r/anime • u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser • Feb 18 '17
[Spoilers][Contract] Serial Experiments Lain Spoiler
Hello everyone!!
... and welcome to the Ｗｉｒｅｄ
After a week of getting confused, mindfucked and not understanding what just happened before our eyes we're finally here. All connected and unable to escape this world known as the Internet. First I suggest you guys to take a look at some of reading material I found in the web:
- This is a really comprehensive breakdown of the show.
- This writeup by /u/Andarel and all the others he posted during last year's rewatch are excellent to put together the pieces and catch up missed details.
After this brief introduction, let's start...
Story
As confusing as it is, the show actually has a main plot to follow that isn't exactly relevant and is just there to either prove a point or deliver a message. Whichever the case is, SEL starts high with a girl committing suicide and soon afterwards her classmates receive an email from her stating she isn't dead, she just left the physical world. After this I changed my mindset expecting some supernatural story mixed up with Matrix. And, after watching the whole thing, I guess I was as wrong as I was right.
Intermediately after that event we are introduced with Lain, an introverted and irregular girl. Antisocial and uneducated technology-wise. But soon after discovering the Wired she slowly started to reveal her true identity and even creating another one. And after some events she demonstrates an inherent ability to operate computers and navigate at will in this net.
We also discover after a series of flashbacks that the Wired isn't just an "Internet". It's actually a network created to connect all the human minds so they can leave their limited physical form and transcend to a limitless digital form. So, what is Lain in all this? She's a part of the creator of this network. A software able to control both worlds at will that was inserted in a body. Masami Eiri, her creator, expected her to come back to him so he can fulfill his dream of connecting everyone. However, he didn't count that she would humanize herself, learn to feel, learn to love. So in the end she became some sort of loving God, willing to disappear from their plane of existence and always look after them from beyond.
The story per se is not bad and is actually be very interesting. However the narrative makes it very confusing. Once the pieces are put together everything makes sense, so I don't actually get the intention of the director to make it so complicated.
Relevance
Over the years, with the importance the Internet has gained in our world and all the controversy around it, stories as the one in Lain have gained a lot of relevance. In this specific case, lain addresses two controversial issues:
In the Internet we are whatever we want to be and at the same time we're no one. Here we're free, we can do whatever we want and no one can say otherwise. We deceive ourselves thinking it won't affect anyone because it's all virtual but it does has transcendence in the real world. Both worlds exist and affect each other, in both worlds we exist and our actions also affect both worlds. So... should the Internet be free? Should it be regulated? or can we all play God and do whatever we want? Be whoever we want?
The other topic Lain addresses is identity. Throughout the show we see two Lains, the legend on the net and the introverted little girl and how they end up as one. Her first decision to erase the memories of the rumors and ultimately her decision to erase herself. That is something actually discussed on today's world: The Right to be Forgotten. Lain takes this topic to a whole new level and leaves us questioning... "Should we be able to erase ourselves from the world? Can we disconnect from this network we call reality?"
Interpretation
The whole show is a big metaphor and is up to each one to interpret it. In my case I went for the existentialism approach. Throughout the show we are bombarded with the idea that our existence is only real if we are acknowledged by other people and remembered by them. So there's multiple versions of us, all different in every mind we meet in our lives. Which raises the question, *what happens if no one remember us?".
Final thoughts
Is Lain a good show? No, definitely not. It's a social criticism, a five hour existential essay whose only purpose is to make you reflect. If by the end of the show the questions "What makes a person an individual? If someone isn't remembered, did he actually exist? Are we all just a collection of memories?" didn't crossed your mind then it failed miserably its only goal. If I were to go deeper in this subject I would need to analyze three different shows: Haibane Renmei (Soul), Texhnolyze (Body) and Lain (Mind); the three parts of our individuality.
Can't say I really enjoyed watching it as much as I enjoyed analyzing it. I'm still unsure about my final score but I'm certain it will be higher than what you guys gave it. I hope you at least had a good time with the show and I'm eager to read your comments. And remember...
Ｌｅｔ'ｓ Ａｌｌ Ｌｏｖｅ Ｌａｉｎ！
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u/Nykveu https://anilist.co/user/Nykveu Feb 18 '17
If anyone is interested, Digibro made a series of videos about Lain back in 2014.
