Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
AGUSH07
Personal note -
Watched almost every episode high af and my brain kept constantly thinking how everything shown here that wasn't explained can be modelled from our world today. The ideas of lonliness and disconnect in a world thats forever connected and the unexplained dread that there's something higher order controlling the way humans interact with each other was so ingrained in me as i kept watching episode by episode. I do not know what I went into it expecting, but i did come out with a lot many more questions.
Definitely recommended for a weekend where you want spice and want to rack your brains out trying to figure out what is going on. The omnious vibe, dreadfully appropriate music and the ghostly visuals will keep you on the edge for every episode.
Read at the sourceIlikewatchnstuff
This show occupies the same part of my brain that evangelion does. It's good (I think) but I don't understand anything and part of me doesn't want to understand anything. Watch its very much a product of its time and I can't imagine any show being made today like this one. After watching this show you have a feeling that I can't really describe. As of now, I hope to not watch this show again. I mean that as a compliment funnily enough. A lot of people won't be able to finish the anime as it tackles some dark themes and subject matter. If you haven't seen many psycological horrors (like myself), are unfamiliar with the internet, dislike the animation style or are not ready for long, introspective scenes full of symbolism with minimal dialogue and music, this show is not for you. Oh and the…
Read at the sourceSmorkedBuns
The show is almost flawless, but in episode 1, the whiteboard has the following text
if (a < b) print f(...)
x = 321; y = 123;
The assignment for x to 321 and y to 123 is a magic variable, and it is inconceivable that a lecturer would write this on a whiteboard.
In episode 2, it is revealed that Copland OS runs user logins in the kernel and not user space. From that, we can extrapolate that the producers of Copland OS do not know the purpose of a kernel and the design of the operating system will be very buggy.
In episode 6, Lain casually mentions she's already verified a register before immediately pivoting to excitement about "next gen protocol." Clearly, Lain is running confirmation tests on unreleased silicon, proving that this world's hardware manufacturers have a track record of…
Read at the sourcePixxietart
I loved this anime so much. The themes, aesthetics, style, music is all so wonderful. I loved Lains character especially, and sometimes related to her. The themes of negative affects of technology, themes of identity, and the psychological elements were very interesting. The intro never was skipped, one of the best anime intros in my opinion, and I also really loved Lains subbed voice. Along with this Lains relationships with others were compelling, especially hers with Alice. (The last two episodes had me teary eyed) Although the story can be a bit hard to understand at first, it is enjoyable and I highly recommend !!
Read at the sourceGuros_
While I was watching it, I kept getting really curious about the plot, and the ending was really cool. But, like everyone else who watched it, I didn’t catch everything on my first watch. And, like the dumbass I am, I looked up an “ending explained” video on YouTube. The guy in the video talked about dozens of things that I either didn’t understand or didn’t realize how important they were. I noticed that those things were there, but they still didn’t really stick with me. Even so, I really enjoyed it.
I especially liked the mystery the anime creates because of its slower pacing. The atmosphere is also really great, and I think that, along with the mystery, is what kept me going until the end.
I’d recommend it, but only to people with a really niche taste
Read at the sourcezech
What if right now I just said “the physical world holographs information which flows through a higher plane of existence; hence, the human body serves but one purpose: to verify oneself”? It sounds like gnostic bullshit, but that’s SEL. More accurately, it’s the idea Lain fights against in the anime. SEL is not being meaningless, it’s just that we aren’t good at cohering abstract concepts and dealing with hypotheticals, which some characters in the anime will tell you is because we’re trapped in an imperfect material world. Hippies, pagans, Gnostics - it’s just not important, and Lain and I don’t wanna hear about it.
We’ve evolved primarily to process the tangible here and now, so something destabilising our ability to do that is a scary thought. An even scarier thought for those who live…
Read at the sourceN1ItsukiLover
wow. i think I'm making sense of some of it still but this might be the most unique piece of media i have ever watched. the animation and art style is so unique and different from anything I have seen. The story has you bewildered on what's going on, then you think you understand a bit of it, then something else happens and you are clueless, again. The end is interesting - nothing is ever explained directly, always making you link it together. A rewatch is a necessity after thinking about how everything linked together, the unknowns, and the true message of the anime.
