the forewarned assassination of the Police Commissioner. In the heavily guarded area, a sleeper virus sent by Nanao activates. Kusanagi, on patrol with Paz, Saito and Tachikoma, manages to stop the nightmare, but, soon after, a series of insurgencies spring up that have nothing to do with the virus. Sporadic they seem to be, but what could have triggered them?
- 02
One by one, the members of Section 9 are hunted down and captured. Batou stops by at Motoko Kusanagi's safe house and confronts two arm suits ambush. Barely defeating the enemy, he manages to escape and joins up with Kusanagi, but...
- 03
The masterminds behind the Health and Labor Ministry's scandal that Section 9 was after are arrested. Togusa could do nothing but watch the news. He was hoping to be reunited with his comrades who had gone missing since the incident began. Meanwhile, alone in the National Library Museum, where all of the print media are collected and stored forever, the man who is thought to be the Laughing Man awaits a reunion with someone.
- 04
A terrorist organization that identifies themselves as the "Individual Eleven" seizes the Chinese Embassy. They don't have a specific leader but they demand an immediate moratorium on the acceptance of Asian refugees as well as the closure of the invited refugee quarters. After negotiations with the newly appointed Prime Minister Kayabuki, Aramaki dispatches Section 9 on condition that the indefinite standby order imposed on the Section is lifted. But they are only given 15 minutes. Will Section 9 be able to control the situation and prevent the hostages from becoming casualties?
- 05
The Foreign Minister and his delegation are kidnapped by android geishas. Motoko Kusanagi and the members of Section 9 rush to the scene and rescue the diplomats. After a continuous investigation, section chief Aramaki discovers that there was a conspiracy surrounding an important military secret file called the Ichinose Report. Could they keep the file from leaving the country?
- 06
A prototype intelligent tank built by Kenbishi Heavy Industries suddenly activates. The military, which was not entirely decided about approving the purchase, is unwilling to intervene in the incident and Section 9 is called in for assistance. Section 9 sends Tachikomas to hunt down the vehicle and he plans to fire on it where there are no residential buildings. But despite his efforts, the tank keeps rolling. It looks as though it's headed towards a specific destination. Where is it going? And for what reason?
- 07
A bizarre incident occurs: a mass suicide of androids. After an investigation, it turned out to be a deliberate crime using a certain virus. In the android factory, a strange protection code was found in the computer terminal. The suspect runs away, and Section 9 goes after the suspect. And what did they see? Do robots have souls?
- 08
One rainy evening, Togusa gets a phone call from Yamaguchi, an ex-colleague from the ministry, who detected some suspicious moves within the police department, and wanted to consult him about it. Togusa starts up an investigation using photos forwarded by Yamaguchi. When Togusa finally solves the mystery, he sets out on a hunt to reveal the illegal use of a device within the Police Department.
- 09
While the refugees' activity is closely watched, Dejima proclaims its self-governing status. Section 9 heads for Dejima to detain Kuze who seems to be the mastermind of all this. Through hacking, they locate him and rush over, but they were attacked as though the armed refugees were expecting them. In spite of suffering casualties, they get through the barricade. But Kuze was already gone. Where did he disappear to?
- 10
A source had reported that a South American drug lord, Marcelo, was visiting Japan often. Section 9 was dispatched for an investigation. Marcelo makes contact with Japanese organized crime. What are his intentions? Eventually, local police forces join them in the effort to crackdown on organized crime. Now Four different factions jostle for control. And Kusanagi finally discovers Marcelo's secret, however...
- 11
A heart transplant was carried out without the donor's consent. When Section 9 is called in to investigate, they come across a group that deals in illicit sales of organs. A victim who lost his heart and the heartless culprits... As one whose entire body was transformed into a cyborg while she was young, Kusanagi seems to have especially strong feelings about this incident. What has she got against these criminals?
- 12
Aramaki suspects the Laughing Man Case to be a police hoax. In order to get evidence to back his theory, Section 9 carefully examines Nanao, who is the prime suspect of the Special Investigative Division. At the same time, Kusanagi independently reviews another Laughing Man Case that occurred 6 years earlier. She seems to be onto something, and asks Aramaki if she could guard the Police Commissioner.
- 13
Back on the Net, the reappearance of the Laughing Man was the talk of the day. A dedicated chat room offers a wide range of ideas to help solve the case, and Kusanagi joins in to get to the bottom of it. She then notices someone monitoring the chat room. What caused Kusanagi's uneasiness for such a long time?
- 14
A cruel and strange series of murders has been taking place; its extreme nature and peculiar modus operandi reminding Batou of a mission carried out long ago. Batou tracks down the murderer in order to settle something from the past. What does Batou intend to do?
