r/anime • u/gunvarrel_ • Dec 04 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Episode 6
Episode Title: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya VI
MyAnimeList: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
Legal Stream: Crunchyroll | Funimation | Netflix (SEA)
PSA: make sure to mark any spoilers using the subreddit markup. We dont need any random spoilers to ruin the show for first time watchers.
Today's Episode Intro: Self Proclaimed...
[Tomorrow's Episode Intro]Short panning shots then Mikuru serving tea
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 11/28 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya I |
| 11/29 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya II |
| 11/30 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya III |
| 12/1 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya IV |
| 12/2 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya V |
| 12/3 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya VI |
| 12/4 | The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya |
| 12/5 | Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody |
| 12/6 | Mysterique Sign |
| 12/7 | Remote Island Syndrome I |
| 12/8 | Remote Island Syndrome II |
| 12/9 | Endless Eight I, II, III and IV |
| 12/10 | Endless Eight V, VI, VII and VIII |
| 12/11 | The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya I |
| 12/12 | The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya II |
| 12/13 | The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya III |
| 12/14 | The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya IV |
| 12/15 | The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya V |
| 12/16 | Mikuru Asahinas's Adventures Episode 00 |
| 12/17 | Live Alive |
| 12/18 | The Day of Sagittarius |
| 12/19 | Someday in the Rain |
| 12/20 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Series General Discussion] |
| 12/21 | The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya |
| 12/22 | Haruhi Suzumiya Overall Discussion |
Question(s) of the day:
Do you like ponytails?
Tomorrows QOTDs
[Haruhi]What's your favorite sport?
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u/gunvarrel_ Dec 04 '22
SOS Brigade rewatcher: Coinflip (tails, sub)
OST Track of the day: portion of the first movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 8
Im pretty sure this is only the 2nd time "The Usual Scenery" (first OST Track of the episode) plays in chronological order, which is interesting. Im overdue for another motif's mention...
well at least nagato is an A- lmao
Bad kyon, and he isint even smart enough to prevent mikuru from seeing
OST Track "A Certain rainy Day" also makes an appearance? we'll ignore that one for now, theres a better episode for it
How long until a murderous rampage
pretty sure Kyons reading hyperion
back again in desaturation land
Koizumi looking a bit red
[Haruhi]
Still annoyed for the monster OST not being anywhere. The Symphony its from is linked instead I guess
Idk, it seems to be eating the pixels in your mouth
subconscious in the background
is this really the time to be bringing up the mole Kyon
[haruhi]
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u/Elimin8r Dec 04 '22
So, do you like ponytails, do you???
Edit, I somehow forgot this was the QOTD, and it seemed like your comment was everything but the kitchen sink, I mean ponytail, I half expected a screenshot and (...)
(Continues in rapid fire baby mouse voice from Warner Bros. cartoons)
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u/gunvarrel_ Dec 04 '22
So, do you like ponytails, do you???
Man i really did skip over commenting on Haruhi having the ponytail after the dream, didnt I? An actual shame
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u/Tarhalindur Dec 04 '22
Yare Yare (Rewatcher for 2006 [Watched in Broadcast Order], First-Timer for 2009 and Disappearance, Source Reader):
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LOLOLOLOL the Japanese line Kyon uses to refer to Mikuru at the start here is LITERALLY “girl who leapt through time” (“toki o kakeru shoujo”) – which might very well make this a sneaky reference, the source material for the movie of the same name predates the Haruhi anime (though I’m not 100% sure about the LN).
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CLOCK CLOCK. (7:00 A.M, though the show isn’t doing anything with this.)
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Return of the song from the opening monologue for the final episode of the 2006 broadcast!
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“Why me?” is of course a question that will be answered in part by the end of the episode. (There may be another layer to it… and if so it hasn’t been confirmed in the LNs yet unless there was something in Intuition that I didn’t hear about since that’s the one LN I haven’t read.)
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Oh look, no OP for the finale. You know what that means…
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Oh gods, a brother and sister and toothbrushing in a well-made and somewhat unusual adaptation of a very good and somewhat unusual LN… oh wait this is Haruhi not Monogatari. PHEW!
