WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 2 of ID: Invaded, "Jigsawed II."
The first episode of the sci-fi crime thriller, ID: Invaded ended with the audience's stand-in, Hondomachi, disappearing in the real world and then reappearing in the id well after the infiltration of suspected serial killer, Tamotsu Fukuda's (better known as the Perforator) home. The id well, as we learned in the first half of the anime series' premiere, is an interface in which a killer's mind can be accessed and assessed.
The second episode begins with Hondomachi still present at the crime scene, and she notices an increase of cognition particles. A policeman asks if her device is picking up a reading from elsewhere, but she does not believe this is the case. The policeman asks if his intent is being picked up; however, Hondomachi assures him that feelings such as hatred will not register on the Wakumusubi, a device that scans for cognition particles.
Inside the accused's home, police approach a cloaked man wielding a drill, presumably the Perforator, and orders him to put the drill down. When he does not obey, they shoot, and discover the man is actually the victim, Yuki Oonuki, now deceased.
The man on the gurney in the ambulance has a hole in his head -- an old, healed wound -- and unsheathes a concealed weapon akin to a screw. Hondomachi's Wakumusubi picks up on this fresh intent to kill. The Perforator runs the ambulance into Hondomachi and kidnaps her. Inspector Momoki concludes that the Perforator drilled the hole into his own head, which is the reason behind his modus operandi.
The Hondomachi in the id well warns our pink-haired detective, Sakaido to leave "her" house when the case is finished. Sakaido ignores this advice and attempts to capture the Perforator. However, the Perforator evades him by exhibiting a method of transportation Sakaido cannot do himself, at least as previously shown in the first episode. It is as though the Perforator "teleports" away. Sakaido reasons that it does not line up with the structure of the world but, regardless, he escapes.
The mysterious John Walker -- whose name popped up in the first episode -- returns, and all the victims, including Hondomachi, are fearful of his presence. Inspector Momoki orders his team, except Togo and Kokufu, to shift their analysis to John Walker in order to draw as much information on this elusive character. Things get more complicated still when field analyst assistant Matsuoka accuses Momoki of neglecting the search for Hondomachi, but Momoki assures him it is a temporary reallocation of resources.
This brings a new character into the fray, Chief Hayaseura, who advises that this would jeopardize the secrecy of the device but Matsuoka argues back. This open disagreement with the chief is indicative of Matsuoka's character as one who does what he believes is right, no matter what. Detective Sakaido, meanwhile, takes down John Walker with surprising swiftness, calling himself "OP" and declaring victory.
Hondomachi, on the other hand, finds herself tied down in one of the Perforator's hideouts. He asks about the Wakumusubi and its function and urges that she answers, as she is going to have a hole drilled into her head regardless; an act that, much to his delight, his victims apparently do not die immediately from. Despite her situation, Hondomachi is stalwart and believes the Perforator will be captured and the world will improve from his absence.
In the id well, Sakaido wonders why the Perforator did not escape from Kaeru's body. He then realizes that "teleportation" doesn't exist to the Perforator. To him, the disjointed world of the id well is his "normal," a theory that Wakashika supports. Sakaido also believes the victims are fearful of John Walker because of the Perforator's own fear of him. Since John Walker was present in the Perforator's id well, the Perforator used Kaeru's body to shield himself from John Walker.
Meanwhile, as the Perforator brings the drill closer to Hondomachi's forehead, she begins to make a plan of action. As she makes this decision, her avatar in the id well begins moving as well. In the real world, she tells the Perforator about the Wakumusubi... her son. With that, she thrusts her head into the drill, and a new id well is formed: Hondomachi's.
Sakaido is extracted from the Perforator's well, and there is a glimpse of the real world Sakaido: a little plumper and little less cool. Momoki apologizes to him and refers to him as Narihisago. This new well is barren and filled with large oversized drills. Kaeru is in this well, too; however, this time, she is hanging on a tree. A last testament is placed at Kaeru's feet with a letter stating, "this was a suicide." But before he can think about the situation further, a large drill hits both Kaeru and Sakaido.
In the reflection on the drill, Hondomachi's face is shown, and the background helps the team determine where she and the Perforator are located. With that information, Matsuoka makes his way to the closed restaurant by the Perforator's home. The police capture the Perforator and save Hondomachi.
When Momoki thanks Sakaido for his work with the Perforator, he claims the John Walker in the Perforator's id well was just as an empty product of human consciousness. Sakaido reveals that he has "died" in the id wells multiple times, and Momoki reveals that every time a person dives into an id well, the individual forgets everything and has to start over.
We get some insight into Sakaido's background as he and Momoki discuss his daughter, who passed away two years ago. Momoki asserts that Kaeru isn't his daughter, Muku. Sakaido's role is to assist with the investigation, not to discover the killer's mental weakness. He mentions not wanting a repeat of Sakaido driving someone to suicide, but as previously mentioned, only those who have killed can enter id wells. Sakaido references this as a reason not to completely stop, as it would cause a problem for both Sakaido and Momoki.
According to Togo and Chief Hayaseura, the Perforator is the fifth serial killer that appears to have dealt with John Walker. Togo hypothesizes that John Walker is able to manipulate others' unconscious, but... how? Togo is convinced that John Walker is a real person due to the victims' reaction with an impression so strong, it remains in the id. Chief Hayaseura dubs him the Serial Killer Creator.
The conclusion of the episode brings more burning questions to the surface, like how John Walker is able to influence others into becoming serial killers; how the team will find him if he himself does not have a direct intent to kill, and lastly: who is Sakaido, really?
ID: Invaded is available for streaming from FunimationNOW, with new episodes releasing Sunday.