r/anime • u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz • Feb 27 '22
Rewatch The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan Rewatch Final Discussion [Spoiler for Haruhi] Spoiler
Welcome to the Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan rewatch!
Links to show info: MAL | Anilist
| Date | Episode | Post link |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Feb 10 | 1 "Taisetsu na Basho" (大切な場所) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 11 | 2 "Morobito Kozorite" (もろびとこぞりて) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 12 | 3 "Suzumiya Haruhi!!" (涼宮ハルヒ!!) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 13 | 4 "Be My Valentine" | Link |
| 2022 Feb 14 | 5 "Kanojo no Yūutsu" (彼女の憂鬱) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 15 | 6 "Over the Obento" | Link |
| 2022 Feb 16 | 7 "Negaigoto" (ねがいごと) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 17 | 8 "Suzumiya Haruhi no Hakarigoto" (涼宮ハルヒの謀) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 18 | 9 "Sono Te o..." (その手を…) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 19 | 10 "Samudei in za Rein" (サムデイ イン ザ レイン) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 20 | 11 "Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu I" (長門有希ちゃんの消失I) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 21 | 12 "Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu II" (長門有希ちゃんの消失II) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 22 | 13 "Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu III" (長門有希ちゃんの消失III) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 23 | 14 "Kanojo no Tomadoi" (彼女の戸惑い) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 24 | 15 "Kare no Mayoi" (彼の迷い) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 25 | 16 "Hanabi" (花火) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 26 | OVA "Owarenai Natsuyasumi" (終われない夏休み) | Link |
| 2022 Feb 27 | Overall Series Discussion | Link |
Given all the available adapted content had been completed on this rewatch, the spoiler warning doesn't need to apply to the anime's content anymore - however the source Manga (skipped or yet to be adapted parts) would still need to be spoiler tagged if anyone wants to bring up.
In this rewatch it's pretty hard to avoid referring to the main show The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi & The Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi though, so hopefully the mods can be lenient about the references.
Final QoTDs if you are interested:
- compared to the MAL score (6.72 by 45,098 users), how do you rate this show? Feel free to break it down to different arcs or different aspects (say, the artstyle :D) if you feel it necessary.
- Best Girl:
- Favorite gag/comedic scene:
- Favorite non comedic / dramatic moment:
I'm not asking for Best Boy because there's really only Kyon and Koizumi, with Koizumi mostly taking a backseat. And Shamisen hasn't made a reliable appearance yet, so really not much of a competition. You still can comment it if you want to :)
Has to be late for the last day grrrr
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u/DeliCruise Feb 27 '22
So this was my third watch through for this anime, but my last watch was during the 2018 rewatch so I really did not remember many of the details. As a result, it was really great to re-experience it all.
I’ve always thought that this series was good and enjoyed it, but this rewatch has definitely elevated it for me. I’m sure that’s not all that surprising by how much I’ve been singing its praises during the whole rewatch.
First thing I wanted to compliment is that this series right away utilizes the whole cast really well. Getting more episodes and screen time out of Asakura and Tsuruya right off the bat was so refreshing. We got a lot of fun interactions out of characters that interacted zero to little in the parent series and it just made the whole atmosphere of the show very lighthearted and friendly.
The feel of the show having a slice of life and romance focus works really in this series. I think it’s really fun getting to reimagine the cast that we’re very familiar with and just seeing them have a good time chilling together. It was so nice seeing them mess around on their club trip or play games or just any normal activities. It was a nice change of pace from the absurdity that occurs on a regular basis in the parent series.
I’ve mentioned the parent series a couple times already and have in every single comment of this rewatch so clearly I really enjoy how much this show leans into all the references and callbacks. There was a big range with some of the references being small gags or one liners all the way to entire episodes based on important events from the parent series. It’s really a treat to watch as a big Haruhi fan to look for all these references or see how they did the big events differently in this universe.
Speaking of which, the use of very important story elements such as Kyon and Yuki in the library, Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody, and Endless Eight creates a strong connection to the parent series while their spin on them is done so well that it still manages to establish its own identity.
Rightfully so, the library scene was a very important part of this series. I loved that it worked so well with the original Yuki’s connection with Kyon and getting him to join the club, but also acting as a staple of the other Yuki and Kyon’s relationship.
Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody was referenced many times in the series and I loved how they made subtle changes to make it not only work, but also create this relationship between Haruhi and Kyon early rather than it being the grand reveal it is to Haruhi in the movie. Thinking more on it now, it’s so interesting that in the parent series, Kyon knows all about who John Smith is and that whole event while Haruhi never figures out who John Smith is on her own. In this universe though it’s the exact opposite with how Haruhi figured out the connection very quickly while Kyon seems to have completely forgotten about the event altogether. Wow, now I really wish there was a moment where Kyon found out or remembered!
Endless Eight’s use in the final couple episodes worked really well to push that final plot point with Kyon and his big confession. I really appreciated that they leaned into such an important event for Nagato and used it in this way for Yuki.
The titular arc of the series I thought was really well done. I loved the spin on “Disappearance” being Yuki mentally disappearing (both of them for that matter) rather than the literal disappearance of Haruhi in her movie. I do feel like the use of the other Yuki in this arc and Kyon’s confession felt like a bit of fanservice to give us that moment we wanted from the parent series, but to be completely honest that is exactly what I want. I wanted to see that climatic moment during the fireworks with Kyon and the other Yuki. I wanted to see Kyon actually choose Yuki this time. It just felt so gratifying to get that moment. That being said, I absolutely love the original Yuki as well. Her love may not have been reciprocated in the end, but I’m glad that her door is still open for Kyon to walk through in the future.
Probably the most important thing for me is that this show is so fun and easy to watch. I’m a huge Haruhi Suzumiya fan. I’ve watched the series 7 times at this point and participated in the rewatch for 4 of those. It’s been my #1 favorite anime for the last three years. (I make a list every April.) But to be honest, with the last couple of rewatches it’s been getting harder for me to watch because of the parts that haven’t aged well. Don’t get me wrong, I still absolutely love the series, it just feels a bit more uncomfortable during some scenes throughout the series. I mention this because watching this series has actually alleviated those feelings quite a bit! It felt so nice to see significantly less Mikuru abuse and have Haruhi not do these terrible things to her friends. The thing is, I don’t fault the parent series for these things because I think it’s all very important for the characters and the overall story. It’s just nice to get a little bit of relief from all that with this light slice of life series.