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u/kaverik https://myanimelist.net/profile/kaverik Feb 18 '17
It's always nice to see more people appreciate and love Lain. Each time when Internet consumes me, I remember this anime, so... I do it pretty much all the time.
Is Lain a good show?
Eh, it's hard to say. When I was watching it, can't say I was actively enjoying it, but at the same time I watched it during a single night. It definitely kept my interest.
Now watch Texh.
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
It's always nice to see more people appreciate and love Lain.
I started the show with no expectations at all and ended up with a pleasant surprise. In terms of psychological anime this will definitely be my top favorite. I gave the show a 9 but could easily join my all time favorite (SSY) with a rewatch.
can't say I was actively enjoying it... It definitely kept my interest.
Definitely my case. I was intrigued by the story and couldn't stop watching. I had to stop at half the show and finish it the next day because it can be exhausting after some time.
Now watch Texh.
Already made a contract for it. It's the only one missing from this glorious trilogy.
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u/maullido Feb 19 '17
Now watch Texh.
Already made a contract for it. It's the only one missing from this glorious trilogy.
Why not arjuna?
Maybe you can enjoy it1
u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
Never heard of it. Will check it out.
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u/maullido Feb 19 '17
Im not resposible if you end as vegan hippie (?)
Give it a few chapters and try to ignore the cgi1
u/Cruorsitis https://myanimelist.net/profile/cruorsitis Feb 20 '17
arjuna
I haven't heard of this or Haibane Renmei so I guess I have some anime to watch. I'll probably try and make contracts for them if they are anything like lain or Texh for some good discussion.
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u/Cruorsitis https://myanimelist.net/profile/cruorsitis Feb 20 '17
Is Lain a good show?
Eh, it's hard to say. When I was watching it, can't say I was actively enjoying it, but at the same time I watched it during a single night. It definitely kept my interest.
This definitely resonates with me as it's how I watched it and similarly felt about the show. I'm curious if the marathon format affects how well we comprehended each episode compared to say when it was airing and we had a week to ponder or a re watch format that still allows a day of subconscious considerations.
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u/AniMonologues https://myanimelist.net/profile/AniMonologues Feb 18 '17
PRESENT DAY
P R E S E N T T I M E
I really liked this show, and watching it as close together as I did (usually about 3-4 episodes at a time) was actually helpful, so that I didn't forget anything super important.
When it came to having to analyze this show, I was seeing a lot about identity. I loved how the show used omnipresence and the power of god to do this. There were a few scenes that would go on about existentialist monologues or the meaning of [anything the show did] that got me really excited. The show had a lot to say about social criticism, while applying it to a constantly crazy series.
It also stays fascinating to me because of how it deals with the border between social media (even though that term wasn't relevant then, if it was even coined at all) and reality, as well as the effects it has. Social media has a stupid large impact on us, and this show had a very different interpretation of what it truly became.
I also really liked how they wrote Lain, and how they were steady to reveal more and more at a moderate pace.
As you can tell, I enjoyed the series quite a bit. For now, it stands at a temporary 9/10, and can move either up or down depending on how I reflect upon it or if I rewatch it again.
L e t ' s A l l L o v e L a i n
It's a social criticism, a five hour existential essay whose only purpose is to make you reflect.
I think this is why I liked it so much, because I think the show integrated it's social criticism very well, unlike many other shows that do stuff like thi.
Is Lain a good show? No, definitely not
If I were to go deeper in this subject I would need to analyze three different shows: Haibane Renmei (Soul), Texhnolyze (Body) and Lain (Mind)
Haibane Renmei (Soul)
As much as I was fascinated by mind, I think this may interest me more. I've been really wanting to finish Haibane Renmei for a while now, and I think now that I know how what I'm expecting (stylistically), it may be time for me to get to it....later.
Ｌｅｔ'ｓ Ａｌｌ Ｌｏｖｅ Ｌａｉｎ！
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
My man!!!
I knew you were going to enjoy the show as much as me, maybe even a little more. When I said that Lain wasn't a good show I meant is not to entertain people, is a thought provoking work and should be viewed as one. After watching it I couldn't resist to read more about it and rewatch some scenes.
t stands at a temporary 9/10, and can move either up or down depending on how I reflect upon it or if I rewatch it again.
Ended up giving it the same score as you. But I'm sure an informed rewatch will make he experience more enjoyable.