Quite possibly the greatest opening of an anime I have ever seen.
Again, maybe one of the hardest hitting anime and media in general I have ever watched. On to the PS1 game soon, but thank you to the creator of this masterp…
Read at the sourceBappley
Lain is NOT a TV show; it is a techno-paranoia flavored acid pill in TV format. Reminds me of when von Neumann said "In Serial Experiments Lain you don't understand things, you just get used to them."
Lain ought to be watched as an avant-garde art installation of ambient sound design and jarring cuts, intended to instill a disorienting state-of-mind. Otherwise, you will unintentionally self-inflict psychological torture by attempting to watch and make sense of surrealist cinematography in linear time. The more actively you try to watch, the harder you'll have to cope.
If acid trips and retro is your thing, this show is the vibes. But please don't flatter yourself too much into thinking it is much more than just vibes (to the modern day viewer).
PRIMARY CRITICISMS:
1) Slow Pacing means t…
Read at the sourceWom
The main downfall of this show is that it's mostly all just setting up for the finale.
The finale is great, but you will end up being quite confused for most of the show, and most of it won't make that much sense in the end.
The show is mostly about the emotions it makes you feel, as well as the moral of the story in the last 2 episodes.
Still, after finishing those last 2 episodes, I can't say I didn't like it, in fact, I quite liked it, I just wished the earlier episodes weren't just there only to set all that up.
In my opinion, it doesn't mean it can't be good, in fact, I think Eva also is mostly a set up for the End of Eva, which is absolutely amazing.
So if you liked Eva, go for it
Read at the sourcemynameisjared
The more I ponder Serial Experiments Lain, the more I understand it. The abstract, deliberately vague storytelling allows the audience to experience the world through the kaleidoscope of Lain's perspective. The series explores themes such as the relationship between reality and our online identities, as well as the collective unconscious we share through networks and technology.
The show has an intentionally disjointed narrative, but it holds your interest because Lain herself is such a compelling character. Even by the end of the story, it feels like the creators want you to make your own interpretations of how events unfolded and what we can learn from Lain's journey into the Wired. At its core, the series explores how the internet shapes human connection without offering simple answers…
Read at the sourceUsapz
I'm just writing this as a desclaimer for anyone who wants to watch this show:
Lain is a really ''denpa'' work. It blurs the border between reality and illusion. To achieve this, the show needs to be more-or-less non-sensical at times.
Of course, there is substance, or I wouldn't like the show as much as I do. But for people who don't enjoy when a show leaves questions opened, or when they have to do some thinking instead of turning their brain off, Lain won't be for you.
Finally, I think that one who says Lain doesn't have a storyline or substance is one who's not really lucid. There is. You simply didn't like how the story was unfold, so be honest.
Read at the sourceTakeshiHentai
watched a vhs rip of this online like god intended
Overall I think this is a very good show about technology use and how it can slowly take over every aspect of a persons life. I'm such a big fan of super weird and out there stuff and this show is right up my alley. Everything just gets progressively more strange and honestly I love it so much. The main character Lain too is honestly just so great as well as she is kind of like the perfect character and a great representation of how someone can fall deep into a rabbit hole like the internet. This show is way ahead of it's time and I really encourage everyone watching this show to really sit and deconstruct the episodes. Each episode has so many aspects to take account of and is just such an interesting think piece on not only the internet…
Read at the sourcejellohh
IF YOU VALUE YOUR TIME DO NOT WATCH THIS ANIME. I tried once in 2022 and I got quite far to around episode 11 but I just couldn't keep going. Finally took the time to rewatch this year and it just reconfirmed how I felt about this anime. Some of the worst storytelling ever, its just not entertaining to watch at all. Trying to keep this review spoiler free so I wont really say anything, mostly just want this here as a warning to anyone down to earth.
And the only reason I'm giving this a 2 is because the art and aesthetic are masterfully crafted and they're in my opinion the only reason this show is popular is that.
