Though a heavily philosophical series with depth, themes, concerns, and prophecies far beyond its time, it devotes itself almost entirely as a vehicle for these things and with its relatively short 13 episode run has little time to deviate into upholding a standard plot and characters. Though Lain herself goes through much personal development, the rest of the cast function as plot devices meant to express a particular idea, usually themed to whatever episode they appear in. Though continuity exists, overarching plot developments happen in small bits and the series is best appreciated as an episodic one with each piece representing its own specific theories.
It's truly remarkable that, despite being released in 1998 before widespread daily use of the internet, Serial Experiments Lain expresses sociological concerns that arise with this world-changing invention that have only made the series's thoughts grow more relevant over time.
Serial Experiments Lain is a surrealist work thats plot consists of general metaphors relating to themes of mass communication's influence on the physical world, perception of one's own identity through the many proxies through which it is displayed, and even the value of reality itself. As the internet begins to not only influence the real world through ideas but through physical manifestations as well, Lain must question the dividing lines between what are merely considered fantasies and the idea that even these fantasies can control real life.
But enough of the heavy talk, because there's more to Serial Experiments Lain than its concepts. Yoshitoshi ABe's art is truly that of its own, possessing a blank, empty simplicity to it that reflects his initial lack of contemporary manga/anime art influences. Backgrounds constantly shift from the mundane to the distorted, as if the stability of the world is on the verge of crumbling.
Not enough credit is given to the series's psychological horror undertones. While calling SEL a horror series is more of a misnomer, there's no doubt with its deranged, often droning ambient score, dark colors, and constant feeling of uncertainty that the series is meant to unnerve and place doubt in the viewers' perception of the series's world. As Lain begins to question the world around her, so do we when faced with such incomprehensible uncertainty and phenomena.
Serial Experiments Lain is the kind of anime people write thesis papers about. It's genuinely a work of brilliance, particularly when taken relative to its time, and its entertainment value when seen today remains a testament to the general quality that makes up the entire series. To put it simply: it's astonishingly creative, perceptive, and very intriguing.
And with all that written, I give it an 8 at this time of writing, which some people are bound to question. Why? Because while I love the depth of Serial Experiments Lain's philosophies, the show is entirely devoted to them. Many comparisons have been drawn between Ghost in the Shell's similar ideas about mass communication and the collective unconscious, and Ghost in the Shell is one of my favorite franchises. However, at its best Ghost in the Shell never sheds its human heart like Serial Experiments Lain does for the devotion of its anti-humanist views of humanity. For all its philosophies, Ghost in the Shell can be enjoyed heavily as a great set of tech noir stories accompanied by memorable characters, while Serial Experiments Lain is almost entirely said philosophies, with aforementioned writing such as the supporting characters being little more than plot devices. I suppose it's inevitable when only using 13 episodes with so much to say, but it's true nonetheless.
In conclusion, Serial Experiments Lain is an anime very easy to appreciate, but only a niche with a very vested interest in its themes will consider it a favorite. As someone who loves the internet down to the very concept of it, I was still completely drawn to the ideas Serial Experiments Lain proposed, though the more compassionate side of me overrides that interest and I've been personally touched more by other series with similar philosophies.
