But you loved elfen lied for it's straight plot and blood...
Like mentioned, the first season of higurashi makes little sense and seems to lack a plot, that is why they made a second season...
Well I liked Elfen Lied because it explained who these people were; They were depressed, needy, social awkward, and filled with pinned up emotional rage and pain. It wasn't about the gore for me. It was a story of how people with super powers would really react to being conditioned by a military to become a weapon. In every other story it works so perfectly and only love can break their hold to cause the rebellion. In Elfen Lied, subjecting children to brainwashing, pain, and combat training before they can discern the difference between right and wrong left them all psychologically broken. The first experiments into a new realm of science usually fail and Elfen Lied portrayed it as such, as all their children either died from the mental stress or developed severe personality disorders. And while trying to save them from that world is a good natured idea, how would they be able to function in society? It even provided a foil character who was subjected to much of the same harsh treatment, but raised in society to show counter points as to how each reacts to things.
That is why I liked Elfen Lied.
Higurashi's girls were subject to some very bad moments in life. A few more than your average child, but always had the village to lean on. While to lose one's parents in a brutal murder is really rough to live through, they had people willing to help; yet at the drop of a dime they turn into serial killers. Then we strange stuff does happen like finding out the cute adorable little girl in class and your close friend is murderer, everyone just kinda goes with the flow.
"Oh, murder you say. Thats find, no problem there. Lets play Hide the Evidence game! Then we can eat lunch in the park."
Everyone else: "Yeah, that is a great idea single male character who's only purpose is to create love triangles."
Me: "Dude, she killed two people, chopped them up into pieces with the hatch she is still holding, and now you are all witnesses. Oh I get it. The killer is the only one who is normal in this village and all the rest of you are out of your f%^&ing minds. Now it makes sense, continue."
