And here’s my first writeup on the season’s most interesting new prospect, The Perfect Insider. This show’s definitely keeping its cards pretty close to the vest so far, but there’s a lot to like in its winding conversations and carefully drawn characters. It’s interesting to see a show where one of the central characters is so frankly unlikable, and even framed as such by the narrative. We’re kept pretty close to Moe’s perspective, meaning there’s basically no way the professor could come off as sympathetic. I’ll be very interested in seeing how the doctor and Moe interact once Magata escapes from her cage, and also interested in seeing how the show’s tone changes once it shifts from establishing pieces to actually playing out some kind of central mystery. Either way, the show seems confident as hell so far, so I’m on board.

You can check out my full writeup over at ANN, or my episode two notes below!

More strong use of light and shadow, in spite of the overall saturated look. When they’re inside, everything is faded in gloom – when they’re outside, it’s all bleached by sunlight. Almost no colors in this world

Moe’s fashion remains great

Moe’s parents are gone

Yamane Yukihiro. A man with the Magata Lab

Saikawa’s an assistant professor in the architectural department at a school of engineering. Meaning he has no basis for being a self-involved philosopher

Moe being moe

“For the past fifteen years, Dr. Magata hasn’t taken a single step outside”

Moe trying to make him jealous and then sulking again

It’s kinda interesting how much the show is focusing on this – it’s a simple thing, but it’s not a background detail, it’s actually prioritized. I wonder where they’re going with Moe

The island is completely isolated – there aren’t even regular boat trips

Moe in these conversations with Dr. Magata comes off as far more sharp and driven than when she’s with the professor

Sharp enough to actually seem to be mocking Dr. Magata’s shut-in philosophy

The scenes with Moe’s classmates are kinda weird. They seem a bit unnatural, though of course all the conversations in this show are unnatural – but those ones don’t really have a character-based reason to be

“I can’t believe she’s lived the last fifteen years without seeing a beautiful sky like this!” “But that way of life is beautiful, as well.” A pretty good summary of their characters

The professor’s philosophical nonsense is such unbearable bullshit

The scenes with Moe’s classmates are possibly intended to demonstrate the sheltered situation that would lead someone as bright as Moe to be taken in by someone as dull as this professor

“Sensei, are you just keeping me around, even though you don’t like me?”

Moe’s being used, and the show’s very direct about it, so clearly she’s going to move past him

Contrasting Moe’s current desires and Magata’s old ones through cutting to this flashback. It seems very likely Moe will be the person to help Magata find herself

Dang, these are some charged flashbacks with Magata

This incredibly sterilized lab

The doctor isn’t responding, and is locked inside her room. The director went to get her younger sister

Wow, she’s under crazy security. And they’re playing this out like a horror story

“There were too many people around her who treated her like a genius. But to me, she was just a thirteen-year-old girl.” Is that Moe’s role now?