The Second Season of Haruhi Suzumiya - Discussion Thread

[Fudce]

It's confirmed! It has aired! It has Haruhi Suzumiya's official stamp of approval!

Welcome back the SOS Brigade, as the second series of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" returns in typically interesting circumstances, hidden within a rerun of the first series in a trick that will give forumites yet another episode order to argue with.

Remember that Series 1 is licenced by Kadokawa Pictures USA and distributed by Bandai Entertainment. Don't talk about anything missed out from the novels, since this is Haruhi, and anything could happen... :P


Pages of Interest:
ANN Entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6430). (Series 1)
Wikipedia ("]ANN Entry Placeholder[/URL]. (Series 2)
Note[/B]
As usual, please try to follow these easy forum courtesy habits when replying:

If you're the first person to post about an episode in any given week, please respond to the root post (this post) and indicate in the subject line which episode you're posting about.
If someone has already posted about an episode before you, please respond to that post (or a relevant reply to that post). Keep in the right subthread.
Don't use the blue "Post Reply" button because if you do your reply will not correctly inherit the subject line of the post you're replying to. It'll ignore it and pick up the root post title. Just click "Quote" to the post you want to reply to.

Please do not openly discuss events from the novels. If you wish to compare the anime and novel, please do so only after the anime has finished airing.



[U]Fudce's tips for polite posting

Always remember to enclose spoilers in spoiler tags. TEXT GOES HERE
To respond to a specific post, make sure to click the "quote" button on that post.
To quick-reply to a specific post, make sure to only click the "quick reply" button on that post. This button is furthest to the right.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Can't wait for the new episodes. I hope there will be a way we can see them subbed at some point. Hopefully Kodakowa Pictures USA will grab the rights like they did for the original. I assume that all of the cast is back mainly Aya Hirano as Haruhi?

[EmperorBrandon]

I assume that all of the cast is back mainly Aya Hirano as Haruhi?

They were all back in the ONA's (Haruhi-chan and Churuya-san), so probably yes.

[DKL]

My life has meaning again.

[Fudce]

Remember to respond to this post for all Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody related posts.
To respond directly to a post, click the button labeled "Quote", or the furthest button right to quick reply to this post.





Wow, the subthread titling could get confusing... I've called this episode S2 - Ep1, but it's also ep8 overall. I prefer the S2-Ep1 though, since it's very clear. It's the first episode to air of Series 2. :P

I missed the start since I didn't know it was on, but it looks like Kyon and Mikuru went back in time to when Haruhi drew the symbols on the playing field? I'll have to wait for the subs to speak more, but it looked interesting from what I saw of it :)

[Rhodes]

So definitive proof that chronological order is true and official order and the scrambled broadcast order from season 1 was/is a gimmick?

Wonder how the DVDs/BDs will work out.

Haruhi isnt out on BD right?

[HawkEyeTS]

I assume that all of the cast is back mainly Aya Hirano as Haruhi?

Yes, all of the original cast are back. I caught the raw stream fully anticipating the troll of the year to happen, and was ecstatic to see the new episode actually air. I won't spoil anything, as it literally ended 45 minutes ago, but it was awesome. It was a complete fluke I was up to see it live, but this has really made my week.

[Consignia]

I didn't watch the episode, because I was at work, but I noticed there was no OP. Was the ED Hare Hare Yukai again? I may have been reading it wrong but the title looked different as well, was it still Yuutsu?

[EmperorBrandon]

I didn't watch the episode, because I was at work, but I noticed there was no OP. Was the ED Hare Hare Yukai again? I may have been reading it wrong but the title looked different as well, was it still Yuutsu?

I read on another forum that there was a new ED.

[Fudce]

I didn't watch the episode, because I was at work, but I noticed there was no OP. Was the ED Hare Hare Yukai again? I may have been reading it wrong but the title looked different as well, was it still Yuutsu?

I didn't see all of the ED, but it definitly was a brand new one. I didn't see the lack of opening though, since I missed the first five or so minutes.

[Buster Blader 126]

Looks like I have something new to watch sometime soon, and in Japanese at that. :)

If nothing can break me out of my Anime-in-Japanese burnout (barring the airings of Spice and Wolf 2 and Umineko no Naku Koroni in July), then Haruhi will.

[Westlo]

No op shown but a new ED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXFnd32egRM

Haruhi 2 is pretty much a summer show now.

[DKL]

No op shown but a new ED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXFnd32egRM

Haruhi 2 is pretty much a summer show now.

Who did Animation Direction?

Yukiko Horiguchi?

[Betenoire]

Argh...This needs to get an official stream- Now!

Someone needs to get on this.

[Kirarakim]

Wow I am still in shock that it was for real. But I saw the episode for myself (well most of it) so I have to believe.

I heard the next episode is not airing until June 18th? Is that true?

[Buster Blader 126]

Argh...This needs to get an official stream- Now!

Someone needs to get on this.

I concur.

Funny how my excitement for this new episode is escalating, even though I'm not raging (in a good way) as hard for Haruhi as of late.

[Westlo]

No idea atm DKL.

If nothing can break me out of my Anime-in-Japanese burnout (barring Spice and Wolf 2's airing in July), then Haruhi will.

I highly suggest you check out Umineko this summer season, having just finished the first game/ep and played a few hours into the second.. it's going to be incredible. Speaking of summer season Haruhi 2 just elevated that season a few notches up in awesomeness.

[DKL]

Wow I am still in shock that it was for real. But I saw the episode for myself (well most of it) so I have to believe.

I heard the next episode is not airing until June 18th? Is that true?

Fuck, really?

So we're only getting a taste?

Oh well... anything new at this point is welcomed.

[EmperorBrandon]

Who did Animation Direction?

Yukiko Horiguchi?

ANN has episode staff particulars (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-21/new-haruhi-suzumiya-anime-episode-airs). It's Futoshi Nishiya, and he's also the chief animation director of the new series.

[DKL]

Who did Animation Direction?

Yukiko Horiguchi?

ANN has episode staff particulars (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-21/new-haruhi-suzumiya-anime-episode-airs). It's Futoshi Nishiya, and he's also the chief animation director of the new series.

No, I mean for the ED sequence.

[bluesilo]

I think I died and have gone to heaven. I never thought I'd live long enough to see new Haruhi episodes. God is good.

[something]

Please don't talk about episodes from the first series unless they have aired in this run through the series
? They have. This new episode is airing in the middle of a rerun of the first season, as you noted. Also, earlier seasons have never been off limits in discussion threads about the sequels. If anything it'd be fairly necessary to do so given the way it's all intertwined. Or am I missing something?

Now not spoiling novel points that were never animated, absolutely agree. but there's no reason why we couldn't bring up the 14 episodes that aired in 2006. Right?

[EmperorBrandon]

Who did Animation Direction?

Yukiko Horiguchi?

ANN has episode staff particulars (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-21/new-haruhi-suzumiya-anime-episode-airs). It's Futoshi Nishiya, and he's also the chief animation director of the new series.

No, I mean for the ED sequence.

Ah, ok... well, I watched the ED to see the credits, and he's the animation director for the ED too.

[Westlo]

I forgot how good Hirano could be until i watched the first 5 minutes of this, she'll never top this role in terms of ability displayed and recognition.

Wow I am still in shock that it was for real. But I saw the episode for myself (well most of it) so I have to believe.

I heard the next episode is not airing until June 18th? Is that true?

This post should explain it a bit for you

http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1583695&postcount=41

Endless Night the 12th episode will be the second new ep, keep in mind that this is just someone's tentative listing. Fencedude thinks Disappearance will be 6 eps, the guy who did it thinks Sighs should be 3 eps etc.

[Fudce]

Please don't talk about episodes from the first series unless they have aired in this run through the series
? They have. This new episode is airing in the middle of a rerun of the first season, as you noted. Also, earlier seasons have never been off limits in discussion threads about the sequels. If anything it'd be fairly necessary to do so given the way it's all intertwined. Or am I missing something?

I wrote that stuff on the fly so to speak, so I essentially took a "catch-all" sort of thing for this current airing of the series. Better to be safer than sorry, but I'll remove that point if I'm wanted to :P

[Fencedude]

Endless Night the 12th episode will be the second new ep, keep in mind that this is just someone's tentative listing. Fencedude thinks Disappearance will be 6 eps, the guy who did it thinks Sighs should be 3 eps etc.

Endless Eight, not Night.

Also, I still say they just aren't going to do Sighs at all, but hey, maybe they will. At least then people will shut up about that stupid talking cat

[something]

So definitive proof that chronological order is true and official order and the scrambled broadcast order from season 1 was/is a gimmick?
::rolls eyes:: Here we go again. Season one by itself in 2006 != renewed airing in 2009 with additional episodes. Of course this airing has to be in chronological order, it's taking a completely different approach to the material given that it's expanding the timeline in general rather than simply lumping a few more eps onto the end. Two drastically different things, and it should have been obvious that they'd handle it this way for animated extension of the franchise.

[something]

Better to be safer than sorry, but I'll remove that point if I'm wanted to :P
Probably a good idea, because it's not possible to talk about Haruhi without referencing events in other episodes, especially when it's all one complex/intertwined story. I think having that rule in there would confuse people.

[DKL]

Who did Animation Direction?

Yukiko Horiguchi?

ANN has episode staff particulars (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-21/new-haruhi-suzumiya-anime-episode-airs). It's Futoshi Nishiya, and he's also the chief animation director of the new series.

No, I mean for the ED sequence.

Ah, ok... well, I watched the ED to see the credits, and he's the animation director for the ED too.

Wow, their art looks ridiculous similar if that's the case:

http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/37412/asahina_mikuru-brown_hair-cardigan-casual-highres-

Though, who knows?

[Buster Blader 126]

New ED sequence, eh? I'll give that a look within the hours.

I highly suggest you check out Umineko this summer season, having just finished the first game/ep and played a few hours into the second.. it's going to be incredible. Speaking of summer season Haruhi 2 just elevated that season a few notches up in awesomeness.

No need to, kind sir.

While I neglected to mention it up above (before), I actually am very excited for Umineko as well, since I loved Higurashi. My expectations are a little too high than they should be ATM (higher expectations + not watching said show until much later can lead to me overrating some shows) though When They Cry is now my second-favourite anime title, so I can't help myself.

[The Great Bear]

This is nice and all to hear, but unless there will be an official stream available…this is not going to interest me at all.

Considering that they did that for the Haruhi-chan and Churuya series, it's entirely possible.

Put it up on Crunchyroll et al. Get some ad revenue. Why let the fansubbers run rampant when the tools exist to do an end run around them?

We'll see how smart they are.

[Fudce]

Put it up on Crunchyroll et al. Get some ad revenue. Why let the fansubbers run rampant when the tools exist to do an end run around them?

We'll see how smart they are.

It wouldn't at all surprise me to hear some sort of announcement this weekend actually.

[EmperorBrandon]

It wouldn't at all surprise me to hear some sort of announcement this weekend actually.

Well, looking on Kadokawa's YouTube channel, I noticed they have ep. 7 ("Boredom") up two days ago, though only in Japanese with no subtitles. Maybe they will put up ep. 8 at some point, but it doesn't do much good for the point here if it won't have subtitles.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's confirmed! It has aired! It has Haruhi Suzumiya's official stamp of approval!

Ah, it's good to know that it's official. Sometime later I need to get around to watching the episode myself. As well as any other new ones as they come up. Even if the gaps are going to be different than usual.

If not for the fact I'm already watching enough, I'd be half-tempted to do the following. Which is do a timed re-watch of the first season that would work in conjunction with this renewed airing. However I'm probably better off passing on the idea due to time constraints.

[Consignia]

It wouldn't at all surprise me to hear some sort of announcement this weekend actually.

Well, looking on Kadokawa's YouTube channel, I noticed they have ep. 7 ("Boredom") up two days ago, though only in Japanese with no subtitles. Maybe they will put up ep. 8 at some point, but it doesn't do much good for the point here if it won't have subtitles.

They've been plonking the entire re-run on there without subtitles. The only thing is they delete them after a week. I've watched a couple of episodes and the quality isn't bad.

EDIT: acutally I take the quality thing back. It's watchable, but not great.

[something]

It wouldn't at all surprise me to hear some sort of announcement this weekend actually.
It's pretty damn strange (well not necessarily strange, I don't know that Kadokawa has put a lot of series up streaming in general) already that they haven't had the renewed airing on CR or somewhere else from the start. Obviously it doesn't matter for me, but it's hard to see what exactly they have to lose by doing it. Although I suppose their stance would be "It's Haruhi, it doesn't matter what we do", which I guess is true to an extent given all they've done to fans since season one. But even if they put it up as something for paid CR members only, I can only imagine it'd help.

Ah well~

[something]

If not for the fact I'm already watching enough, I'd be half-tempted to do the following. Which is do a timed re-watch of the first season that would work in conjunction with this renewed airing. However I'm probably better off passing on the idea due to time constraints.
If I don't post about it I can watch waaaay more quickly than if I do, so I plan to watch 8 tonight or tomorrow, then 1-7 (since they've already aired it'd be catch-up) and 8 again this weekend. Then I'm going to follow the re-airing week by week, though I'll probably only post about the new episodes. If we had had more information/confirmation and better warning long ago I would totally have done a new weekly discussion thread rewatching the series from episode 1 of the renewed airing, but alas, they just kinda slipped it in there in a way I've never seen before.

(Although I think it's a really cool idea in general, granted, and gives me a good reason to watch the "first" season... again.)

[Sly05]

So Kadokawa finally delivers. Still a weird way of doing it, but whatever. I guess I'll treat episode 8 as a sneak peak until we get the rest of season 2 (assuming we don't get any other new episodes until the June timeframe as has been suggested).

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, I checked the episode out, and it's rather interesting one to start off the new episodes with. It definitely had me thinking a bit about some things from early in Melancholy (may be tempted to watch again already). Kyon is as great as I remember from S1, and some focus on Mikuru and the time travel aspect was nice. Earlier in the time travel bit I wasn't really thinking I would be seeing any of her, so the part with Yuki's role near the end of the episode was really cool as well. Looking forward to more.

[DKL]

Time travel was fun... and Yuki downloading herself into the past was really cool; I like the detail how you can tell that they sync up once she gets rid of the glasses.

As for the episode: Kyon gave her all the ideas, apparently.

Now...

What do I do for the next few weeks?

That said, I'm really under the impression that Haruhi is actually looking for Kyon in the present... but she doesn't realize that he's already there with her...

But, who knows?

Speculation.

(going back to episode one: "Hey... do I know you from somewhere?")

[bored@lazy]

Well, I checked the episode out, and it's rather interesting one to start off the new episodes with. It definitely had me thinking a bit about some things from early in Melancholy (may be tempted to watch again already). Kyon is as great as I remember from S1, and some focus on Mikuru and the time travel aspect was nice. Earlier in the time travel bit I wasn't really thinking I would be seeing any of her, so the part with Yuki's role near the end of the episode was really cool as well. Looking forward to more.

I enjoyed the new episode too, it gives me high hopes for the rest of the new stuff when it eventually airs.

[Sly05]

It's nice to finally see more Haruhi. Kyon's inner dialogue is as funny as ever and we get to see middle school Haruhi.

I always appreciate the little touches that Kyoto Animation adds to their animation. The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.

I'm not much of a fan of the new ending. The song is fine, but the animation feels like they're trying to induce a seizure with all that flashing. I found it straining to watch because of it.

[EmperorBrandon]

I like the detail how you can tell that they sync up once she gets rid of the glasses.

The "getting rid of glasses" detail was awesome. Loved that...

Now...

What do I do for the next few weeks?

Well, there's still another awesome KyoAni series with new episodes airing during that time. :)

[DKL]

The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.



Wow, I did not notice that.

[Fencedude]

Hmm...there seems to be some inconsistent posting going on, if you are talking about the episode itself please remember to respond to either the root post for the episode or one of the responses, not the main post or using the Post Reply button.

Anyway

FANTASTIC! Absolutely perfect, hit every note and scene from the novel story with perfection. Middle School Haruhi was awesome, and Asahina-san (big) was hot and mysterious. I really do feel sorry for Mikuru, she really is in the worst position of the three (herself, Itsuki, Yuki), and really is completely out of her depth.

The details with Yuki, taking off her glasses and then her expression when waking them up...completely on target. Really great stuff. With Haruhi-chan just ending, I feel like we were naturally led into this, and its great to officially be back!

[stfram]

Welcome back the SOS Brigade, as the second series of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" returns in typically interesting circumstances, hidden within a rerun of the first series in a trick that will give forumites yet another episode order to argue with.


I'm sure that Bandai's marketing department (or whatever is left of it), is probably pulling out their hair trying to figure out how this will be marketed on DVD, once all 14 of the new episodes have finally aired.

On the other hand, it's a great way to get folks to buy the first series again, as part of some all-inclusive LE edition. :)

Saw this on Kurogane's anime blog in the comments section, will spoiler tag it, just in case.

Episode Guide/List:

New episodes are going to be spliced in between older ones.

01. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part I
02. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part II
03. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part III
04. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part IV
05. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part V
06. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part VI
07. The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya
08. Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody part I (new)
09. Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody part II (new)
10. Mysterique Sign
11. Endless Eight part I (new)
12. Endless Eight part II (new)
13. Remote Island Syndrome part I
14. Remote Island Syndrome part II
15. The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya part I (new)
16. The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya part II (new)
17. The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya part III (new)
18. The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya part IV (new)
19. The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina Episode 00
20. Live Alive
21. The Day of Sagittarius
22. Someday in the Rain
23. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya part I (new)
24. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya part II (new)
25. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya part III (new)
26. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya part IV (new)
27. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya part V (new)
28. The Disappearence of Haruhi Suzumiya part VI (new)

[Fencedude]

WTF Part II? This was the entirety of BLR.

Do you have an actual source for that list?

[HawkEyeTS]

WTF Part II? This was the entirety of BLR.

Do you have an actual source for that list?

There was another list posted in japanese on 4chan earlier in the day, which was according to the poster "updated". They did not name or link the source, but the formatting looked like something that would have come from TV listings. I could read most of it, and put the rest through google translate and matched it against novel chapter names.


