going to try this

Jun 18, 2:12 PM

#2

Zarutaku

Offline

Sep 2016

8184

Fairly hard to follow compared to most other Anime.

ZarutakuJun 18, 2:19 PM

This dance is the pinnacle of human achievement.

Jun 18, 2:16 PM

#3

AntonioSilva

Offline

Apr 2019

57

Id say the main plot is pretty simple,but if you dont get it,theres a million yt explanation videos .its really good try it!

Jun 18, 2:21 PM

#4

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to Zarutaku

Fairly hard to follow compared to most other Anime.

@Zarutaku whys that? hard to keep up with or understand?

Jun 18, 2:21 PM

#5

Willology

Offline

Feb 2015

131

if you're asking questions like that its already over ngl

Jun 18, 2:25 PM

#6

Zarutaku

Offline

Sep 2016

8184

Reply to Rabnawaz2

@Zarutaku whys that? hard to keep up with or understand?

@Rabnawaz2 Because it's surreal with weird narration.

This dance is the pinnacle of human achievement.

Jun 18, 2:33 PM

#7

Hacker075

Offline

Mar 2021

308

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

Anyone who claims they know exactly what is happening or what everything means is just trying to act smart. The show is extremely abstract and there are a million different ways to interpret the different things that happen and what the different entites and their actions could represent.

Expect to need to watch some videos afterwards explaining the conclusions some people have come to because otherwise, you'll finish the show with many many questions.

Jun 18, 3:08 PM

#8

itzswxzy

Offline

Dec 2022

292

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

Not that complex if you know bit of psychology (at least surface level) or philosophy. That is, if you want a more thematic comprehension. For, basic plot, it’s decently complex depending how much experience you have with anime.

Jun 18, 4:11 PM

#9

ReMightyRon

Offline

Jan 2020

134

my recommendations: (they are similar works)

Serial Experiments Lain
Boogiepop Phantom
Ergo Proxy
Wolf's Rain
Casshern Sins
Shigofumi
Haibane Renmei
Texhnolyze
Mnemosyne
Paranoia Agent
Mononoke
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Hellsing
Black Blood Brothers
Gankutsuou
Trinity Blood
Phantom: Requiem for the phatom
Speed Grapher
Baccano!
Nana
Blue Gender
Solty Rei
Witch Hunter Robin
Canaan
Helt Guy J

Jun 18, 4:13 PM

#10

CatSoul

Offline

Apr 2015

6723

And you don't seem to understand

I watched it when I was 12, even if you don't get 100% of everything you'll have a good time.

"No, son, you may not have your body pillow at the dinner table!"

Jun 18, 4:16 PM

#11

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to CatSoul

And you don't seem to understand

I watched it when I was 12, even if you don't get 100% of everything you'll have a good time.

@CatSoul Lain's 1st episode seemed easy to enough to understand icl (just checked it out)

Jun 18, 5:31 PM

#12

Det_Uchiha_10

Offline

Mar 2024

29

This is one of those anime’s that come off pretentious but in my opinion really isn’t the premise is actually really simple it just seems complex because of the pacing,themes, and dialogue on top of that it is very eccentric which makes it really confusing I don’t want to say to much and accidentally spoil it but as long as you understand the main theme that it’s trying to get across which like said I personally thought wasn’t to hard to understand you should be fine, Serial experiments lain is top 5 anime’s of all time for me but even now there’s still some parts from it that I don’t fully understand. Definitely recommend you watch it

Jun 18, 6:51 PM

#13

Puntosmx

Offline

Jun 2022

157

Lain is very cryptic.
I'd suggest watching it at least twice to understand what the heck is happening.

Jun 18, 10:02 PM

#14

Gagarin

Offline

Oct 2008

331

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

You need at least 2-3 runs to grasp most of the show.

Jun 18, 10:31 PM

#15

nightmaresinclr

Offline

Nov 2020

85

To me this show is less concerned about telling a direct narrative (though that is certainly there, even if hard to see on a first viewing) and more interested in capturing a feeling. That’s at least why I and many others felt attached to it on the first watch. I’d say don’t stress out too much about being confused on your first viewing, and if you want to know more concrete readings afterwards, there are tons of analysis videos with vastly different angles to dig into.

Jun 18, 10:39 PM

#16

traed

Offline

Mar 2008

48929

The main plot is not difficult to get if you dont try to make sense of the weirder parts. It just is it is more of something meant to explore in depth rather than just watching the anime only. Researching on topics brought up in the show and going through the PSX game and the one shot manga is part of the experience but you dont have to to get the main stuff, you just will have trouble getting some of the philosophy and symbolism.

Jun 18, 10:41 PM

#17

Darzy_Mal

Offline

Apr 2022

28

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

The story is not that complex as many people assume it is. The real complexity lies on the delivery, execution, surreal visuals, and vague symbolism.

