The more I think about it, the more Psycho-Pass feels like it was a third season of Ghost in the Shell to me. Which is a great thing IMO.
Both are dystopian cyberpunk detective shows, so that similarity is pretty obvious, though cyberization is more of a novelty in Psycho-Pass, less developed than other outlandish techs. The settings both feel like they have similar overarching themes, **** me if I can explain them well, though. Both explore some social phenomena and social conflict and the police’s role as the public ‘face’ of the government in managing said conflict. Both explore the nature and impact of charismatic individuals of dubious moral character on society. GitS goes more into the nature of identity, political intrigue and conspiracy, and plenty of stuff I’ve probably forgotten by now. Psycho-Pass (predictably) explores more of the psychological side of things, with the idea that psychological states and criminal intent can be quantified, exploring what makes a person or society “healthy”, and what’s worth giving up for happiness and order. It also goes political a bit, but it’s more speculative fiction in Psycho-Pass’s case, questioning how society ‘should’ be-- GitS’s politics is more ‘grounded’ I think. Still not sure how I feel about the big curveball they throw later on for the setting in Psycho-Pass.
The cast of Psycho-Pass also gives me some GitS vibes, which is hard to describe exactly because I wouldn't say any one character parallels another very much. Maybe it's just because they're both squads of investigators. In any case, the squad members in Psycho-Pass are all quite likeable, some developed better than others admittedly (same with GitS). The main character Tsunemori plays a
much different role from Kusanagi (in season 1, anyway!), which is understandable seeing as she is not the leader, per se. She’s also not so much of a Mary Sue and her standard outfit isn't a coat over a one piece bikini and thigh high stockings.
But she does have an interesting strength to start with in the context of the setting, and develops more over the course of the show.
The other investigators are also pretty good for the most part. Kogami may be more of a main character than the main character and has a pretty good arc, though his ultimate choice is a little disappointing (in a ‘damn, that sucks’ kinda way, not a ‘dumb writing’ way). Hopefully that thread will come up more in season 2. Best character Masaoka is an old man (wait lemme try that again...), and his relationship with Ginoza develops really well. Kagari doesn’t get a lot of time to develop, but I feel his short arc still gives him some dignity.
There's a little extra in the extended cuts, though. The only character who I feel suffers a bit from insufficient development is the lady enforcer, Yayoi. Maybe another thing for season 2 to expand upon.
I griped a little about Psycho-Pass's antagonist in an earlier post, but he's fairly interesting as well, even if the presentation is a bit 'showy.' He’s a monster, but also an iconoclast to the current political system, driving some of the themes about free will vs paternalism and kinda letting the show delve into the psychology of a sociopath and the system’s ideas about mental “health.” He’s also apparently a pretty lonely guy, reinforcing the issue of how the system doesn’t work so well for the people who don’t conform. Though the Enforcers do a better job of exposing that issue, honestly. Who cares about that creep’s loneliness tbh. Still, though the GitS antagonists (aside from Gouda) are less evil than political, this guy also fulfills his role pretty well. As far as the showiness goes, to be fair, I also found the Catcher in the Rye references with the Laughing Man to be fairly obnoxious.
One thing that I guess should also be mentioned, since apparently it was a problem with GitS, though I didn't have a problem with it, is that pretty much all of the cases are relevant to the overarching plot. None of them really stand alone, except the first couple of episodes I think, which are more for worldbuilding.
Hmm, I’ll finish this rambling mess and say the music in Psycho-Pass is also pretty good. Someone named Yugo Kanno. Yoko Kanno still based forever tbh. The openings and endings are great, though. Apparently that fictional band from Guilty Crown, Egoist, broke out of said anime and Zombie Inori started singing songs for other anime.
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