Ghost Hound

[v16]

Watched what's currently released, 11 first eps. A pity it's not picked up by a group like Eclipse - we'd have ep14 by now, currently there's a 3 episode lag.

Originally Posted by purplemo

I'm leaning more towards the idea that this show's main driving force is "let's put a whole bunch of weird psychological and biological stuff up that barely ties together to sound really really smart to get people in."

Have to disagree, and I'd also avoid such conclusions until finishing the show. You know, it's not that SE Lain was particularly clear until the end, or even then.

Though I have to agree it is much less immersive and much slower-paced than the actually advanced works I know. Actually, to speak seriously Lain was pretty fast-paced, with the world folding around in minutes; even Texhnolyze and Haibane Renmei had only medium pace (there aren't many turning events, but a lot of atmospheric and character-related). This one is clearly slow-paced, with barely anything understandable happening; I'm not sure I would hold through the first episode if I didn't know the staff. Later is speeds up, however, but remains generally slow-paced.
It's also quite creepy, using slow pace and detachment from events to that effect.

OK am watching this now and it seems wierd for the first 3 episodes does it explain anything later on in the series.

Yes. By episode 6 some things start to make sense.

[bah]

It does feel pretty slow at times. Not boring, but I've had a "that was it?" feeling after some episodes. Watching multiple episodes at a time might work better. I do still like the series though.

[v16]

After seeing what's done by now, I've changed the opinion.

It's an excellent series, with a lot of sides to it.
But it only really kicks in from the episode 9. Before it's very slow developing. It's almost as if the creators are testing the audience' patience.

[senile_seinen]

We're enjoying it thoroughly. I also noted a distinct 'lain'-ness about it, particularly in the sound mix of the early eps. So I looked up the production staff - story by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed), and the production staff is pretty much all Lain veterans.

Sure enough, it's talky - like everything else Shirow does. And like Lain, there's a lot of real-world pseudoscience flying around. But it's a good show, and has been quite entertaining so far.

[tasanime]

Thanks guys now I must watch... Thank god for mod duties sometimes because it means I stumble upon potential gems like these.

[GlumLum]

I'm LOVING this show. Great combination of sometimes spooky, sometimes thought provoking, always holding my interest... to the point of obsession. The animation is beautiful, the characters are interesting.
Yay!

[xaemar]

This show is an absolute masterpiece! It will be near to top another masterpiece in this genre: Serial Experiments Lain.

The music is perfect! The characters are humans, have emotions and a good psychological development. The animation is beautiful even if I think that another graphic style would have fit better to this kind of show. And one of the best stories I have seen so far!

3 episodes remaining! :P

[aboumonkey]

I am watching this too, but I am stuck at episode 15.I might start getting Shinsen's releases if Genjo take more time to release episodes.I watch mostly shounen titles this period but a good mystery/supernatural etc show is more than welcome.

[v16]

Finished it recently.

Well... I was left with a bit of "WTF" feeling. Or, more exactly, "So what?"
Yes, the fabula is very clear. (BTW just in case, please don't spoil). But it constantly felt like the show was trying to tell something and end with a period. And it didn't. The storyline did end, but it was not... not a conclusion. Not an answer, or more exactly only insignificant questions were answered. Superficial, not underlying.

I mean, take Texhnolyze: it gives a dystopian view of humanity, rejects all the paths, and the ending concludes it with a questionable shimmer looking through the ruin. It's weird and dizzying, but it's a proper ending.
In Lain, the ending was... not as much of a statement, but it was conclusive and impacting.
Haibane Renmei is something you'd want to see even for the ending alone if nothing else; it answers the significant questions, it rounds up everything. Heck, I might have forced myself to rewatch it now.
And less similar examples... Paranoia Agent, well, it did at least close the story. Kino's Journey, no ending was intended. Speed Grapher, the ending was a real blast paying off for everything. Monster had one hell of an ending, if not watching the very last episode right away. Nearly every good series had a decent ending, proper or not, but interesting.

Here, I have a feeling that I'm missing something. Maybe I was supposed to know what Kakuriyo is, know some cult referenced, know some religious things, et cetera, maybe. But that's the feeling, really it wouldn't help much. It's still "So what?" kind of ending.
Don't take it as a reason not to watch the show, since it's very good. Just the ending is... a bit as if there wasn't one.

[Jakuchu]

Originally Posted by v16

Finished it recently.

Well... I was left with a bit of "WTF" feeling. Or, more exactly, "So what?"
Yes, the fabula is very clear. (BTW just in case, please don't spoil). But it constantly felt like the show was trying to tell something and end with a period. And it didn't. The storyline did end, but it was not... not a conclusion. Not an answer, or more exactly only insignificant questions were answered. Superficial, not underlying.

Here, I have a feeling that I'm missing something. Maybe I was supposed to know what Kakuriyo is, know some cult referenced, know some religious things, et cetera, maybe. But that's the feeling, really it wouldn't help much. It's still "So what?" kind of ending.
Don't take it as a reason not to watch the show, since it's very good. Just the ending is... a bit as if there wasn't one.

I have to agree with you, since I got the same feeling after completing this yesterday. I was a bit disappointed with the ending to be honest, because I could predict it too easily.