Apr 02 ep01 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 1
Apr 09 ep02 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2
Apr 16 ep03 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 3
Apr 23 ep04 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 4
Apr 30 ep05 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 5
May 07 ep06 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 6
May 14 ep07 The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya
May 21 ep08 Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody (new)
May 28 ep09 Mysterique Sign
Jun 04 ep10 Remote Island Syndrome Part1
Jun 11 ep11 Remote Island Syndrome Part2
Jun 18 ep12 Endless Eight (new)
Jun 25 ep13 The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya 1 (New)
Jul 02 ep14 The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 (New)
Jul 09 ep15 The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya 3 (New)
Jul 16 ep16 The Adventures of Asahina Mikuru Episode 00
Jul 23 ep17 Live A Live
Jul 30 ep18 The Day of Sagittarius
Aug 07 ep19 Someday in the rain
Aug 14 ep20 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya 1 (New)
Aug 21 ep21 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 (New)
Aug 28 ep22 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya 3 (New)
Sep 03 ep23 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya 4 (New)
Sep 10 ep24 Charmed at First Sight Lover (new)
Sep 17 ep25 Snow Mountain Syndrome Part1 (new)
Sep 24 ep26 Snow Mountain Syndrome Part2 (new)
Oct 01 ep27 Where Did the Cat Go? (new)
Oct 08 ep28 Time After Disappearance (new) <- Very rough translation, speculated to be Novel 7 Prologue

[Fencedude]

Oct 08 ep28 Time After Disappearance (new) <- Very rough translation, speculated to be Novel 7 Prologue


Huh, that would be odd, the prologue to Intrigues? I love Intrigues, but this would be very strange.

Honestly, I think that we should take any full list of episodes with very large grains of salt.

Besides, we'll find out soon enough for ourselves, won't we?

Edit: Actually, rereading the Prologue to Intrigues, this makes perfect sense. I'd totally forgotten about this event, but its totally vital and this is probably the best place to include it. And the title of the episode is completely logical in this context.

[HawkEyeTS]

Huh, that would be odd, the prologue to Intrigues? I love Intrigues, but this would be very strange.

Well, the first half of the prologue would fit both chronologically and contextually with the events of Disappearance to wrap up the season, but I agree, if they did the entire thing, it would be basically setting up a cliffhanger for a third season. Then again, this is the same Kadokawa that waited three years to release season two in an extremely odd way. So yeah, looks like we'll have to wait and see what happens.

Edit: Heh, you beat me to the explaination.

[Suwako Moriya]

Besides, we'll find out soon enough for ourselves, won't we?

Yes, there's no doubt at least one person out there will be like "Wow, look what new episode aired!"

[stfram]

WTF Part II? This was the entirety of BLR.


Note: I have almost no familiarity with the light novels.

Everything else seems to roughly match up, though, based on the airing schedule HawkEyeTS posted.

It's a damn shame we have to wait so long in order to see the next new ep, but at least we get four new eps in a row starting June 18th.


Do you have an actual source for that list?

Nope, but now we both know the likely source. I felt it was interesting enough to post here, and at now we've got a basic airing schedule available thanks to Hawkeye.

[Fencedude]

Nope, but now we both know the source. I felt it was interesting enough to post here, and at now we've got a basic airing schedule available thanks to Hawkeye.

No, we have a list that was posted on 4chan with no verifying links.

Thats not, to be frank, a particularly good indicator for its reliability.

I think that the inclusion of that final entry makes it significantly more likely to be real than the one you posted, but on the other hand, it could have just been made up by someone on 2ch/2chan.

We're just going to have to wait and see.

[Buster Blader 126]

Just saw the episode now, and the memories of good times had while watching Haruhi three years ago came rushing back.

Lots of Mikuru cuteness (and hotness ala older Mikuru) in this episode, coupled by some intriguing stuff in the second half. Yuki also works her magic (so to speak), as expected.

And the wait for another new episode begins. But I can wait. After all, we've already waited for nearly three years already, so to speak.

[stfram]

Yes, there's no doubt at least one person out there will be like "Wow, look what new episode aired!"

Which is a bizarre way to get eyeballs watching, although I expect any Japanese fans worth their salt probably had enough advanced notice.

The "surprise" airing had more of an effect on fans outside of Japan, especially since 99% had dismissed the re-airing of Haruhi out of hand. I know I did.

Cute marketing trick, but I doubt most are happy with the pointless re-airing of old episodes intermixed with new ones, even if it does tie everything in.

[HawkEyeTS]

The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.

The events of this episode really start to emphasize why several strange occurances with Yuki in the later episodes of season one happen. The next episode chronologically, Mysterique Sign, has Kyon wondering if she set up the hunt for the missing student because she was lonely, which considering her personality for the Meloncholy storyline, would be a bit strange. Now we learn that she synchronized herself with her present day state and then waited another three years all alone after meeting Kyon and Mikuru that day. The way her personality has subtlety been changing is starting to make a lot more sense with this episode in context.

[Fencedude]

The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.

The events of this episode really start to emphasize why several strange occurances with Yuki in the later episodes of season one happen. The next episode chronologically, Mysterique Sign, has Kyon wondering if she set up the hunt for the missing student because she was lonely, which considering her personality for the Meloncholy storyline, would be a bit strange. Now we learn that she synchronized herself with her present day state and then waited another three years all alone after meeting Kyon and Mikuru that day. The way her personality has subtlety been changing is starting to make a lot more sense with this episode in context.

Not just "all alone" but all alone, with Kyon and Mikuru just feet away, but completely cut off.

This episode really did an amazing job of developing all three of the girls, but Yuki's development, as always, was the most subtle, but also the most powerful.

[StudioZEL]

Faith in KyoAni = restored. This is the fluidly animated, tightly paced, well directed Kyoto Animation I love. (I don't HATE K-On, but it's not up to Kyo-Ani standards IMO).

[Daniel_Perales]

The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.

The events of this episode really start to emphasize why several strange occurances with Yuki in the later episodes of season one happen. The next episode chronologically, Mysterique Sign, has Kyon wondering if she set up the hunt for the missing student because she was lonely, which considering her personality for the Meloncholy storyline, would be a bit strange. Now we learn that she synchronized herself with her present day state and then waited another three years all alone after meeting Kyon and Mikuru that day. The way her personality has subtlety been changing is starting to make a lot more sense with this episode in context.

Not just "all alone" but all alone, with Kyon and Mikuru just feet away, but completely cut off.

This episode really did an amazing job of developing all three of the girls, but Yuki's development, as always, was the most subtle, but also the most powerful.

I just watched it, and I have to agree. This was a good episode.:sdsmiley:


Danny

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Just finished watching it and man it was terrific. I like the new closing theme as well.

[DKL]

Hm... it just occurred to me:

Wouldn't there be a new episode before the Culture Festival episode?

I mean... when they made the video thing... and, you know, where they explain the talking cat who is pretty much absent from the rest of the show outside of the movie thing.

[Fencedude]

Hm... it just occurred to me:

Wouldn't there be a new episode before the Culture Festival episode?

I mean... when they made the video thing... and, you know, where they explain the talking cat who is pretty much absent from the rest of the show outside of the movie thing.

Thats volume 2, The Sighs of Suzumiya Haruhi

[DKL]

So...

They're going to tell that story as a flashback after we get past all the episodes from the previous season?

(wow... this conversation is confusing)

[Fencedude]

So...

They're going to tell that story as a flashback after we get past all the episodes from the previous season?

(wow... this conversation is confusing)

No, it will be placed exactly where it occured chronologically.

Ignore the order the first season was presented in, it has nothing to do with the order that this airing is going in.

Sighs takes place immediately before Live A Live, and will be placed there in this airing, assuming it is indeed animated. No "flashback" or anything else.

[DKL]

Yeah, I'm thinking chronologically [always have] and, going by that, I'd assume that there'd be a new episode before the movie episode and the culture festival episode...

Okay, okay... for some reason, I was turned to the idea that there wouldn't be ANY new content until all the previous season's episodes were done (which is why, if that were the case, the only way to put the... cat thing in there would be via flashback).

So, they're likely to insert more than one new episode in-between the old episodes (I initially thought that we were just going to get ONE new episode in-between the old stuff)...

[Fencedude]

Yeah, I'm thinking chronologically [always have] and, going by that, I'd assume that there'd be a new episode before the movie episode and the culture festival episode...

...but there IS! Look at the two lists we were discussing last night, both list 3~4 episodes titled The Sighs of Suzumiya Haruhi inbetween Endless Eight and The Adventures of Asahina Mikuru. That is when Volume 2, which was ENTIRELY about making the movie, takes place.

Okay, okay... for some reason, I was turned to the idea that there wouldn't be ANY new content until all the previous season's episodes were done.

Which, if we're going chronologically (which we are) makes no sense. Also the fact that we just got a new episode kinda shows that that isn't the case, no?

[DKL]

Yeah, I get it now; it's just all the discussion made me think that yesterday's episode was the only new episode we were going to get inserted between the old ones and I only realized now that that couldn't have been right.

As for the lists, I haven't actually looked at it...

[Suwako Moriya]

Haruhi teaches us about long term wishing! And we get fun with time traveling. If this episode is any indication then the series still has its magic. Even when she was younger, Haruhi was awesome. Yuki has some err interesting abilities. Mikuru is well, she's Mikuru.

[stfram]

Mikuru is well, she's Mikuru.


And MILF Mikuru is still hot for Kyon.

"You can kiss my younger self, just do it while she's asleep!"

:blush: :devil:

[DKL]

Mikuru is well, she's Mikuru.


And MILF Mikuru is still hot for Kyon.

"You can kiss my younger self, just do it while she's asleep!"

:blush: :devil:

Oh yeah, that was all: VA VA VOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

But, naturally, Kyon doesn't follow through on the offer since he's a nice guy [pussy]; his contemplation via his inner-voice was funny.

[Fencedude]

Mikuru is well, she's Mikuru.


And MILF Mikuru is still hot for Kyon.

"You can kiss my younger self, just do it while she's asleep!"

:blush: :devil:

Speaking of Asahina-san (big), Kyon missed a great opportunity to try to get information out of her.

He really should have asked if her Tanabata wishes came true.

[cxt217]

Hey, we see with-glasses Nagato again!

All in all, the episode was entertaining enough, which is what I said about the original series, and really, that is what titles should really aspire to. For a stand-alone story in the original light novels, it worked out pretty well.

I seen comments about the animation quality, but it appear no better, no worse, than the original series. It certainly did not distract from the episode.

But seriously, if any otaku really believes that this is 'the greatest anime series of this decade,' they really need to stop buying drugs without the required prescriptions.

Also, are Kadokawa going to spring the same novelty from the first season on Season 2, namely mixing up the broadcast order of the episodes? I always thought one of the reasons why people though Haruhi was brilliant was because they confused a novelty in manner of presentation with title quality.

They are not the same.

C.T.

[Fencedude]

Hey, we see with-glasses Nagato again!

All in all, the episode was entertaining enough, which is what I said about the original series, and really, that is what titles should really aspire to. For a stand-alone story in the original light novels, it worked out pretty well.

This episode is not "stand alone"

I seen comments about the animation quality, but it appear no better, no worse, than the original series. It certainly did not distract from the episode.

What? The only comments about the animation quality has been that its FREAKING FANTASTIC, so I'm not getting your point.

But seriously, if any otaku really believes that this is 'the greatest anime series of this decade,' they really need to stop buying drugs without the required prescriptions.

<insert your favorite series here> sucks. Thats basically what you are saying. Utterly meaningles.


Also, are Kadokawa going to spring the same novelty from the first season on Season 2, namely mixing up the broadcast order of the episodes? I always thought one of the reasons why people though Haruhi was brilliant was because they confused a novelty in manner of presentation with title quality.
They are not the same.
C.T.

That entirely misses the entire point. The presentation that was given in season 1 was due to the fact that it was a 14 episode series that if done in a standard chronological order would have its highest climax at episode 6, which is bad storytelling by any measure.

The difference is that its not being presented as a TWENTY EIGHT episode series, in strict chronological order (which isn't the novel order either), which will have several high climax moments, and if the final episode is the one shown in the 4chan episode list it will actually end on a cliffhanger

Haruhi was not awesome because of the order of the episodes, that was just one of the things that made it entertaining to watch week by week.

[Sly05]

This episode really did an amazing job of developing all three of the girls, but Yuki's development, as always, was the most subtle, but also the most powerful.

That's a good way of putting it. That's really the charm of Yuki's character and it really came through this episode.

[ArcticMech]

"You can kiss my younger self, just do it while she's asleep!"

:blush: :devil:

I was laughing hard when she said that. So quick to pimp her younger self. :bigsmile: I still marvel at how Asahina turned out. They look identical, yet seem like 2 totally different people. Her future self is so at ease with herself and around Kyon. Quite playful too. :devil:

As for everything else: Thumbs up for middle school Haruhi. Kyon has no one but himself to blame. Yuki is freakin' awesome.

Welcome back Haruhi & the gang. These are happy times.

[TnAdct1]

A couple of random, comical thoughts about the episode:

1. When Kyon was wondering if someone was having a birthday at the start of the episode, was anyone else thinking about Kagami and Tsukasa from Lucky Star?

2. After thinking about it, it is ironic that, after three years of waiting, the first new Haruhi episode would have Kyon and Mikuru in suspended animation for three years?

[pi8you]

2. After thinking about it, it is ironic that, after three years of waiting, the first new Haruhi episode would have Kyon and Mikuru in suspended animation for three years?
Just as planned! D:

Wow, between the novel and first two volumes of the manga in the last month or two, plus rewatching (chronological) 1-7 in the last two days after finding out 8 was new, I've really got the first novel's content down. 8 was a treat though, just picked right up like it was there all along, though Mikuru went back to the maid outfit pretty quickly :(

Very clever of Suzumiya to ponder how long it would take the wishes to get to the respective dieties, though I'd think you'd want to focus on pleasing/appealling to the one with a quicker turn around time more, no?

Time travel! Good to see there's no touch-yourself paradox in place, and I was laughing mightily as her retroactive permission to kiss her sleeping form... is it still sexual harrasment/assault if your future self gives permission?

Way to go Kyon, your blackmailed ass just set up your own future headaches, real smooth. Wonder if he'll ever try to 'correct' the legend ("No way she could have done it by herself").

The scene with Yuki was nice, very clever time travel, though I wonder what she means by 'noise' being generated with Mikuru's method? And if she needed to dust them off at all.

As great as the girls are (fantastic), Kyon's still my favorite character, such fantastic inner monologuing.

I think I'll have to resist reading any more of the novels/manga that come out until the airing has finished, but I'm definitely right back on the Haruhi train and ready for the crazy.

[DiGiKerot]

I seen comments about the animation quality, but it appear no better, no worse, than the original series. It certainly did not distract from the episode.What? The only comments about the animation quality has been that its FREAKING FANTASTIC, so I'm not getting your point.


Not so much here, but I have seen comments on other parts of the internet in regards to the animation not being quite up to the original series. That said, most of them pertain to people thinking that the character designs look just subtly different enough to be distracting rather than the actual quality of the animation.

I can't say I saw it myself, but then at the point at which I watched the new episode I hadn't seen any Haruhi since it's original broadcast. I'm in the midst of a re-watching now, so I guess I'll see if I pick up on anything when I watch Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody again.

[Fencedude]

Not so much here, but I have seen comments on other parts of the internet in regards to the animation not being quite up to the original series. That said, most of them pertain to people thinking that the character designs look just subtly different enough to be distracting rather than the actual quality of the animation.

I've figured out that the average anime fan wouldn't know good animation if it walked up and punched them in the face.

There's ALWAYS someone who will complain about a show's animation quality. Just to be contrary if nothing else.

One of many reasons I don't really discuss anime anywhere else anymore.

[Consignia]

I didn't watch the episode, because I was at work, but I noticed there was no OP. Was the ED Hare Hare Yukai again? I may have been reading it wrong but the title looked different as well, was it still Yuutsu?

Finally watched it now. Absolutely loved it. It really should have been in the first series proper because you finally see Mikuru's abilities in action, rather than just be told about them. It also explained loads of the story and it all fitted together nicely.

I'm sure everyone knows by now, but just to answer my own question, but it is still called Yuutsu. I guess that's the name of franchise now, just like the manga is called all the same, even though it covers way more than that.

An interesting side-note. A screen shot of this episode appears in one of the recently released art-books, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya -Chogekkan Mikuru. It's the bit where Asahina(big) pokes her younger counter-parts face. A pretty strong hint of the impending new episodes if you knew where the scene came from.

[Fencedude]

An interesting side-note. A screen shot of this episode appears in one of the recently released art-books, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya -Chogekkan Mikuru. It's the bit where Asahina(big) pokes her younger counter-parts face. A pretty strong hint of the impending new episodes if you knew where the scene came from.

It wasn't a screenshot, it was art based (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/441807) (site NSFW) on that scene.

But yeah, it was a BIIIIIIIG hint.

Oh yeah, and I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but WAAAAAAAAY back in episode 1, Haruhi asked Kyon if they'd met before, a long time ago.

[stfram]

Oh yeah, and I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but WAAAAAAAAY back in episode 1, Haruhi asked Kyon if they'd met before, a long time ago.

I remember that now, an oddball comment by Haruhi that suddenly has meaning. And the damned thing is, it's utterly dismissed because it's seems to just be "Haruhi being Haruhi."

It's safe to say that we'll have many more "ah-hah!" moments to discuss starting in mid-June :)

Speaking of that, in the beginning of the island episodes, you see a girl tearing up a note and/or a sheet of paper on board the ferry that's taking them to the island. I don't remember that ever being explained in the original series...

[Daniel_Perales]

Mikuru is well, she's Mikuru.


And MILF Mikuru is still hot for Kyon.

"You can kiss my younger self, just do it while she's asleep!"

:blush: :devil:

Speaking of Asahina-san (big), Kyon missed a great opportunity to try to get information out of her.

He really should have asked if her Tanabata wishes came true.

Then she would have replied:

"That's classified information!"

Even I didn't need to be a time-traveler to know that. :cool:


Danny

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

It will be interesting if the Haruhi of the present remembers meeting Kyon now that she really did meet him just three years prior. Well either way Kyon is now forever a part of the "Quad Scribbles Incodent".

[pi8you]

It will be interesting if the Haruhi of the present remembers meeting Kyon now that she really did meet him just three years prior. Well either way Kyon is now forever a part of the "Quad Scribbles Incodent".
Fencedude already spotted the fact that she sorta does:
Oh yeah, and I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but WAAAAAAAAY back in episode 1, Haruhi asked Kyon if they'd met before, a long time ago.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

It will be interesting if the Haruhi of the present remembers meeting Kyon now that she really did meet him just three years prior. Well either way Kyon is now forever a part of the "Quad Scribbles Incodent".
Fencedude already spotted the fact that she sorta does:
Oh yeah, and I'm sure this is obvious to most people, but WAAAAAAAAY back in episode 1, Haruhi asked Kyon if they'd met before, a long time ago.
Yeah that was a line I didn't even give a second thought at the time but now it makes complete sense.

[Isuzu Inugami]

That said, I'm really under the impression that Haruhi is actually looking for Kyon in the present... but she doesn't realize that he's already there with her...

But, who knows?

Speculation.

(going back to episode one: "Hey... do I know you from somewhere?")

