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Serial Experiments Lain suffers, sadly, from poor execution and has aged relatively poorly. What it succeeds at doing is building a foundation in which technology's impact on human memory, the nature of existence, religious doctrine being usurped by technological advancement, the void left in a godless society and myths of progress can all be discussed. However, it fails to solidify its own stance on these matters and viewers are predominantly left to interpret what is going on in its baffling scenes rather than engage critically with what lies beneath the surface. That being said, this densely packed show is a fun little ride and serves ... as an interesting starting point for anyone interested in the concepts it explores.

Be aware that the show moves slowly and you will feel bewildered until the end. Some plot points are glossed over entirely and feel unexplored while others are aggressively driven into the viewer. Dialogue is sporadic and the overall gloominess doesn't exactly make for compelling viewing all the time - this is the kind of show that takes immense concentration and work, especially if your objective is to iron out all its mysteries. Ultimately, it can feel like a garbled mess, which sometimes bodes well for the chaos, confusion and distortion the show is trying to portray but other times just makes it seem like an untidily packaged fusion of ideas from different disciplines or thinkers. Although its clear that its creators are incredibly well-read, the show is not revolutionary in its ideas (which in itself is not a criticism) and appears intellectual on a very superficial level. For me, personally, it has not been a very memorable watch.

But, if you enjoy speculative fiction or psychological thrillers, this show is probably for you. Its characters are incredibly relatable and their anxieties are universal; aesthetically, the show contains some beautifully distorted, trippy images and the soundtrack is quite unique. You will get emotionally involved, even if your intellectual appetite doesn't feel entirely satiated by its flimsy philosophy.