History YMMV / GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex

*** Kuze is also compared to Malcolm X and Cassius Clay (a 19th century abolitionist). What they all have in common is that they were highly controversial, morally gray liberators, whose true achievements still remain a matter of debate. Kuze's ideals are repeatedly called a "delusion", even by people who willingly follow him. It's supposed to remain ambiguous how good answers he actually has to the very real problems he presents, and how much is just people being influenced by his enormous charisma.

* AcceptableTargets: The series takes on conservative elements in Japanese politics and the Central Intelligence Agency.

* UncannyValley: Kuze is more than likely an intentional example, since his face is constructed in such a way that he remains utterly stone-faced throughout most of the show to the point of rarely even opening his mouth to speak.

** No information is ever given about Proto in the few appearances he makes in ''2nd Gig''. It isn't until he [[spoiler: falls victim to an attack barrier and reveals that he's a [[Manga/AppleSeed Bioroid]] prototype that we ever learn anything]]. Unfortunately, this comes near the end of the series, and really plays no part of the story, and such a detail was never hinted at or mentioned again. It only serves as a reminder that ''Ghost in the Shell'' and Manga/{{Appleseed}} share [[TheVerse the same universe]].

** The moment in episode 3 of season 2 where [[spoiler:Purin gets gunned down by the Prime Minister's bodyguards after shooting one who was infected by the Post Human virus is clearly meant to be a dramatic moment, but it comes across as comical as in the moments leading up to it, the cast and the audience think that ''she'' has been the one who is infected and seeing her shoot someone repeatedly with a giant Desert Eagle then start jumping up and down and cheering to Aramaki that she saved the day moments before getting absolutely riddled with bullets almost feels like parody with how out of place her cheerfulness is with the rest of the show.]]

** ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplexSolidStateSociety Solid State Society]]'': The mysterious "[[PuppetMaster Puppeteer]]" is a [[EnemyWithout gestalt created by the combined subconsciousness]] of countless Noble Rot senior citizens. [[BigBadDuumvirate Aiding the vile Hitshoi Munei]], the Puppeteer allows for multiple terrorist attacks to occur and even aids Munei in his kidnapping of pure-blooded Japanese children to create his ideal ruling class. Behind Munei's back the Puppeteer sneaks in children from abused homes, wishing to give them a better life, evading Section 9's attempts to stop it all along the way until finally confronting them to [[AffablyEvil politely reveal its plans]] before killing itself, its schemes [[TheBadGuyWins seeing the abused children's parents taken to court]].

* [[BadassBureaucrat Chief Daisuke Aramaki]] is the head of Public Security Section 9. Famed for his shrewd tactics, Aramaki heads Section 9 on the Laughing Man case, willing to [[WellIntentionedExtremist let civilians die]] as long as he can protect Japan as a whole and even has his own team declared fugitives in a ploy to lure out their foe. In ''2nd GIG'' Aramaki uses his political connections to have the disbanded Section 9 reinstated and shows further tactical acumen when he is [[DefiantCaptive taken captive]] by hapless crooks during an assassination attempt and manages to not only evade the onslaught of police but also turn the tides on the corrupt higher-ups seeking his end. Utterly dismantling the schemes of the wicked Kazundo Gouda, Aramaki threatens the unarmed villain to desist from his attempted treason and when ignored [[GoodIsNotSoft mercilessly orders Gouda's death]].
* Season 1: "[[TheDogWasTheMastermind The Laughing Man]]" or "[[WellIntentionedExtremist Aoi]]" is a genius cyberterrorist out to expose the misdeeds of the Serano Genomics corporation. Kidnapping their CEO to reveal the truth about their dangerous premature treatment for a android brain disease, with the Laughing Man's hacking skills so inspiring copycats and even companies begin using his name to commit attacks of their own. Displeased but undaunted, the Laughing Man begins cultivating students of his true teachings, fooling most of Section 9 by [[ObfuscatingDisability playing the role of a deaf mute]], the Laughing Man's skills end up impressing Section 9 so much that their chief offers him a job at the agency.
* ''2nd GIG'': [[DarkMessiah Hideo Kuze]], the first boy that Major Motoko Kusanagi ever loved, was the survivor of a plane crash who underwent the process to transfer himself into a cybernetic shell. Becoming involved with the military and seeing the plight of the Dejima refugees, Kuze [[RogueSoldier becomes a terrorist and eventual revolutionary]], manipulating all of Japan in the process of helping Dejima win independence and link his mind with millions of others so he might control them for his plans. Assisting Motoko in piercing the schemes of the villainous Kazundo Gouda, Kuze sparks his revolution and seemingly gives his life for his cause with implications he may well have succeeded in [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence joining the Network]] after all.
* ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplexSolidStateSociety Solid State Society]]'': The mysterious "[[PuppetMaster Puppeteer]]" is a [[EnemyWithout gestalt created by the combined subconsciousness]] of countless Noble Rot senior citizens. [[BigBadDuumvirate Aiding the vile Hitshoi Munei]], the Puppeteer allows for multiple terrorist attacks to occur and even aids Munei in his kidnapping of pure-blooded Japanese children to create his ideal ruling class. Behind Munei's back the Puppeteer sneaks in children from abused homes, wishing to give them a better life, evading Section 9's attempts to stop it all along the way until finally confronting them to [[AffablyEvil politely reveal its plans]] before killing itself, its schemes [[TheBadGuyWins seeing the abused children's parents taken to court]].

** [[BadassBureaucrat Chief Daisuke Aramaki]] is the head of Public Security Section 9. Famed for his shrewd tactics, Aramaki heads Section 9 on the Laughing Man case, willing to [[WellIntentionedExtremist let civilians die]] as long as he can protect Japan as a whole and even has his own team declared fugitives in a ploy to lure out their foe. In ''2nd GIG'' Aramaki uses his political connections to have the disbanded Section 9 reinstated and shows further tactical acumen when he is [[DefiantCaptive taken captive]] by hapless crooks during an assassination attempt and manages to not only evade the onslaught of police but also turn the tides on the corrupt higher-ups seeking his end. Utterly dismantling the schemes of the wicked Kazundo Gouda, Aramaki threatens the unarmed villain to desist from his attempted treason and when ignored [[GoodIsNotSoft mercilessly orders Gouda's death]].
** Season 1: "[[TheDogWasTheMastermind The Laughing Man]]" or "[[WellIntentionedExtremist Aoi]]" is a genius cyberterrorist out to expose the misdeeds of the Serano Genomics corporation. Kidnapping their CEO to reveal the truth about their dangerous premature treatment for a android brain disease, with the Laughing Man's hacking skills so inspiring copycats and even companies begin using his name to commit attacks of their own. Displeased but undaunted, the Laughing Man begins cultivating students of his true teachings, fooling most of Section 9 by [[ObfuscatingDisability playing the role of a deaf mute]], the Laughing Man's skills end up impressing Section 9 so much that their chief offers him a job at the agency.
** ''2nd GIG'': [[DarkMessiah Hideo Kuze]], the first boy that Major Motoko Kusanagi ever loved, was the survivor of a plane crash who underwent the process to transfer himself into a cybernetic shell. Becoming involved with the military and seeing the plight of the Dejima refugees, Kuze [[RogueSoldier becomes a terrorist and eventual revolutionary]], manipulating all of Japan in the process of helping Dejima win independence and link his mind with millions of others so he might control them for his plans. Assisting Motoko in piercing the schemes of the villainous Kazundo Gouda, Kuze sparks his revolution and seemingly gives his life for his cause with implications he may well have succeeded in [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence joining the Network]] after all.