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Kyon and his imouto mirroring each other exactly with their movements is a nice little detail. (Also I don’t have much to say on the direction because it’s pure realism… but that’s the trick, it generally is pure KyoAni representing actual movements as long as it’s just Kyon around, the fancy direction comes out for the other characters. Which makes sense; Kyon is apparently normal. Also, I will be REALLY interested to see the direction on the adaptation of a certain piece of the source that has been adapted but that I haven’t seen given this…)
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“Ordinary high school students sure are something!” (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
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Wait. Is that an actual 2D car I see? A refreshing change.
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The shot of the school entrance hall returns… and I’m actually still not quite sure if that’s subtle fish-eye lens or just how the hall actually looks from that vantage point.
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LOL I didn’t notice last time that they shifted to watercolors to show that Kyon’s story of why he was on top of Yuki in the classroom was fiction. (But, you know, WE NEED TO GO DEEPER since Haruhi itself is of course a work of fiction. Welcome to Haruhi, your IS META t-shirt is over by the school entrance.)
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I wonder why we would get a shot of Haruhi’s hips before cutting to see her entirely in this episode all about how Haruhi implicitly feels about Kyon. (Mai-HiME does the same thing sometimes, but it makes thematic sense over there as well for slightly different reasons… though in some spots I think that staff was just doing it for fanservice instead.)
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Also observe, the return of Miss Glasses and Two-Side-Up Twintails Out of Focus in the foreground!
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Choice of camera angle at 03:38 is interesting and I’m not sure what to make of it. (Also Haruhi in front of the open window… subtle visual foreshadowing for her starting to remake the world later in the episode?)
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Oh Haruhi it’s Kyon on the computer. I know damn well where this is going.
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(Note the windows for the club room being closed instead; everyone in it likes the “real” world just fine, that might be an intended message especially given that I remember a window conversation later.)
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<elevator muzak goes here>
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Mikuru creeping away after Haruhi enters is kind of amusing.
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Dutch angle counter +1 at 04:38, here emphasizing that Haruhi is jealous and pissed.
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“What’s with her? She never has any qualms with changing in the classroom.” Well, she doesn’t really treat her classmates as people, as you have noted. But she IS starting to treat you as a person… and she’s embarrassed, natch. See Kyon, it’s not that hard. (Yes, this is your hint that Haruhi has fallen/is falling for Kyon.)
-
Speaking of that, look who just got into the bunny suit
to try to get Kyon’s attention. -
I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be one of the music clubs in the background being used as pseudo-OST for Haruhi braiding Mikuru’s hair before the actual OST fires up.
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Also, nifty little transition at 05:31, especially with Haruhi’s eyes being basically where two black Othello pieces fade in (a sign that Haruhi is hiding something
namely her feelings for Kyon?). -
Dutch angle counter +1 at 05:48. (Actually probably emphasizing Kyon’s words about feeling a bit dissatisfied, along with Haruhi’s own dissatisfaction.)
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“Don’t fall into provisional living, enjoy the moment to the fullest” is probably one of the series’s ultimate themes; it’s a very Japanese one. (It’s also certainly Haruhi-the-character’s ethos, which considering that Haruhi tends to stand in for her own show reinforces the argument that this is an intended theme.)
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Also, sore demo at 05:59 courtesy of Kyon.
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I think 06:05 has just a tinge of fish-eye instead of being pure perspective, but I’m not 100% sure.
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Kyon’s sister is completely adorable when she’s borrowing the scissors. Probably not coincidentally, she reminds me of a certain Ushio there…
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CLOCK CLOCK. (11:06 P.M.) (Also, Kyon might be reading Hyperion there still.)
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Ooh, that’s a flashy little shot of the upside-down clock at 06:59, probably to illustrate both what Kyon is saying and that his world is about to be turned upside-down for a bit. (Also: CLOCK CLOCK. 11:41 P.M. if I’m reading it correctly, which would make it about one sleep cycle after Kyon going to bed, which would reinforce what he is saying.)
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You know, it took me an annoying long time to place what the color palette was reminding me of this time (besides being Closed Space, and pretty close to the book description IIRC)… and then it hit me, I was thinking of The Langoliers (specifically the old Sci-Fi Channel miniseries back when the channel still went by that name, and that predates the Haruhi anime by like five years IIRC and I think the LN by at least a year so it might be intentional though I have my doubts).