Nice catch. Didn't the first series say Haruhi probaly created the universe three years before? In which case, they traveled back nearly to the beginning of time...:sweat: Kyon's (significant) meeting with her at the start of things makes me wonder if she created this universe specifically to meet someone like Kyon....

Yuki seems kind of at her most alien, talking about data consciousness making physical form unnecessary.

LOL, Mikuru is a low-level operative who was never meant to be noticed by Haruhi; getting roped into the club was an accident! I love it--it's so Mikuru!

[Fencedude]

Nice catch. Didn't the first series say Haruhi probaly created the universe three years before? In which case, they traveled back nearly to the beginning of time...:sweat: Kyon's (significant) meeting with her at the start of things makes me wonder if she created this universe specifically to meet someone like Kyon....


That was a theory put forth by Koizumi, who claimed to not believe it himself.

Mikuru and Yuki's factions most definitely would not put forth that theory at all, especially Yuki's.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Speaking of Koyzumi I would love if they would go back and show how he and Mikuru first met. Seeing as he know about her prior to joining the SOS Brigade.

[Fencedude]

Speaking of Koyzumi I would love if they would go back and show how he and Mikuru first met. Seeing as he know about her prior to joining the SOS Brigade.

I'm pretty sure that that was just due to a thorough background brief by the Syndicate.

[Isuzu Inugami]

That was a theory put forth by Koizumi, who claimed to not believe it himself.

I'm not totally sold on it myself, but...

Wait, did I just pair myself up with Koizumi? I take everything back!

Interesting the care Mikuru's faction takes in insuring history plays out as they understand it to; the way adult Mikuru tell Kyon not to let her younger self know things she didn't know suggests it's very possible to change history. (Although Yuki has a different interpretation...?)

[Fencedude]

I'm not totally sold on it myself, but...

Wait, did I just pair myself up with Koizumi? I take everything back!

Interesting the care Mikuru's faction takes in insuring history plays out as they understand it to; the way adult Mikuru tell Kyon not to let her younger self know things she didn't know suggests it's very possible to change history. (Although Yuki has a different interpretation...?)

The way Mikuru described how time travel works implies (and Kyon correctly took it to mean) that you can't actually alter history. We now have (as Kyon again observed) evidence that this is not true. In fact, the actions of Mikuru (big) provide evidence that history CAN be changed.

This is not really a contradiction fundamentally, when its easily explained by Mikuru not really knowing the truth, which is something we have plenty of evidence for. Mikuru (big) however definitely knows much, much more.

Its pretty cold to cynically manipulate your younger self, isn't it?

[something]

Episodes 1-7:

Alright, so I finished rewatching episodes 1-7H before this so I can follow along week by week from here on out with the airing.

Every time I watch this show I am very clearly reminded why it's my absolute favorite series ever. I've seen it so many times by now that nothing major is "new", but I still find myself noticing little things in the background here and there. A crack in the wall, a minor character's reaction, a facial expression, etc. There's just so much, and even three years later I think I can say that this is still the most visually impressive anime I have ever watched. And the characters! Since I only did a partial rewatch I didn't get any Kimidori and not much Tsuruya, but god I love them all.

Watching it some 15 times now or whatever the count is, it's rather different than the first time. It's no longer so much the sense of anticipation, but instead just a constant relaxed marveling at how everything in each episode is executed so flawlessly, and seemingly effortlessly. There are few shows I've watched so repeatedly over a period of years, with none coming close in sheer number of times. I've watched some 3+ times with significant time between viewings (Nanoha 1st and GITS:SAC for example) but I have really deep familiarity with Haruhi by now, something unmatched by any other show. What's probably most impressive is how quickly and easily I slip back into Haruhi-mode when I start.

I've always said that unlike most of the shows in my top 10, it's really hard to classify why Haruhi is there, and moreso to explain why it's been number for three years despite all the moving and brilliant shows I've watched since. But it definitely is. Just watching it yet again, I feel instinctively that this is the best show ever, and this means it's passed the "Post-Clannad After Story test". That is, it's not one of those rewatches where I occasionally think, "Hmm, I wonder if maybe 'show-x-I-have-ranked-lower' should be higher than this after all?" Instead, from start to finish there's just zero doubt in my mind. It's the most natural thing in the world for Haruhi to be on top.

And now it's back. ...Finally!

Episode 8:

- Haruhi, you're so very Haruhi. "Why should I know when their birthdays are!?" XD
- Tanabata. Well, everything is supposed to revolve around Tanabata, but that was three years ago. What about this Tanabate? Amazingly I've managed to avoid all novel spoilers for three years, so I'm happy to say I have no idea what will happen.
- Haruhi explains relativity! Wishes only travel at the speed of light!
- I think Itsuki is trying to have sex with Kyon using his voice right now. His whisper is all sorts of Ono Daisuke erotic.
- Ahaha, their wishes. How... in character "I want Earth to rotate backwards!" Why? Why not!?
- Then suddenly Haruhi looking contemplative! And very very pretty. I love how well her personality is so deftly illustrated not just through the brilliant work of Hirano Aya (who is clearly at the top of her game yet again) but also through the animation. The expressions she makes, her posture, lighting. The emotional issues that make her how she is really shine through in these moments - she's always in such a state of internal conflict.
- Yes Kyon, yes Mikuru is damn cute.
- Ah!!! So that's how we'll get the truth behind Tanabata three years ago! You know it never really occurred to me that Mikuru could bring Kyon time traveling with her. I mean, I never thought it impossible, rather I just never thought about it at all. I guess she'd trained me so well to expect everything about it to be a secret. And now she's inviting him along! I want to see what Yuki wrote on that tanzaku too...
- Muahaha, we get our wonderfully over-dramatic Mikuru music.
- Ahhhhhhhhhhhh MIKURU! <3 <3
- So that's how time travel works? I'm imagining that right after she apologizes, she karate chopped him in the neck to knock him out. :sd:
- She's so adorable when she's serious. And sleeping. And her breathing <3 Gotou Yuukoooooo!
- Ah! I was startled for a moment when adult Mikuru stood up in the bushes.
- Two Mikurus at once! I don't know how Kyon's body can take it. Also, adult Mikuru totally must have shot her with a tranq gun =P
- "You can kiss my sleeping self." Ahahah, who the hell offers that as a reward?
- MINI-HARUHI! OH MY GOD! (Well, literally in this case I guess.) So... what the heck is the point of changing the past like this? very odd... Also, I'm anticipating this is where we get the nazca lines. Crap, I wonder if I still have the grainy monochrome live action video of this that Kadokawa put out, like, hell a year ago? More? And to think we thought that was a sign of an impending second season. :sd: It'll be interesting to compare that to this.
- Mini-Haruhi, you're also so very Haruhi. "Help me or I'll call the cops." Hah. Oh I love when anime messes with time. So Kyon had helped Haruhi do the lines without knowing he did, because he hadn't, except he had, and... >_> Explains why Haruhi thought he was familiar at the beginning.
- "John Smith." XD
- Hirano Aya, marry me! <3 She's nailing younger Haruhi perfectly. There's that subtly different quality to her voice that I can't quite explain, but it perfectly gives the sense of seeing the same character a couple years younger. I guess it's somewhat like her voice for Kaoru in Zettai Karen Children, who would have been around the same age as Haruhi here.
- And off she goes.
- Mikuru! ...has lost their return ticket. Well really I doubt it's her fault, she was asleep and all. It must have dropped while Kyon was carrying her. :sd: I love her reaction... and Kyon's nonchalant response.
- Holy shit! We even get to meet Yuki of three years ago! Not long after she was born, no less, although that doesn't much make a difference to her. :sd: Also, glasses are back!
- 3 year ago Yuki just downloaded present day Yuki. o_O It's like... well, it's like time travel! Actually it's a fairly fascinating concept of time travel. For all intents and purposes, Nagato Yuki has indeed gone back in time three years. The only problem with the Entity's method is that it requires some significant pre-planning.
- ...Kyon and Mikuru just slept for three years. But also, zero seconds. Hah! And holy shit! He and Mikuru were asleep in the next room when Yuki gave Kyon the whole spiel! Gaaaah, I fucking love this show.
- By the way, loooove the music right here. It's so... digital and staticy and broken and appropriate.
- Wait a second. ::compares Yuki's tanzaku to Haruhi's nazca lines:: Yes! They're the same! "I'm here." Jeeze, that really hit me for a moment. These sudden, introspective moments regarding Haruhi are absolutely some of my favorites.
- Aww, Mikuru. <3 I'd always wondered why a low level operative like Mikuru was the principal contact between the TSAB and Haruhi, and here they explain it. Don't be so hard on yourself, Mikuru. ;_; It's all part of the plan. Hell, in part it's your plan. The idea of herself being her own superior officer is absolutely hilarious.
- HAH. Itsuki plays awesome chess.

FUCK YES! Absolutely fantastic in every way. One of of the best episodes of anime I've seen all year, easily. Oh the wait for the other new episodes is going to be killer, but it'll be great to rewatch the remaining S1 episodes in the meantime.

My absolute favorite thing ever is back for more. I still can't wrap my head around how awesome that it. LET THE HARUHIGASM COMMENCE YET AGAIN!

[something]

The little flicker of emotion in Yuki's eyes when she wakes Kyon and Mikuru up really stood out as its definitely a rare occurrence.Wow, I did not notice that.
I loved that! Her eyes get all shiny/flickery like she's just met back up with someone she hasn't seen in years... because that's what happened! Like Fence says, absolutely brilliant character growth for all three girls, and in just one episode. The best part is that it's all so subtle, so easy to overlook when so much interesting stuff is already going on on the surface.

This episode for Haruhi reminded me a lot of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi V, where she explains to Kyon the revelation she had at the baseball game, and her subsequent frustration for the next few years as she tried desperately to overcome her own seeming cosmic insignificance. Years later as she's reminiscing back on earlier Tanabatas, she gets very, well, melancholy. You can see that it's a very important day for her, for a whole host of reasons. But one of those reasons, definitely, has to be about that unknown high schooler that helped her out (I'm going go give up trying to wrap my head around the time paradoxes - even Yuki says it's not resolved!).

For Yuki, it reminds me most immediately of that scene at the end of Mysterique Sign when Kyon hits the nail much more squarely on the head than he probably realizes in pondering the role she's played for years, silently, from the shadows, all alone. And, perhaps, lonely - now we have a very hard-hitting, clear example of why. The look in her eyes when she woke Mikuru and Kyon up, the rare outward signs of interest in her actions during and after the match up in The Day of Sagittarius, and the expressions of personal emotional investment in Kyon in her computer messages in The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi VI. It was all just setup for the revelation we got in this episode. Absolutely brilliant.

Then there's Mikuru. I already mentioned her in my first post, but I strongly agree with Fence, I think it was, who said that she's really got the short end of the stick. She's got her older time variant teasing her. She's left in the dark about many of the things that directly affect her. She's strictly forbidden to act on her feelings - which are clearly deep - for Kyon due to her job. And she has to put up with being derided as a useless moeblob by some fans and critics. And then being Haruhi's plaything. I really do feel bad for Mikuru, and the short conversation on the bench before she parted from Kyon really drove home that her character, in the story world and ours, does not get a fair shake. Fate is playing with her from all sides, sometimes benignly but occasionally in ways that are just downright cruel if you stop and really think about it.

Once again, I have such a hard time categorizing my love for this show. It's not something that makes me laugh as much as Lucky Star or is as action-packed as HiME/Otome or makes me cry as much as Clannad or get as hotblooded as Gurren Lagann. It just is what it is, and I find myself drawn in deep into every nuance of the show, every subtlety, every line of dialogue and turn of phrase and display of character interaction. Three years on, I still haven't seen anything like it.

[something]

But seriously, if any otaku really believes that this is 'the greatest anime series of this decade,' they really need to stop buying drugs without the required prescriptions.
Is there any particular reason you've made it your mission to be disparaging and offensive when it comes to people who like this show more than you do? Do you have any idea how immature you sound? There's a word for your behavior: trolling. Nobody is telling you how much you should like Haruhi. Don't be so arrogant as to try to dictate that to others and tell them they're on drugs if they disagree.

[something]

I can't say I saw it myself, but then at the point at which I watched the new episode I hadn't seen any Haruhi since it's original broadcast. I'm in the midst of a re-watching now, so I guess I'll see if I pick up on anything when I watch Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody again.
I finished watching eps 1-7 immediately before watching Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody. The overall animation quality did not drop at all, and that even after watching very good encodes of 1-7, better than what we got with 8, which should have biased me in favor of the previous animation.

I think it'sdifferent, to a degree (KyoAni's style has changed slightly over time and depending on who is on the project), but it's still absolutely fantastic.

[Suwako Moriya]

LET THE HARUHIGASM COMMENCE YET AGAIN!

In other words, meaning has returned to your life. In any case, I'm too tired to get into all the story discussion that's going on. That and I'd probably just repeat what's already being said.

Even so it doesn't change the fact the events of this episode were quite interesting. This true both in the short term and the long term. It also makes me wonder if there is a deeper meaning behind having this "second" season mixed in with the "first" season.

[something]

Even so it doesn't change the fact the events of this episode were quite interesting. This true both in the short term and the long term. It also makes me wonder if there is a deeper meaning behind having this "second" season mixed in with the "first" season.
Fantastic way to boost ratings of the renewed airing, for one. Also, lets you sell fans a "Haruhi Ultimate" set with all 28 eps so they rebuy half the show. For less commercial reasons, it's just totally in line with the wacky way Kadokawa has handled the show all along. It also becomes a whole new experience unlike anything you could get simply by watching the first fourteen episodes. It'll create some headaches for anyone who tries to release it on DVD in R1 though. :sd: That's one reason why this should totally be airing on a Crunchyroll type site. People who wait for a North American release are going to be left out of the original airing experience yet again.　That's what I love so much - the week to week collective experience.

I had some misgivings about the strange approach to "season two" at first, but after rewatching 1-7 and then jumping into 8, it feels like nothing could have been better. It's such a unique way of imagining and acting on an expansion to an existing story, presenting it in a new light and all that. It's almost like Haruhi: Director's Cut, except instead of 5-10 minutes of new footage, it's a 100% addition to runtime. :sd: It really benefits most from watching it all in context, all 28 eps, rather than just watching the new episodes. Now, it'd still be really enjoyable just watching the new eps, as long as someone remembers season one well enough. But I think the main reason they are airing all 28 together is because that's just how it works.

This isn't 2006's Haruhi. It has the same 14 episodes within its run, but those episodes take on a different significance now. We're in different territory now.

[something]

So I'm rewatching that grainy, 22 minute security camera-like video that Kadokawa put on their Haruhi website one day in one of their many teases about the series. I had guessed that I had it for over a year. Turns out I downloaded it 2007/07/07, which is also the date on the video. Tanabata!

I already know that people who read the novels are well aware of that it was depicting this event from the novels, but it's really fascinating to compare it to the episode I just watched, almost two years later. It's totally got the scenes we just saw. "Haruhi" tries to jump the gate, while Kyon, carrying Mikuru, comes up behind her. They talk briefly, she opens the gate, Kyon carries Mikuru in and we see the cart that Haruhi tries to pull until Kyon sets Mikuru down and takes over.　Then he starts laboring away under her orders, for about 15 minutes until the video blacks out and ends 30 seconds later.

I watched this whole thing at the time. Quite amusing to think I was watching a major scene from this new episode so long ago! It's even more amusing to read some of the reactions to it from back then - people were speculating that a live action Haruhi was coming. Or that season two would be announced very soon after. Well, we finally got it... it just took those three forever long years. :sd:

---

On another note, one of the things that interests me most in this episode (warning: it's probably addressed in the novels - don't spoil if so!) is Yuki's conspicuous lack of an answer when Kyon inquired about the alien script used on the tanzaku and Haruhi's middle school Nazca lines. It's the same symbols on both, meaning "I'm here". But as Kyon asks, in what language? Some alien script? I was expecting Yuki to answer normally, but she just stares. I'm not sure what to read into that. My guess is that it really doesn't belong to any language. It's only when Haruhi created it that it came to hold meaning, right then and there. She wanted it to be a comprehensible alien script that stated, "I'm here", and that's exactly what happened.

But I'm not totally convinced of my own explanation because I don't see why Yuki wouldn't have just said so. Maybe... she just doesn't know? Hmm.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

So let me see if I have this right, The first episode of season to is called episode 8. Is that episode 8 over all or just for episode 8 of a whole new wacky broadcast order?

[DiGiKerot]

So let me see if I have this right, The first episode of season to is called episode 8. Is that episode 8 over all or just for episode 8 of a whole new wacky broadcast order?

It's episode eight taking into account the original series of the show, in so much as if you strung together all the episodes of both seasons in chronological order, it'd be eighth one. It presently looks like everything is going to run chronologically from this point onwards.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

So let me see if I have this right, The first episode of season to is called episode 8. Is that episode 8 over all or just for episode 8 of a whole new wacky broadcast order?

It's episode eight taking into account the original series of the show, in so much as if you strung together all the episodes of both seasons in chronological order, it'd be eighth one. It presently looks like everything is going to run chronologically from this point onwards.
OK thanks that had me confused.

[Fencedude]

So let me see if I have this right, The first episode of season to is called episode 8. Is that episode 8 over all or just for episode 8 of a whole new wacky broadcast order?

It's episode eight taking into account the original series of the show, in so much as if you strung together all the episodes of both seasons in chronological order, it'd be eighth one. It presently looks like everything is going to run chronologically from this point onwards.
OK thanks that had me confused.

While I wouldn't take it as 100% gospel truth, this post (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1585567&postcount=48) has a listing of what the rest of the airing is probably going to look like.

But we definitely won't be getting a new episode till June 18th, thats essentially confirmed.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Not till the 18th huh? Man that seems so far off. :laugh:

[Westlo]

Not till the 18th huh? Man that seems so far off. :laugh:

Just rewatch it in chronological order! That's what I'm doing (first 4 down) and since I haven't seen the first season since april 2007 (when I got back into anime after a few years out) it's still as great as before.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

What do you think I was doing last night as I was waiting for the new episodes of Bleach and Code Geass to air? :P

[Suwako Moriya]

It really benefits most from watching it all in context, all 28 eps, rather than just watching the new episodes.

In that case, I guess instead of just having the idea of doing so remain an amusing thought, I'll turn it into actual reality. Sure it means adding another series to my plate, but I figure it this way.

It's mainly a matter of the following. First, catching up with what's already air. Second, being able to keep track of when each episode airs. To give me a basic idea as to when to watch the next episode.

[Suwako Moriya]

Then I'm going to follow the re-airing week by week, though I'll probably only post about the new episodes.

After having recently finished re-watching the first episode, I'm starting to think it would actually be a good idea if we were to discuss both the older episodes and the newer episodes in this topic. I say this for the following reasons.

