Modern life includes a lot of alienation, self-deception, and self-destructive behavior. Escapism (whether it's anime, TV, even drugs) can dull the pain of modern life.
This is the story of a guy who got hooked on killing the pain and how he hit rock bottom. In the end, it's not just a fiction story, it's an accurate allegory for reality. The philosophy it expresses is very convincing and well thought-out.
This show is similar to the work of a great American writer, Walker Percy, who wrote stories of similar alienated, self-destructive anti-heroes.
I really love this show. It's not the same kind of love I have for Cowboy Bebop; it's not the same kind of love I have for Gilgamesh or Witch Hunter Robin; it's not the same quirky love that I have for Gasaraki. It's the anime equivalent of how I feel about Walker Percy.
