When i first watched this a few years ago i thought it was great but nothing special. After watching it again, its a very comfortable 10/10. Almost every episode is great, something which is rare to see in a 26 episode anime. With anime this long, there's usually at least a few weak episodes that feel like filler or just aren't engaging. Even the weakest episode in this series is a good episode. So let me dive into why its good, starting with the characters

The main cast are the members of section 9, several of them aren't really fleshed out but it doesnt matter too much. They all have something to offer when they're on screen. The most relevant characters are the chief, Motoko, Batou and Togusa and all four are really good characters. Its always interesting to see the different perspectives they have, like Togusa who is the only that is 100% human. Its not just a superficial aspect of his character, its relevant and carries weight. They all have their own unique personality which helps to set up how the show explores its varying philosophies. What makes them really great is the chemistry they have with each other, they feel like an actual team. The character interactions feel real in the way it utilises their personalities and how their words bounce off each other, the dialogue is smooth and witty. There's no forced drama or lazy use of emotions.

The story is great for a number of reasons. It doesn't actually feel like an anime, it has a certain style to it that seems to avoid common anime tropes and explores themes most anime don't. The way conflict is resolved, its portrayal of harsh but mundane reality, complex social structures, the relevance of bureaucracy, its procedural nature which makes it resemble a live action TV show. This also applies to how it handles action and the power of the main characters. A really great aspect of the story is the tension that it evokes due to the fact that the characters aren't that powerful. Like in many action anime, numbers aren't really important, a single character can defeat hundreds of enemies on his own. Although section 9 are full of capable individuals, their abilities and strength is very grounded. The main character Motoko is a genius hacker and a monster combat cyborg but she's still very vulnerable, she can easily get killed or disabled like any human.

Going back to my earlier point about this not feeling like a anime, the Tachikoma are a great example of this. They are robots with child like voices who represent the cute part of the cast, we see this in many anime. Characters that are just there to meet the cute quota. The tachikoma however are actually really fascinating, the way their characterisation is explored by the plot is fantastic, thought provoking and even emotionally powerful. Great characters who get more likeable as the show goes on, their existence is tied in to the themes of the story.