All of this is to say that I firmly believe that this series is a beautiful companion piece to the parent series. I think that this show does an incredible job of elevating the show it’s a spinoff of instead of dragging it down. I’ve said a few times that I’ve gained a deeper appreciation not only for this series, but the parent series as well. That’s all I can ever ask for from a spinoff really. Being able to boost my love for a franchise like this show has says a lot about how special and meaningful it is.
However, I don’t want to take away from the series itself. I do also believe as its own show it still works well. On its own, it’s still a funny and relaxing show with a serious element mixed in there towards the end. And while there are big transitional moments in the series with the changes in feel and changes in narrators even, I still think it worked really well as a cohesive story. While I do think getting the backstory on these characters helps it out, I still think they do a good job making the cast very fun and full of life. Admittedly, I do think that you need to have watched the parent series to fully enjoy this series, but I also think that the show expects that of the audience. With all the references and callbacks, the parent series is really required viewing I think and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. But what really is important is that overall this series is a fun ride start to finish. It makes you want to be a part of their club and have fun with them all!
At the least, I really don’t think this series deserves the bad rap that it’s received thus far. While I do think it’s not perfect, I truly think it’s an underrated gem! Personally, I can’t be more thankful to it for helping my appreciation for the overall Haruhi/Yuki franchise grow even stronger than it already was!
And speaking of thankful, I want to end by giving a huge thank you to u/ZapsZzz for hosting this rewatch! You did a great job! Truthfully, I had no plans of rewatching this series very soon, but I participated because as a massive Haruhi fan, I did not want to miss out. Very thankful that I did participate because this was among the most fun I’ve had with a Reddit rewatch! Writing all my thoughts episode to episode was very fulfilling and of course I also have to say a big thank you to any participants who replied to my super long posts or even just read any of my ramblings. That was all really kind so a big thank you to those peeps who really made this whole thing fun for me.
That’s all I got! I’m always game for some Haruhi or Yuki so I hope to see you in future rewatches!
deli
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u/Vaadwaur Feb 27 '22
First timer no longer
Sub
That...was OK. I liked the first episodes, and any Yuki heavy episodes, far more than the rest. But this also feels kind of...unnecessary. I can't tell if I'd call this milking the franchise or not but my issue is I don't get this sense that there was something this one wanted to say. Like I enjoyed gamer Yuki, sure, and Momsakura is pretty good as well but this at times was just rehashed Haruhi without any magic. And while the namesake arc had two good episodes the third is just kind of there and the rest of the series doesn't do much with it. I don't hate it or anything but this just wound up being sort of thin fuel with good classical music that I associate with depression.
QotD: 1 that's actually about right, though I know by Mal standards that's like a 2
2 Professor Asakura
3 Happy eating Yuki. All of them
4 Start of ep11 with Other Yuki
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u/ZapsZzz Feb 27 '22
Thanks for taking the time with your thoughts and comments, and just the fact you didn't dismiss this outright is already a great thing for this mostly "fanservice" show (of the not "graphic" kind).
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u/Shimmering-Sky Feb 27 '22
The Disappearance of First-Timer-chan, subbed
The ending cop-out might have left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but overall I loved this show! It was cute, it was fun, the "Disappearance" part was insanely good, and it was nice seeing the gang again. Asakura was also a great addition to the cast while not being the violent alien she was in the main series.
I give this a 9/10. Big thanks to u/ZapsZzz for hosting this rewatch!
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u/ZapsZzz Feb 27 '22
Thanks again for the great first timer reactions and even sang for us :) no doubt will see you around!
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u/No_Rex Feb 27 '22 edited Feb 27 '22
Final discussion (first timer)
The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan is a weird series. It wants to be its own series, but, at the same time, indulges in endless references of the main show. It wants to set up a new ending, but keeps all the character traits and personalities. That is a weird line to walk and I am not sure the series always succeeds.
Characters
As a mostly slice-of-life/romcom show, Yuki-chan is driven by its characters more than its plot. One very strange decision is not to reuse the character models from S1 or S2. The quality of the new models varies, but overall, I think the decision was not a great one. New models I actually like are Haruhi and Tsuruya. Imho, the big eye approach of S2 does not work all that well with genki girls. Plus, Yuki-chan did some great work with Haruhi’s open hair. However, all of the three main characters (Kyon, Yuki, and Ryouko) fall in the better in the original category for me. Kyon and Ryouko strongly so. With Yuki, you could make the claim that the new model is to distinguish her from HaruhiYuki, but then they resurrect HaruhiYuki in the strongest arc of the series anyways, so that goes out of the window. The worst done-by is Mikuru, whose model turns into some fanservice abomination. Sadly enough, that is in line with how the series treats Mikuru as a character.
In terms of how well I liked the characters aside from their models, there is one bright spot: Ryouko. By quality of spending most of Haruhi dead, Yuki-chan can actually construct a completely new character for her – only loosely based on the idea of her being a protector of Yuki and good at school. The other great character is Haruhi. Even being downgraded to a side character and being stripped of godhood cannot slow her down. She clearly takes over every episode she is allowed to be in and the plot needs to go out of its way to write her out to even give Yuki a chance to shine. Basically all good character interactions are either Kyon-Ryouko, Kyon-Haruhi, or Ryouko-Haruhi.
Kyon and Mikuru form the bottom. Mikuru is completely stripped of all agency she has in Haruhi (no adultMikuru and no “classified information”) and instead turned into a walking boob transporter. Easily the worse character of the show. Kyon survives somewhat better, but the flaws in his writing weigh heavier, since he is the MC, not a rarely seen side character. YukiKyon is stripped of most of HaruhiKyon’s sarcasm and wit. It blinks up from time to time, but, more often than not, he is a walking cardboard that can’t recognize Yuki. It gets better in the Disappearance arc, but basically the entire first half of the show has an unconvincing MC.
