serial experiments lain

[john 'mr. customer' smith]

The premise of this anime has been intriguing for a while now, but i've also heard it's EXTREMELY hard to understand.

I'm not stupid, just a slow thinker, which tends to make complicated cinematic stories difficult for me.

Does anyone have any tips or hints (i don't think i'd mind mild spoilers) that could help me get through with some semblance of understanding?

Thanks in advance

[Silvz]

Yeah, watch it until the end. Although it is not simple to understand, the anime will give you an explanation about what happened. If, after you finish it, you still don't get it, then you can come back

[john 'mr. customer' smith]

5 minutes ago, Palas said:

Just... watch it until the end. You still won't understand a thing, but it'll be satisfying anyway. I mean, it DOES dedicate an entire episode (the 8th one, if I'm not mistaken) just to explain what's going on and it'll still be as elusive as ever.

 

Lain is more about... a theme, I think. It doesn't make sense but it still has a very specific feeling attached to it. It captures the end of the 90's so, so well. Just enjoy it for now. Think of making sense later.

Really? Not any? Surely the writer/director must have had some kind of vision for it?

Well, i suppose if anyone could have seen the point, it would have been you, so i guess no one is going to give me a better answer to my question.

[Down]

It's hard to express what Lain is about in ways other than vague terms like "the internet", "identity and otherness", "virtual vs. real"...

The best thing you can do imo is to watch it, and then only to start asking yourself questions. Read up about it, maybe watch it a second time.

Lain's not necessarily hard to understand, but it's hard to put clear words on what it's all about I guess.

[Nosebleed]

Lamp posts. It's about lamp posts. Lots and lots of lamp posts.

[hitoribocchi]

Well, Lain is a philosophical work. That being said, it'll leave you thinking a lot, which is better than being spoonfed. There's many interpretations, but tbh I'd recommend you to finish it first and then ask any questions regarding something you didn't understand. Also, if you've seen NGE before then you can think of that being a nice comparison (of course without the mecha and action). 

 

[Scorp]

Watch it and read explanations, if you have any questions. I actually watched it when there were no real internet sources like wiki and stuff, so I did my own research on meaning of some things in local library (like Shumann Resonance, "Think Blue, Count Two", persons like Vannevar Bush and John C. Lilly).

Also Lain is a psychological thriller in it's core, so it is not really required to understand everything to enjoy the series.

[john 'mr. customer' smith]

well, thanks for all the answers, i suppose it's true that you can't really be 'prepared' for something like this.

i'll at least look out for philosophy and lamp posts

[Scorp]

If "lamp posts" meant high-voltage power lines - then definitely. That's just unique.

[Zalor]

The only way to understand Serial Experiments Lain is to watch it all the way through once, and then rewatch it. The first time you watch it you will only probably understand the bare minimum, but should be able to find enjoyment in how trippy of an experience it is. Then everytime you rewatch it, you will be able to understand more and more by building on previous knowledge. I would say it takes a minimum of 2 viewings to understand Lain, and even then it will take multiple viewings to really understand it.    

[Deep Blue]

me after watching serial lain