If you are truly invested in the show, you will eventually understand what is it about and trust me the story is not that complicated.

Maybe watch yt videos or rewatch multiple times to understand Lain fully

Jun 18, 11:32 PM

#18

Khushal_v

Offline

Mar 2021

1385

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

you can understand the main plot but it is super hard to understand everything in first watch

Jun 19, 6:51 AM

#19

pinku_pantsu69

Offline

Jan 2021

2

Just a heads up: This is the kind of show you‘ll have to watch a couple of times to fully understand. Even if you don‘t „get it“ at first it‘ll be a fascinating watch!

Jun 19, 6:57 AM

#20

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to pinku_pantsu69

Just a heads up: This is the kind of show you‘ll have to watch a couple of times to fully understand. Even if you don‘t „get it“ at first it‘ll be a fascinating watch!

@pinku_pantsu69 i will challenge myself to understand it one attempt
ep 1 was easy

Jun 19, 7:12 AM

#21

JoeChip

Offline

Feb 2024

679

Reply to ReMightyRon

my recommendations: (they are similar works)

Serial Experiments Lain
Boogiepop Phantom
Ergo Proxy
Wolf's Rain
Casshern Sins
Shigofumi
Haibane Renmei
Texhnolyze
Mnemosyne
Paranoia Agent
Mononoke
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Hellsing
Black Blood Brothers
Gankutsuou
Trinity Blood
Phantom: Requiem for the phatom
Speed Grapher
Baccano!
Nana
Blue Gender
Solty Rei
Witch Hunter Robin
Canaan
Helt Guy J

@ReMightyRon

Why the hell are you giving recommendations and why did you put Lain at the top when it's already the subject of the thread?

Jun 19, 7:31 AM

#22

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to JoeChip

@ReMightyRon

Why the hell are you giving recommendations and why did you put Lain at the top when it's already the subject of the thread?

@JoeChip lmao if only i had the energy to watch all that

Jun 19, 8:31 AM

#23

ReMightyRon

Offline

Jan 2020

134

JoeChip said:
@ReMightyRon

Why the hell are you giving recommendations and why did you put Lain at the top when it's already the subject of the thread?

Because I enjoy sending recommendations, because SEL is my top 1# favorite anime of all time!

Jun 19, 9:40 AM

#24

Chaimello

Offline

Sep 2014

603

this show is cool. it's abstract, multi-layered, and bizarre. but you can watch it and not fully understand, and then head to reddit or something to figure out what was going on the whole time. I watched this hella long ago and didn't fully get it but it was still a great watch.

Jun 19, 11:08 AM

#25

tuizigu112

Offline

Jan 2022

6

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

I had to watch about 6 hours of YouTube video essays to fully understand The anime

Jun 19, 11:50 AM

#26

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to Chaimello

this show is cool. it's abstract, multi-layered, and bizarre. but you can watch it and not fully understand, and then head to reddit or something to figure out what was going on the whole time. I watched this hella long ago and didn't fully get it but it was still a great watch.

@StarryyChai im already loving it

Jun 19, 12:55 PM

#27

Chaimello

Offline

Sep 2014

603

Rabnawaz2 said:
@StarryyChai im already loving it

that's great I'm so glad you like it so far!

Jun 19, 1:52 PM

#28

Biisoo

Offline

Apr 2015

2381

Go with an open mind. It's okay if you don't understand everything. It's supposed to be like that, Like a trippy experience. I'd advise to binge it all in one day for maximum enjoyment xD

Jun 19, 2:13 PM

#29

logopolis

Offline

Apr 2012

3177

It's not the kind of story which has a correct understanding with some fixed difficulty of reaching it. There's a degree of working things out, but for the most part, Lain is an interpretative story, you decide for yourself what to draw from it. Avoiding "one truth" kind of thinking is of prime importance.

Jun 19, 2:21 PM

#30

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to Biisoo

Go with an open mind. It's okay if you don't understand everything. It's supposed to be like that, Like a trippy experience. I'd advise to binge it all in one day for maximum enjoyment xD

@Biisoo lmao here i was doing the slow approach with one episode a day

Jun 20, 3:04 AM

#31

K-Arlovski

Offline

Dec 2021

240

Cool concept, odd confusing execution of it

Jun 20, 8:38 AM

#32

Biisoo

Offline

Apr 2015

2381

Rabnawaz2 said:
@Biisoo lmao here i was doing the slow approach with one episode a day

Ayo lmao, Don't do that. Lain is a show whose impact increases as you binge it because it keeps piling on this massive hysteria and confusion onto you. It's better if you watch it without processing it, It's not an anime to be taken at face value. It is a surreal experience tbh, Like Perfect Blue which is one of my favourite movies of all time.

