Divided by a Wall is the second chapter of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. It cuts between GHOST's chaotic firefight against drone-backed insurgents and a quiet study in which Togusa is drawn toward the ghost of a disbanded Section 9.
Summary
The insurgents, freshly bankrolled by a wealthy sponsor, throw AI-guided hardware at Batou's mercenary crew after their supposed silent approach is blown. Weapons open up, Obsidian slips away, and the fight scatters through a garage. A rogue robot dog harries Batou before it is put down, and Kusanagi turns a Tachikoma loose on a tank the targets have barricaded themselves inside. When a cloaked drone drops a missile on the position, the Tachikoma survives filthy but intact, and Saito's attempt to snipe the aircraft fails, hinting his satellite feed has been compromised.
With the tank unhackable and the team's vehicle wrecked, Kusanagi commandeers a Stinger and gives chase. Ammunition runs dry, the drone hunts the cloaked walker, and Saito, thought lost in the blast, turns out to have ridden out the explosion tucked inside his Tachikoma. Batou trades missile fire with the tank, losing the Stinger but crippling the enemy vehicle, and Kusanagi finally brings the drone down single-handed. As she moves to question the ringleader, the downed drone spends its final missile, and a black-clad special operations unit storms in demanding everyone stand down, an order Batou has no intention of obeying.
Elsewhere, Togusa visits Aramaki. After a brief word about his divorce, the two return to unfinished business: a proposal from newly installed Prime Minister Chris Otomo Tate to rebuild Section 9. Aramaki reads the offer as a leader wanting a tool to flex, and the pair weigh whether the American-blooded PM might answer to Washington. Aramaki wants the old team assembled for a foundational operation, and Togusa, doubtful of his own worth, agrees and takes his first task: locate the former members.
Key Events
The sponsor-armed insurgents deploy AI drones against GHOST, and Obsidian escapes early in the raid.
Saito's compromised satellite feed and near-death in the drone strike become a running thread, resolved when he is found alive inside his Tachikoma.
Kusanagi destroys the drone alone, but the ringleader's interrogation is interrupted by a final missile and the arrival of a hostile special operations team.
Aramaki recruits Togusa to scout the scattered veterans of Section 9 for a rebuild ordered by Prime Minister Chris Otomo Tate.
Notes
The episode carries the subtitle AT YOUR OWN RISK and sits within the 2045 run of the series. Shinji Aramaki directed it from a script by Kenji Kamiyama.
It first aired in Japan on April 23, 2020, with the English release following on May 3, 2020. The story is preceded by Sustainable War and continues into MIA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in Divided by a Wall, the second episode of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045?
In Divided by a Wall, Batou's mercenary crew GHOST fights off AI-guided drones and a barricaded tank sent by sponsor-armed insurgents, while Kusanagi single-handedly destroys an attacking drone before a hostile special operations unit storms in.
Who orders Section 9 to be rebuilt in Divided by a Wall?
In Divided by a Wall, newly installed Prime Minister Chris Otomo Tate proposes rebuilding Section 9, and Aramaki assigns Togusa to track down its scattered former members.
What happens to Saito during the drone attack in Divided by a Wall?
In Divided by a Wall, Saito is nearly killed when a cloaked drone drops a missile on his position, but he survives the blast by riding it out inside his Tachikoma.
Who directed the Divided by a Wall episode of Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045?
Divided by a Wall was directed by Shinji Aramaki from a script by Kenji Kamiyama, and it first aired in Japan on April 23, 2020.
Where does Divided by a Wall fall in the Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 episode order?
Divided by a Wall is the second episode of SAC_2045, following Sustainable War and leading into MIA.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Divided by a Wall? The Ghost in the Shell Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Ghost in the Shell anime series, manga, and official materials. Ghost in the Shell was created by Masamune Shirow, published by Kodansha, and animated by Production I.G. All rights to Ghost in the Shell and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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- Animated byProduction I.G
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