The BEST episodes of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL
Every episode of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL!
2029, a near-future Japan. The full cyborg Motoko Kusanagi envisions a task force that preemptively strikes emerging threats. She and her team are scouted by Daisuke Aramaki as Public Security Section 9, AKA the "Shell Squad." An international conspiracy hints at a hacker known as The "Puppet Master." What fate awaits Kusanagi? What is the hacker's endgame? A new era of cyberpunk action begins!
#1 - EPISODE 01: PROLOGUE + SUPER SPARTAN i
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/7/2026
During a raid on a meeting with a foreign representative that he suspects involves corruption and criminal activity, Public Security's Daisuke Aramaki encounters a mysterious cyborg. Introducing herself as Motoko Kusanagi, the cyborg proposes the formation of a new special forces unit to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Aramaki asks Kusanagi to investigate something as a first step.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#2 - EPISODE 02: SUPER SPARTAN ii + JUNK JUNGLE i
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/14/2026
Kusanagi and her team begin operating as the Shell Squad after being scouted by Aramaki. At some point, the cyberbrain of the Foreign Minister's interpreter was infected by a virus. Aramaki senses that Col. Malles, who is living in exile in the country, is trying to interfere with a secret meeting. He orders Kusanagi to back-trace the hack and find the culprit.
#3 - EPISODE 03: JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/21/2026
Kusanagi and Togusa take their suspect into custody after a furious chase in their Fuchikomas. Elsewhere, Aramaki and Batou are staking out Col. Malles when he is paid a visit by someone they suspect is the Puppet Master, the hacker who released the virus on his orders.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#4 - EPISODE 04: ROBOT RONDO
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/28/2026
There has been a rash of attacks against humans by promotional sample robots. Kusanagi's team rounds up robots of that same model line, and they learn that they all share a common trait. Batou and Togusa head to Hanka Precision Instruments, where they are made, to determine what is behind the attacks.
#5 - EPISODE 05: PHANTOM FUND
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/4/2026
Kusanagi and the team go to the Far North to surveil a combat cyborg named Koil Krasnov. To determine what Koil is after and uncover corruption behind the expansion of Sagawa Electronics' underground factory, Kusanagi infiltrates Sagawa's offices while Batou and the rest make for the underground factory.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#6 - EPISODE 06: DUMB BARTER
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/11/2026
Kusanagi and her boyfriend are rushed to the hospital after being attacked without warning. They suspect Toru Soma, a terrorist that Kusanagi has a history with. Kusanagi and Togusa leave the hospital, and after leading their pursuers on a chase, they find themselves in a fierce battle against an armed group in an abandoned factory.
#7 - EPISODE 07: BYE BYE CLAY
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/18/2026
A robot flees from Megatech Body Co., Ltd. Section 9 takes it into custody, only to find that the Puppet Master is inside it. The Puppet Master announces to Aramaki's team that it is "a life form that arose spontaneously in the sea of information." Moments after it requests political asylum, it is stolen by an unknown party.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#8 - EPISODE 08: INTERMISSION + BRAIN DRAIN i
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/25/2026
Kusanagi regains consciousness after a brain-dive into the Puppet Master. Although they now know the truth behind what happened, Kusanagi keeps sensing the Puppet Master's presence from time to time. The Shell Squad raids a boat being used by a terrorist cell, and Kusanagi mistakenly guns down its leader.