Jun 20, 9:53 AM

#33

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to Biisoo

Rabnawaz2 said:
@Biisoo lmao here i was doing the slow approach with one episode a day

Ayo lmao, Don't do that. Lain is a show whose impact increases as you binge it because it keeps piling on this massive hysteria and confusion onto you. It's better if you watch it without processing it, It's not an anime to be taken at face value. It is a surreal experience tbh, Like Perfect Blue which is one of my favourite movies of all time.

@Biisoo Bro im gonna be honest, you are probably right but I just can't binge anything, I have to take extra and extreme actions just to make sure my attention is not interrupted by my never ending spiriling thoughts lmao. One episode = 1 hour mental rest, go for a walk etc. and then come back for the next episode or have something to eat, i have a bad attention deficit without any fault of my own, i even forget things like my keys, belongings etc. I must write everything i experience down

Jun 21, 10:47 AM

#34

Wizzyard

Offline

Nov 2021

54

man you are not ready for whats to come ill tell ya that haha

Jun 21, 10:57 AM

#35

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to Wizzyard

man you are not ready for whats to come ill tell ya that haha

@Wizzyard gonna try and finish it today - i get it tbh. but still things im confused with

Jun 22, 10:01 AM

#36

youngkaneda

Offline

Jul 2022

5

If you get stuck trying to understand every little weird thing (which are a lot of them), instead of trying to get it as a whole, you will never understand it, in my first watch I got the whole plot, but yeah still today if I dig into the anime again I will always see something new I did not got on the previous times, which is a good thing to be honest, my point is, the main plot is easy to understand, the psychological topics discussed through surrealism are hard to understand, and it was maded so, bc come on is surrealism, but you will get it, and if not thats fine, you will get it someday

Jun 22, 10:03 AM

#37

youngkaneda

Offline

Jul 2022

5

Hacker075 said:

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

Anyone who claims they know exactly what is happening or what everything means is just trying to act smart. The show is extremely abstract and there are a million different ways to interpret the different things that happen and what the different entites and their actions could represent.

Expect to need to watch some videos afterwards explaining the conclusions some people have come to because otherwise, you'll finish the show with many many questions.

Are not those ppl who does videos about the conclusion and stuff trying to act smart as you said about?

Jun 22, 11:17 AM

#38

Rabnawaz2

Offline

Jun 2021

224

Reply to youngkaneda

If you get stuck trying to understand every little weird thing (which are a lot of them), instead of trying to get it as a whole, you will never understand it, in my first watch I got the whole plot, but yeah still today if I dig into the anime again I will always see something new I did not got on the previous times, which is a good thing to be honest, my point is, the main plot is easy to understand, the psychological topics discussed through surrealism are hard to understand, and it was maded so, bc come on is surrealism, but you will get it, and if not thats fine, you will get it someday

@youngkaneda finished it, it wasn't too hard to understand once i studied the lore

Jun 22, 2:51 PM

#39

Hacker075

Offline

Mar 2021

308

youngkaneda said:

Hacker075 said:

Anyone who claims they know exactly what is happening or what everything means is just trying to act smart. The show is extremely abstract and there are a million different ways to interpret the different things that happen and what the different entites and their actions could represent.

Expect to need to watch some videos afterwards explaining the conclusions some people have come to because otherwise, you'll finish the show with many many questions.

Are not those ppl who does videos about the conclusion and stuff trying to act smart as you said about?

No because (based on the ones I've seen) they specifically state that they have only theorised and are not certain at all whether their interpretation is accurate.

They encourage an intellectual viewing of their video, meaning that you should listen to what they have to say but still be sure to consider whether you actually agree or perhaps see it differently to them.

Jun 27, 8:41 PM

#40

Joanna333

Offline

Nov 2020

2

tuizigu112 said:

Rabnawaz2 said:
how easy/hard/complicated is the show? without spoilers, what to expect?

I had to watch about 6 hours of YouTube video essays to fully understand The anime

that's dedication lmao

Jul 2, 1:35 PM

#41

Archfiend836

Offline

Feb 2020

658

It would be a better experience if you'd just dive in without expecting anything. Honestly. Don’t worry about fully understanding it by the end. The series is meant to be experienced for its atmosphere and themes, not necessarily to be completely deciphered.

Poll: » Serial Experiments Lain Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) nini - Dec 30, 2008	392	by Kage_Nage »» 7 hours ago
» This is the first anime to truly mindf*** me mydaddy - May 22	23	by Bhanu_LAW_196K1A »» 12 hours ago
Poll: » Serial Experiments Lain Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) _k1_ - Feb 7, 2009	165	by Yin_Shaolun »» Sep 25, 1:04 PM
Poll: » Serial Experiments Lain Episode 8 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) aero - Mar 16, 2009	146	by PistaLakatos »» Sep 21, 3:05 PM
Poll: » Serial Experiments Lain Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) aero - Mar 16, 2009	142	by catopolis »» Sep 20, 8:49 AM

going to try this

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Poll: » Serial Experiments Lain Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page )

» This is the first anime to truly mindf*** me

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