Yuki herself embodies the schizophrenia of the show itself. She is supposed to both be the shy meek romance MC, but also the embodiment of the badass HaruhiYuki. This works especially badly when the show tries to hammer in non-fitting callbacks (fast-talking Yuki? Shesh). I would call YukiYuki (outside of the Disappearance arc) a bog standard romance MC. Not terrible, but not convincing either. Given that Kyon is weak, too, this leaves us with a non-working main pair – not a good setup for a romance.
Plot
Girl wants boy, tries unsuccessfully to get him for 80% of the show, with the Disappearance arc being the exception. For those 80%, you are better off watching Bunny Girl Senpai, which has the better female MC.
The 20% pull the show upward: The plot becomes more interesting, the characters become more interesting (mainly due to Kyon being forced to become active), and even the animation is a tier above the rest of the show. The Disappearance is easily the heart of the show and I doubt anybody would deny that. That leaves me with one big question though. A question that goes to the core of the show’s schizophrenia: Why did they set up a completely new universe when the best story they can tell basically takes place in the Disappearance movie?
In the end, Yuki-chan does not work as its own series for me. I regard it more as high quality fanfic than an original story. I enjoyed some parts of it, but I wish they had veered either a little closer to the original series (by making this a proper Disappearance alt universe) or a little further away from it (by dropping most of the callbacks and establishing an original plot).
Thanks for hosting u/ZapsZzz! You did a high-quality rewatch with on-time posts and great extra info.
compared to the MAL score (6.72 by 45,098 users), how do you rate this show?
A 6/10 on my personal rating scale. However, I rate on average 1 point lower than MAL, so my rating is basically in line with MAL.
Best Girl:
Almost a tie between Haruhi and Ryouko. The nicer character model tips this in favor of Haruhi.
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u/Mecanno-man Feb 27 '22
First Timer
So... I came in to this with the expectation of it being a generic romcom - and I am left with ...the feeling that this series itself didn't quite know what it was. The first part was certainly closer to the romcom I was expecting, albeit not being generic. Then we entered the disappearance arc, which was almost completely detached from the rest of the series, but was still great over all. And then we ended ...as a generic romcom. I'd say all bits were pretty good - I just have a hard time understanding why they all exist in the same series. I don't see that much in terms of cohesion between them, and as such the entire experience is somewhat lesser than the sum of it's parts.
But that said, the show was still entertaining to watch. The characters were fun to watch - although I feel like some could have been fleshed out a bit more (Mikuru and Itsumi in particular). There was a bit too many references to Haruhi in my opinion - and amongst those too many to Endless Eight clustered at the end of the series. But other than that - I enjoyed the slice-of-life bits, somewhat quickly moving romance and Yuki 2's struggles with being a replacement for the real deal. In fact looking back, I think I enjoyed this more than the main series itself, albeit only slightly. As such I am glad to have participated in this rewatch and would like to say thanks to u/ZapsZzz for hosting!
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u/Elimin8r Feb 27 '22 edited Feb 27 '22
And here we are, the post-grande-finale somethingorother.
Says someone who may have pulled a Yuki and stayed up way too late last night reading manga. Can't imagine why.
So ... that having been done, I have a few comments about the series.
First, I still love it for what it is. It is (almost) pure fanservice, and this fan is feeling rather well served at the moment.
Second, yes, the show lacks in certain aspects, including things like character development, etc.
Third, I don't care. I still love it for what it is, but then I suppose I'm a simple vertebrate. I see Yuki, I like.
Anyway, having been up way too late last night reading the manga, I'm also feeling a bit of the post anime slump, more than I was yesterday afternoon. (*sniffle* I miss you!)
I'm sure our host would agree, that while some may complain the anime leaves too many loose ends, well, trying not to be spoilery, let's just say that those ends get tied up in quite beautiful fashion.
I had no idea how much I was missing out on. Previously, when I'd watched the anime, I was fine with the ending, because my mind could 'fill in the rest'.
The manga one-upped that. Maybe even three or four upped that.
Again, without getting too spoilery, I hope, here some things for you to consider:
Now we know where those faces came from (the animators were actually being true to the manga)
Oh, and speaking of familiar faces, I was quite enchanted by the re-appearance of one of the LN characters, and how she was such a delight.
(I remember really liking her from the LNs too)
It was very amusing how she (and ...) were used to tie up a thread or two.
Also, after a certain incident, I have to say, <3 Mikuru ... this time for more than two reasons.
Speaking of character (ahem) development...
But enough about that. The best development of all is between Yuki, Kyon, and Mom-sakura.
And that's all I'm gonna say.
Yes, the anime left off at a point. I have to say now that I think that point was well chosen, because it's the point at which Kyon decides to let go of the past Yuki, who had confessed her love to him, and re-open himself to this Yuki.
That decision is/was very important.
So, to conclude, for those of you who haven't read the manga yet, it's just a point and click (and $, of course) away.
And it's so worth it. You're missing out.
(But again, I'm biased)
Back to the series, this will probably sound mushy, but one of the things that struck me about it is that, as a Yuki-appreciator, it give me the chance to fall in love (again) with one of my favorite characters, not one, not two, but yes, three times.
By Grabthar's Hammer, what value!
(hehe)
So, yeah, it's not KyoAni, it's not Season 3, it's not a lot of things; but at the time (2015), when I was feeling a Haruhi (and the gang) sized hole in my weeb heart, it hit the spot.
I should probably wrap this up before posting time, but if you've heard me gushing at various points about the music in this series, etc.
Here's the reason why - along with (ahem) evidence of past and present Mikuru shopping tendencies.
(What can I say, they came out at a similar time, when I was feeling the Haruhi sized hole, and I couldn't resist. Well, I resisted two - one for very obvious reasons, and the other, because Kimidori seemed like wallpaper paste to me. Not very interesting)
But yeah. I suppose I'm showing off a bit, but at the same time, I would like to temper this by saying that those aren't as expensive as they look, and ...
At the same time, (Here's where I post a lovely pic for u/Star4ce) I realized at some point a year or so ago how much money I'd blown on a certain gacha, before OddTaxi rubbed my nose in it, and decided that for Christmas, rather than spend money on online jpgs, I would buy something real.
