Like an episode of The Twilight Zone, Serial Experiments Lain is a very creepy and calculated psychological thriller.  There is very little in the way of action in this anime.  It is mostly dialogue as characters delve deeper and deeper into the mystery that is slowly enveloping their lives.  Lain spends most of her time questioning and contemplating, not fighting.  Although this is a serious downer for most, the idea of an intelligent and enigmatic anime is inspiring to others.  You've got to have patience though, as not only does the story unfold slowly, but the director draws each episode out with lengthy scenes of silent contemplation.  At some points it resembles European cinema.  Unfortunately, this makes the anime a little slow...maybe even a little boring.  Another director could have probably told the same story with fewer episodes.

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