If you're looking for good sci-fi crime anime, then Psycho-Pass might just be right up your alley. Praised as the anime equivalent to Blade Runner, this anime is set in a dystopian future where everyone's mental state is judged by the omnipresent Sibyl System. Those who reach a certain likelihood of committing crimes are either arrested or killed by the Police.
It's definitely an interesting premise and a popular one at that, having multiple seasons and several films, with another in 2020 on the way. Though with success comes questions and concerns. Nothing good lasts forever, and while most would like to see some things go on for as long as possible, sometimes it's good to know when to stop too. Here are 5 reasons why we need more Psycho-Pass sequels and 5 explaining why we don't.
10 MORE SEQUELS: More Great One-Off Stories
Through three anime seasons and a few movies, Psycho-Pass has made it clear that it doesn't have to be chained to a certain cast of characters to explore its world or make fascinating stories in it. The third season and the Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System films in particular shift perspective to new characters and even supporting characters from other seasons.
These one-off stories are all tightly written and help to expand the anime's world, by showing it through different eyes and different experiences. By doing that, it doesn't just keep things fresh, it also keeps things interesting.
9 NO MORE SEQUELS: There's Not Enough Time To Get Attached To Everyone
Just because you can shift perspectives often doesn't always mean you should. While it is good that Psycho-Pass can switch things up when it really wants to, it does present the problem of trying to get used to a new cast of characters.
Viewers had to get used to Akane's Division 1 (complete with new and old Enforcers) taking center stage when Season 2 came out. But then in Season 3, characters we knew were completely sidelined for a completely new set of characters. A continually growing cast does keep things exciting but it also makes some of these characters harder to get attached to, especially when they can be switched around and even ditched as often as this.
8 MORE SEQUELS: More Philosophical Themes
With the Sibyl System dictating things as judge and jury, Psycho-Pass's setting does lead to many philosophical discussions about morality, crime, and punishment. The best example of this comes in the form of Season 1's villain, Shogo Makishima, someone with his owns views of this anime's world order who could also exploit the system to appear innocent even while killing people.
The antagonists of the series always have had a strangely interesting perspective of the matter, showing that this all-encompassing system is not perfect and it begs deep questions such as "Should crime still come before punishment if you know the likelihood of someone committing a crime?" or "Should we put trust in an unfeeling computer program to make certain choices?," among others. More of these deep questions and themes would be very welcome.
7 NO MORE SEQUELS: There's Already So Much Content
In the beginning, Psycho-Pass was very straightforward on how to follow the main plot. Following the exploits of Division 1 meant following the first two seasons of the anime and then the movie. However, things became more complicated.
Sinners of the System opened the book on supporting characters and then another season came out after the movie that shifted focus away from Akane to Shindo and Ignatov, to which that season got a film for it as well. With yet another movie on the way, it's safe to say that Psycho-Pass has a lot of content already. The more it has, the trickier it gets to follow it all.
6 MORE SEQUELS: Some Plotlines Still Need To Be Resolved
As long as Psycho-Pass has been going on for, there are a number of plot threads that need some resolution. It would only be disappointing to fans if the plug was pulled before getting to see those loose ends get tied up.
Considering that Akane was last seen demoted from Inspector to Enforcer after the events of the first movie and the mysterious Homura becomes the new chief of Public Safety Bureau, more sequels to delve into and resolve those developments would be better than leaving them on an eternal cliffhanger.
5 NO MORE SEQUELS: More Of The Same
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Despite all its good qualities, Psycho-Pass hasn't exactly had a perfect track record when it comes to criticism from its fans. Psycho-Pass 2, in particular, had a pretty mixed reception with accusations of multiple plotholes, underdeveloped characters, and a conflict that was a little too familiar to the first season's.
Specifically, the villain, Kirito Kamui (yet another person who could exploit the Sibyl System), appeared to be a lesser copy of Makishima. While that's not entirely true, this does bring up the idea that the stretching of any story, no matter how good it is, can always lead to the trappings of becoming more of the same.
4 MORE SEQUELS: We Get To See More Of The Familiar Characters
Psycho-Pass has a number of good characters, from the driven and stoic Kogami to the intelligent Akane. There's plenty of characters to like and root for as they stop criminals and go head to head with the heartless Sibyl System. Even the villains are interesting in their own right, throwing this supposed "crime-free" world into question.
Not to mention, given how some of the Enforcers are deemed as expendable by the system, it gives tension that nobody is truly safe. This makes you want to see the characters who serve in Division 1 make it through that much more.
3 NO MORE SEQUELS: The Risk Of Flanderization
As with any franchise that runs for an extended period of time, the quality of a character's writing can sometimes get diluted. In extreme cases, a character can fall victim to what happened to The Simpsons' Ned Flanders where in later seasons, he became a shell of his former self and an unintentional parody of who he once was. This is something commonly referred to as Flanderization, and Psycho-Pass isn't immune to this.
It's not to say that anyone in Psycho-Pass has fell victim to it, but the longer it goes on for, the more it runs that risk. That would be a real shame if it did happen, since these are some pretty memorable characters that don't deserve such a fate.
2 MORE SEQUELS: Another Chance To Explore This Interesting Sci-Fi World
The cyberpunk world of Psycho-Pass may be bleak in some ways, but it's also fascinating to witness. The various technologies on display that are the norm for these characters from social media and even how they change clothes are very interesting. Technology aside though, the way in which this society functions in the service of not having to fear criminal acts is also unique as well as its own cautionary tale.
A chance to explore more of this setting and all the little things in it that make it tick wouldn't be unwelcome. In fact, it would be another exciting opportunity and must-watch for sci-fi dystopia fans.
1 NO MORE SEQUELS: It Might Get Stale
While any exposure can be seen as good exposure, too much might make people lose interest. Between all the seasons of the anime and a handful of movies, Psycho-Pass has definitely put itself out there a lot, but to sometimes mixed results. With that in mind, the amount of exposure this series gets could possibly cause it to also get a little old.
This is not to say it's getting to that point now, but all fans have a finite amount of patience and the longer something goes on, the more it could lose the patience of even the most ardent fans. Sometimes, it's better to end something on a high note than it is to elongate it until the creative well runs dry. Perhaps Psycho-Pass needs finality more than it does continuation.