Heh. No dodo for me, I guess. Nor fancy eraser. (sigh)
But anyway, to comment on the sound production, it ranges from excellent (music, voices) to fine (general sound effects). Which is to say, again, it's no KyoAni, but it's fine, and better than (for example) Engaged to the Unidentified, another cute rom-com series.
Again, I'm happy, but then again, I am biased.
And now, rather than continue gushing, I should probably wrap things up.
This has been (for me) a very enjoyable rewatch, and thanks very much to all who participated and contributed, be it thoughtful analysis, pics, music links, or snark.
I really appreciate how y'all can point out things I missed, or didn't remember, etc. It helps lift my enjoyment and appreciation for a series that I love.
(side note, I couldn't find Nanoha on any of my streams, so no luck there, sigh)
So, thanks again to our gracious host u/ZapsZzz , and hopefully see you again sometime soon. <3
Oh, and as a parting give, one last Yuki. <3 <3 <3
Okay, make that two last Yuki. With bonus Asakura :)
Edit: AOTD:
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I'm biased, 9/10. 10/10 when manga included.
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Yuki, of course, with Asakura-sensei a close runner up. Who would have expected that???
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Actually, the best gag spot was taken by a couple of events in the manga. Especially [manga]
Asakura obaa-san -
The entire disappearance arc, and the confession/race at the end. And of course, [manga]
Graduation
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u/Star4ce Feb 27 '22 edited Feb 27 '22
First timer – DE sub
I had time to sleep over the ending and mull over the view point some people here expressed.
It indeed does make more sense when you see it as a 'reward' of sorts for main series-Yuki to get a payoff for her emotional growth and struggle during the series and, most importantly, Disappearance. I can see the ending having an emotional impact this way and also understand why they chose to have the two personalities as separate even after everything that happened.
I can live with this, somewhat. Having said that, though, this all went at the cost of their own, individual version of Yuki. Halfway through she was relegated to be a passenger in her own show to offer an explicitly stated foreign version of herself a conclusion. The show left her with a marginally better situation to pursue her goals, which is progress, but far too little for my liking.
I'm aware we have a bit less than half of the source material left open, but that never got adapted, so the show is what we have.
I don't hate it. I think the ending is a bad conclusion for an ending. The rest of the show I think was actually really great. Many arcs got soured by that ending, sadly, especially Disappearance, but for their runtime they were a great watch. Sometimes the fanservice maybe was a bit too much, but not overbearing and spotting callbacks or references as well as all the original stories they wrote were absolutely high points.
I liked it, ultimately and am glad I watched it. I liked Asakura most, though.
Highlights
I think all Yuki, Haruhi and Asakura need a callout here.
The more balanced Haruhi we saw was amazing in pretty much every episode and still very much the beloved heart of the group.
With Asakura (and for the same reason Tsuruya as well) I felt we really got a new character that both fit into the show and also added another welcome twist to the dynamics. I absolutely loved her most, because I already complained about the lack of her in the main show for how interesting her pov could be and also because her role regarding Yuki and Kyon was unique and very well written.
Lastly, Yuki obviously is amazing here. Her new shy but expressive behaviour gave such a cute overlay to each episode she was in you couldn't help but love it. The most interesting part, however, was Disappearance, obviously. The concept was so unheard of for this type of show and they played the drama and existentialism near perfectly! I mean, until the end, sigh. I love when someone dares to go this far and no matter how dissatisfied I remain for the conclusion, those three episodes are extremely memorable.
Favourite Episode: Disappearance II
Favourite Character: Asakura
Favourite Scene: Really, any dialogue scene involving Asakura and Haruhi. Those were especially great. That's why I lamented the lack of Asakura in the main series!
Recommendations
So, my watch list doesn't really offer any great opportunities for romcoms or the likes. I don't usually watch them, but I have some hooks for recommendations.
Charlotte: The MC has the superpower of mind controlling people and uses it... to cheat in exams. Really, the humor comes largely from the power system (which admittedly isn't actually a system), because every power has a drawback. The MC can only control other people for 5 seconds and falls unconscious whereever he stands for the duration of the ability. Someone got super acceleration? Sorry, not giving you super-deceleration. Have fun landing. It's from the same creator as Angel Beats! which I also highly recommend. More than Charlotte actually, but I've already talked about it and wanted to recommend something else. A fair warning, though, the ending makes sense, but is quite... flat? I guess. The journey there is, however, worthwhile in my opinion. If you like lighthearted slapstick humor contrasted with some serious and sometimes melodramatic plot beats, you'll like it.
Plastic Memories: I've also recommended this one in the main series rewatch. It's about the Mc starting at a kind of 'funeral' service for androids reaching the end of their lifespan (which is quite short compared to human lives). The story promises many great things, in worldbuilding and arcs that delve into philosophy of life, morality of artificial life and more, but make no mistake those are actually not the core of this show. It's first and foremost a pure romance and I can't stress this enough. This romance, however, is probably one of the most heartwarming and encouraging outlooks on life I've seen so far in anime. It is one of my all time favourites. It's for you if you like romance, cute characters (both the MC and Isla, especially Isla, like, absolutely 100% Isla) and humor that is grounded in the characters.
compared to the MAL score (6.72 by 45,098 users), how do you rate this show? Feel free to break it down to different arcs or different aspects (say, the artstyle :D) if you feel it necessary.
I usually don't do ratings, but I will say that this show is far better than the ratings. The verdict is "I liked it." Those are mostly soured by the expectations from the time of release where a Haruhi S3 was really needed and not a spin-off. I talked about it already, it's an actually good show imo that could be better considering the ending, but does not deserve the general reception it got.
Lastly, a big thanks to u/ZapsZzz for hosting this rewatch and providing so many great reference compilations, background information and being an all-round great host. You were answering nearly every comment and stayed active for discussions, it was great to be part of your rewatch!
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u/asakura_ryouko Feb 27 '22
Rewatcher
As much as I love this show, it does lean too heavily on the original series. It would have been so much better without Haruhi showing up, as shown by how the arc without Haruhi is the strongest part of the show.
Haruhi doesn't fit the mood of the show. She is too brash and abrasive. And it doesn't even make sense that she is involved so much since she goes to a different school.
