A Modest Rebellion

Summary[]

A series of android suicides prompts Section 9 to investigate the manufacturer. While Section Head Daisuke Aramaki questions the plant manager, Motoko Kusanagi and a Tachikoma covertly hack into the plant's database to try to uncover any possible wrongdoings by the manufacturer. As it turns out, all the androids were of the same model, an obsolete product known as the GA07_JL android, dubbed the Jeri by its small but loyal fanbase. The Genesis Jeri-model android was popular because of the ease with which an end-user could modify it to their own specifications. While the plant manager half-jokingly comments that the Jeris have grown despondent because of their obsolete status, Kusanagi discovers that a virus has been inserted into the mainframe, probably by an end-user who had sent his Jeri back to Genesis for refurbishing.

They track down that perpetrator is the Canadian Ambassador's son — Marshall McLachlan, who is on the run with his Jeri. Eventually, they corner him in a stand-off. His Jeri disarms him and traps him in an armlock, ending the confrontation.

At a bar, Batou and Kusanagi discuss the case. Batou thinks it's an extortion case, while Kusanagi thinks it's to make his Jeri unique. Batou wonders why the Jeri go crazy; Kusanagi thinks she did it to protect the guy. She then reminisces about her past.

Togusa walks into his house where his wife is watching a movie. He rewinds and notes that the Ambassador's son and his Jeri said the exact same lines. He asks his wife if there are more lines after that, but she replies there are none.

Appendices[]

Names mention/appeared[]

Daisuke Aramaki
Motoko Kusanagi
Batou
Togusa
Marshall McLachlan — Canadian Ambassador’s son
Jeri — GA07_JL android model

Notes[]

The episode includes multiple homages to legendary French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard●. The Canadian diplomat’s Jeri has a similar haircut and wears outfits reminiscent of Patricia Franchini in the film "Breathless_(1960_film)●" (1960). In this film, the protagonist Michel Poiccard tries to escape to Italy with his girlfriend Patricia Franchini. This parallels the Canadian Ambassador’s son and his Jeri’s flight in the episode. Additionally, while Batou and Togusa investigate the Canadian Ambassador’s son’s home, they find multiple film reels, including one with the French title Breathless visible. The centre of the frame shows the movie "Alphaville_(film)●", another Godard film described as a "science fiction neo-noir." It features a secret agent fighting a dystopian government, similar to themes in Ghost in the Shell.

The movie Togusa’s wife was watching may not be the exact Breathless film — the subtitles are close but not an exact match. This may imply a similar film in a parallel universe. Unknown to Togusa, more of Marshall and Jeri's dialogue matches this alternate version, present only at the final confrontation.