Ah yes, every GITS adaptation's favorite scene: the think tank. I love how they handled it here, showing how outclassed Major and Togusa are this time.

This episode in particular has some excellently timed humor given how serious the tone is. Motoko just finished explaining how horrific her wet work was, and they let that sit just long enough to create that tension and let you absorb some of her past, just before we get that "who meee???" look on her face. That joke arriving too early could have very easily faceplanted, but it was timed just right.

Same thing with Motoko and her BF revealing to each other that they ran background checks to be safe. They don't need to say anything to show how they both feel their trust has been violated, they just let that soundtrack play in the background for a bit. Then, boom, Batou drops a car seat on the ground. Perfect way to relieve that tension.

Actually the soundtrack this whole episode was beautiful.

Every time I watch a new episode of this I'm blown away. I loved Stand-Alone Complex, but I think this beats it for me.

This episode was less intense on the dialogs, and had much more action than the previous one. I do not remember why Motoko's hair changed color.