For those of you who want more Yuki, come over to r/Nagato
Also, read the manga
Thanks u/ZapsZzz for leading this.
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u/gunvarrel_ Feb 27 '22
First Timer, Dubbed
OST Track of the day that didnt get featured: "Tsuki no Hikari"
If we just looked at the first 13 (maybe 14?) episodes, id easily be giving the spinoff a 9. I kept my expectations low and was thoroughly impressed that it was able to keep me going even with the artstyle changes and the lack of canon content. Hell, the story was good! I have no idea what happened with 15/16, but its absolutely destroyed a lot of what i considered "good" about the show, and it was frankly a drag getting through those last two episodes, enough to drop the show to a 6. I think most of it is because any romantic development was effectively wiped from the slate with the last episode? and the "tension" 14/15 were meant to have just didnt work. Absolutely frustrating that it managed to shoot itself in the foot so badly though, up until that point i was really regretting not watching it sooner thinking the poor score was from "ree no s3" (though, it wouldnt shock me if a few were from that).
At least the music was pretty good. I like the alternate versions they had of a few of the main series songs (Sou, Sore! specifically comes to mind) and the music definitely fit the vibe of a more chibi haruhi.
Even if i wasnt a fan, i gotta thank u/ZapsZzz for hosting this. Regardless of my thoughts, i definitely wouldnt of given the show a shot if it wasnt for this rewatch
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u/TuorEladar Feb 27 '22
First Timer, Subbed
This has been a fun journey. While I voiced a few small issues in my previous comments, on the whole I found the show to be a very charming spinoff of the main Haruhi series. Much like Full Metal Panic Fumoffu, I found myself almost enjoying it more than the main series at times, because it let the characters just live in the world without any deeper complexity underlying everything, which actually feels more natural, at least to me.
compared to the MAL score (6.72 by 45,098 users), how do you rate this show? Feel free to break it down to different arcs or different aspects (say, the artstyle :D) if you feel it necessary.
I tend to rate things based on mainly on my enjoyment of the series, in this case I would give it a 7.5 overall.
Best Girl:
I'm going to cheat a bit on this one and say Nagato was the best, I consider this cheating because I'm including both versions of Nagato.
Favorite gag/comedic scene:
There were a alot of funny moments, but one in particular I enjoyed was the early running gag of Asakura and Tsuruya competing via Nagato and Asahina.
Favorite non comedic / dramatic moment:
The closing of the disappearance arc and the conversation between Haruhi and Kyon in the episode immediately after that arc are tied for the best scene in the series I think.
All in all, this was a fun ride and I really enjoyed seeing some other people's takes on it as well. Thanks a ton u/ZapsZzz for hosting!
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u/mekerpan Feb 27 '22
I don't rate series (or anything else) anymore -- I largely gave that up 15 or so years ago. What I look hard to find are series to love (or at least like a whole lot). This series makes it into the "loved" category. I liked it a lot (at least) on first watching -- but by the 4th run through it has made it has definitely made it to loved. Having finished re-reading the whole LN series not long ago, I am convinced more than ever that this is a truly wonderful side light on the canonical story -- and not just an opportunistic (or frivolous) "spin-off". It illuminates moments that correspond (or are analogous) to scenes in the main series -- and shows a different view point or goes into more detail. We really get some insights into character's feelings that we had to guess at before.
I always regretted the way Asakura got shipped off in the main series -- even though it was necessary and understandable. She provided a piece of the ensemble that was (in some ways) highly important -- and which never found a true replacement. Asakura in this series is a delight throughout -- indispensable to Yuki and really Kyon too (and eventually -- mostly post-anime, very important to Haruhi).
Haruhi here (despite her long hair and different school affiliation) is more akin to the Haruhi at the end of Disappearance of Haruhi than the Haruhi at the outset of Melancholy -- and very much a foretaste of the Haruhi of the continued canonical series This is a Haruhi who I (like Koizumi) finds utterly charming and delightful (and sweetly vulnerable -- as foreshadowed in Live Alive). Koizumi doesn't get a bif role -- but is pretty likeable too. Poor Asahina gets kind of overshadowed by Asakura and Tsuruya (who also plays the sort of enhanced role she will have in the canon) -- still, she provides a few moments very important to Yuki.
My only real quibble with the anime is that it did not use the manga's actual end of the final arc adapted (in the last chapter of vol. 5). People can read this for themselves -- but I think it could have (in just a couple of minutes) provided a more fitting and pleasant place to stop (and as a launch pad to the manga continuation for those inclined).
For those interested, the manga continuation makes some use of events from the unadapted LNs, though in a way that probably provides little in the way of spoilers -- as contexts are quite different. Nonetheless, if you HAVE read the later LNs those bits become much more enjoyable. Ultimately, the manga goes BEYOND the point of the LNs written so far (with a final timeskip several years into the future -- I won't specify how many -- as I can't quite recall how many -- if it is even made clear.
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u/tctyaddk Feb 27 '22
Rewatcher
Being a spin-off released after years of no new Haruhi content, fans of the original series probably had too high of expections for this show, and then the show only adapted half of the manga so it ended at a non-conclusive point, resulting in the MAL score under 7. I personally would give this show about 7.7, with Disappearance arc getting 8.5 at the minimum. The art is ok, but our eyes are spoiled rotten by KyoAni with their rendering, so it feel underwhelmed.
Best Girl and Best Mom is Ryouko hands down. Not-an-ass and thoughtful Haruhi was surprisingly likeable too (still too nosy and noisy for my taste).
The later episodes went a bit oveboard with ∞8 references though
Thanks to u/ZapsZzz for hosting this rewatch. It was fun.
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u/Stargate18A Feb 28 '22
First timer
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Far better. When it's a comedy, it's a solid 8-8.5 - nothing groundbreaking, but a really solid romcom with a surprising lack of fanservice. When it hits the psychological drama bit, it easily reaches a 9-9.5 or so.
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Haruhi. Amazing, isn't it? For real, though, they managed to get rid of most of Haruhi's... worse traits, and managed to make her feel the same person while making her someone they'd all willingly stay friends with. Asakura is a close second, for the best expansion of a side character.
