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The Best Episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1

Every episode of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1!

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In the future when technological enhancements and robotics are a way of life, Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 take care of the jobs that are too difficult for the police. Section 9 employs hackers,

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 1 - SA: Public Security Section 9; SECTION-9
    7.3/10(476 votes)

    #1 - SA: Public Security Section 9; SECTION-9

    S1:E1

    Public Security Section 9 is an elite special ops unit that works directly under the control of the Prime Minister. They've been called in to rescue a high-ranking government official from a hostage situation. But something doesn't seem right to Major Motoko Kusanagi.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Kenji Kamiyama

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  2. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 2 - SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION
    7.6/10(426 votes)

    #2 - SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION

    S1:E2

    Kenbishi Heavy Industries has built a state-of-the-art multiped tank. There's only one problem–it's gone haywire and started moving on its own. Section 9 is called in to stop it, as the Self Defense Force will not get involved. Now, it's up to Motoko, Batou, and the rest of Section 9 to stop the tank and figure out what made it go berserk in the first place.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  3. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 3 - SA: A Modest Rebellion; ANDROID AND I
    7.1/10(380 votes)

    #3 - SA: A Modest Rebellion; ANDROID AND I

    S1:E3

    A certain type of android, the GA07_JL, nicknamed Jeri by its users, has been affected by a virus. Recently, all Jeri model androids have been committing "suicide". Section 9 is called in as it may be related to a virus detected in an android at the National Assembly Building.

    Director:Masayuki Yoshihara
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  4. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 4 - C: The Visual Device will Laugh; INTERCEPTER
    7.7/10(362 votes)

    #4 - C: The Visual Device will Laugh; INTERCEPTER

    S1:E4

    While working late, Togusa gets a call from one of his colleagues from his days on the police force. It seems that he's uncovered something strange happening with the investigators in the Laughing Man Unit, a special task force formed to catch the infamous cyber criminal known only as the Laughing Man. But before he can meet with Togusa, he's killed in a car accident.

    Director:Hideyo Yamamoto
    Writer:Shoutarou Suga

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  5. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 5 - C: The Inviting Bird will Chant; DECOY
    7.5/10(333 votes)

    #5 - C: The Inviting Bird will Chant; DECOY

    S1:E5

    The Laughing Man, having returned after a six-year absence, threatens to assassinate the Superintendent-General of the police. Aramaki, however, thinks it's a cover-up. He briefs Section 9 on the prime suspect, Nanao=A, an incredibly gifted programmer who developed the micro-machines that are currently the foundation of Serano Industries.

    Director:Ryutaro Nakamura
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  6. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 6 - C: The Copycat will Dance; MEME
    7.9/10(324 votes)

    #6 - C: The Copycat will Dance; MEME

    S1:E6

    As Togusa and Bato track down Nanao, Motoko and Paz are attempting to protect the Superintendent-General at a press conference about the police misuse of interceptors. When the virus does hit, Motoko and Paz have to act fast to save the intended victim. Meanwhile, the road to Nanao=A hits a dead end.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 7 - SA: Idolatry; IDOLATOR
    7.5/10(307 votes)

    #7 - SA: Idolatry; IDOLATOR

    S1:E7

    Section 9 is on the trail of Marcelo Jarti, a South American revolutionary hero who has arrived in Japan. However, Jarti is a hard man to catch because he employs look-alikes to deceive people. Nevertheless, Section 9 is convinced that the one they're tracking is the real thing, and after a rather out-of-control gunbattle in an upscale hotel, they track him to an old warehouse.

    Director:Atsushi Wakabayashi
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  8. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 8 - SA: The Fortunate Ones; MISSING HEARTS
    7.3/10(302 votes)

    #8 - SA: The Fortunate Ones; MISSING HEARTS

    S1:E8

    Motoko's friend Courtin asks her to come to the hospital where she works. It seems a little girl just received a heart transplant, but the donor's family doesn't remember ever agreeing to donate the heart. When Motoko mentions this story to Aramaki, he tells them to determine if this is tied to a ring of black-market organ smugglers supposedly run by the mafia.