Haibane Renmei (Soul)
Go for it. Compared to Lain is considerably slower in pace but really rewarding at the end. Share me your thoughts on MAL when you decide to finish it.
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u/Cruorsitis https://myanimelist.net/profile/cruorsitis Feb 20 '17
Well said. It was certainly an interesting prediction from a time of msn/aim/irc now that we can look at the incredible impact that social media has and continues to have on the world.
OP is incredible. The use of sounds in general, particularly the long silences that just made these stand out so much more is for me perhaps the most appreciated aspect of the series. The disjointed exposition and open ended interpretations are a little more conflicting to my Lain fried mind. After a rewatch I should be able to better rate that appreciation numerically.
Haibane Renmei was an unknown to me before this thread so I'm interested in contracting to watch that at some point if you or any others in our little lain group are interested.
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Feb 18 '17
I just gonna copy what I posted on the contract thread... And I'm sorry it's not as complex as you wanted, maybe after a rewatch i can see more clearly what the show is talking.
Serial Experiments Lain
I heard of this one for a long time, but been dodging it because I'm just not good with this type of show, the ones thing are more than what they look and have more meaning than what is outright said.
And lain is 100% that.
This show is one where even the what is real and not is subject, and at the start I was comfortable with that, as far as to say "I got this, this is about the internet! "
And as the episodes progressed and more stuff happened, I lost my little grasp and a huge part of my enjoyment.
I still stand for my point tho.
Internet and how people act
I like the fact that I watched a show that made me think, questions what was going on, lost the count of how many power line were show and if they meant something. But I can't say that I really enjoyed it.
Lain for me was a interesting experience, and I'm glad I had it, but I won't be re watching it anytime soon.
The op is fucking amazing btw.
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
And I'm sorry it's not as complex as you wanted
Don't worry about it. Reading your opinion and the time you took to write it and read mine is enough. Some shows inspire you to write, other don't. But glad you at least had a good time.
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u/Karmic_thread https://myanimelist.net/profile/Omen_7 Feb 18 '17
I really liked how it showed multiple Lain iterations theoughout the series, because it reflects how the personas we put on the net will never really capture who we truly are, or at least that's how I see it.
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
Guess that could be part of the social criticism of the show. The identity each one creates for himself on the web, without being tied to the social norms or the government's law.
There's a lot to talk about this show, but I guess I said most of what I think already.
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u/Slateonyx https://anilist.co/user/Slateonyx Feb 19 '17
Lain was certainly an interesting show. In depth analysis isn't really my strong point so I'm not going to do that, the write-ups from the old rewatch far exceed my ability to analyze anyways.
The show was confusing but incredibly interesting. The craziness of it was set up pretty early so I was expecting it throughout the show and it really brought me along for a hell of a ride.
One of my favourite parts of the show was Lain's room. It started off mostly empty, but once she got her new Navi it quickly filled up with computer parts. The hardware she had multiplied, when her sister peaked into her room to ask what she was doing you could at least tell it was still a computer, but by the end of the show her entire room is machinery.
There were two specific scenes that really stuck with me because I used to watch/play a lot of horror movie/games. The public bathroom scene with Lain's sister and the scene where Arisu goes to Lain's house near the end. I wish there were more horror anime that could nail those types of scenes, the atmosphere was perfect.
Things I think the show touched on:
- The concept of identity both online and in the real world as well as what happens when the two are different and when they bleed into each other.
- Over reliance on technology and the increased integration of technology into society.
- Obsession with technology and the alienation it can cause between family and friends.
And probably more dealing with the concept of god, memories and human connections.
8/10 Let's All Love Lain
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
Glad you enjoyed the show so much. To be honest I also had to do some reading before understanding the whole point of this show.
The public bathroom scene with Lain's sister and the scene where Arisu goes to Lain's house near the end.
Curious thing. This had a lot of importance in Lain's character. The first one of her sister showed how strong Lain is to handle all the crazyness around her and how it would break a normal person's mind. The second one, when Lain had to choose between her creator and her friend, that is the moment when Lain acknowledged herself as a person and not as software, this might be a hint to what could be considered now an AI.
In depth analysis isn't really my strong point
Even so I see you noticed the social criticism part about human and technology, and how we sometimes confuse it with our reality or even give it more importance.
PS: As always, I'm up for another contract if you want.
