Paranoia Agent lives up to its name in “MHz,” when Maniwa begins questioning his own perception of reality. While the detective sinks into obsession with analog radios, the hosts talk about mental illness, social isolation, and parallels to ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers.’ Yes, there’s ‘mega-hurts’ puns.
Then, it’s time for the most infamous episode of the show, the controversial and often-censored “Happy Family Planning.” If you know one thing about Paranoia Agent, it’s probably this jet-black comedy about a suicide pact, and its notorious bungee-cable scene. Ian and Joseph speak candidly about their mixed reactions to this tremendously upsetting episode. It’s an inescapable piece of Satoshi Kon’s legacy and the most singular episode of Paranoia Agent, but does it misrepresent or overshadow the rest of the series? Answers and more questions await in the episode.
CW: Suicide, Self-harm
Summary: 00:00
Analysis: 07:11