Serial Experiments Lain

Synopsis:

This is where I would normally give a brief intro synopsis for an anime however with Serial Experiments: Lain, there isn't one. Think of it like this, you're given a 1000 piece puzzle of a clear blue sky and you dump all the pieces out in front of you. You're overwhelmed at first and don't know where to begin but then you see 5 puzzle pieces stuck together that form a small portion of the corner. With this little boost to begin with you realize that you could start the border and work your way in. That's what Serial Experiments: Lain is, it's a puzzle that only gives you a small hint at the story but leaves it up to the viewer to piece it together to decipher it's meaning. What that meaning is though, could differ from person to person.


Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 13


Review:

Ah yes, our very own Complex 69 poster child makes her debut. I'll admit while watching this show I was confused but then again at times... I wasn't. Let me try to explain, now how I saw it is that the series is showing me how everyone on the Wired (kind of like the internet) is connected somehow by cellphones, computers, even television to some extent, but to someone that can't really see you does that mean you even exist? You can say what you want, be what you want... even God, but that still doesn't prove your existence. In reality no one is connected, you don't have to do or even say anything because you exist for the simple fact that you're there. But why be a slave to reality if it can't be controlled like the Wired?

This is only what I thought Serial Experiments: Lain was showing me by blending these two realities so close that it was sort of creepy at times. But, I could have someone else watch this anime and perceive something completely different and I couldn't tell them they were wrong. Hell, I'm probably wrong or maybe we would both be right and that's what makes Serial Experiments: Lain oddly refreshing. Some may be put off by the bleak colors and the lack of detail in the animation but I found that it really gave the series a very surreal feeling. With no plot to call it's own I still liked Serial Experiments: Lain for using a thinking persons approach to determine if you're going to like it or not, it really is a love/hate affair with this anime. I didn't care for the English track at all but the dialog is presented quite slow so I would go with subtitles unless you absolutely can't stand reading your television. But, would I recommend it? I would say yes but then again, just be prepared to actually think about what your watching because it's easy to get lost in this animes quagmire of existence.

Serial Experiments Lain (opening)

Recommendation: |High|

Media type: DVD
From: Pioneer Entertainment
Spoken languages: English;Japanese
Subtitles: English

*Note - FAILimation Undertainment now has the license for Serial Experiements Lain and will be releasing it... eventually... 1 or 2 years from now, probably.