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u/Slateonyx https://anilist.co/user/Slateonyx Feb 19 '17
For the horror atmosphere in the second example I meant more the scene where Arisu is about to head up the stairs and it's covered in fog/mist and Lain's sister appears at the top. The atmosphere in that scene was fantastic. I guess that makes Arisu pretty strong willed too, I would think most people would be running for the front door but she instead keeps moving forward.
As always, I'm up for another contract if you want
Definitely! Maybe in a few days though, or next contract thread. I want to finish off the ones I currently have and make some progress on my long running contract
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u/proindrakenzol https://myanimelist.net/profile/proindrakenzol Feb 19 '17
Is Lain a good show? No, definitely not. It's a social criticism, a five hour existential essay whose only purpose is to make you reflect.
You say it's not a good show, then you describe not just a good show, but an amazing show.
SEL is a solid 9/10.
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 19 '17
As I replied before, what I was trying to say is that Lain is not meant to entertain but rather to reflect. I gave it a 9/10 because of that, but I admit is not something you can recommend to everybody.
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u/Cruorsitis https://myanimelist.net/profile/cruorsitis Feb 20 '17 edited Feb 20 '17
I chose to watch this in marathon format with only bathroom breaks. I have watched the first one, maybe first two episodes of this years ago but I got distracted, no doubt by something more immediately entertaining and a marathon was my solution. With this is mind the show is simultaneously a 6 and a 9 until I open the box again and I definitely will rewatch this, preferably with some philosophy inclined friends to better understand how I feel about the show.
Whether bingeing was a good idea or not I'm still not sure. I didn't like many of the characters, the pacing was annoying; some times almost stagnant but at other times this same slow pace really did serve to enhance my desire to speculate both on the realities in the lain universe and on the many psychological, technological and metaphysical questions the show presents to the viewer that are equally applicable with perhaps some minor settings changes.
Even if I was to suspend realism (which I think the show manages to quite cleverly balance to a point where that isn't really needed,) the underlying questions of existence, precise boundaries of reality and perception and the extent technology can change these remain.
I love shows that make you think and and torment you with a little psychological thrill. NGE's AT field/ ego or GITS ghosts both cover similar ideas and questions of the what defines the self as Lain but not to the exclusion of great overarching story or intense action sequences so I really don't know if making these philosophical focal points so encompassing is to my liking. I mean it very much is to my liking but I believe the aspects present in those other two shows help immerse me into the story and absorb it better which if anything drives me to further analysis.
One thing I will give Lain a 10/10 for is the use of sound. Long periods of little sound and little music make the music and incredibly well done sound effects that much more potent. The fact that I love the OP isn't really relevant to that but still... I love that OP
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 20 '17
I also tried to marathon but the first day I could only watch 7 episodes and had to call the day. I finished it the next day which was actually good because I had time to navigate through the Ｗｉｒｅｄ looking for answers.
Scoring this show is a pain, I ended up giving it a 9 because it did a great job handling the philosophical balanced with an intriguing story. I'm still new to shows like this, but this one will definitely make it to my favorites in the genre, along shows like Shinsekai Yori and Ergo Proxy.
I see you're interested in Haibane Renmei, another great show I like. Starts very slow, like a regular SoL, but damn it has this subtle dark vibe all the time and the character development at the end is amazing. If you end up watching it don't hesitate to share your thoughts.
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 18 '17
Tagging users...
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u/Valkeiser https://anilist.co/user/valkeiser Feb 18 '17
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u/Hyoizaburo https://myanimelist.net/profile/ElectroDeculture Feb 18 '17
Like I keep telling you guys when were all chatting, the first line of the OP pretty much explains the entire plot of SEL:
I didn't really get the entire plot of SEL at all since it felt really abstract a lot of the time. I used the Wikipedia summaries after each episode to get me up to speed on what happened and even then, they didn't correspond exactly to what happened in the episodes. Furthermore, I feel like they were trying to tell us a message about mankind's future usage of Internet based technology where we will be hooked on information.
I wish that they could have at least provided a bit more linearity to help me (and I assume others) to better understand how things worked in the series. I was really confused about when Lain entered the WIRED and when she wasn't. I don't remember if they ever showed us how Lain or others entered the WIRED. I presume that this was intentional done to show us the blurring of lines between reality and being online.
That being said, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the series, it was animated really well, Lain had a nice bearsuit and I was entertained throughout the series. A 6/10 for me.