1. Since the gap between the newer episodes is going to be long than usual it gives us something else to discuss in the meantime. As is stands we'll either spend weeks talking about "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody" or have the thread go dormant.

2. Given that the idea is to watch both seasons mixed together, it would allow for a more true experience. At least in my own personal view anyway.

There are only a few problems with this.

1. How should we label the season 1 episodes versus the season 2 episodes? After all in this airing, episode 8 of season 1 is no longer going to be episode 8.

2. Making sure that we don't jump the gun in terms of when to discuss each episode. Ie making sure the next episode in line has actually aired of course.

3. Is it better to watch the season 1 episodes as veterans or should we pretend this is our first experience with them? The former would be easier, but the latter might be more interesting.

In any case, if possible I'd like to get an episode 1 sub thread created soon. I just need to think of a proper name for it. Maybe it would be best to include the actual episode title?

After all if I include "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Part I" then it should be clear what I'm talking about no matter what, right? I'm open to suggestions here.

Assuming I don't end up making the post before anyone can reply. Hopefully it's not too late for us to consider the idea of following the strategy of this renewed airing and discussing both sets of episodes together.

That being said, I think even if I do end up commenting on the season 1 episodes, my comments will be on the lighter side and probably won't be as detailed as a something-level post. Then again the same may be true of the season 2 episodes as well.

[pi8you]

In any case, if possible I'd like to get an episode 1 sub thread created soon. I just need to think of a proper name for it. Maybe it would be best to include the actual episode title?

After all if I include "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Part I" then it should be clear what I'm talking about no matter what, right? I'm open to suggestions here.

How about something like this:

Week 7 - Season 1 Repeat of Boredom of Suzumiya Haruhi
Week 8 - Season 2 Episode 1 Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody

[Suwako Moriya]

How about something like this:

Week 7 - Season 1 Repeat of Boredom of Suzumiya Haruhi
Week 8 - Season 2 Episode 1 Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody

That sounds like it could definitely work. So in other words, we'd start with.

Week 1- Season 1 Repeat of Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi Part I

Or maybe shorten it to the following.

Week 1- S1 Repeat of Melancholy of Suzumiya Part I

I'm sure most would be able to figure out that S1 stands for Season 1. At least I'd hope so. Or maybe there's no need to use short hand. So long as the "Week #" part can be read in threaded. I guess the best thing to do is get the said sub thread created soon and see how it looks.

[Suwako Moriya]

The idea of Haruhi constantly changing hair styles was rather amusing. Which actually makes the fact she cut her hair and settled on a single hair style a bit on the sad side. Even so the hair style she did settle on looks good on her. Plus, I can't always use this episode to remind myself of the other styles she had.

Haruhi is definitely a strange one with odd interests. Although if you ask me, I think her greatest issue may be the fact she's so focused on finding the needle in the haystack that she can no longer appreciate the hay. Or wait maybe I need a better analogy.

Still I find it interesting that in spite of her "I only want to talk to extraordinary people" speech, she ends up spending a lot of time talking to Kyon. It definitely has to make one wonder. Granted talking to Kyon seems to have dangerous results.

Such as forming a club. I've got to love how Yuki was more or less passive about everything. Then you have Haruhi drag in Mikuru. Mikuru, who after seeing Yuki decides to accept things. At least that's the way I read the scene.

I will confess that I'm not the best judge of animation and art quality, but from my perspective even three years later the show still looks just fine. Also it was kind of nice watching the ending again.

Well, that's one episode down and six more to go before we can essentially be on a regular watching schedule. Although that's quite a few sub threads to make.

[Suwako Moriya]

Haruhi's strategy for gaining a computer for her club relies on making Mikuru a figurative if not literal sacrifice.

Mikuru and Haruhi both make for wonderfully divine bunny girls. Although it's hard to decide what to pay more attention to. Their bunny ears or their chests? Perhaps both.

And we end the episode with Yuki essentially telling Kyon that she and Haruhi are not normal humans. She even goes as far as to tell Kyon that she's an Alien. Yes, go figure on that one.

[something]

Regarding your question about watching this as "veterans" or "as new" (like we do in other discussion threads, e.g. Clannad, Aria): I'd assume we should talk about anything from the original 14 episodes (and I guess ep 8) in these S1 episode subthreads, since it's very much a "rewatching" discussion within the context of the new episodes, as opposed to a separate season one only discussion. Heck, with Haruhi, "Season one" is a fairly imprecise term. It's more like 2006 Haruhi vs 2009 Haruhi Extend. Anyone in this thread should presumably (especially when they see the title) have seen season one already, and if they haven't I imagine they'd be avoiding a season two thread. Also, with all the different ways Haruhi has been watched so far, it'd be very tricky to really limit ourselves to not talking about "later" episodes, because "later" can mean so many different things. :sd:

Well, that's one episode down and six more to go before we can essentially be on a regular watching schedule. Although that's quite a few sub threads to make.
Aw man, I knew I should have been keeping some notes while I watched. Actually, this would be a great time to grab Mikuru and a TPDD so we could go back and restart this thread 8 weeks ago with advance knowledge that it'd continue into new material. I guess having seen the show so much, and talked about it so much, it's hard to know what I should stop and comment on anymore. It's all just so... natural... I think that's why I just did a recap of my feelings for the show for 1-7 before posting about ep 8. That said, this rewatch is the farthest removed from the previous rewatch of any time I've seen this show. So while things weren't totally "new" (I have the show memorized by this point), it was exciting to see those pivotal scenes again and realize they're as brilliant as they've ever been.

The idea of Haruhi constantly changing hair styles was rather amusing. Which actually makes the fact she cut her hair and settled on a single hair style a bit on the sad side. Even so the hair style she did settle on looks good on her. Plus, I can't always use this episode to remind myself of the other styles she had.
I adore Haruhi's default hair style (ribbon ftw), but it does limit he range of styles somewhat (though ponytails are still okay!). It's just so iconic though. You see that hair outline and immediately know, "That's Haruhi!"

Haruhi is definitely a strange one with odd interests. Although if you ask me, I think her greatest issue may be the fact she's so focused on finding the needle in the haystack that she can no longer appreciate the hay. Or wait maybe I need a better analogy.
Well, it'd be perfect if she were a horse. :sd:

Such as forming a club. I've got to love how Yuki was more or less passive about everything. Then you have Haruhi drag in Mikuru. Mikuru, who after seeing Yuki decides to accept things. At least that's the way I read the scene.
One thing I noted on my rewatch was how awesomely the subtly pivotal moments were handled. The suggestion to form a club was one of them. Kyon comments on this actually, saying something like "And that was the trigger...", but in his usual way it's so understated. I also love a scene shortly after that, where Haruhi grabs him after class and pulls him down a hallway. As they're approaching the camera it does a 360° spin, which for me totally signifies how, from that moment, Kyon's life is turned upside-down. Nothing is ever going too be the same for him again, to say the least. Those "aha!" moments make rewatches so very fulfilling.

I will confess that I'm not the best judge of animation and art quality, but from my perspective even three years later the show still looks just fine. Also it was kind of nice watching the ending again.
Oh it's fantastic, especially considering that the quality of the encode I watched this weekend was vastly improved over the original. I actually seemed the like the animation more as the show went on. Episode "8" is just as awesomely animated, but in a different way, using the style KyoAni has evolved into in recent years. I guess the closest we've seen to Haruhi S1 style from KyoAni recently is the new material in Sora wo Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai. Other stuff has been a bit different. More Horiguchi influenced than Ikeda influenced, I guess? Although I have to say the difference between styles vanished in my eyes as I moved through episode 8. It's all just so beautifully clean and expressive. I love it.

[something]

Haruhi's strategy for gaining a computer for her club relies on making Mikuru a figurative if not literal sacrifice.
Every time I rewatch the scene immediately before this, I smile so much. They're all in the classroom, with Haruhi sitting on her desk cross-legged, facing out the window. She turns around and seemingly innocuously says something like, "I want a computer in here too." It seems such an ordinary request... but those few words spell apocalyptic doom for the Computer Research Society. =D

Mikuru and Haruhi both make for wonderfully divine bunny girls. Although it's hard to decide what to pay more attention to. Their bunny ears or their chests? Perhaps both.
Don't forget the legs. I'm honestly not big on bunny outfits. I dislike the collars, wrist things and heels have never been a type of shoe I like. But, holy crap. Mikuru looks wonderful of course, but Haruhi is impossibly sexy in her bunnysuit. And she gets a number of wonderfully framed shots too.

Also, I gotta mention the Mikuru scene after! I love that overly dramatic and sad music she gets, her request to Kyon to take her if she's ruined for marriage, and Kyon's commentary as she walks away. :sd:

And we end the episode with Yuki essentially telling Kyon that she and Haruhi are not normal humans. She even goes as far as to tell Kyon that she's an Alien. Yes, go figure on that one.
Already went into this in detail in the ep 8 post, but damn this scene takes on so much new meaning when viewed in the context of that. I love how that works. <3 For the bit before they meet, I'm amused at how Yuki is so keen not to mince words when talking face to face, but uses such a roundabout method in order to meet with him. She even waits all night the first time because he didn't see it. :sd: Also, was her note to Kyon setting up the meeting written on a tanzaku? I suppose it's hard to say, as a rectangular strip of paper is just a rectangular strip of paper (so tanzaku and bookmark, no real difference) but at the very least it looks similar, which is a nice touch.

[Suwako Moriya]

Also, with all the different ways Haruhi has been watched so far, it'd be very tricky to really limit ourselves to not talking about "later" episodes, because "later" can mean so many different things. :sd:

Good point. In that case, I'll talk in a more relaxed manner without being overly cautious. Well up to a point. Obviously I'm not going to post about novel stuff that hasn't been animated yet. Actually I have yet to read any of the novels anyway. I haven't even read spoilers...


Actually, this would be a great time to grab Mikuru and a TPDD so we could go back and restart this thread 8 weeks ago with advance knowledge that it'd continue into new material.

Too bad reality gets in the way of such an effective strategy. I guess the best we can do right now is deal with the hectic catch up and then flow normally. On a side note, I should have posted about the third episode by now. However I ended up getting distracted by real life.

I adore Haruhi's default hair style (ribbon ftw), but it does limit he range of styles somewhat (though ponytails are still okay!). It's just so iconic though. You see that hair outline and immediately know, "That's Haruhi!"

Yes, we can't forget about the ponytails. In any case, you do have a point about Haruhi's hair defining her. Truth be told I got over the whole hair thing pretty quickly. I only really think about when watching this episode.


One thing I noted on my rewatch was how awesomely the subtly pivotal moments were handled. The suggestion to form a club was one of them. Kyon comments on this actually, saying something like "And that was the trigger...", but in his usual way it's so understated.

In some ways I'm still amazed a casual conversation like that lead to Haruhi going the route of making a club. It's almost like she read between the lines and translated them into her own language.

I also love a scene shortly after that, where Haruhi grabs him after class and pulls him down a hallway.

In other words, she dragged him into a destiny from which there is likely no escape. It's hard to decide if we should be envious of Kyon or feel sorry for him.

[Suwako Moriya]

Don't forget the legs. I'm honestly not big on bunny outfits. I dislike the collars, wrist things and heels have never been a type of shoe I like. But, holy crap. Mikuru looks wonderful of course, but Haruhi is impossibly sexy in her bunnysuit. And she gets a number of wonderfully framed shots too.

I'm not sure if I'd call them a favorite, but I do like bunny outfits. I guess it depends on who wears them. Thankfully in this case we got two good subjects. Although sometimes rather than a bunny outfit, one wants an actual bunny girl.


Also, I gotta mention the Mikuru scene after! I love that overly dramatic and sad music she gets, her request to Kyon to take her if she's ruined for marriage, and Kyon's commentary as she walks away. :sd:

I wonder how many girls in anime have been ruined for marriage. In my view, Mikuru is too hot to be ruined for marriage.


She even waits all night the first time because he didn't see it. :sd:

That just goes to show that Yuki has plenty of patience.

[something]

I wonder how many girls in anime have been ruined for marriage. In my view, Mikuru is too hot to be ruined for marriage.
I really want Mikuru and Mio to meet one day.

[Fencedude]

I wonder how many girls in anime have been ruined for marriage. In my view, Mikuru is too hot to be ruined for marriage.
I really want Mikuru and Mio to meet one day.

A friend observed to me the other day that other than the obvious, the main difference between Mikuru and Mio is that Mio doesn't intentionally beat herself up.

[Suwako Moriya]

I wonder how many girls in anime have been ruined for marriage. In my view, Mikuru is too hot to be ruined for marriage.I really want Mikuru and Mio to meet one day.

Oh, that would definitely be an epic meeting. Thanks to you, now I must wonder how Mikuru would act react to Mio's friends.

[Suwako Moriya]

I have to confess that I have a lot trouble following Yuki's explanation. Especially with all the extra text. Also the animation during the whole scene was... I'm not sure how to describe it. I was thinking experimental, but that might not be the right term...

Suddenly, a mysterious transfer student! He gets to be member number 4. Let's congratulate Itsuki on having his fate sealed err I mean joining the club.

Mikuru wants to discuss things with Kyon as well. Up to a point, since in a lot of cases she has to say "Classified Information". She won't even reveal her actual age. It would be hilarious if her actual age and the age she's pretending to be were the same. The main thing we know is she's supposed to be from the future.

Ah, yes, even Itsuki has things to say. Except in his case, he's an Esper. I've got to love how all the explanations share "Three Years" as a common trait. A trait that makes more sense much later in the series.

Haruhi's subtle anger over the results of Kyon being paired up with Mikuru and the later with Yuki was quite interesting. Although it's kind of hard for me to decide how much I should be reading into it.

Maid Mikuru for the win! Also thanks to Kyon's poor/wonderful timing we get to see her in a state of being partially dressed! Keep up the good Kyon, we're depending on you. I feel horrible saying that.

[Suwako Moriya]

Ryoko is tired of just observing. So she figures the best solution is to kill Kyon and see how Haruhi reacts. Not exactly good news for him. Lucky for him, Yuki comes to the rescue.

The fun part about this battle is how it seemed that Ryoko was doing the most damage until near the end when Yuki declared the battle was over. Also for some reason this whole thing is bringing to mind that "Haruhi-chan" series.

Yuki fixes all the damage, but forgot to recreate her glasses. Kyon points out that he likes her better without glasses. And thus Yuki decides to not even bother recreating them.

Kyon gets to meet the adult Mikuru. I love her evidence that she's Mikuru. A star shaped mole on her breast. A mole that according to her was pointed about Kyon. I've got to love her reaction when she realized that Kyon didn't know about it yet.

So the main she wanted to talk to him about was Snow White? You can decide what to make of it yourself. One thing is clear. She's still got the eye wink thing going and still won't reveal her age. She's quite secretive.

Kyon's conversation with Yuki about time travel is kind of curious. It's even more curious now during this re-watch than it was before. It seems like I'll be reading a lot of things slightly differently. Granted putting the changed thoughts into words is another story.

On a final note, Haruhi seems well angrier than usual. Or maybe I should say frustrated.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's time for Haruhi to investigate the situation with Ryoko! A situation that I think even more down to earth people would find to be rather odd.

Itsuki talks about a lot of stuff. His powers, closed spaces, and Haruhi's own personal conflicting nature. A lot to take in over all.

The main thing that stood out most about the episode is Haruhi's frustration over the fact that in the long she's just another person. At least as far as we know.

In some ways, her situation is kind of cruel. She's in the extraordinary situation that she desires and yet because she doesn't realize it, it doesn't do her much good.

[Suwako Moriya]

The first thing I'd like to say is Kyon has an extremely cute sister that just can't be denied.

Mikuru wants to see what Kyon is looking at. She's getting a bit too close to him. Haruhi is not happy about this situation. Ok, that's probably an understatement.

It's time for Haruhi to change and she wants Kyon to leave the room. By itself this action wouldn't mean much, considering her past behavior it's quite telling.

It's kind of funny how in spite of Kyon being "normal", Haruhi seems more interested in him than anyone else. To the point that he gets the honor of being chosen by her.

The whole sequence with Kyon and Haruhi in that other word was interesting. Especially with the way Haruhi was reacting. She was like a kid in a candy store.

In the end, Kyon deals with the problem in three ways. He talks about his feelings for the current world. He tells her that he likes ponytails. He then decides to kiss her. Whatever works in the long run.

Kyon's talk about the different ways Haruhi is viewed by the other members and how he himself views has got to be one of the more important parts of the episode.

Ah, so it was all just a dream. Or rather if this was another series, it would have been just a dream. However based on the way the episode played out we can be sure it was more than a dream.

So the end result of such a hectic episode is we get to see Haruhi with a ponytail. Oh, and we get angry Mikuru, upset about Kyon knowing about her mole.

Heh, I've been going through these seven episodes faster than expected. All I have left is week 7. A week with an episode that's extremely important considering who it includes in it.

[Suwako Moriya]

Thanks to the fact Haruhi is bored we get a baseball episode! Which means forming a team that includes Haruhi, Yuki, Mikuru, Kyon's Sister, and Tsuruya. In other words, the team is the awesome!

Just the presence of Tsuruya herself makes the team awesome. In addition to be sexy, she's got that cute fang thing going on. Also her voice is wonderful. Clearly the most divine girl in existence has been revealed. I hope she gets some screen time in some of the season 2 episodes.

I'm too tired to describe every single moment, but over all this episode was pretty fun. And yet in some ways serious. After all the fate of the world depends on the outcome of this game. That's comforting to know.

Haruhi gets a taste of Mikuru's ear. Yuki casts a spell on a bat. Haruhi about to make Mikuru's hair into a ponytail, but deciding against it. The team in general being silly. Yes, definitely some interesting and/or fun moments this episode.

[Fencedude]

Heh, I've been going through these seven episodes faster than expected. All I have left is week 7. A week with an episode that's extremely important considering who it includes in it.

Tsuruya, right?

[Suwako Moriya]

All I have left is week 7. A week with an episode that's extremely important considering who it includes in it.Tsuruya, right?

With that answer you've earned a passing grade. As you can probably already tell I finished week 7 and got to experience her again.

[pi8you]

God, getting to this episode alone again was awesome, as noted earlier, between the novel, the first two volumes of the manga, and the first 6 episodes, it was fantastic to come to something I hadn't been seeing repeatedly.

I could have sworn there was a spot where Yuki made an insane leap to catch a fly ball, but apparently I'm imagining things. Also have to be honest and note that I never attached any significance to Tsuruya when I first watched the show, she was just kind of there and that was that. Imagine my surprise when I found out how popular she was in the fanart circles...

[stfram]

I really do feel bad for Mikuru, and the short conversation on the bench before she parted from Kyon really drove home that her character, in the story world and ours, does not get a fair shake. Fate is playing with her from all sides, sometimes benignly but occasionally in ways that are just downright cruel if you stop and really think about it.