    Director:Kazunobu Fuseki
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  9. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 9 - C: The Man Who Lurks in the Darkness of the Net; CHAT! CHAT! CHAT!
    7.2/10(306 votes)

    #9 - C: The Man Who Lurks in the Darkness of the Net; CHAT! CHAT! CHAT!

    S1:E9

    Motoko enters into an online chat room devoted to the Laughing Man to see if she can find any new information on him. What she discovers is a spirited debate among the self-proclaimed "fans" of the Laughing Man, but very little hard evidence.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Dai Sato

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  10. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 10 - SA: A Perfect Day for a Jungle Cruise; JUNGLE CRUISE
    8.1/10(323 votes)

    #10 - SA: A Perfect Day for a Jungle Cruise; JUNGLE CRUISE

    S1:E10

    Marco Amoretti, a former Navy Petty Officer from the American Empire, has come to Japan and is committing heinous acts of brutality against women. Section 9 is assisted in this matter by the American Empire's CIA. While this doesn't sit well with Public Security's members, Batou finds the whole case particularly hard on his psyche as the nightmares from his past rear their ugly head.

    Director:Jun Matsumoto
    Writer:Dai Sato

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  11. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 11 - C: Inside the Forest of the Sub-Imagoes; PORTRAITZ
    7.8/10(308 votes)

    #11 - C: Inside the Forest of the Sub-Imagoes; PORTRAITZ

    S1:E11

    Togusa goes undercover at a hospital for patients with Closed Cyberbrain Syndrome, a hospital completely cut off from communication with the outside world.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  12. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 12 - SA: Tachikoma Runaway, The Movie Director's Dream; ESCAPE FROM
    7.9/10(311 votes)

    #12 - SA: Tachikoma Runaway, The Movie Director's Dream; ESCAPE FROM

    S1:E12

    One of the Tachikomas decides to take a little stroll through the city. It meets a little girl, Miki, who is searching for her lost dog and it agrees to help her. On their journey, the Tachikoma finds a strange box.

    Director:Masayuki Yoshihara
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  13. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 13 - SA: Unequal Terrorist; NOT EQUAL
    7.5/10(276 votes)

    #13 - SA: Unequal Terrorist; NOT EQUAL

    S1:E13

    In a briefing, Aramaki shows a photo of a girl who looks like Eka Tokura, the daughter of Tokura Electronics, who was kidnapped 16 years ago. But there's one problem–the photo was taken two days ago!

    Director:Kazunobu Fuseki
    Writer:Shoutarou Suga

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  14. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 14 - SA: Automated Capitalism; ¥€$
    7.2/10(264 votes)

    #14 - SA: Automated Capitalism; ¥€$

    S1:E14

    The Chinese government contacts Section 9 to let them know that an assassin may have entered Japan to kill a famous reclusive millionaire. Despite their considerable efforts, however, Section 9 is unable to contact him to warn him, so they go directly to his residence.

    Director:Hideyo Yamamoto
    Writer:Kenji Kamiyama

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  15. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 15 - SA: Time of the Machines; MACHINES DÉSIRANTES
    7.6/10(290 votes)

    #15 - SA: Time of the Machines; MACHINES DÉSIRANTES

    S1:E15

    The Major has become worried about the Tachikomas. It appears that their AIs have developed much more quickly and in ways that were not anticipated; they have begun speaking about their "individuality".

    Director:Kenichi Takeshita
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  16. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 16 - SA: Chinks in the Armour of the Heart; Ag2O
    7.5/10(276 votes)

    #16 - SA: Chinks in the Armour of the Heart; Ag2O

    S1:E16

    Batou goes undercover on a military base to shadow one of his former heroes, a man named Zaitsev who was an Olympic silver medalist. Now, however, he's under suspicion of espionage. Batou befriends him easily, and the two really seem to get along--which is unusual for Batou. But when Batou learns the truth behind his hero, he must make a very difficult decision.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Nobutoshi Terado

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  17. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 17 - SA: The True Reason for the Unfinished Love Affair; ANGELS' SHARE
    7.4/10(266 votes)

    #17 - SA: The True Reason for the Unfinished Love Affair; ANGELS' SHARE

    S1:E17

    While at an international police conference in London, Aramaki drops by to visit an old flame who's now in the wine brokering business. She asks him to help her put a stop to the corruption in her company, but he tells her that it's out of his jurisdiction. Just then, however, two thieves break into the building and take them hostage.