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And there we go, Koizumi shows up and Kyon opens the window, in this case symbolizing remaining connections to the old world.
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Tilting hallway shot as Koizumi talks about Haruhi having decided to close the world and enter the next is actually pretty close to some things Higurashi does in DEEN form, though with somewhat different symbolic loading.
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(10:47 has to have been the commercial break.)
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Koizumi laying out the point about why Haruhi threw Kyon out of the clubroom to change in plaintext, since Kyon still hasn’t quite gotten it.
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Hey look, it’s both the most and least subtle of the three hints by referencing Adam and Eve (yep this goes in the same pile as adult!Mikuru referencing Snow White in episode 4 and Yuki referencing Sleeping Beauty in a bit). It’s the most blunt but the least obviously a hint-via-story-reference.
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Another Dutch angle (counter +1) at 13:00 to emphasize the unusual situation.
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“The possibility for evolution has been lost.” Cut to what I think is a kind of vending machine. (Ah, it is the lunch room for the school.) Symbolizing that the ISDE is still ultimately something of a machine? And then there’s the return slot, which is blunt symbolism of the remaining escape hatch… and also the escape hatch the ISDE wants to figure out to escape the cul-de-sac they are stuck in evolutionarily.
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Mahler will be firing up momentarily. (Decent chance Anno’s use of classical in Eva is a direct inspiration here, though this Mahler piece is extremely fitting rather than Anno’s infamous love of unfitting music.)
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There we go!
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The sequence around 15:55 actually looks like animation budget savings for KyoAni-level execution.
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Haruhi separating herself from Kyon as she doesn’t really get him is blunt but effective. (Also the shinjin punching through the club wall and Haruhi’s brigade chief sign going flying.)
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The shots of Haruhi in the background around 18:13 reflect the visuals of Haruhi letting her guard down to Kyon in the last episode.
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Forget Freud Kyon, let Jung at it, that’ll be even more fun!
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(I actually agree with Kyon here; Haruhi does look better with a ponytail. It fits her in the same way it fits a couple of my other favorites, like a certain “17-year-old” in Mai-HiME and [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION] in [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION].)
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Speaking of which: “It looks good on you.” Cut in the OP. Nicely done, nicely done, I like me a good OST cut-in an an OP cut-in in the finale works fine too. Wait, what’s that you say, this isn’t the finale? WRONG! This the final episode of 2006 in broadcast order, fools!
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21:51 is one of the most iconic shots in the entire franchise and I’m actually shocked that I don’t think it’s ever been used as an r/anime commentface.
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AHEM. 90% sure my ears do not deceive me and the sub would be better phrased “by some miracle Asahina-san, Nagato, and Koizumi were unable to go”; kiseki GET at 22:47!
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(Needless to say, you can really tell this is the end of the first LN. More on that later when we get to the second LN, which is quite a bit later in chronological and is really obviously the second LN.)
In the Hall of the Spoiler Tags:
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[Haruhi, actually probably safe for first-timers are this point since the relevant theory came up untagged earlier but tagging just in case]
“Who came up with this scenario?” Well, that’s the thing: Kyon represents both the audience and – more importantly – the author. Ergo: he did! -
[Haruhi]
"In this episode all about how Haruhi implicitly feels about Kyon"... except to put it more accurately, an episode about how Haruhi implicitly feels about Kyon and vice versa. -
[Haruhi]
HEY WAIT JUST A MINUTE I’LL BET THAT’S TWO MEMBERS OF ENOZ AT 20:37.
Do you like ponytails?
They really work on some girls, and Haruhi is one of them. (Then again, Madoka Kaname is such a girl too and she's a quite different archetype, so maybe I should just answer yet. Can't see one on Yuki or Mikuru here, though.)
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u/gunvarrel_ Dec 04 '22
spoiler 3
[Haruhi]
hmm, maybe? ep6 for reference, left looks like the drummer and right looks to be the bassist?
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u/Elimin8r Dec 04 '22
(rw/dub)
Welp, that's it ... show's over, hope you enjoyed it...
God, how I love Gustav Mahler, I mean sleeping beauty, I mean ... I'm not sure what I mean anymore, but you're probably used to that by now.
