REVIEW: ‘The Ghost In The Shell’ Episode 7 — “Bye Bye Clay”

The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7, “Bye Bye Clay,” sees the Puppet Master make their grand entrance when a workbench at an android manufacturing site spontaneously turns on and constructs a unique female android. But Section 9 isn’t the only organization interested in the android, as Section 6 swiftly appears to complicate the situation. 

The long-awaited arrival of one of the series’ key personalities is handled skillfully. The mystery surrounding the character is played up as much as possible, given the single-episode introduction. The initial query about the strange occurrence at the factory serves as a great setup for what’s to come. It draws in anyone who doesn’t instantly recognize what is unfolding, as several “impossible” events are investigated. 

Further grabbing the viewer’s eye in The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7’s opening is the striking use of color. Both interior and exterior shots are infused with harsh contrasts of bright and dark. Whether it’s dark rooms lit by light from adjoining corridors or neon signs splitting the night, the sharp break between light and dark in many shots gives the opening a compelling visual design that pairs wonderfully with the mysterious narrative. 

Government representatives show up to confiscate the android before it can talk to Aramaki.

While much of this setup works great, how the runaway android is apprehended leaves a bit of confusion. At least once you learn more about it. The super-intelligent Puppet Master getting hit by a semi in the middle of the night feels like a bizarre event to play out.

Despite only being in possession of a body for a handful of hours at most, one would think that some basic physics concerning mass and momentum would’ve been in the initial download. It feels overly convenient for the accident to happen, laying out the android right where Batou (Hiroki Yasumoto, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX) can pick it up. 

Once acquired, the remains of the android are taken back to Section 9. Here, the big reveal plays out, and The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7 arrives at the heart of its narrative as government representatives show up to confiscate the android before it can talk to Aramaki (Kazuhiro Yamaji, Scarlet) about what it knows. 

The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7 hits its deepest when Section reacquires the lost android.

The presentation of the Puppet Master instantly conveys that the android isn’t simply being controlled by a remote hacker. The flat, emotionless voice and manner of pronunciation give the character an inhuman feel. The interview between Aramaki and the Puppet Master is cut short, though, when agents of Section 6 show up to steal the android and attempt to kill Aramaki. Only a cloaked Kusanagi (Maaya Sakamoto, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon) can prevent the latter from happening, as well as place some trackers to keep their quarry within their reach, allowing for a pursuit to begin. 

The tension that tries to build from here on out is repeatedly undercut by the series’ humor. A couple of characters have a few tongue-in-cheek moments that don’t feel right in the back half of this episode. This seems like the time when Section 9 should lock in and focus on the job, not try to score some chuckles. Nothing overly wild ruins the remaining sequences, but it still creates some jarring moments as the situation wades into deeper narrative waters. 

The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7 hits its deepest when Section reacquires the lost android, despite Section 6’s attempts to destroy it rather than surrender it, leaving it on the verge of collapse. Attempting to salvage the rapidly failing situation, Kusanagi brain-dives the android, hoping to recover its memory if nothing else. 

The series’ default visual style is intended to be comical at its heart.

The Major’s up-close and personal meeting with the Puppet Master is a visual treat. This sequence feels like the moment that made Science SARU the choice for the series, as its surreal, trippy nature is right up their alley. But despite the visuals manifesting a surrealist energy, there is a clash the sequence cannot avoid.

The series’ default visual style is intended to be comical at its heart. Characters like Aramaki feel specifically designed to invoke humor. This creates a clash as the episode jumps between the immaterial world of the net, where Kusanagi observes the Puppet Master’s lecture, and the corporeal one where Aramaki and Batou struggle to maintain their comrade’s connection to the physical world. This conflict between the two sides of the sequence doesn’t wholly ruin the moment, but leaves it feeling less cohesive than it would be with a more grounded visual presentation.

What is shared between the Puppet Master and Kusanagi is an intriguing exchange that explores the new being’s existence and its growing connection to The Major. The visuals help emphasize the ethereal nature of the exchange, building up its impact and insinuating meaning where concepts are purposefully left vague. The sequence’s impact on Kusanagi is also expertly conveyed through Sakamoto’s wonderful voice work. 

Science SARU showcases its animation genius as it delves deeper into the series’ narrative. 

As the episode draws to a close, Kusanagi seems to be on the verge of transcending to a higher plane of existence along with the Puppet Master. As her avatar is bathed in white light and tears stream from her eyes, the episode fades out, leaving her fate unknown for the time being. 

While The Ghost In The Shell Episode 7 does its best to deliver a unique and surreal moment, some stumbles are unavoidable due to its core choices in its visual presentation. Nonetheless, Science SARU showcases its animation genius as it delves deeper into the series’ narrative. 

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 7 is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

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