And yet MILF Mikuru has absolutely no regrets whatsoever about whatever befalls Moe Mikuru.

And Kyon speculates (almost certainly right) that she used the occasion to retrieve the lost TTPD device from her younger self, along with assisting Haruhi.

And Yuki's "standby" self was able to get solid data from her future self thanks to the little note she left Kyon, something that obviously was prearranged in the future by Yuki's faction working with Mikuru's faction.

"Mikuru, we need to force a meeting between Kyon and the Yuki that's on standby. Steal the TTPD device from your younger self, and we'll make sure that Kyon is equipped to contact the Yuki of that timeline."

Which also saved Kyon from being killed, since Yuki then had full knowledge that Ryoko was going to try and kill Kyon to force a reaction out of Haruhi, which allowed her to be there at the opportune moment, with combat programs/routines ready to be utilized.

The reason why MILF Mikuru is so self-confident and assured of herself is because of the travails that her younger self got dragged into. It toughened her, and was the catalyst that transformed her into the charismatic and smoking hot woman that she is in the future.

She pimped her younger self out for maximum results. :)

[Fencedude]

And Yuki's "standby" self was able to get solid data from her future self thanks to the little note she left Kyon, something that obviously was prearranged in the future by Yuki's faction working with Mikuru's faction.

"Mikuru, we need to force a meeting between Kyon and the Yuki that's on standby. Steal the TTPD device from your younger self, and we'll make sure that Kyon is equipped to contact the Yuki of that timeline."

Which also saved Kyon from being killed, since Yuki then had full knowledge that Ryoko was going to try and kill Kyon to force a reaction out of Haruhi, which allowed her to be there at the opportune moment, with combat programs/routines ready to be utilized.

This is an interesting theory, but I think you are putting too much emphasis on the Time Traveler faction (we don't have a good name for them, sadly) and not enough on the Thought Entity. I think its far more likely that the Thought Entity as a whole and Yuki in particular is the more driving force, using the Time Travelers and the Syndicate when necessary.

The reason why MILF Mikuru is so self-confident and assured of herself is because of the travails that her younger self got dragged into. It toughened her, and was the catalyst that transformed her into the charismatic and smoking hot woman that she is in the future.

She pimped her younger self out for maximum results. :)

It still sucks for Mikuru, even if we know via Mikuru (big) that it all turns out ok (probably maybe), it can't be fun being jerked around by your superiors. And the jerking has just so barely started...

[DKL]

Haruhi about to make Mikuru's hair into a ponytail, but deciding against it.



I really like this little detail, actually...

She goes on and on about making Mikuru her plaything, but she's in a weird position because Kyon is interested in her too (Haruhi even gets irritated when Mikuru flirts with him during the "Someday in the Rain" episode thing)... given that nothing else is sacred, Haruhi might as well keep the ponytail thing to herself (which, in Haruhi's point of view, Kyon's "ponytail moe" may or may not actually be true, but she holds onto it anyway).

...

Man, Haruhi sure has a roundabout way of going through all this (I still remember the toothpick thing during the "weird things" hunt; although brief, you could tell that she was pretty irritated when she didn't get paired up with Kyon); just ask him out (but, you know... this is animu; half the time, that doesn't happen).

Actually, that's really strange... she can make whatever happen just by wishing it, yet there's something that's keeping her from following through on Kyon; probably because she's confused with her feelings or something.

Aww... it's so cute.

[something]

I have to confess that I have a lot trouble following Yuki's explanation. Especially with all the extra text. Also the animation during the whole scene was... I'm not sure how to describe it. I was thinking experimental, but that might not be the right term...
Yuki gets some of the strangest, and most interesting, music. Off the top of my head we have this piece that appears a few times, the track playing during the confrontation with Ryouko, and that truly bizarre and awesome track in episode #8 (2009). They all definitely fit her character quite well.

Regarding the Othello game... I wonder if the Asahina Mikuru playing the game with Yuki right now is aware of the fact that another time divergent version of herself is sleeping in that room with Kyon right now? Mikuru gives Yuki all sorts of uncomfortable looks. I'd have to think a bit more on how the timelines would intersect for her... damnit time travel confuses me. Thinking about it, though, Mikuru shouldn't know. After all she was quite surprised when Yuki did it. Or something like that...

Haruhi's subtle anger over the results of Kyon being paired up with Mikuru and the later with Yuki was quite interesting.
Heh, subtle? I thought she was going to shoot laser beams out of her eyes.

Maid Mikuru for the win! Also thanks to Kyon's poor/wonderful timing we get to see her in a state of being partially dressed! Keep up the good Kyon, we're depending on you. I feel horrible saying that.
While Haruhi is unquestionably the most attractive girl in the series for me, the appeal of Mikuru's many costumes cannot be denied. Maid Mikuru is probably the most iconic for me (well besides battle waitress maid Mikuru from the movie I guess), though she makes a wonderful nurse too.

[something]

Ryoko is tired of just observing. So she figures the best solution is to kill Kyon and see how Haruhi reacts. Not exactly good news for him. Lucky for him, Yuki comes to the rescue.
The fun part about this battle is how it seemed that Ryoko was doing the most damage until near the end when Yuki declared the battle was over. Also for some reason this whole thing is bringing to mind that "Haruhi-chan" series.
Poor Ryouko, she really was only ever backup. She has to lose to Yuki here, and be tormented by her in Haruhi-chan. I wonder what happens when a humanoid-interface from the Entity is defeated in this way. If it like being wiped from a cosmic hard drive? Did she just go into a recycle bin and get banned from entering space under Yuki's data jurisdiction? Does she get absorbed back into some sea of data? Hmmm.

Yuki fixes all the damage, but forgot to recreate her glasses. Kyon points out that he likes her better without glasses. And thus Yuki decides to not even bother recreating them.
Hah, true. She could have easily created new glasses, but doesn't... why? Because Kyon likes it better? An interesting reaction from her, even if it's devoid of outward emotion like usual.

One thing is clear. She's still got the eye wink thing going and still won't reveal her age. She's quite secretive.
Since this is anime and the distance between highschooler and full blown adult is generally like, three years, I'm going to guess she's no more than 20.

On a final note, Haruhi seems well angrier than usual. Or maybe I should say frustrated.
Maybe a bit melancholy? =P

[something]

It's time for Haruhi to investigate the situation with Ryoko! A situation that I think even more down to earth people would find to be rather odd.
Even Kyon is impressed by how polite and normal Haruhi can be when it suits her. "So she can phrase questions like a normal human being..." :sd: And "You should become a detective.", hah.

The main thing that stood out most about the episode is Haruhi's frustration over the fact that in the long she's just another person.
Oh man I loved this whole scene. Not just because we get to hear Hirano Aya go on for awhile in the much more subdued end of her significant vocal range as Haruhi but because it does so much to develop who Haruhi is, and why she acts that way. Part of her issue is also that she came to this realization when she was so young, and it really wasn't something she knew how to handle. Like she indirectly says, she was never a problem child before. She loved her family, her friends, her classmates, her school. (This, of course, assuming the world really did exist prior to three years ago.) Everything was interesting and fun, but when she realized that there was nothing particularly unique about all that, it hit her hard and she's never really recovered.

It's also our first glimpse at younger Haruhi! How nice it was to see her again in Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody. I wonder what she'd look like with all the crazy hairstyles her older self briefly goes through.

The other episode that really showed Haruhi's growth for me was Live A Live. It'll be really interesting to see what new material happens before and after that one.

In some ways, her situation is kind of cruel. She's in the extraordinary situation that she desires and yet because she doesn't realize it, it doesn't do her much good.
Or do anyone else much good for that matter, if she unknowingly decides to reset reality. :sd:

[Suwako Moriya]

Heh, subtle? I thought she was going to shoot laser beams out of her eyes.

For some reason I could actually see that happening. Especially in an omake.

While Haruhi is unquestionably the most attractive girl in the series for me, the appeal of Mikuru's many costumes cannot be denied.

One of the many benefits to Mikuru traveling to the past.

Maid Mikuru is probably the most iconic for me (well besides battle waitress maid Mikuru from the movie I guess), though she makes a wonderful nurse too.

Heh, watching that episode again should be interesting. Especially since this time around, the viewing of the episode will come much later.

[Suwako Moriya]

Poor Ryouko, she really was only ever backup. She has to lose to Yuki here, and be tormented by her in Haruhi-chan.

Speaking of which, Haruhi-chan helped me see Ryouko is a different light. Well, somewhat anyway.

I wonder what happens when a humanoid-interface from the Entity is defeated in this way.

Good question, I suppose we could be silly and just say that Haruhi-chan answered the question. However coming up with a serious answer would be a lot harder.

[something]

The first thing I'd like to say is Kyon has an extremely cute sister that just can't be denied.
<3 imouto!

I enjoy Taniguchi and Kyon's conversation. For some reason, I was always really amused by the way Kyon reacts to Taniguchi greeting him. It's like... this weird, grumpy "Eh?" I can't figure out what the greeting is supposed to be. Then there's that "I'll catch Suzumiya." XD

Mikuru wants to see what Kyon is looking at. She's getting a bit too close to him. Haruhi is not happy about this situation. Ok, that's probably an understatement.
I loved seeing her get so touchy feely like that, because she's usually too busy being terrified or costumeraped to be so playful. Kyon had to be dying to have her pushing up to close to him. He didn't seem terribly happy about Haruhi's interruption either. :sd:

The whole sequence with Kyon and Haruhi in that other word was interesting. Especially with the way Haruhi was reacting. She was like a kid in a candy store.
Although she was quite scared at first. It's like Itsuki says - she wants these things to exist but her ingrained rational, common sense says that it can't be possible. So when it does happen, she's understandably frightened. But as she gets used to it, and realizes that it really seems to be happening, she's suddenly elated.

And the epilogue is just fantastic. As #14 (2006), this stands as easily one of my favorite endings in all of anime.

[pi8you]

The whole sequence with Kyon and Haruhi in that other word was interesting. Especially with the way Haruhi was reacting. She was like a kid in a candy store.
Although she was quite scared at first. It's like Itsuki says - she wants these things to exist but her ingrained rational, common sense says that it can't be possible. So when it does happen, she's understandably frightened. But as she gets used to it, and realizes that it really seems to be happening, she's suddenly elated.
Man, for such a simple scene, watching her eyes just completely light up as she's running down the hallway is such a beautiful thing to behold.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's also our first glimpse at younger Haruhi! How nice it was to see her again in Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody.

Not only did we get to see her again, we got a better of what she was like at that age.


I wonder what she'd look like with all the crazy hairstyles her older self briefly goes through.

She's either look extremely silly, extremely cute, or more likely both.

The other episode that really showed Haruhi's growth for me was Live A Live.

Ah, yet another episode to look forward to. When the time is right of course.

Or do anyone else much good for that matter, if she unknowingly decides to reset reality. :sd:

It begs the question. Which is more dangerous? A deity that knows what its doing or a deity that doesn't?

[something]

Just the presence of Tsuruya herself makes the team awesome. In addition to be sexy, she's got that cute fang thing going on. Also her voice is wonderful. Clearly the most divine girl in existence has been revealed. I hope she gets some screen time in some of the season 2 episodes.
She better. All the new episodes take place after we've met her, so there's no excuse not to see her more! That said, there are seven (eight with BLR) episodes already animated that take place after Boredom, and she featured in them very rarely. She ought to get a lot of screen time if we see more of the making of the movie though.

I could have sworn there was a spot where Yuki made an insane leap to catch a fly ball, but apparently I'm imagining things.
You know what? I keep thinking the same time every time I watch this episode. No matter how many times I've seen it, I keep momentarily thinking that there's a scene like that, but of course there's nothing of the sort.

Actually, that's really strange... she can make whatever happen just by wishing it, yet there's something that's keeping her from following through on Kyon; probably because she's confused with her feelings or something.
Aww... it's so cute.
Well also the fact that she has no idea she can make things happen by wishing it. But who knows? Maybe Kyon is at least somewhat attracted to her because of her powers. That would actually be sort of depressing, but I'm of the opinion that that's not the case, and that Haruhi's powers affect events and physical states, not emotions. Not that it couldn't affect emotions, but there's no real evidence yet that it has. I really think that kind of micromanagement would require a much more self-aware utilization of her powers than what is, at the moment, more like an unconscious leaking of energy.

...And who needs magical powers to attract people when you're that goddamn hot anyway?

[Suwako Moriya]

I loved seeing her get so touchy feely like that, because she's usually too busy being terrified or costumeraped to be so playful.

I have to admit that costumeraped is a rather amusing way of putting it. Or maybe I shouldn't use the word amusing in this case.

And the epilogue is just fantastic. As #14 (2006), this stands as easily one of my favorite endings in all of anime.

It was definitely one of the more interesting ways of concluding a series.

[pi8you]

I could have sworn there was a spot where Yuki made an insane leap to catch a fly ball, but apparently I'm imagining things.
You know what? I keep thinking the same time every time I watch this episode. No matter how many times I've seen it, I keep momentarily thinking that there's a scene like that, but of course there's nothing of the sort.
Oh good, I'm not completely crazy then. Maybe it was something in the original broadcast that got cut. Wonder if I've still got the original broadcast fansubs lying around somewhere, will have to check when I get home... Alternatively, I might be thinking of a completely different show, I can't think of what it could be for the life of me, but I know I've seen it somewhere.

[HitokiriShadow]

It was nice to see adult Mikuru again, but the best part was seeing middle schooler Haruhi. Coercing strangers into helping her schemes since at least age ~12.

Loved all the Yuki scenes as well, particularly when she took off her glasses after downloading her future self's memories.

Kyon said he hasn't met any Sliders yet, but I've long suspected he has and just doesn't know it yet. This isn't the first time they've mentioned sliders (Haruh mentioned it when she introduced herself in episode 1) and only that role was conspicuously unfilled. Meanwhile, we have a green haired cutie who occasionally pops up that we don't know anything about....

[something]

Oh good, I'm not completely crazy then. Maybe it was something in the original broadcast that got cut. Wonder if I've still got the original broadcast fansubs lying around somewhere, will have to check when I get home... Alternatively, I might be thinking of a completely different show, I can't think of what it could be for the life of me, but I know I've seen it somewhere.
Nah, not in the original broadcast. The DVD only added scenes, not removed them. Yuki doesn't do much of anything at all in the game until after they start cheating, and when that happens she's the catcher so there's no opportunity for her to do any tricks in the outfield.

[Chief Wahoo]

I do hope at some point they contrive to get the cast to perform the Lucky Star opening dance, and then if they do a second season of Lucky Star they have that gang do the Haruhi second season dance.

Edit: And of course thanks to Youtube I see there is no closing credits dance. So never mind.

[Suwako Moriya]

I do hope at some point they contrive to get the cast to perform the Lucky Star opening dance, and then if they do a second season of Lucky Star they have that gang do the Haruhi second season dance.

That would be amusing. Although I think if something like that happened, it would be done as a DVD extra more than anything else.

[Isuzu Inugami]

Regarding the Othello game... I wonder if the Asahina Mikuru playing the game with Yuki right now is aware of the fact that another time divergent version of herself is sleeping in that room with Kyon right now? Mikuru gives Yuki all sorts of uncomfortable looks. I'd have to think a bit more on how the timelines would intersect for her... damnit time travel confuses me. Thinking about it, though, Mikuru shouldn't know. After all she was quite surprised when Yuki did it. Or something like that...

Mikuru wouldn't know. It's still in her personal future. Possibly her superiors are aware of her appearance three years prior to when she's supposed to be stationed, but it's pretty clear they haven't let her in on it.

Yuki is the one I trip up on. If she synchronized with her future self, and carried those future memories for three years, it sort of negates the character development she goes through in S1 (but in that case, where did that character development come from to begin with?!). Why wear glasses at all? Well, she could be preserving the purity of the timelines, but I want it to mean something when she stops wearing them; and if she knows everything in advance, it doesn't mean anything.

Well, but maybe Yuki's time travel works differently than that. She said her memory was synchronized to the past (maybe this is a fairly energy intensive operation?); after she seals them up does she desyncrhonize it? In which case she knows what? Who they are and when to release them, but nothing about them except that they're from her future? I kind of like this theory....

[HitokiriShadow]

Yuki is the one I trip up on. If she synchronized with her future self, and carried those future memories for three years, it sort of negates the character development she goes through in S1 (but in that case, where did that character development come from to begin with?!). Why wear glasses at all? Well, she could be preserving the purity of the timelines, but I want it to mean something when she stops wearing them; and if she knows everything in advance, it doesn't mean anything.

Well, but maybe Yuki's time travel works differently than that. She said her memory was synchronized to the past (maybe this is a fairly energy intensive operation?); after she seals them up does she desyncrhonize it? In which case she knows what? Who they are and when to release them, but nothing about them except that they're from her future? I kind of like this theory....

Perhaps its one thing to synchronize memories and another to actually experience it. In other words, she knew what happened to her other self and what would eventually happen to her, but not having experienced it first hand, did not actually get the same thing. Also, that past Yuki may have subsequently deleted "inessential" memories for efficiency purposes or something like that.

[Fencedude]

Yuki is the one I trip up on. If she synchronized with her future self, and carried those future memories for three years, it sort of negates the character development she goes through in S1 (but in that case, where did that character development come from to begin with?!). Why wear glasses at all? Well, she could be preserving the purity of the timelines, but I want it to mean something when she stops wearing them; and if she knows everything in advance, it doesn't mean anything.

Well, but maybe Yuki's time travel works differently than that. She said her memory was synchronized to the past (maybe this is a fairly energy intensive operation?); after she seals them up does she desyncrhonize it? In which case she knows what? Who they are and when to release them, but nothing about them except that they're from her future? I kind of like this theory....

Perhaps its one thing to synchronize memories and another to actually experience it. In other words, she knew what happened to her other self and what would eventually happen to her, but not having experienced it first hand, did not actually get the same thing. Also, that past Yuki may have subsequently deleted "inessential" memories for efficiency purposes or something like that.

I have a feeling that "time" does not really mean the same thing to the Data Entity (and thus Yuki) that it does for other people.

Actually...well, I'll have to get back to this later.

[Daniel_Perales]

I have a feeling that "time" does not really mean the same thing to the Data Entity (and thus Yuki) that it does for other people.

Actually...well, I'll have to get back to this later.

This actually reminds me of a "ST:TNG" episode when there was some kind of time abnormality going on. Everyone but Data was getting confused.


Danny

[Bibulb]

(This, of course, assuming the world really did exist prior to three years ago.)

This boils down what I love about the show. Obviously, it DID exist prior to that - she remembers it as doing so, and nothing WEIRD happened (that she remembers or is conscious of), so of course it existed. Now, whether that existence was MATERIAL before The Big Whatever-It-Was, ...

