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This review is not about the different interpretations of the show because as the show itself, such interpretations and theories behind the meaning of the story are different layers that are parallel lines offering different perspectives and ideological aspects in this show. Because there is not a single or simple interpretation but rather layers of meaning, layers of personality of this story, all these layers complement the identity of this series as the show itself conveys the idea early into the story. A fascinating facet of Lain is only a layer into her inner wire. This review is rather about how to approach or how ... I approached the series and appreciate story and production aspects from this show. Some context needs to be expressed in order to encourage the passive viewer to watch such a mind trip of a story.

Then I will not repeat the obvious, Lay may be difficult to understand but there isn't only one answer to the show. And I think that everyone should be able to watch if willing to watch it for the sake of even wanting to know what the fuzz is all about a show featuring the existential mental struggle in the main girl's head as much as a story about society and technology more specifically such technology that would be used in a near future one where the wire and the "real" world shall be connected if they aren't already.

This series truly offers commentary on different themes from religion, society, psychology and metaphysics which are linked by a interconnecting central element in this story which is omnipresent and strongly attached to these ideas like a wire or if you prefer Lain.

The major criticism is that the series is too densely convoluted and being difficult to keep up with if the ambiguous writing and trippy presentation.
The show does effectively as mentioned earlier attempt to comment on different ideas therefore making the writing obtuse leading to some incomprehension or loss in translation. I will address the latter issue later

Lain is difficult to address as a character because her existence is undeniably such of an idea. She is a surrogate for humanity, society or God. That will only depend on your interpretation yet the show implements these ideas within her physical shell.

One visual motif that is the show's most striking visual trademark is the wires which are present for foreshadowing and representing the recurrent idea that this story tells. The show was criticized because of its not impressive consistency and weird sense of animation. I can somehow vaguely agree to these statements as good animation is a subjective and tricky term or idea when coming to criticizing animation. If anything, personally from a biased perspective, I felt that such a vibe is convenient and adds to the experience because it offers a different context for the usual anime watcher, the context of weird experimental shows during the post-evangelion era.

Director Ryuutaroou Nakamura is also famous for similar atmospheric pieces such as Ghost Hound, 9 years after Lain, his involvement may have been of pure desire to give his creative talent to direct and make a piece of auteurism as most of the show feels as if it wasn't designed as to make a profit and sell to the normal audience. Noteworthy is also the sound design for the show.

This part of the review may not be read by someone who may not desire to be spoiled or want to be open of interpretation. After finishing the show, I since consider it one of the best structured works that i have ever seen because settings and scenes seem to be disconnected yet what you would realize is that they provide a number of questions and answers towards the different overwhelming theme or layer in each episode. However, what structure really conveyed to me when analysing the show is the idea that Lain is an allegory of life, if she initially existed connected to the wire then gained a physical form to then unserialize herself. As to convey the idea that as she was born physically disconnected from the wire, meaning Humanity, until she must comeback to the wire as in a life cycle system.

However that is just one minor layer behind the multiple meanings of the show. The purpose is to convey how Chiaki Konaka brilliantly wrote a story which by means of structure has offered an alternative watching experience to each viewer. There is plenty other things that Serial experiments lain has to offer, even its name is too big to represent only an relatively obscure anime series.

This 2006 supernatural mystery cult classic sleeper hit stands as fan favorite that does not fail to impress and being one of my personal favorite anime ever.

Not only because Higurashi is one of my first anime ever but also because it was the first to really make me feel a "void" ( this is when a certain piece of art transports you to its universe so effectively that you become addicted to it, dependent and more likely intrigued and willing to watch all the episodes in one hit, like a marathon and when you finished watching you feel like you want more of ... it).


And it is not like I am biased or something because the first time I watched it...
:/ I wasn't too impressed by it.
I was a stupid 11 years old brat who would think that the show was crap. And now,
I hate myself for having thought that :(

Let's get to the objective part of the review and the less nostalgic part.


*Story-Themes*
One of the reasons why I really like Higurashi is because of how the story was presented and how the story looks simple at the beginning but then it spices things up by adding varied themes from fear, paranoia and conspiration.

And if that wasn't awesome enough the show is a supernatural mystery which makes up the major twist of the show, which is presented after episode 4.
Which I am not gonna spoil because it is truly awesome.
Personally, I am a fan of story revolving around supernatural happenings and the mystery around them.
Because they allow to make some interesting character development. One of my most obvious examples are the Monogatari franchise and the Kara no Kyoukai series

What i like in this show is how the supernatural twist made a more intriguing adventure for the characters to live and for the audience to witness.

*Characters*
This story is an adaption of a visual novel which is evident when you think that a lot of time is spent in development in characters which is divided in different story arcs.
The characters are varied and adds to the story's themes an feelings overall with their different motivations.

The characters save the show from being one dimensional as the protagonist gets to learn about these characters and their backstories, in their different arcs, giving depth to the world offered by the show. Even adults characters are interesting and they have a decent amount of development. What I vastly enjoyed was how character motivations cause the conflict to happen in the first place and the series makes the conflict more intriguing by adding deaths and despair to the minds of the characters until making their souls is then consumed in madness until characters decide to cooperate to save what they want to protect

*Art*

This is the part where people are mostly divided so I am not going to debate for whether or not.
I am not gonna say that everything looks awesome because I would be lying to you.
However, I agree on the fact that it adds contrast with the dark tone of the show.
And I think that no other design for the character would have been adequate for the show and anyway the people responsible are the designers of the dojin game it is based on.
Overall, I think that some scenes may not look gorgeous but it is at least well executed and Studio DEEN were animating fate stay night at the same time so in my opinion they handed well animation even with another show being released at the same time o that's a plus.


*Sound*
My favorite part. Kenji Kawaii is amazing previously work on Ghost in the shell, Fate/stay night and Patlabor. His music for the show was perfectly executed and if you are not sure about that listen to the Main Theme of the show and the track Oshin
God bless him


*Overall*
There is nothing more mind-bending is that there was a lot of shows that I used to love and put them in some crappy top 10 lists but now i see them and i don't find the spice while watching them all except one and it was Higurashi.
Because no matter how much time i rewatch it ,i still enjoy it a lot.
This is show is an alien in my opinion. I have yet to find an anime that could at these point make me feel so hooked while watching.

I am not going to say that this show is a undoubtable masterpiece like let's say Akira, Ghost in the shell and Ghibli films.

But it is rather a show that uses simplicity and it's enigmatically powerful execution to create an anime that would make you feel intrigued with its:
-solid storytelling capacity, deep character development and masterful pacing.