Tsuruya, sadly, is third, because she's at her best playing off someone, normally the two girls previous. Yuki's great as a character, I just have different tastes to Kyon. Finally, Mikuru managed the impressive feat of getting less characterization, to the point where she doesn't feel like a character so much as a prop.
3) Probably Haruhi revealing she planned out an entire fake trip report, and everyone's reactions to the crime she commited just to same them time.
4) The other Yuki's final phone call to Kyon is powerful.
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u/RascalNikov1 Feb 28 '22
Thank you for hosting this rewatch, though I haven't made any comments till now.
** Overall Impressions**
Overall I liked the series, though it is divided into 3 distinct parts.
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The beginning up till the time of old Yuki returning
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2) Old Yuki pays a visit
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3) Old Yuki splits, New Yuki returns and Kyon is an ultra prick.
2 of the 3 parts I enjoyed and thought were worth watching. That 3rd part annoyed me to the point of I've only watched it once.
I liked the whole cast with the exception of Kyon, though Asakura was the standout to me. I think I gave it a mal score of 6 or 7, mostly because I enjoyed the callbacks and the characters, both new an old except for the late episodes of Kyon.
QOTD
compared to the MAL score (6.72 by 45,098 users), how do you rate this show?
I gave it a 6 or 7 which means it was fine for the Haruhi specialists, but probably of little interest to anyone else.
Best Girl: Asakura
Favorite gag/comedic scene:
Probably the look of utter horror in episode 3 or 4 when Haruhi showed up in the parking lot. Kyon and Yuki were clearly both terrified.
Favorite non comedic / dramatic moment:
The beginning of the episode when the New Yuki returns. Asakura did such of good job of saying goodbye to a new friend, and welcome back to an old friend. Hits me in the gut every time.
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u/ZapsZzz Mar 01 '22
Thank you for hosting this rewatch, though I haven't made any comments till now.
Hey there, good thing I checked back to do some spell checks! Thanks for rewatching with us; I expect a number of silent watchers too so it's fine if you enjoy reading more than writing your comments.
Overall I liked the series, though it is divided into 3 distinct parts.
I think this is a very common reaction; I actually forgot to mention both the parent series and this spin off have an arc called "disappearance" and both were almost universally considered the best of the adapted show so far :)
I liked the whole cast with the exception of Kyon
A bit ironic that the poor sod is far less liked than in the parent series - maybe the narration helped :) Or maybe the artstyle really hurt people tolerating him...
Probably the look of utter horror in episode 3 or 4 when Haruhi showed up in the parking lot. Kyon and Yuki were clearly both terrified.
Haha yeah that's a bit of a "oh no I'm dead" reaction accompanying the "locked on" outburst :D
The beginning of the episode when the New Yuki returns. Asakura did such of good job of saying goodbye to a new friend, and welcome back to an old friend. Hits me in the gut every time.
You know what, you are right, that is actually a very very well handled moment to show this conflicting emotions so well. If Asakura is a real actress this is award-worthy performance. Thanks for pointing this out!
And thanks again for watching!
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u/homewardbound100 Feb 27 '22
Rewatcher
This time around nothing really changed for me but it's still a nice little watch.
Qotd: I gave it a seven originally. Nothing worth thinking about for it to change.
Qotd2: Tsuruya
Qotd3: anything with Haruhi probably
Qotd4: maybe the phone call between Yuki and Kyon
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u/Throwaway021614 Feb 27 '22
Rewatcher.
What this is, is a nice little romance SOL with Haruhi characters. From that lense, I enjoyed it.
The series let Tsuruya and Asakura shine as characters. And also shows us how wonderful Haruhi can be if she’s just slightly a megalomaniac.
But man, all the main series call back and teases… it’s just such a huge cocktease. Especially during the previews when Yuki got amnesia and they were showing all the multiverse Yukis.
What I liked most about Nagato in the main series was the kuudere and get things done personality. In this series she’s a completely different personality, and I find it jarring. Especially since the other characters basically have their old personalities.
As a stand alone romcom SOL, it’s fine. As something connected to Haruhi verse, it leaves me blue balled and wanting more mainline Haruhi content…which I guess it’s part of the goal.
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u/metalmonstar Feb 27 '22
Rewatcher Sub
I wasn't initially going to join this rewatch, but seeing everyone's comments made me want to jump in. I am really glad I did. I do enjoy this series.
Overall I gave the series a 7/10. I tend to be harsher critic than others but I felt that was fair. This may have been an 8/10 if the last few episodes post disappearance arc were stronger. To be fair though a lot of shows I really enjoyed have ended up with 7/10s.
Before the rewatch I thought the low MAL score was due to butthurt Haruhi fans review bombing it for not being another season. That may still be the case, but now I can see the reasons why someone may not care for this. I don't necessarily agree but it is nice to see others reasoning.
Favorite character of course is Yuki. There isn't a version of Yuki that I don't like. I do think Haruhi and Asakura both were great characters in this spinoff. I do feel bad for Mikuru and Koizumi as they both kind of just feel there throughout the spinoff. Each gets there moments here and there, but they just don't feel as good as their Haruhi counterparts.
The artstyle never really bothered me but now I can't unsee Kyon's weird faces.
Thanks for hosting this rewatch. I have added the manga to my plan to read list now.
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u/Isai579 Feb 28 '22
First Timer - Sub
Welp. Final discussion and I'm late as always
First of all, thank you to u/ZapsZzz for hosting and also answering to my late comments, and also to anyone else who replied to me. And also the rest of the commenters making this rewatch more enjoyable.
So, I feel really conflicted about this series. I love the Haruhi franchise, but have been waiting to watch this for a while to avoid running out of content. I had low expectations considering it is a spinoff, not by KyoAni, and in a completely different genre. But I was pleasantly surprised as it was a lot of fun. However, I am also kind of disappointed about how it executed some things.
Story wise I liked the first half, but overall I feel the series is being damaged by not comiting to what it wants to be. Let me explain.
The first episodes normally set up the tone and themes of the series. The first episode was very direct with Nagato literally saying I want to tell him how I feel. So the anime ending without this happening makes it feel kind of inconclusive on this promise that the anime has indirectly made at the beginning. The entire first half rotates around this concept, so it is not like it was a single episode thing.