Tree, forest, observer, all that jazz.

I LOVE it when cause and effect are so screwy. This show rocks.

[Suwako Moriya]

I LOVE it when cause and effect are so screwy. This show rocks.

Cause and effect being screwy can lead to a major headache. Still I figure it this way. It doesn't matter how long the universe has been around before. Until I myself exist and am aware of it, the universe (for me) may as well not exist.

[something]

This boils down what I love about the show. Obviously, it DID exist prior to that - she remembers it as doing so, and nothing WEIRD happened (that she remembers or is conscious of), so of course it existed. Now, whether that existence was MATERIAL before The Big Whatever-It-Was, ...
Tree, forest, observer, all that jazz.
I LOVE it when cause and effect are so screwy. This show rocks.
Right, we have to wonder if, even if there was a material existence before The Event, it was anything like what Haruhi has in her memories. Itsuki muses that the present iteration of the world could easily be the second, or third, or millionth such iteration. Haruhi has no memory of this though. Does that mean it's been the same world all along? If not, then it would imply she unconsciously recreates her own memories.

Itsuki's faction has always taken a much more philosophical view of Haruhi than Mikuru's or Yuki's though. Haruhi is a much more technical, scientific phenomenon to the latter two. She's an anomaly that messes up their sensors and blocks time travel and defies their algorithms. To Itsuki and the Agency, she... just happened. She may as well be a god. It also seems that it's Itsuki's concept of Haruhi that has come to dominate how fans, myself included, talk about and understand her. We talk about her "creating" the world, being a "god" etc. I imagine it's simply because it's the easiest way to wrap our heads around her, if only because it's the least objective, and demands a less exact definition and less specific understanding of who she is. It doesn't require plowing through the intricacies of cosmic data manipulation or confusing and sometimes conflicting concepts of time travel. It's more like reading prose, less like reading a technical manual.

Itsuki's faction also seems the most comfortable with "not knowing". The Thought Entity, on the other extreme, must be terrified. Its very existence is data, and here comes Haruhi, a being that can manipulate data at a level never seen before without even being aware of it. I see Mikuru's people being interested above all from a "law and order" perspective, which gives a slightly different read on the situation from either the Agency or the Entity.

[Yotsuyasan]

I do hope at some point they contrive to get the cast to perform the Lucky Star opening dance, and then if they do a second season of Lucky Star they have that gang do the Haruhi second season dance.

Edit: And of course thanks to Youtube I see there is no closing credits dance. So never mind.

While it isn't official, here you go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chq2TCu0NKI&feature=related).

Also, while there's no second season dance for the Lucky Star gang to do, here they are (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieg36mFd2kU) doing Haruhi's first season opener!

(Since Bamboo Leaf Raphsody didn't have an opening sequence, I wonder if there will be a new one or a reuse of the orignal one? Or, as in this episode, none at all...)

[stfram]

The Thought Entity, on the other extreme, must be terrified. Its very existence is data, and here comes Haruhi, a being that can manipulate data at a level never seen before without even being aware of it.


Let's presume that's correct, and imagine the sheer panic that must have infused them when Ryoko decided to take matters into her own insane hands.

It's odd that the Thought Entity "created" both Ryoko and Yuki, with them being so different in their attitudes. Perhaps they created both hoping that Haruhi would grab onto one or the other, much like how Mikuru got nabbed? Ryoko was an obvious failure in that she didn't even attract Haruhi's attention until Yuki disappeared her. :sd:

[Fencedude]

Let's presume that's correct, and imagine the sheer panic that must have infused them when Ryoko decided to take matters into her own insane hands.

It's odd that the Thought Entity "created" both Ryoko and Yuki, with them being so different in their attitudes. Perhaps they created both hoping that Haruhi would grab onto one or the other, much like how Mikuru got nabbed? Ryoko was an obvious failure in that she didn't even attract Haruhi's attention until Yuki disappeared her. :sd:

The Data Entity is not monolithic, there are multiple...oh, lets call them "awarenesses" within it, which may or may not share objectives and methodology.

Also there are, as Yuki stated, more Humanoid Interfaces on earth, so its not just Yuki and Ryouko.

And purely as speculation, who ever said that the Data Entity is the only extraterrestrial entity?

And we haven't even talked about potential factional splits among the Time Travelers and Espers.

[something]

And we haven't even talked about potential factional splits among the Time Travelers and Espers.
Yeah, Itsuki, Mikuru and Yuki all made a major point to note that their organizations were severely divided on what to do, and that various interests at times wanted to take completely different courses of action. So far the only real example of that we've seen is Ryouko's independent action, but it'd be quite interesting if it became a more explicit plot point later.

[Bibulb]

Didn't the first series say Haruhi probaly created the universe three years before? In which case, they traveled back nearly to the beginning of time...:sweat:

Well, SOMETHING happened three years ago, where that was "massive increase in data", "espers awakening", or "massive time fault" - whether that is Haruhi creating the universe (with all the entropy of its "previous existence" in place) or something else, I'll leave to the philosophers. But (not having watched the episode yet), it's sounding like it's back to ground zero of The Big Whatever-It-Was.

LOL, Mikuru is a low-level operative who was never meant to be noticed by Haruhi; getting roped into the club was an accident! I love it--it's so Mikuru!

WORST. TIME AGENT. EVAR.
After the moment in the first series where the older Mikuru manages to commit anachrongnosis almost immediately, it nailed her for me as someone who shouldn't be allowed within miles of an incipient grandfather paradox. Even now with what people have described of the older model from this episode, that still stands out to me.

[Buster Blader 126]

I remember this episode quite well.

And it totally rocked my socks off.

That is all. :P

[HawkEyeTS]

Right, we have to wonder if, even if there was a material existence before The Event, it was anything like what Haruhi has in her memories. Itsuki muses that the present iteration of the world could easily be the second, or third, or millionth such iteration. Haruhi has no memory of this though. Does that mean it's been the same world all along? If not, then it would imply she unconsciously recreates her own memories.

It's interesting that you put it this way, because if Itsuki's theory is true, it creates the truly tragic loop of a person who constantly recreates the world to try and become something special, but then writes them self back in as a mere face in the crowd, to become depressed, and do it all over again.

[HawkEyeTS]

Originally had this in another reply, but realized it spoiled some of the new episode in an older episode thread, so I cut it out to reply to this one.

Here's a really sticky question. When did Haruhi actually gain her powers such that the time travelers would be aware to have Mikuru send Kyon back in time to write her message and direct her to North High? If the events of Tanabata are a paradox, who or what caused it to originally happen in the first place? If Itsuki's theory is correct, it would have to be a "God" to have started the situation. That begs the final question... if Haruhi started out as "God", why would she turn herself into a human never satisfied with her creation, stuck in a never ending loop of depression?

[Fencedude]

Originally had this in another reply, but realized it spoiled some of the new episode in an older episode thread, so I cut it out to reply to this one.

Here's a really sticky question. When did Haruhi actually gain her powers such that the time travelers would be aware to have Mikuru send Kyon back in time to write her message and direct her to North High? If the events of Tanabata are a paradox, who or what caused it to originally happen in the first place? If Itsuki's theory is correct, it would have to be a "God" to have started the situation. That begs the final question... if Haruhi started out as "God", why would she turn herself into a human never satisfied with her creation, stuck in a never ending loop of depression?

I think some people are taking the "god" concept far too literally.

Everything, EVERYTHING she's done has been subconscious, she gains what she desires, but not 100% of the time. The more depressed OR excited she is the more likely things are to happen, but to call her "god" is overstating the issue, for me at least.

How about this, she's a Q.

[EmperorBrandon]

Ok, started up my watch and up to three episodes now. The order on the Bandai DVD's makes things easy from Melancholy I up to the Boredom - it's just disc one (ignoring ep "00" there) and then disc two, and right after the end of disc two, Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody. Funny that I could make it through all the episodes that are supposed to be between BLR and the predicted next new episodes all on disc three too... Anyway, I'll watch in Japanese this time. English dub is fun, but since I'll only be hearing the new episodes in Japanese, might as well to be consistent obviously. If the new episodes get licensed in R1 (and I sure hope they will and that they'll be dubbed with Bang Zoom! and Crispin Freeman and co. back...), I'll give it a dubbed run then - plenty of time to worry about whether that will happen or not...

I've always rather liked the OP. Fun to see it again.


Maid Mikuru for the win! Also thanks to Kyon's poor/wonderful timing we get to see her in a state of being partially dressed! Keep up the good Kyon, we're depending on you. I feel horrible saying that.

Hehe... I liked that Kyon was curious to see Yuki in one of Haruhi's outfits when Haruhi was complaining about Mikuru not being around. I just love some of the facial expressions Haruhi makes in III (like when they meet to divide into groups the second time).

[something]

WORST. TIME AGENT. EVAR.
After the moment in the first series where the older Mikuru manages to commit anachrongnosis almost immediately, it nailed her for me as someone who shouldn't be allowed within miles of an incipient grandfather paradox. Even now with what people have described of the older model from this episode, that still stands out to me.
You should definitely watch this episode, rather than just read about it. That'll probably give you a different impression, and I see it as very important for Mikuru's development in both timelines. I actually think adult Mikuru is quite skilled at what she does - the mole slip-up seems to be the only mistake, and served a comedy purpose as much as anything else. She very clearly had the events of this episode planned out quite precisely and extensively, and while it makes young Mikuru look especially bad it also does a heck of a lot to explain why she comes across as incompetent.

[Gatts]

It appears that Kadokawa has put Ep.8 up on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCIibwozScg) for those who haven't seen it yet.

[The Great Bear]

It appears that Kadokawa has put Ep.8 up on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCIibwozScg) for those who haven't seen it yet.

Thanks for the link. Wish they had subbed it.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

It appears that Kadokawa has put Ep.8 up on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCIibwozScg) for those who haven't seen it yet.
That's were I saw it. Thanks for the link tho' in case I want to see it again.

[Draneor]

Anyone know what Yuki whispered before she turned off the lights? I sadly wasn't able to read her lips.

And yeah. Watching Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody sort of reminded me of why I used to like Mikuru a lot. I'm not really sure I can afford another Haruhi wave though (looks at all the Haruhi figures). ^^U

I think some people are taking the "god" concept far too literally.

Everything, EVERYTHING she's done has been subconscious, she gains what she desires, but not 100% of the time. The more depressed OR excited she is the more likely things are to happen, but to call her "god" is overstating the issue, for me at least.

How about this, she's a Q.

For some reason, I kind of always felt that Haruhi isn't actually "god"--Kyon is. Instead, Haruhi is a being created by his subconscious to grant his childish dreams of aliens, ESPers, and time travelers that reality forced out of him. I'm probably wrong though.

[something]

Anyone know what Yuki whispered before she turned off the lights? I sadly wasn't able to read her lips.
I thought she was just doing an incantation to seal the timespace in the room.

[HawkEyeTS]

For some reason, I kind of always felt that Haruhi isn't actually "god"--Kyon is. Instead, Haruhi is a being created by his subconscious to grant his childish dreams of aliens, ESPers, and time travelers that reality forced out of him. I'm probably wrong though.

This is what I believe as well. The only way to really solve the issue of the paradox is if she actually isn't the "god" that the characters in the series make her out to be, and that someone else set up the event that gave her the abilities she currently uses subconsciously.

Now, that party may or may not be Kyon, but there is certainly evidence to put suspicion on him. On several occasions Yuki has waited specifically for permission from Kyon or for him to ask her before doing something, despite Haruhi being agitated, who should be the primary target to appease. He has also had all three parties approach him to gain favor regarding their represented organization, and been involved in a fantastical event from each side. With episode 8, we find out that Haruhi only came to North High to look for him because the time travelers made it so they would run into each other, so his being a "normal" person who got coincidentally involved has pretty much flown out the window.

Still, there are plenty of arguments out there against this particular theory, so we'll have to see where the series ends up going.

[EmperorBrandon]

Ryoko is tired of just observing. So she figures the best solution is to kill Kyon and see how Haruhi reacts. Not exactly good news for him. Lucky for him, Yuki comes to the rescue.

The fun part about this battle is how it seemed that Ryoko was doing the most damage until near the end when Yuki declared the battle was over. Also for some reason this whole thing is bringing to mind that "Haruhi-chan" series.

Yuki fixes all the damage, but forgot to recreate her glasses. Kyon points out that he likes her better without glasses. And thus Yuki decides to not even bother recreating them.

Heh, poor Kyon is really caught off guard. Kind of amusing how Ryoko confuses him going on about her situation in an indirect manner, and then all of the sudden, the "I'm going to kill you" bit. This is the first time we get to see Yuki's awesomeness too, which is always quite a treat. Yuki with glasses isn't bad, but I share Kyon's preference, and think she look nice without them.

Kyon gets to meet the adult Mikuru. I love her evidence that she's Mikuru. A star shaped mole on her breast. A mole that according to her was pointed about Kyon. I've got to love her reaction when she realized that Kyon didn't know about it yet.

Her reaction was great there - even though she's older and seemingly more mature, she's still Mikuru. :)

[EmperorBrandon]

It's time for Haruhi to investigate the situation with Ryoko! A situation that I think even more down to earth people would find to be rather odd.

The apartment manager guy was pretty amusing. It's nice that they had a more easygoing sort of guy to squeeze some information out of, though of course didn't really help Haruhi's questions out.

Itsuki's philosophical ramblings are actually rather interesting to me. Thinking about it, the order in which the three are able to prove their power to Kyon follows the same as the order to identity themselves, Yuki then Mikuru then Itsuki. That is, if we count Mikuru's older self showing up as proof that she's been time traveling (actual time travel to come later...)

In some ways, her situation is kind of cruel. She's in the extraordinary situation that she desires and yet because she doesn't realize it, it doesn't do her much good.

It is kind of cruel, also thinking that Kyon who is next to her, is living out the kind of extraordinary situations she's wished for. But he can't really share in them directly with her (at least how it seems now).

[EmperorBrandon]

The first thing I'd like to say is Kyon has an extremely cute sister that just can't be denied.

You really can't go through the first bit of Melancholy VI without thinking how absolutely adorable Kyon's sister is - waking him up, brushing teeth, etc. Heh...

[EmperorBrandon]

I'm too tired to describe every single moment, but over all this episode was pretty fun. And yet in some ways serious. After all the fate of the world depends on the outcome of this game. That's comforting to know.

Heh, you have to love how Kyon comments on that fact with his usual witty monologue. I really think quite a fun episode to me, though. Nice to see Haruhi and Mikuru in cheerleader outfits - the ones in this series is pretty awesome. The part with Yuki being the catcher was the best. Her "magic" certainly comes in handy.

Haruhi gets a taste of Mikuru's ear.

Haha... can't forget that... Love that scene.

Well, I'm all caught up now, including a rewatch of ep. 8, which was even more interesting the second watch around. 9 of the new airing is several hours later today and should be Mysterique Sign if the predictions are correct.

[EmperorBrandon]

Kyon said he hasn't met any Sliders yet, but I've long suspected he has and just doesn't know it yet. This isn't the first time they've mentioned sliders (Haruh mentioned it when she introduced herself in episode 1) and only that role was conspicuously unfilled.

I wonder if the fact the role is unfilled has to do with him telling Haruhi in the past that he hasn't met one? That's what came to mind there when I was watching the episode.

[Consignia]

Kyon said he hasn't met any Sliders yet, but I've long suspected he has and just doesn't know it yet. This isn't the first time they've mentioned sliders (Haruh mentioned it when she introduced herself in episode 1) and only that role was conspicuously unfilled.

I wonder if the fact the role is unfilled has to do with him telling Haruhi in the past that he hasn't met one? That's what came to mind there when I was watching the episode.

Maybe Kyon himself is unwittingly one.

[Suwako Moriya]

Haruhi is creating a symbol for the website. A website that only has a home page. A site that would have more hits if she'd have been allowed to use erotic images of Mikuru. Oh, and as the leader, it's Haruhi's job to give orders.

Later Kyon visits the club hoping to see Mikuru, but is disappointed that only Haruhi is there. Or rather Haruhi and Yuki, but the latter is considered more of a fixture than a member according to Kyon.

It would seem that something is wrong with the logo and site. Kyon has to deal with this whole thing. Suddenly an Itsuki arrives. And then finally Mikuru herself has arrived!

Arrived with a pretty guest named Kimidori Emiri. She's come to seek help in regards to her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is the person in charge of the computer club? Kyon had totally forgotten about him.

Haruhi is sure the guy must be suffering from the May Blues two months late. I take it we can assume this episode takes place in July. Haruhi's plan is to go over there and drag him out.


It's time to visit where the guy lives. Heh, I've got to love Haruhi jumping on the bed. Especially when they show a close up her legs. Not sure why. Could be because it gets me thinking about certain things.

While Yuki and Itsuki discuss things with Kyon, Haruhi tries to feed Mikuru expired food. In any case, since Haruhi is starving they're going to call it quits for now. She figures it will work out somehow.

Hence they all leave. Then later everyone except Haruhi returns. Which then leads into Yuki doing her trade incantation. Now they're in some desert. The confused Kyon doesn't have time to enjoy Mikuru clinging to him.

Some discussion about this being an alternate space and the computer club President being trapped in it. Danger arrives! Yuki and Itsuki can defends themselves, but what about Kyon and Mikuru?

Kyon asks Mikuru if she has any laser guns. She states that firearms are forbidden. Kyon concludes it's understandable. After all Mikuru would probably lose them on a train.

No desert type area is complete without a giant bug like creature as a major enemy. Time for Yuki and Itsuki to battle. Figures that a scarab would tend to its wounds. Fumoffu? Second Raid? They just had to reference FMP.

The enemy is defeated and problem is resolved. As for the explanation about the creature and how the logo played into everything, I'm not even going to comment on it. As I'm not sure what to say.

The way everyone gathered together and the supposed idea it was because of Haruhi has Kyon wondering about his own purpose and why he's there.

It's nice to learn that club room is already considered an alternate space with elements that cancel each other out. That's comforting to know, I think.

Kyon discovers the club president has no girlfriend. This leads to speculation about Emeri and Yuki. Especially in regards to Yuki. The shot of Yuki near the end of the episode was nice.

[EmperorBrandon]

Heh, it's really neat how flawless the transition is. First thing Kyon talks about in this episode is the Tanabata and Haruhi's melancholic mood from that event.

The shot of Yuki near the end of the episode was nice.

That scene is so beautiful. I love how Kyon's last lines of monologue flows with it.

I think I tended to hear a good bit about how this episode is one of the more "boring" ones, but each time I watch it, I think I really rather like this episode. Kyon's monologue and stuff in this ep. is particularly amusing - with things like more sarcastic remarks on Haruhi's personality, and Yuki's eyes of liquid helium (love those liquid helium eyes. They're so pretty :) ). I always loves those moments where he gets annoyed by Itsuki getting close to him (there was one in ep. 7 too - hah...)

