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"Everything is connected."

If you're like me, you probably are quite picky when it comes to watching anime. Nobody wants to waste their time watching a bad show. I initially questioned whether or not I should watch Serial Experiments Lain, considering the massive divergence in score: some thought it was a masterpiece, others thought it was overrated pretentious drivel. After watching it, I can conclude that the praise and acclamation is true: Serial Experiments Lain truly is one of the greatest anime to ever be produced. That might sound like unfounded hyperbole, so let me explain.

Serial Experiments Lain requires a very patient viewer. It is not ... a show that will drip-feed relevant information to the audience. It is slow, has a minimal soundtrack and sparse dialogue, and is incredibly confusing, especially on a first viewing. But if you can get past that and be open-minded about it's presentation, the show becomes a life-changing, mind-bending experience.

By far the strongest part of Serial Experiments Lain is the titular main character, Lain. Lain is an incredibly complex individual, and is incredibly relatable, at least to me. Her journey and growth throughout the course of the story is subtle and incredibly well executed. The supporting cast of characters are also great because they act like real people, not like cardboard cutouts that only exist to support the protagonist. Even the most minor characters have unique personalities, mindsets, and motivations.

Of course, the sound design and art direction is also superb. I don't have too much to say on this that hasn't been said already, but the atmosphere that the sound and art create is incredibly rich and unique. It creates a very immersive environment, which is one of the most important elements I look for in film and TV.

I would like to end this review with one small caveat. If you are the kind of person who is frustrated by plot holes or stories that leave important details unclear or missing, you will not like this show. This show is completely impossible to understand in a literal sense, and actually becomes much easier to interpret when you stop caring about how things are 'literally' happening. After all, as this show makes clear, reality and existence are impossible to define in concrete terms.

Serial Experiments Lain is an existentialist masterpiece that I find hard to praise enough. Let's all love Lain.