WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 1 of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 ends on a very trippy note, as Sector 9 dives deep into the case of 14-year-old Takashi, a post-human who invented the dangerous Think Pol app. However, while that program goes rogue, leading to mass murders, Togusa disappears after empathizing with the high-schooler and his plans for a Japanese rebellion.
As Batou and Major 9 are left without one of Sector 9's most important soldiers, and the threat of the post-humans rising up against Sustainable War continues to rise, let's look at how a second season gets set up.
TOGUSA'S SALVATION
Togusa seems to be disillusioned with witnessing Takashi's memories and how government officials murdered his young cousin, Yuzu. He starts to wonder if Section 9, and all his work for Japan, has been worth it. Clearly, he thinks they're fighting on the wrong side, and it's why he disappears with the real Takashi.
Season 2 focusing on Sector 9 going after him could also help change Major's crew, as they are uncomfortable knowing Prime Minister Tate is just an American puppet. Japan is basically rounding up these advanced soldiers for America to study, so finding Togusa could help them unlock all the answers they need to decide which side to fight for.
However, what could add an interesting wrinkle is Togusa has been infected by Takashi's data, so he could become post-human also, and maybe even a Sector 9 enemy if they don't align with his newfound sense of social justice. He already seems to be backing the Think Pol app and the chaos it's causing, so it seems Takashi's attempt to create his own legion a la George Orwell's 1984 is working.
THE POST-HUMAN HUNT
Until the Togusa issue is solved, the priority is hunting these advanced beings down. Sector 9 already secured Patrick, who is basically a human war machine, and they also had to kill one previously storied in Las Vegas. From their mission plan and contract, they have to hunt down Takashi and one other unnamed post-human hidden in Japan as well.
Season 2 could see Major needing reinforcements, as these beings are much more technologically advanced than her army of cyber-soldiers. They hack faster, can control tech much more seamlessly and predict attacks, which makes them near-invincible in battle. The Sustainable War could also result in the remaining 10 hidden around the world coming to Japan to destroy Sector 9 and the shady Japanese-American alliance.
It's one of the reasons Major wants Takashi and Togusa back in their care, so her squad can determine a proper solution for the new war to come. This might even see Sector 9 repurposing post-human tech to upgrade themselves, as they know they're becoming obsolete.
THE SUSTAINABLE EMPIRE
Tate, as much as he's an American plant, loves Japan and wants to see it prosper. He's been involved in the shady Tokyo rebuild project, though, so that's why the post-humans are after him; they want all corruption to be destroyed. However, the post-humans' bigger plan is to take countries like Japan and America down, as they're the world powers in Sustainable War, with their one percent manufacturing weapons.
The poor people in these countries are left to suffer, so we may well see a new arms race outside of the post-human rebellion. It seems, as with John Smith's NSA plan, America is looking to control post-humans themselves. America could then turn them on Japan or any other country in the world, basically winning the Sustainable War. Tate knows he has a civil war on his hands, and he really isn't fond of America spying on his people, so he may use Sector 9 to help Japan control post-humans and gain a surprise advantage.
Either way, it's clear these countries are angling to see who truly becomes the ruling empire, which will depend on who can use the post-humans as their dogs of war. With other post-humans hidden across the world, there's a chance we could also see Europe or South America joining the battlefield in Season 2.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is directed by Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki. Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.
