Episode 11

This week's episode ties up some more lose ends regarding the mysterious deaths that took place at Dr. Magata's sea lab. Though plenty of questions do get answered - namely, the twist involving who was the one who was able to walk out of the lab after the murders - other questions about human existence are proposed to the audience.

My favorite thing about "The Perfect Insider" so far has always been the somewhat obnoxious philosophical discussions that are brought about by Dr. Magata and Saikawa's personalities. Any artform about the intellectually elite can seem daunting, but given the connection between art and life philosophy, the presence of the discussions breathes real life into the otherwise straightforward murder mystery plot.

This week's discussion is all about freedom and its connection to the idea of love and affection. After all, can one person truly be free if there are always loved ones influencing your life? It's hard to un-pack Dr. Magata's words without spoiling the plot that was finally revealed in last week's episode, but ultimately it makes for a super engaging conversation with Saikawa, and also provided excellent explanation as to why, even after ten years, Saikawa keeps Nishinosono at bay.

It's in the way that Saikawa's response to Dr. Magata's feelings about death that really informs his continued aloofness. He claims not to understand how "interference" can be "love," which makes the next scenes with Nishinosono that much more intense.

That is to say, if there's one thing "The Perfect Insider" does well, it is the ability to build conflict across scenes through characterization. The audience would always find out who committed the murders, but the really interesting and engaging part, is what Saikawa and Nishinosono learn about themselves and each other because of the mystery.

In short, there is always conflict on all fronts, even in the quietest of scenes.

Overall, I'd say that this week's episode of "The Perfect Insider" is probably one of my favorites. Not only is there the usual elements of life philosophy and beautiful animation, but there is the intricate connection between internal and external conflict that builds across scenes that makes it truly engaging.