A Recap Episode where Motoko Kusanagi joins a chat room where fans of the Laughing Man discuss his origins, actions, and what his possible return may portend. The entirety of the episode takes place in the chat room and deals with his Loony Fan brigade.
During the chat, an older man has far more knowledge about the Laughing Man than the others. The Major confronts him after the chat and discovers that he is, in fact, the Laughing Man.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Asshole Victim: The Laughing Man is well-liked because no one has any sympathy for big corporations.
- Broken Pedestal: One of the fans loses his interest in the Laughing Man when it's shown that he was afraid during his hostage taking.
- Cyberspace: The episode takes place online where everyone has 3D avatars that they communicate with.
- Excuse Me While I Multi Task: Motoko attends the chatroom while she's driving! (and while Batou thinks he's having a conversation with her).
- Loony Fan: The Laughing Man has a large number of enthusiasts due to his opposition to corporate crime.
- The Mole: Major Kusanagi attends the chat to gain insight into the Laughing Man and his followers.
- Recap Episode: The episode exists to catch people up on the complexities of the Laughing Man plot.
- Villain with Good Publicity: The Laughing Man has dedicated fan groups that analyze his actions and speculate on his identity.