Emiri is kind of a mysterious figure. She wasn't the computer club president's boyfriend, so it seems she had some sort of agenda here. She never really shows in any of the other 2006 episodes, though - I wonder if we will see more of her in the 2009 episodes.

[Fencedude]

Heh, it's really neat how flawless the transition is. First thing Kyon talks about in this episode is the Tanabata and Haruhi's melancholic mood from that event.

I need to rewatch this episode, but BLR really does add a new dimension to the events here, consider Kyon's (and Mikuru's) reactions around Yuki after what they just went through. And some of Kyon's internal comments about Yuki (being lonely, for example) makes much more sense with the additional context



Emiri is kind of a mysterious figure. She wasn't the computer club president's boyfriend, so it seems she had some sort of agenda here. She never really shows in any of the other 2006 episodes, though - I wonder if we will see more of her in the 2009 episodes.

Not spoiler, but Just In Case: she does show up again, but I forget if she is in any of the stories we'll be seeing this season. My favorite scene with her isn't until volume 9

[EmperorBrandon]

And some of Kyon's internal comments about Yuki (being lonely, for example) makes much more sense with the additional context


Yeah, I was thinking particularly about that, given Kyon's experiences with Yuki in BLR.

[Suwako Moriya]

Heh, it's really neat how flawless the transition is.

It almost feels like they had it planned that way all along. Or maybe not, I'm not sure if Kyo-Ani was thinking "Maybe years down the road, we'll actually animate the stuff we skipped. So we need to be careful with what we show".

[jlazar]

Well, since I'm in Japan I got to see the new episode live...

...NOT!

Thanks to Kadokawa's non-advertising of the new episode and my intermittent internet access here (partly technology based, partly to save costs on iPhone data access, and partly self imposed to enjoy Japan instead of playing on the internet all day), I didn't hear about the new episode in time to see it (not sure if I would have had the right channel at the ryokan I was at Thursday night anyway).

BTW, no new episode last night. They played the camel cricket episode. Wonder when another new episode will show up?

I'm in Tokyo for a few days with full computer and internet access and did finally manage to see it. It was an interesting story, although was that a continuity error when she started in her maid outfit and ended up in the sailor fuku.

Now I just have to wonder when another new one will be and if I'll have the right channel available on Thursday nights. :)

Ah, the irony of being in Japan: I see less new anime than I do in California. :)

[Fencedude]

BTW, no new episode last night. They played the camel cricket episode. Wonder when another new episode will show up?


We've uhh...already discussed this in great detail, you know.

[EmperorBrandon]

In case anyone wants an airing schedule link, here it is (http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/1639). Putting it here for myself at the very least, since I'll be wanting to check it. It wasn't updated with 9's episode title until today. It's possible that Kadokawa and the TV stations are going to be tight-lipped from here on out for both "old" and "new" episodes, and we likewise won't be knowing the title of any episode until it airs. Since it appears to be going in chronological order though, people who know that from the novel material have a framework to go on, though (and has been elaborated on already...)

[stfram]

It was an interesting story, although was that a continuity error when she started in her maid outfit and ended up in the sailor fuku.


Not really a continuity error; she just changed out of her outfit (as she does whenever the club activities end for the day). We just didn't see the part where Kyon walked out to the hallway so she could change.

Just because it wasn't animated doesn't mean it didn't happen.


Ah, the irony of being in Japan: I see less new anime than I do in California. :)

It'll be around until you get back. :)

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

As I was watching the S1 all the way though I noticed something in the dub. In the episode "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya part II", When Mikuru comes out of the room (after the bunny outfit incodint) and says is talking to Kyon while she is walking away he (in his mind) says "Your not going to start calling me Kyon too are you" the problem.. She never says it in that part in the dub. Her first words are "Thank You" In the sub yeah she called him Kyon in that scene.

[DKL]

"Um, say Kyon, if I find that I'm unable to get married after all this, would you be willing to marry me?"

That scene?

[something]

Episode - Mysterique Sign

- The verbal interaction between Haruhi and Kyon is always fantastic but it's especially top notch at the start of this ep.
- "She's not going to start talking about what happened on Tanabata three years ago, right?" Hah. Although, admittedly, that comment doesn't seem to make a lot of sense in the context (what did she say that made him think of that?". But fun reference anyway! And one that only makes any sense once you know about Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody. God damn I love how show messes around. Saving Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody for the 2009 airing was brilliant because it puts the whole 2006 set of episodes in a new light. If they'd just included it in the 2006 airing it would still be neat, but not nearly as much. Oh and there's the bamboo in the back of the room. =D
- I always feel bad for Itsuki when Kyon has to turn him down for the board game. :sd:
- Kimidori-san~! Why you don't look like a balloon animal at all!
- Haruhi gives Kyon an utterly glorious smirk when she's balancing that pen on her lip. XD
- Honduras!
- Hmmm. It's still hard to read exactly who knows what in the Kimidori situation. The assumption has always been that Kimidori was all Yuki's doing to keep Haruhi from being bored. SO what about Mikuru? It seems like she's in on it when she gets that look from Yuki and launches into the introduction. But when Kyon asks if Mikuru knew Kimidori, Mikuru's response is immediate and really natural sounding. I know we can't read too much into it, but it totally seems like the sort of thing that would make her nervous. She's a terrible liar (or truth-bender, whatever). There's just tantalizingly little to go on here.
- Haruhi bounce bounce bounce! In front of the Hirano/Chihara/Gotou poster =D
- Mikuru makes a hilarious noise when she's suffering from the expired warabimochi.
- "Perhaps it was judged that this much would suffice." ::knowing look over at Yuki:: Man, there's such a mix of possible explanations in this episode. I can see Yuki creating the overall diversion to distract Haruhi from her melancholy mood after Tanabata. That much makes sense, and given how satisfied Haruhi looked when she left the apartment, it was obviously successful. On the other hand if that's all she wanted to do, there would be no need to encounter the whole cave cricket thing, so clearly Yuki is telling the truth when she chalks it up to the website awakening the cricket thing. I guess the simplest explanation is that something was indeed happening due to Haruhi's power and Yuki took advantage of it in a way that both cheered Haruhi up and got rid of the problem. Or... she was just lonely/bored.
- Fumoffu! Second Raid!
- The SOS-dan clubroom has become a den of evil!
- FAN TAS TIC bit at the end with Kyon mulling over Yuki's role. Like some of you have already said, it takes on an even more awesome meaning when you realize where he's coming from with those remarks after BLR.

Theory time!
I'd forgotten how awesome Kyon's musings immediately after the cave cricket event are. He's really stuck on trying to figure out just who the heck he is and why he's there. At one point he surmises that he's the SOS-dan's conscience. It doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for that to be true, in the sense that he represents Haruhi's conscience, common sense, human rationality, etc. Itsuki mentioned a few times that Haruhi doesn't fully realize everything that's going on around her because her common sense as a human being tells her that these things cannot exist, no matter how badly she wants them too and no matter how hard she searches for them. This is very much a sentiment expressed by Kyon in the opening lines to Melancholy I. He wishes those things would still exist but sees his ability to openly accept that they don't as a sign of maturity. By contrast, Haruhi also wishes they would exist but is not able to accept so openly or willingly that they don't. Is this because she's an incomplete person? Because her conscience has been separated from her and is currently manifested as Kyon?

Some potential evidence is in Melancholy VI, where he implores Haruhi to accept the world she already has, to leave the gray, bizarre closed space, and to go back to their normal lives. It's also a potential counterargument (or more like a complementary argument?) to the theory that Kyon was only chosen to be with Haruhi simply because she liked him. I do think she has feelings for him, but if Kyon represents her conscience then it's only natural that he'd be with her when she's on the cusp of creating a new reality. Can't well leave that part of her behind - even in separate bodies, they're still connected in some way.

Oh, and Kyon being Haruhi's conscience or something like it could help explain why she can "hear" and react to things he says when he doesn't even speak them out loud.

But it's all only speculation because I lack any knowledge of what happened between Haruhi meeting "John Smith" Kyon and current Kyon, and so can't fit it into the theory. I also don't know how much time passed between her initial realization of the insignificance and commonness of the individual (her Melancholy V monologue) and that "John Smith" meeting. The pre-high school era remains a significant mystery right now. And with the novels not even complete, for all I know there is no answer yet.

[insert usual disclaimer about how I totally don't want to be told if I'm right or wrong by anyone who happens to already know answers]

---

As a side note, I really like the way the North High skirts are... oh what's the word, they're sort of pinched in about halfway down. On the one hand it acts as an anti-pantyshot measure because it seems to stop the skirt from lifting up as easily. On the other hand it also lets the skirt hug the hips more tightly, which is really god damn hot. It's quite noticeable in the lengthy lower body shot of Mikuru in the doorway before she introduces Kimidori.

[EmperorBrandon]

I also don't know how much time passed between her initial realization of the insignificance and commonness of the individual (her Melancholy V monologue) and that "John Smith" meeting.

The Melancholy V monologue was recalling her sixth year of grade school IIRC, and "John Smith" meeting with in first year of middle school, so it couldn't have been that long between them at least...

[something]

The Melancholy V monologue was recalling her sixth year of grade school IIRC, and "John Smith" meeting with in first year of middle school, so it couldn't have been that long between them at least...
I wonder if the alien message/nazca lines event on Tanabata represented her first instance of "acting out" in a delinquent way? Beginning with a message of, "I'm here!" would be pretty appropriate. And it would really, really raise the importance of Kyon's involvement in that event.

[Fencedude]

I also don't know how much time passed between her initial realization of the insignificance and commonness of the individual (her Melancholy V monologue) and that "John Smith" meeting.

The Melancholy V monologue was recalling her sixth year of grade school IIRC, and "John Smith" meeting with in first year of middle school, so it couldn't have been that long between them at least...

I'd be curious to find out exactly when the Data Explosion/Time Distortion/Esper Manifestation occurred.

Mikuru has said that they cannot travel back in time further than that moment, so it pretty much had to occur sometime between the baseball game revelation and the John Smith incident.

[something]

I'd be curious to find out exactly when the Data Explosion/Time Distortion/Esper Manifestation occurred.
Mikuru has said that they cannot travel back in time further than that moment, so it pretty much had to occur sometime between the baseball game revelation and the John Smith incident.
Yeah, that's why I want to know if the John Smith incident was her first deviant act. The "I'm here" message seems like a perfect point for the data explosion to have occurred. You could argue that they shouldn't have been able to go to even a few hours earlier than that in that case, but I say chalk it up to storytelling necessity and technological wiggle room...

[Isuzu Inugami]

Yeah, that's why I want to know if the John Smith incident was her first deviant act. The "I'm here" message seems like a perfect point for the data explosion to have occurred. You could argue that they shouldn't have been able to go to even a few hours earlier than that in that case, but I say chalk it up to storytelling necessity and technological wiggle room...

Or her determination to announce "I'm here" occured several hours before she could actually execute the plan....

[pi8you]

As a side note, I really like the way the North High skirts are... oh what's the word, they're sort of pinched in about halfway down. On the one hand it acts as an anti-pantyshot measure because it seems to stop the skirt from lifting up as easily. On the other hand it also lets the skirt hug the hips more tightly, which is really god damn hot. It's quite noticeable in the lengthy lower body shot of Mikuru in the doorway before she introduces Kimidori.
I never noticed this before, but watching it this time around, and with the deliberate focus, it stood out rather strongly. I can't actually think of any other series where they've done that, its either super-long skirts or something roundabout like Railgun's boxers when 'avoiding' the panty shot.

Oh right, rest of the epsiode, awesome, deep, FMP-LOL, etc...

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

I liked the little I don't know if you'd call it a Easter Egg or not of the three Japanese VO's on the poster on the wall behind the computer club pres. bed. It find it amusing hearing her (Aya Hirano) voice coming from Haruhi and then seeing her face behind the character.

[EmperorBrandon]

So, time for the mystery-styled two-part story. Itsuki gets Haruhi riled up by arranging for a visit to a deserted island owned by a rich associate, getting her in supersleuth mode and Itsuki promoted to vice-brigade leader.

Got a lot of dialogue between Kyon and Itsuki again early on. I like how Kyon questions Itsuki's sanity and Itsuki ensures him that he's sane (heh...) Also, the cute loli in a bag moment is here too. It's nice that Kyon's sister comes along this time, as she's cute.

With most of the episode, we have Haruhi excited over potential scenarios that the island's inhabitants all reject. That doesn't dampen her enthusiasm, though, as the lack of suspicious things just make her suspicious too (at least she's easily pleased this time). The group does some playing around and enjoying their time, which is nice. I love Mikuru's polka dot swimsuit - she's hot in it. Love Yuki's multitasking (can't get away from her book it seems - Kyon's sister even comes by and asks if it's interesting. It must be to her since she's doing it the whole time...) Even when the storm comes up, the rich guy of course has a rec room full of fun. I think this is the first time I realized the game they were playing is mahjong, thanks to Saki (I still can't tell what the heck is going on with that, though...)

Of course, near the very end, the actual mystery part comes up, leaving us on a cliffhanger.

[Suwako Moriya]

Also, the cute loli in a bag moment is here too.

And here we have the defining moment of the episode. Need to get around to watching the episode later.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

My favorite moment from that one is were they are in the bedroom playing "Who is the King" and Yuki has to turn around and say I love you. Haruhi's reaction to her normal dead pan talking is priceless. In game room while its shown I notice they never touch the roulette table.

[something]

Episode - Remote Island Syndrome (Part 1)

- "If you're wondering why I'm talking with Koizumi in the middle of the ocean..." Again with Kyon's delightful ability to always say exactly what the viewer is thinking. :sd:
- I can never get enough of all the little Itsuki/Kyon moments, like here where Itsuki winks triumphantly at Kyon after being "promoted" by Haruhi. As if Kyon is somehow jealous, or cares. Hah.
- Then more fantastic long-winded Itsuki explanations. These are such fun, especially when punctuated with exasperated remarks from Kyon (see also Melancholy VI). Actually, this whole show in general is remarkably good with long expository dialogue. We get plenty of it not just from Itsuki, but also Yuki and Kyon. It always flows, it's always interesting, it's always worked into the visuals and pacing of the episode flawlessly. (Compare to, say, Index. :sd: )
- Imouto + bag = epic! Never ever gets old.
- Also: Haruhi is incredibly hot in her outfit here. It emphasizes her figure in such wonderful ways. Yuki looks pretty fantastic too. Also, imouto-chan makes an adorable accessory for Mikuru.
- ...Mori. lol. How amusing after watching Haruhi-chan.
- Haha, as they're approaching to dock, Mikuru is still intently studying Mori in the back of the boat.
- So Haruhi goes for the polite introduction at first, and when when she's told she can be more open, launches right into the interrogation. Also, the lack of suspicious things makes it suspicious!
- Oh yeah, this shot from below. I don't think Haruhi is wearing panties. =P What an incredibly short skirt. I thought she was wearing shorts at first.
- Love that orange bikini too.
- Snake, snaaake!
- "Just whose head did this storm pop out of?" ::close up shot of a blank faced Haruhi:: Heh.
- So I'd never paid attention to the ping pong rankings before. Haruhi beats Mikuru, no surprise. Kyon beats Itsuki. And... imouto beats Yuki? Ahahah. I guess Yuki was being nice. Of course, no such luck from Haruhi, who no doubt crushed her mercilessly. Man, I would love to have seen imouto's matches.
- Hah! They're playing mahjong. I recognized some of the words from Saki. :sd: 32,000 points... I want to see Haruhi vs Saki. then the "daisuki~" scene. As if Haruhi needs a game to act like a King (well Queen).
- Gaah, Haruhi looks so good in plain old tshirts. And just about everything else, I suppose.
- ...And then a dead body! Whee!

It's nice that Kyon's sister comes along this time, as she's cute.
She doesn't figure into this show nearly enough. Doubly sad after the horrible tease that was Haruhi-chan in this respect, with her epic entrance early on and then almost total lack of appearances after that. Give me more imouto-chan!

[KomoriKiri]

And... imouto beats Yuki? Ahahah. I guess Yuki was being nice.

No, my bet would be that Yuki just didn't bother to swing unless the ball was going to hit her. ^_^ It is a running gag, after all, and not even something like the Data Integration Thought Entity can change the Rule of Funny (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfFunny).

Wraith
Programmers Law: The more useless the computer program, the more fun it is to write

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

It's nice that Kyon's sister comes along this time, as she's cute.
She doesn't figure into this show nearly enough. Doubly sad after the horrible tease that was Haruhi-chan in this respect, with her epic entrance early on and then almost total lack of appearances after that. Give me more imouto-chan!
That brings up something has nagged at me. OK I know she not important to the story but why has she never (at least in the anime ) ever been given a real name? I mean she is always shown in the credits and referred to by the other characters as "Little Sister" or "Kyon's Sister"

[Fudce]

It's nice that Kyon's sister comes along this time, as she's cute.
She doesn't figure into this show nearly enough. Doubly sad after the horrible tease that was Haruhi-chan in this respect, with her epic entrance early on and then almost total lack of appearances after that. Give me more imouto-chan!
That brings up something has nagged at me. OK I know she not important to the story but why has she never (at least in the anime ) ever been given a real name? I mean she is always shown in the credits and referred to by the other characters as "Little Sister" or "Kyon's Sister"

Because that's who she is, "Kyon's Sister". Kyon doesn't have anything other than a nickname either - and he's the main character!

[something]

That brings up something has nagged at me. OK I know she not important to the story but why has she never (at least in the anime ) ever been given a real name? I mean she is always shown in the credits and referred to by the other characters as "Little Sister" or "Kyon's Sister"
Because she's Kyon's sister, and giving her a name would ruin the joke =P

[dsmith]

Anyone know what Yuki whispered before she turned off the lights? I sadly wasn't able to read her lips.
I thought she was just doing an incantation to seal the timespace in the room.

I might be misremembering, or mixing things up, but for some reason I thought that what she said was "I'll protect you."

[something]

I might be misremembering, or mixing things up, but for some reason I thought that what she said was "I'll protect you."
If so, that would have to be in the novels. She doesn't speak any words out loud in the episode. Reading lips in anime is of course an inexact science at best too, so I can't really make out if she's supposed to be saying "anata ga mamoru" or whatever it would be exactly.

[Fencedude]

[
That brings up something has nagged at me. OK I know she not important to the story but why has she never (at least in the anime ) ever been given a real name? I mean she is always shown in the credits and referred to by the other characters as "Little Sister" or "Kyon's Sister"

Never named.

Of course, Kyon is never named either, thats his nickname, we don't know his real given or family name.