Read at the sourcenikqiv
Lain is an anime that I will have to rewatch in the future, I can totally get why someone wouldn't understand this at first. I feel like Lain aged really well. For an anime made nearly 30 years ago, I think it connects with Gen-Z really well and the state of the Internet and how we treat it. We are in an era of time where people's entire lives are online. I know I've probably spent way too many hours on the Internet myself. The entire anime is about the convergence of "The Wired" (the Internet) & the Real World. There are subjects touched such as god, identity, and soul. Though it was confusing, and fever dreamy, Lain's unsettling nature and unique atmosphere made it enjoyable. It's meant to confuse you. It is meant to make you think, and make your own conclusions from each episode. I love…
Read at the sourcePurpWitch
Avant-garde, groundbreaking, and quintessentially postmodern, both in its message and approach to storytelling, Serial Experiments Lain is a revolutionary near-masterpiece and a must-watch anime.
Visuals: The visuals are beyond reproach, with some of the most intentional composition, striking color, and agonized detail I have seen from any series to date. The shadows are blanketed with patterns of otherworldly lights, and the bright spots are oversaturated to a disorienting, blinding white. The powerlines stand stark against the sky, the transformers buzz with the presence of God, and the technology and computers are exquisitely rendered. This is a series that recognizes it is animated and is more than willing to utilize its medium.
Sound: The sound design and score keep up with the vis…
Read at the sourcejay_quelin
This is the story of a girl who got super into PC building after connecting to the internet. Atleast, I wish it were that simple to explain. Listen, not many people will understand this anime, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, I don't think anyone should be expected to understand this anime; simply because it's way too ambiguous for any normal person to enjoy. For the pretentious diehards who keep throwing out 10/10s, y'all need to CHILL TF out because this show is far from it. This cult-classic mostly caters to people who either (1) grew up with it, or (2) who enjoy analyzing these types of obscure content. The show doesn't spoonfeed you context. It requires you to analyze scenes beyond what isn't explicitly shown. In a nutshell, Serial Experiments Lain is an anime that forces the audie…
Read at the sourceDlambert
This is the single greatest piece of art ever made. Should you be a person of intelligent thought, there is enough content here to satisfy untold hours of analysis. The most advanced concepts found in animation rely heavily on the ideas developed by Jung, Nietzsche, Freud, etc. This anime is the coalescence of every thought you've ever had in your comparably insignificant existence. When you understand the characters, their motivation, the plot as a whole, and the individual pieces of imagery you will have obtained enlightenment in the traditional sense. I have a masters degree in applied physics and graduated at the top of my class. Despite those qualifications, I have realized new universal truths upon every viewing of this masterpiece.
Read at the sourceengine_no7
if haruki murakami books were turned into an anime, i have a feeling they'd give off the same vibes and attract the same crowd as people who enjoyed lain. this anime is a mindfuck in a good way. while it's got a clear progression of events and generally doesn't leave the viewer wondering why something happened, it does make you think a lot about the underlying themes of the anime.
a reviewer wrote that this series was ahead of its time, and it really is. what with the rapid progression of technology and people often unknowingly blurring the line between the real world and the internet, lain, despite being an older anime, manages to still remain relevant nowadays in part due to this. it also explores the human consciousness-- what it means to be, and what is required for one to qualify as…
Read at the sourceOlorin666
The topics raised in the show were ahead of their time by many years. Even now, it is very difficult to answer all the questions and mysteries of the series. The show is a real test for the viewer. And few people will be able to watch and understand it. The story is full of allusions and metaphors. An audio-visual masterpiece that pulls you into its world from the first seconds. If the show was released now, the audience would most likely scold it for its complexity and indecision, and critics said that it is the highest peak of the genre of psychological art house and cyberbank.
Read at the sourceUmbralBahamut
The first line of the opening feels fitting for this show. " And you don't seem to understand." From the first episode to the last episode, it's true. I felt lost watching almost everything until the end.
The show opens with a girl committing suicide by jumping off a building. This girl is where everything began. Classmates of the girl who committed suicide talk about her and talk with Lain about her as well, and that they are still getting emails from her, but Lain, at this point in the show, doesn't know anything really about computers and has yet to really start until this event, and how her friends are constantly asking her questions about it. This is Lain's start into the "Wired."
Lain starts as this mostly loner girl, and her friends kind of have to really peer-pressure her into g…
Read at the source