- 15
An extensive cyber attack on the Ministry of Health and Labor by a hacker leads to the leak of top secret information. The hacker is traced to a vocational training institute for cyber deficient children. Togusa conducts a covert investigation on his own and comes across an astonishing truth.
- 16
Two short stories comprise this omnibus episode. The Tachikoma, who restore memories from bits that remain in the body, goes into town and meet a girl who is looking for a missing dog. The Tachikoma brings back something incredible from a junkyard, which stirs up something within Section 9. How do the Tachikoma define life? And what did the Tachikoma pick up?
- 17
Kidnapped Eka was lost for more than ten years when she was found unchanged on an offshore plant. The coast guard requests Section 9 to investigate the site. Although the plant was located within the boundaries of Japan, outlaws controlled it. Non-cyber and non-cyborg guerrillas give them a hard time. Who is Eka anyway?
- 18
A Chinese assassin named Fem comes to Japan. She has a grudge against Yokose, a well-known billionaire. To achieve her mission, the fascinating killer acquires a deadly weapon, and heads for Yokose's mansion. Section 9 is dispatched to prevent the murder. Kusanagi and Fem run into each other. What did Kusanagi see after the skirmish? "There is a ghost in this country that wanders about. It's a ghost called capitalism."
- 19
The Tachikomas, noticing a slight change in Kusanagi's manners, conclude that they will be disposed of by Section 9. They have a deep discussion over topics such as life, ghosts, AIs and their own raison d'etre. After long arguing, they come up with one decisive strategy, and eventually decide to step into action...
- 20
Aramaki and Kusanagi were visiting the UK to attend an international conference on terrorism. Afterwards, Aramaki heads to a bank where an old acquaintance works, and gets involved in a startling incident. Kusanagi tries to rescue Aramaki from outside. Could they predict each other's plans and actions to free Aramaki?
- 21
Aramaki receives a request for help from the daughter of an old colleague. At first he rejects the request, since he could not let personal matters get in his way. In the meantime, he intercepts some highly confidential information; someone is plotting to assassinate the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister. It became apparent that the earlier request and the plot were related. Aramaki moves to prevent the assassination, but...
- 22
Former Prime Minister Kanzaki's daughter Reiko suddenly disappears. Is this a disappearance or a kidnapping? A personal grudge or an act committed by organized crime? Section 9 is frustrated by information restrictions, leaks and confused information. Eventually, a female spy, who was involved in numerous organized crime incidents, emerges in the investigation.
- 23
Speculating from an oil painting scribble at the vocational training institution, Togusa comes up with what seemed to be the truth of the Laughing Man Case, and he volunteers to investigate files at the Health and Labor Ministry. He comes across an NGO named Himawari Group, which aims to spread an unauthorized drug for cyber-sclerosis. Just as he was visiting the group, he gets involved in an incident.
- 24
Aramaki's brother was discovered in a refugee ghetto, and Aramaki, on his own, heads for the hospital where his brother is hospitalized. Kusanagi, on the other hand, goes out to get her cyborg body remounted after a confrontation with Gail. They were both not aware that there were remnants of the drug intervention enforcement squad in town.
- 25
Aramaki's brother was discovered in a refugee ghetto, and Aramaki, on his own, heads for the hospital where his brother is hospitalized. Kusanagi, on the other hand, goes out to get her cyborg body remounted after a confrontation with Gail. They were both not aware that there were remnants of the drug intervention enforcement squad in town.
Shows like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·AdventureThe worst episodes of Cowboy Bebop1998–2001·WOWOWKouichi Yamadera also stars·
- 02Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·DramaThe worst episodes of Blade Runner: Black Lotus2021–2022·Adult SwimLos Angeles 2032. A young woman wakes up with no memories, and possessing deadly skills.
- 03Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·AdventureThe worst episodes of RWBY2013·Crunchyroll
The future-fantasy world of Remnant is filled with ravenous monsters, treacherous terrain, and more villains than you can shake a sniper-scythe at. - 04Action·Anime·Science-FictionThe worst episodes of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners2022–2022
Set in Cyberpunk 2077 universe, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. - 05Action·Anime·Science-FictionThe worst episodes of Pacific Rim: The Black2021–2022After Kaiju ravage Australia, two siblings pilot a Jaeger to search for their parents, encountering new creatures, seedy characters and chance allies.
- 06Action·Anime·Science-FictionThe worst episodes of Star Wars: Visions2021·Disney+
Star Wars: Visions, an Original Series of animated short films, celebrates the Star Wars galaxy through the lens of the world's best Japanese anime creators.