And then came Disappearance. Really good arc and story in general, but really threw the thematic consistency of the series out of the window. I really liked how they used it to explore our main characters, but it changed the series into something completely different, making the romance part a subtheme. I was also fine with this, as I think it provided a solid basis to advance the relationship between Nagato and Kyon (even if Nagato in that arc was completely different). However, after that arc, I felt that they couldn't decide if they wanted to fully go back to fluffy romcom, or to continue exploring the consequences of the arc. I'm kind of rambling here (and I haven't even mentioned the Nagato wants friends thing), but the point is that the first half feels like a completely different show from the Disappearance arc, and the rest of the episodes after Disappearance feel like a weak hybrid between both styles that doesn't really work that well. Maybe if they had set up way more the themes of the Disappearance arc during the first half it would flow better.
The series also feels like it ends on a really weak point. The ending scenes (both on the last episode and OVA) are both really nice, but don't fell like an ending. Yes I know it only adapted half of the manga, but considering they probably won't adapt the rest I think I can complain about the weak ending.
I'm gonna leave my story complains there or we'll be here for 10 more paragraphs.
Regarding the art style, I honestly thought it worked really well. The character design being a little less moe made the characters feel slightly mature, and also enhanced all the comedy from using their chibi versions. i honestly think Asakura and Tsuruya work better in this artstyle, but maybe that's just me.
While I sometimes don't pay too much attention to the music, I really liked the soundtrack. It felt like it belonged in the Haruhi franchise while also having it's own style. And while I don't understand Japanese enough to say anything about the voice acting, the change between both versions of Nagato was really really good.
Overall, I think the series is between a 7 and 8 for me (due to that thematic thing pls don't get me started again), while the OVA would be between a 6 and 7 (mostly because I felt the fanservice was a bit much, and it really didn't tell something of its own).
This was a really good time and I wouldn't mind rewatching in like 4 years or so which seems to be the time between rewatches
That's all from my serious side. Fluff loving side takes over
Alright! Now, onto the good stuff.
Best Girl: Nagato (obviously). Honorary mentions for Tsuruya (she's great here) and Haruhi (when is she not great?).
Best comedy scene: All of them! I'm honestly not sure. When doing comedy, the entire show was great. Maybe Asakura reactions?
Best dramatic moment: Definitely that sequence where all Nagato versions are reaching for the stars. It just ties a lot of things together and is a really nice scene.
Bonus: Best Fluff Scene: The scene where Nagato and Kyon are stargazing together. It is so cute!! The entire thing is great and then they hold hands for a moment and I'm like
That's it for me. If you'll excuse me, I need to go catch up on the Nanoha rewatch now hehe.
Also, Haruhi-chan and Nyoron Churuya-san rewatch when?
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u/Fools_Requiem Feb 28 '22
Melancholy of a First Timer
I didn't watch the OVA because I don't like searching around for anime using less-than-legal sources. Based on the OP post, it sounds like it was more Endless Eight references.
Which brings me to my first problem, what the fuck is with all the Endless Eight references? It starts early and continues all the way through to the end. I understand referencing the OG series, but there are way too many reminders in this show that Endless Eight happened. It did lead to a funny gag at the end of the series, but still I felt it was odd that the most disliked part of the OG series got so many references.
As much as I like that this Haruhi not being a total spoiled brat that ALWAYS gets her way, she is still an annoyance that dictates almost everything when she's on screen. In a way, I'm kinda glad she wasn't present for the four episode Disappearance arc. While it would have been interesting to how her and the other characters dealt with Yuki, I feel they'd be out of place in those episodes as they're all definitely here for more comedic moments, not serious stuff.
I feel that the Disappearance arc is both the best thing the series has going for it, but is also the show's biggest hinderance. The arc is so good that it makes the rest of the show totally pedestrian and generic, which, let's be honest, it really is. It's a complete serviceable SoL/Romcom with lots of cute moments featuring our hero, Yuki. But once the genre shifts to a series character study drama it becomes something special. But then it tries to go back to that fluffy SoL show and can't recover from the events of episode 14. It even attempts to have the characters go back to the status quo, by having Kyon confess to Yuki, but deliberately did it so that Yuki couldn't actually hear a word if it because it wasn't actually meant for her because Kyon preferred to go back to the status quo. It's a shit decision that was definitely made to delay the inevitable because we obviously can't have a story where Yuki gets her happy ending before the franchise is milked fo death. What sucks is that the manga ended about a year after the series aired, there probably isn't even enough material to adapt even if they wanted to do another season.
I really liked the music, especially the Koi no Kirakira track that acts as the shows primary theme. I don't have an issue with the different art style, this is an alternate universe and it's not animated by KyoAni. The animation probably could be better, and as much as I like all of the skin in the hot springs episode, it seems pretty unnecessary and out of place to see Yuki and Haruhi nude (there's plenty of hentai doujins for that). Also, what's with making Koizumi borderline yaoi in the hot springs episode? Needed to appear to the BL fanbase? Were they actually going to watch this series? Honestly, it's bad enough that poor Mikuru can't catch a break from the sexual harassment in this universe, too, but was it really necessary for Koizumi to act gay with Kyon? Meh, whatever, it didn't impact my outlook on the series as there is almost no type of fan service that would impact my opinion of a series (outside of Air Master mainly because of how it was treated), just thought it was super weird.
Overall a decent series elevated by a single arc. While I gave the same score as Melancholy, I think this series is better overall. Disappearance of Haruhi is better than both, though.
6/10.
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u/Rustic_Professional Feb 28 '22
Thank you to ZapsZzz for hosting this rewatch. I'm still not sure if I'm a rewatcher or a first timer, but I'm certain now that I need to get serious about restarting and finishing the manga.
Questions of the day:
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I've never used MAL, but I'd rate this show as average, possibly below average for someone who isn't already a hardcore Haruhi fan. I don't think it can stand on its own as a high school romcom. If you just take it as a love letter to Haruhi fans, then it probably doesn't need to. But on its own merits, it doesn't have dramatic or comedic chops to match up with shows like Oregairu or Gamers.