    Director:Yasuhiro Geshi
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  18. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 18 - SA: Assassination Duet; LOST HERITAGE
    7.4/10(261 votes)

    #18 - SA: Assassination Duet; LOST HERITAGE

    S1:E18

    Aramaki attends the funeral of an old war buddy, and is greeted by his departed friend's daughter. Later, Section 9 is assigned the task of protecting the Chinese Foreign Minister from being assassinated.

    Director:Masayuki Yoshihara
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  19. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 19 - SA: Embraced by a Disguised Net; CAPTIVATED
    7.2/10(259 votes)

    #19 - SA: Embraced by a Disguised Net; CAPTIVATED

    S1:E19

    Section 9's next case is a rash of mass-kidnappings. Rumor has it that a crime syndicate is harvesting organs and selling them on the black market. As they research the case, they realize that time is running out.

    Director:Minoru Ohara
    Writer:Shoutarou Suga

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  20. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 20 - C: Vanished Medication; RE-VIEW
    8.1/10(280 votes)

    #20 - C: Vanished Medication; RE-VIEW

    S1:E20

    Togusa is on the trail of the Laughing Man again, and this time, his investigations lead him towards both a leading micromachine corporation and an NGO called the Sunflower Society.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Dai Sato

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  21. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 21 - C: Left-Behind Trace; ERASER
    8.5/10(304 votes)

    #21 - C: Left-Behind Trace; ERASER

    S1:E21

    After being shot, Togusa's in the hospital and about to go into surgery, but he is desperate to pass on what he's learned to the rest of Section 9. As Togusa fights for his life, the rest of Section 9 takes over the case, but others within the government have learned of the investigation and are not happy.

    Director:Kenichi Takeshita
    Writer:Dai Sato

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  22. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 22 - C: Corporate Graft; SCANDAL
    7.9/10(267 votes)

    #22 - C: Corporate Graft; SCANDAL

    S1:E22

    Motoko is about to be fitted for her new prosthetic body. But when the doctor arrives and begins the procedure, it's clear that she has no intent of letting Motoko out alive. Meanwhile, Aramaki receives a disturbing message that his brother has been kidnapped.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  23. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 23 - C: The Other Side of Good and Evil; EQUINOX
    8.0/10(270 votes)

    #23 - C: The Other Side of Good and Evil; EQUINOX

    S1:E23

    The Laughing Man returns! And, just as he did six years ago, he kidnaps the president of Serano Genomics without being detected. Section 9 arrives at Serano's house too late, and sets out to find him.

    Director:Jun Matsumoto
    Writer:Junichi Fujisaku

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  24. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 24 - C: Sunset in the Lonely City; ANNIHILATION
    8.3/10(274 votes)

    #24 - C: Sunset in the Lonely City; ANNIHILATION

    S1:E24

    The government orders Section 9 disbanded. Aramaki is taken away, and Togusa is arrested. Motoko assembles the remaining team members at HQ for one final mission. They prepare for a full-scale assault while Elite troopers and Armed Suits descend on Section 9 HQ.

    Director:Yasuhiro Geshi
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  25. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 Episode 25 - C: Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets; BARRAGE
    8.8/10(317 votes)

    #25 - C: Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets; BARRAGE

    S1:E25

    Despite their best efforts, the remaining members of Section 9 are rounded up one by one by the government forces; only Batou and Motoko are left.

    Director:Kazunobu Fuseki
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"SA: Public Security Section 9; SECTION-9" is the best rated episode of "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 476 votes. Directed by Toshiyuki Kono and written by Kenji Kamiyama, it aired on 10/1/2002. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION".