Layer Two: Evolution

The fourth episode (Layer 4: Religion) marks a change in Lain, one that continues for the rest of the series. In the previous episode, Lain had received an anonymous package with a chip called the Psyche (pronounced "puh-shoo-kay") processor. After realizing it's potential, she installs it (after much researching beforehand). At this point, Lain has begun her metamorphosis -- although, some traces of her passiveness remained, she became more confident, more alive. Her sudden interest in her navi and the Wired led her to dismantling her navi and continually upgrading it to unbelieveable levels. She became an expert hacker and an experienced surfer of the Wired overnight -- and because of her profiency in the Wired, and the Psyche processor that she now possessed, her ties to the Wired became far more intricate as she could interact with people on the Wired on a deeper level. It was as if the Wired had given her substance; it had fleshed Lain out and made her real.

A lot of people begin to notice this sudden alteration of Lain's mannerisms. At school, there is once again a rumour of another suicide -- apparently, a senior classman had jumped off the roof and its knowledge set everyone on edge. But unlike Chisa's suicide in episode one (Layer 1: Weird), Lain knows of the recent suicide, and actually speaks about it with some authority. Lain had already heard about it on the Wired; this bit doesn't go unnoticed among the girls. Julie and Reika point out the change in Lain -- she seems so open and at ease with conversation. Unlike before, Lain's eyes were clear and she looked directly at people now, speaking with a confidence that radiated from her. Rather than Alice always inviting Lain on outings, Lain begins to go of her own will, going shopping with Alice, Reika, and Julie. On the brief clip we see of her shopping with the girls, she is almost bubbly, talking with obvious enthusiasm about her navi as she wolfed down her ice cream bar. On this outing, she excuses herself early, claiming that her navi was in pieces and had to be reassembled. Reika and Julie are a little disappointed that Lain would rather spend time with her Wired friends than her real life friends, and as usual, Alice comes to Lain's defense. As Lain hurries home, Alice's eyes are troubled. They were right. Lain had changed.

At home, Lain's personality catches the attention of her sister, Iwakura Mika. Surprised to see her sister bent over a dismantled navi in her nightgown, the sight of Lain poring over manuals and tweaking a computer startles Mika. It seems that Mika is the only one in the Iwakura household who is genuinely surprised about Lain's behaviour -- when she mentions it to her parents in episode four (Layer 4: Religion) her father dismisses it, and the mother barely takes notice. Exasperated with her parent's lack of regard about Lain, Mika simply drops it. But as she walks away, Lain's father (Iwakura Yasuo) reveals that he too knows of Lain's change in behaviour.

Why did Lain change so suddenly? From the beginning, the Wired called to Lain. Chisa's plaintive cries of "Why aren't you here yet?" echo on the Wired, and in Lain's head. The Wired was molding Lain, changing her preceptions of the world and giving her life meaning. As she becomes even more and more engrossed in the Wired, Lain's personality grows more and more pronounced. The Wired gave Lain a depth that wasn't there before -- but what were the consequences? As Lain became more confident on the Wired, another entity was already present. Accounts of another Lain haunted the Wired and the real world alike -- only this Lain was completely opposite in manner. She was feisty and short tempered, and arrogant. Two Lains? The doppelganger, dubbed "Lain of the Wired" was the image of Iwakura Lain, free of all restraints and even morals. "Lain of the Wired" was nothing short of a god, an all powerful being whom people feared and revered at the same time. Everyone kept seeing "Lain of the Wired", and even though the real Lain knew it wasn't her causing all the mischief, it wasn't enough. Somewhere, her image frolicked and wreaked havoc...

Both Lains (the real and the doppelganger) were mirror opposites. The superego and the id, battling for recognition, even existence. Which was the real Lain? Or was it really just the same person..? And why did people fear her so...?

(( back to internal diagnostic ))

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