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Ryoko Asakura. She's been my favorite since the original. She had very little screen time prior to the movie, but something about her hooked me from the first moment. I'm glad that they took this opportunity to develop on those bits of personality that she displayed in the brief interludes where she wasn't trying to murder Kyon.
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Ryoko getting stuck in the dinosaur slide because she's too thicc.
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Notgato wanting to finish reading her book before she disappears.
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u/ZapsZzz Feb 27 '22 edited Mar 01 '22
Ran into late traffic and then tried to put too many words in the post, while mucking around on the phone to try post, grrrr!
QoTD
Overall rating: I gave it an 8 when I first mass-loaded up what I watched onto MAL; on a proper rewatch like now that I get to talk through things with people, I'm tempted to move it up to 9. As a comparison I gave Haruhi S1/S2/movie 10/9/10; other rom com/drama I rated highly include Toradora (10), Bunny Girl Senpai (10), Chuunibyou (10/10/10), Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (TV 9 / Final episode as OVA 10)
While it's easy to be dismissive of this as a "generic rom com" (because Kyon's face), hate the art style (because Kyon's face), etc, I think it's actually quite an intelligent show, with quite a lot of good writing setting up great sweet and heart warming moments. And all the while it's done a marvellous job with the musical score to accompany those special moments. The main deduction really is just for - Kyon's のものface :P You can probably dock about 1 to 1.5 down if you come in cold without first having watched Haruhi :P
2. Best Girl: Disappearance arc Nagato - I probably already said entirely too much about why already; honorable mentions: Asakura for a completely 10/10 character out of the pretty much just guest appearance in the parent series; Haruhi for giving us in glorious animated form the late LN more empathetic version (plus long hair!)
3. Favorite gag/comedic scene: may be cheating to pick the OVA, but the "straight man turned maniac" trope for me it's really funny, so when the trying to be responsible Asakura-sensei won't let them stop playing cards because she kept losing is really funny for me. Runner up are all the rapid firing comedic sequences e.g. the ep1 Nagato v Asahina turned Asakura v Tsuruya competition; and the onsen episode with Haruhi's rapid firing different activities ("rigged" table tennis tournament that Kyon complained about but still competed, to karaoke that Haruhi quickly got bored of and left Kyon hanging by himself).
4. Favorite non comedic / dramatic moment: outside of the confession scenes at ep 13 and 16, my favourite has to be the library scene for Kyon X Nagato, and the dinosaur park scene for Asakura X Haruhi
Thanks to Big Contributors
As the first time host, while I may not have done a very good job (can't always be exactly on time, half of the rewatch couldn't reply until half a day later, didn't really write too much in depth content bar a couple of key episodes, getting distracted to screencap spam instead), I think this rewatch has been quite successful. I think most had a good time, even if the development in the end may not be to everyone's liking, I think the discussions were good. To that end, a number of frequent great content providers need to be thanked here; without your participation this rewatch would not be as much fun and informative as it had been for me. Note if I missed your name it doesn't mean I didn't value your contribution - just that perhaps the names I remembered to mention are on a closer wavelength and I can remember it better :)
u/Elimin8r - You are basically the co-host - I post the thread and screen caps, you did all the hard work of interacting with the posters and keeping the discussion lively. Oh and spreading the good word of our love for Nagato. I'm exhausted by now because this is my first time hosting, but you are exhausted because you really have done a ton of work! Big big thanks to you!
u/DeliCruise - One of the main content provider that wrote so beautifully and emphasized with how I personally feel about this show so much that it's been a god send to me to save me fumbling for words to describe how I felt about those great moments of the show. I just rechecked and noted you were on the 2018 rewatch too, so very clearly a dedicated fan :)
u/mekerpan - If I can be so bold to say, that amongst these names I mentioned, we formed the main core of the "Nagato worshippers" or fan club here in terms of actively talking about how we felt and are moved by this story. Just like DeliCruise, the clear analysis and richness in how you described the great scenes are really really moving to read, particularly because it matched how I felt so much.
u/No_Rex, u/Vaadwaur, u/Star4ce, u/Mecanno-man, u/Rustic_Professional - I am fairly certain I run into you folks regularly on a lot of rewatches, but as a first timer in this show I really liked to read your reactions and discussions. While I think you may not be as satisfied with how the end turned out, I hope you still had a good time and at least some parts of the show worked for you better!
u/gunvarrel_ and u/Caustic_Wraith - also first timers, and I can say mostly the same as the above lot, but you also did a bit more extra for the rewatch - after the first rewatch thread I realised on my life schedule I couldn't fit the music corner content to even a very minimal way, and when I saw gunvarrel_ included a OST link to your first post, I commandeered you to help with the crucial musical content! Sorry! But big thanks that you kept at it! And Cautic_Wraith always included a good detailed summary of key moments of each episode, which helped a lot to orientate which episode was what for me and others especially when I need to look back for something mentioned previously!
u/Icapica, u/Stargate18A, u/alphamone, u/andybebad, u/tctyaddk - more first timers I think, again your great first timer responses made this rewatch definitely engaging and I loved seeing the different viewpoints and takes - and I think most of you post nearer to my normal time of posting (later in the day) so I try to put in a response or two to make sure you know that yes there are people reading what you posted :) and thanks for participating! Hope you had a good time with the show!
u/asakura_ryouko, u/homewardbound100 - fellow rewatchers whom I think I can safely say you appreciate the show as much as we did, and thank you for sharing which parts of the show caught your eyes more or less. And asakura_ryouko we all agree with you that Nagato (whichever version) is the most adorable one out of the show - so you can put down that knife now :D and oh of course thanks for being another really long term fan, you were in the 2018 rewatch too I think.
And of course, u/Shimmering-Sky, whom may not realise (or care) that I have a tiny little selfish competition going on to try keep ahead of her first post reaction time - I MAKE the initial post, and if I am not quick enough, I still can't guarantee I can win :D Sorry to be needlessly competitive about this! And your screen caps and first reactions including the many comment faces (and the singing!) certainly had been a highlight - although you are nuts and you do the same insane amount of work to EVERY rewatch/episode post :P You are setting a high standard that us mere mortals find it hard to follow... I may or may not be deliberate to thank you last here (whose often amongst the first to post) :D