There's a few other people like that, Tsuruya's given name is unknown, and there is a character introduced later who's family name isn't given (but the people introduced with them DO have both family and given names).

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, the second-part of the two-parter begins, with the suspenseful "murder mystery". Mikuru doesn't take the scene very lightly and faints... Kyon's sister is kept out and Yuki is put on guard. I like the time when they come back and Yuki keeps to Haruhi's order rather literally, not even letting the group back in. Kyon manages to revoke it and get her to open the door. Kyon wonders whether Yuki's idea of a joke but can't tell with her expressionless face. :bigsmile:

Kyon definitely seems quite confident of Haruhi in the episode. When they're in the dangerous situation out on the cliffs, he seems to feel safe just since Haruhi is there. At the end, after Itsuki and co.'s set-up is revealed, he says that he had it figured from the beginning, simply because he believed Haruhi wouldn't wish for an actual murder...

Next episode: Live Alive... or NOT. It's rumored that there may be new episodes to come. Mikuru's Adventure would come before it in chronological order too (unlike the DVD order). Will be interesting to see what happens...

[Fencedude]

Next episode: Live Alive... or NOT. It's rumored that there may be new episodes to come. Mikuru's Adventure would come before it in chronological order too (unlike the DVD order). Will be interesting to see what happens...

Next week should start a string of new episodes, hopefully.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

If I had to guess I'd say that they would air "The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina episode 00" next seeing as it does fit right before the events in "Live Alive". But who knows seeing as it was the first episode in the DVD order there was never a preview for it. Can't wait for the next new episode.

[Fencedude]

If I had to guess I'd say that they would air "The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina episode 00" next seeing as it does fit right before the events in "Live Alive". But who knows seeing as it was the first episode in the DVD order there was never a preview for it. Can't wait for the next new episode.


Next should be Endless Eight, actually.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Oh I see. Thanks. So basically there putting the new ones in where they fit in the overall storyline right?

[Fencedude]

Oh I see. Thanks. So basically there putting the new ones in where they fit in the overall storyline right?

Thats the theory. We won't know for certain until we see what airs next week.

[something]

Episode - Remote Island Syndrome (Part Two)

- Mikuru's fainting noise is one of the most awesome things ever. And imouto is so cute~!
- Nice stuff here with Haruhi's fretting over what happened. Whatever powers she may have, however badly she wants weird stuff to happen, she still doesn't *really* want anyone to die. Kyon compares her to a kid whose April Fools joke went badly. A bit unfair, perhaps, but it works.
- Then the scene outside and in the cave. Haruhi turns up the sexiness to about 20000% here. Damnit she is a seriously gorgeous girl. It's a nice little touch when she's about to take off her bra, but then hesitates and decides not to. One thing I never got, though - when Haruhi comes around the rock and seriously blurts out that she's figured it out, what exactly is it that annoys Kyon? You see it in his expression and hear it in his voice. Is it that she interrupted him? That she came tearing around the rock without knowing if he were dressed again yet? Is it that she's thinking too much about it? Is he maybe disappointed that she's dressed again? =P
- I love the build-up to the moment where Haruhi reaches the "opening the door did it" conclusion, but upon realizing the implications wants to reject it, refuses to say it, and gets somewhat timid again. Just in time for Itsuki to pop in and end the conversation.
- Hahah, Kyon just grabs his sister by the shirt and drops her on the floor. :sd: That's kinda mean. And there's the carrots!
- Yuki, always so impossible to read. It doesn't matter how many times I watch this, I still can't figure out what she was really thinking here. A joke? Being too strict? Either way, the look on her face when Kyon starts talking is really quite interesting.
- And then there's Haruhi's sudden loss of desire to pursue the case once she came to an unpleasant conclusion.
- Kyon and Itsuki talk. And we get that creepy, disturbing, and oh so fitting music playing.
- And then team HaruKyon sets their counter-plan in motion. =D
- Imouto's excited reaction to Haruhi's big reveal... XD
- (BTW I would kill to see Haruhi in this yellow tank top thing she's wearing without the jacket over it.)
- Then another great Itsuki/Kyon conversation, and the bizarre focus on a hairy mole. :sd:

And loooooove the little twist/uncertainty at the end about whether or not there really is a another perpetrator of Haruhi's creation on the island...

Kyon definitely seems quite confident of Haruhi in the episode. When they're in the dangerous situation out on the cliffs, he seems to feel safe just since Haruhi is there.
I always thought it was fantastic how they held hands tightly before going down.

Next episode: Live Alive... or NOT. It's rumored that there may be new episodes to come. Mikuru's Adventure would come before it in chronological order too (unlike the DVD order). Will be interesting to see what happens...
Anyone know what kind of next episode previews they're running with this airing in Japan? What was used after Boredom? What about this?

[Fencedude]

I watched both parts together a few days ago, and while this is, in my opinion, the weakest story in the first season (and its actually significantly better than the novel version, which notably lacked Imouto), its still pretty good, especially on rewatch.

There was a lot of subtle development of Haruhi, a good amount of which will be payed off later in the series. Also some good looks at how Kyon sees Haruhi.

Also I still love the Phoenix Wright parody.

[something]

(and its actually significantly better than the novel version, which notably lacked Imouto)
Oh? Hah, give a whole new layer of meaning to Itsuki's comment that "The inclusion of the younger sister was unexpected, however." :sd:

[Fencedude]

(and its actually significantly better than the novel version, which notably lacked Imouto)
Oh? Hah, give a whole new layer of meaning to Itsuki's comment that "The inclusion of the younger sister was unexpected, however." :sd:

Indeed.

On the other hand, the anime cut out the part where they got drunk off their asses. Which is a shame.

[something]

On the other hand, the anime cut out the part where they got drunk off their asses. Which is a shame.
Especially because inclusion of imouto there would have been EPIC.

...Maybe that's where surly Haruhi-chan imouto comes from. =P

[EmperorBrandon]

Anyone know what kind of next episode previews they're running with this airing in Japan? What was used after Boredom? What about this?

I think I remember reading early on that this new broadcast didn't have any episode previews.

[something]

I think I remember reading early on that this new broadcast didn't have any episode previews.
That would be unsurprising. And I guess it had to be that way... else there's no way to hide when a new episode is coming.

I vote that when they release this on DVD and have to create a THIRD type of preview, that Imouto narrates them all!

[Fencedude]

I think I remember reading early on that this new broadcast didn't have any episode previews.
That would be unsurprising. And I guess it had to be that way... else there's no way to hide when a new episode is coming.

I vote that when they release this on DVD and have to create a THIRD type of preview, that Imouto narrates them all!

Imouto and Tsuruya!

[something]

Imouto and Tsuruya!
Oh man, I could totally see 27 previews that are nothing but Tsuruya laughing for 15 seconds.

[Fencedude]

Imouto and Tsuruya!
Oh man, I could totally see 27 previews that are nothing but Tsuruya laughing for 15 seconds.

And they would be fantastic~!

[Fudce]

I think I remember reading early on that this new broadcast didn't have any episode previews.
That would be unsurprising. And I guess it had to be that way... else there's no way to hide when a new episode is coming.

I vote that when they release this on DVD and have to create a THIRD type of preview, that Imouto narrates them all!

Imouto and Tsuruya!

Nuh-uh... Mori-san and Tsuruya!

[Suwako Moriya]

On the other hand, the anime cut out the part where they got drunk off their asses. Which is a shame.

Well, that's certainly depressing to learn. Although a drunk Haruhi sounds extremely dangerous for some reason.

[Suwako Moriya]

Nuh-uh... Mori-san and Tsuruya!

Oh, sure, use the previews to continue an epic battle. Either way my view is this. I just want to hear Tsuruya speak. Whoever else is included is secondary to that.

[Fudce]

Remember to respond to this post for all Endless Eight Part 1 related posts.
To respond directly to a post, click the button labeled "Quote", or the furthest button right to quick reply to this post.




New episode time!

It starts with Kyon and Kyon's sister watching baseball and Haruhi decides to call him out for a meeting
Brand new opening theme, pretty upbeat.
hmm, they're at a swimming pool. Bikini's APPROVED!
Well, only Haruhi was in a bikini, the other two were one pieces, but they are also APPROVED!
Haruhi has found herself two underlings to keep her amused.
Suddenly a cafe.
Next day... Haruhi drags them out again. Shopping this time.
Yukata-service APPROVED!
Yuki wants a mask. So cute... She gets an alien mask :catgirl:
Fireworks! And Kyon puts on a show by launching lots from his bike - surely a bit dangerous but he has god on his side!
Another day, another Haruhi outing... Cicada catching?
And now they're handing out balloons dressed as frogs? WTF?
And all the while Haruhi is chatting to shopkeepers, Kyon sounds as pissed as I am confused :P
Ah, they are now checking out the sky with a telescope. Very soft moment.
It didn't last - they're now at some Baseball batting nets.
And suddenly, more fireworks! Back in the yukata's.
And fishing?
Graveyards at night, movies, bowling, volleyball, karaoke, they sure are doing a lot.
They look exhausted on the train - except Yuki who is Yuki on the train.
Back at the cafe again. And Kyon gets the bill.
There's a decent amount of background imouto towards the end of this epiosde. Should please some :)
And that's it. Still not sold on the second ending, but it's a good song at least.

[Fencedude]

Hmm...sounds like Endless Eight, which consists of them...doing a lot of random stuff, actually.

[Fudce]

Hmm...sounds like Endless Eight, which consists of them...doing a lot of random stuff, actually.

That was pretty much what it was :P

I had literally just editted the top post with the episode title when I saw your reply, the episode name is indeed Endless Eight Part 1.

Can't wait to see it with subtitles so I can find out exactly why Haruhi was dragging them around doing a lot of random stuff, if she even needed a reason.

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it. Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

[HawkEyeTS]

Hmm...sounds like Endless Eight, which consists of them...doing a lot of random stuff, actually.

Looks like it's a two part episode, as that definitely wasn't the entirety of the Endless Eight story. Unless the next story is only 2 episodes instead of 3, that throws the "leaked" airing list out the window.

[Fencedude]

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it. Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

Like it significantly more than the first op, actually. And doesn't seem to have any parts that will make DVD encoding software up and die on people.

Who sings it? Its not Hirano Aya as far as I can tell.

[Suwako Moriya]

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it.

Well, that's certainly interesting and a bit energetic as well. I'll form a full opinion on it later after a few viewings.

Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

I wonder how many hours it will take before the first one appears.

[Fudce]

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it. Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

Like it significantly more than the first op, actually. And doesn't seem to have any parts that will make DVD encoding software up and die on people.

Who sings it? Its not Hirano Aya as far as I can tell.

Dunno but it looks like she's creditted for it where it says the song name (Super Drive) in the OP. It does sound different but we know she does have one hell of a voice on her.

[Fudce]

Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

I wonder how many hours it will take before the first one appears.

*shrugs and shakes his head*

I dunno either.

[Sly05]

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it. Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

I really like the new op as well. Both the song and animation are great and have a lot of style. It definitely looks set to start a new wave of parodies.

[Buster Blader 126]

Ah, a new episode out, as is the new Opening. I didn't notice until I browsed the blogs and saw Fudce's avatars on the episode. Can't wait to watch it!

I'll just wait on listening to the song until the episode is released.

[pi8you]

Kyon definitely seems quite confident of Haruhi in the episode. When they're in the dangerous situation out on the cliffs, he seems to feel safe just since Haruhi is there.
I always thought it was fantastic how they held hands tightly before going down.
Again with my not previously watching the show in chronological order, that hand-holding was suddenly a lot more interesting.

When Haruhi changes her mind in the cave, there's that moment's weirdness with the animation, Haruhi adjusting reality subconsciously?

[Westlo]

As for the new opening, I've watched it again (I can't believe it's already on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBLvEZr-iM)) and I do quite like it. Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

Like it significantly more than the first op, actually. And doesn't seem to have any parts that will make DVD encoding software up and die on people.

Who sings it? Its not Hirano Aya as far as I can tell.

It's Hirano singing in the OP.

http://www.lantis.jp/special/haruhi/

And yeah I like this better than season 1's OP, never really liked that OP song much... the first season ED completely outdid it.

[DKL]

Neat episode; Haruhi was pretty chill and didn't seem totally unreasonable most of the time (yeah, she drags people out, but the general summer activities are fun, for the most part, and don't involve bitch-slapping everyone into going her way); in the context of the flow of the story, it works given that the previous island episode thing was maybe too much of an intense experience for her and the group at one point, so they gotta slow it down.

Neat little insight into Koizumi's astronomy hobby...

Yukata's look good...

I found it funny that she stuck Mikuru with Koizumi on the bike and took Yuki with her on Kyon's bike; why not just stick the both of them with Koizumi? You know you want to.

Oh, and there a neat brief cut of Haruhi getting out of the pool that I really liked; they made her get out of the pool in a way that's sexy.

Okay, the awesome-train has now departed from the station; glad to be on it.

[Sly05]

I'm happy we've finally gotten to the run of new episodes. :sweat: I enjoyed getting to see everyone run around and have fun. Not only do we get swimsuits this episode, but yukatas... and frogs. Yuki buying an alien mask had me laughing.

The continued lack of next episode previews is a bit of a let down, but the next episode should be fun.

[pi8you]

Good fun, good fun. New OP's good, but the shots running down the cast seem like they could be better (and what's up with the running in both it and the new ED?). Haruhi getting out of the pool, wowzers. And there's the origin of the Frog costume in the club room, heh. Great stills while they catch bugs, Koizumi's and Mikiru's in particular. And then I die at the batting cages as Kyon makes a Star Wars Episode 1 joke.

[EmperorBrandon]

I had literally just editted the top post with the episode title when I saw your reply, the episode name is indeed Endless Eight Part 1.


Not part one - it's just "Endless Eight".

Mostly just random fun here, but it was good random fun. Love Haruhi recruiting subordinates at the public swimming pool (her bikini was hot too, and like Yuki and Mikuru's as well). It was interesting actually hearing something of Itsuki's childhood here, even if it was just about a hobby. Little sister in the background was great, particularly at the end.

[Fencedude]

....ah? That was...hmm...well, I'll reserve comment till next week.

But fun episode, even if nothing actually happened.

[EmperorBrandon]

And yeah I like this better than season 1's OP, never really liked that OP song much... the first season ED completely outdid it.

I'm one that actually likes the first series OP better than ED. The OP gets me excited all the time for some reason, and though I like Hare Hare Yukai, just don't seem to find it as interesting as others (not as addicting for me as Dango Daikazoku or Don't say lazy, among KyoAni show ED's).

Still, I think I'm warming up to the new OP pretty quickly. I'm rather liking it.

[EmperorBrandon]

Expect to see a lot of parodies of the shrug/shake head bit. :)

I was amused to see the computer club there.

[O-chan]

And yeah I like this better than season 1's OP, never really liked that OP song much... the first season ED completely outdid it.

I'm one that actually likes the first series OP better than ED. The OP gets me excited all the time for some reason, and though I like Hare Hare Yukai, just don't seem to find it as interesting as others (not as addicting for me as Dango Daikazoku or Don't say lazy, among KyoAni show ED's).

Still, I think I'm warming up to the new OP pretty quickly. I'm rather liking it.

Actually Bouken Desho Desho is way higher up on my MP3 replay list than Hare Hare Yukai so I agree with you. I like the ED for it's animation but I loved the first OP for its song.

The new OP and ED are very catchy but I think alot of people (myself included) were expecting them to outdo the OP and ED of the previous airing and are therefore underwhelmed. But give it time...

O-chan

[HitokiriShadow]

Meh on the new OP. It's not bad, its not good, its just there and its pretty forgettable. Not that the first series' was significantly better.

I remember seeing that giant frog head in the club room in the first season, probably in Someday in the Rain.

Yay for Imouto making her first season 2 appearance, boo for no speaking lines.

[relentlessflame]

The new OP and ED are very catchy but I think alot of people (myself included) were expecting them to outdo the OP and ED of the previous airing and are therefore underwhelmed. But give it time...Well, actually, it's interesting if you think about that comment in the context of the "second season" on the whole. You can imagine them asking the question "how can we follow-up on one of the most popular late-night anime of all time?" It seems to me that, rather than try to top it, the whole strategy with the new season is to "complement it". Hence the way they're airing the new episodes nestled in between the existing ones, and the new OP/ED that are basically doing something "different". It's almost like they're saying that they're not trying to top the original, just add to it. And in the end, maybe that isn't such a bad strategy for them to take; it reminds people of what they liked about the original and defuses some of the whole inevitable "the first season was so much better" syndrome. We'll see if it pays off in the end.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Just saw it and it was a nice episode. The three girls looked adorable in there Yukata's. I was a little disappointed that the karaoke part was just a flash cause it would been nice to her Aya singing as Haruhi again. Speaking of music the new OP is not bad. I like the comic book style they use on some of the animation in it. The song itself is catchy but I liked Aya Hirano's song for S1 Boken Desho Desho? silightly better. As to the episode I was wondering when Haruhi is in the back room talking about the payment for the part time job she calles the guy "Uncle" I wonder if its her real uncle or just an affectionate name? If so I think this is the first time we have seen one of her relitives and not just heard about them like with her parents. Anyway I love the scene ware they are star gazing and Mikuru is calling out for UFO's. LOL.

[Suwako Moriya]

Swimsuits, Yukatas, Cicadas, Frog Costume, Baseball, Singing, Fireworks, etc. Lots of small events combine together to make a pretty decent episode.

[ndm]

As to the episode I was wondering when Haruhi is in the back room talking about the payment for the part time job she calles the guy "Uncle" I wonder if its her real uncle or just an affectionate name? If so I think this is the first time we have seen one of her relitives and not just heard about them like with her parents. Anyway I love the scene ware they are star gazing and Mikuru is calling out for UFO's. LOL.

What she actually says is 'tenchou no occhan'. It basically means something like 'mr shop manager', not 'uncle'. Silly f-subbers. Hopefully though the story will one day show us Haruhi's actual family, since I'd really like to see the people who could raise someone with such a strong personality.

[jlazar]

(note: I've been internet deprived somewhat, so haven't read every single post here)


Yay new episode!!

Boo that the hotel I was in didn't have the right channel (I stayed up in hopes it would).

Fortunately, I'll see the next episode (which should be a new one based on comments) since my TOkyo hotel does get that channel. It'd be nice to say I saw a new Haruhi episode live once while I'm here. :)


Good episode. If it wasn't based off a book, I'm sure many people would call it a filler episode. Still nice and fun and gets us back into the action for what seems to be one of the big arcs coming up.

New op is good although both the new OP and ED songs are not particularly good for mob dancing like Hare Hare Yukai.

Is it just me or are the dance moves (spreading the arms with upraised palms) done near the end of OP a way of saying sorry that the OP isn't a good dancing song? Just seemed like a Kyoani way to apologize (or start a new dance move :) ).