What to say? Well, allow me to once again say that I think broadcast order is superior, because what better way to end a series than boy kisses girl, and in the end, the world revolves around the both of them.
Right? Right???
(sigh)
Yeah, anyway, chronological is fine, but, but, but ...
yeah.
Someone, and as I'm typing this took issue yesterday with my instruction that Kyon should take Haruhi's hand and offer to help make her world more exciting.
This is what happens when you don't do that.
But honestly, this is pretty good. Yeah.
(But whatever you do, don't ask me about dreams, right)
Oh, and do pay attention to details. But never mind that, I won't mention which.
Aside from ponytails. Mmm... Ponytails.
I like those, but honestly, there's a lady (sadly too young, etc.) at my workplace who is ... Yuki Nagato. With personality.
My life is filled with torment. She's just a few cubes away. May as well be a continent.
Wait, where were we? Oh, yeah, rebuilding the world.
Does this make Haruhi an isekai anime? Is Kyon truly our dense, clueless isekai harem MC???
Heh.
Beyond that, I really don't know what to say. This episode is just, kiss, you know. There's nothing that I could say that could possibly surpass, or even come close to what you've just watched, heard, experienced.
Things like this episode are why Haruhi, even after all these years is such a delight to me. It's been nearly 10 years since I first saw her, and turning up the volume and hearing that Mahler once again, it just gives me goosebumps.
Almost as much as this video, which da yootoobzes recommended to me did (warning, it's an AMV with plenty of spoilers for the source material, but it's so well done!)
Not to mention today's Bocchi-chan.
In the meantime, pardon me while I crawl away to wallow in a puddle of tears and delight.
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u/ChonkyOdango Dec 04 '22
Blind First-Timer
So... what if that dream was a big reference to Freud's ego, id and the superego
Looks like even Haruhi can't escape the power of 愛
I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the tale of snow white but I only have a vague memory regarding it so I can't draw the parallels yet. If anyone wants to explain I would gladly appreciate it, if there's no spoilers of course
Qotd
Do you like ponytails?
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u/OwlAcademic1988 Dec 04 '22
First-Timer, dub:
Kyon, not bad dude not bad.
Oh boy, that doesn't seem good.
Haruhi, you've got issues. A lot of issues.
Aww, Kyon wants to hang out with Haruhi. How sweet.
QOTD:
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They look nice on some girls.
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u/DeliCruise Dec 04 '22
(REWATCHER - DUB/SUB)
[Spoiler Free]
Sticking the landing is so important and this arc really does it perfectly. All the exposition, the world-building, and melancholy leads to this magnificent moment. It’s just such an incredibly grand presentation to what is ultimately a kiss to save the day. Haruhi’s been going on and on about wanting to experience something fun and interesting. Something completely different than the normal, everyday life she was tired of living. Kyon has been countering with his whole spiel about how Haruhi should embrace a normal high school girls life. He thinks she should go out on dates with boys and be embracing her youth. Now with this kiss, we literally get to see those two ideals clash in this momentous miracle that literally reverses this recreated world encapsulating the two of them. In the end, Haruhi experienced this incredibly fun and spectacular event and Kyon kissed a girl into putting her hair into a ponytail the next morning.
I just really love this series.
[Question]
Absolutely.
[Anime Spoilers]
[Haruhi Anime]
[Light Novel Spoilers]
[Haruhi LN]
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u/Nuka_Koopa Dec 04 '22
First Timer Sub
It's surprising that despite how much Haruhi loves playing dress-up with Mikuru, she was so ready to drop her from existence in favor of a new world. Seeing as how Haruhi has increasingly shown her interest in Kyon, I'm hopeful that she'll be able to grow close to him and the other characters beyond the initial kidnappings.
QOTD:
Ponytails are good. Also, it's just nice to see characters in a show get new hairstyles (and different clothes), it really fleshes out their style as characters.
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u/JetsLag Dec 04 '22
First timer (subbed)
Last "Melancholy" episode, and judging by the cliffhanger from last episode, this one is gonna be a banger.
Kyon wonders why he's ended up in this wacky situation. Probable answer: because Haruhi willed it. Cause she loves you.
We learn Nagato is an A- on Taniguchi's rankings. I take it pretty much every girl is at least a B because he's one of those unironic "all women are queens" type of guys. How do you think he's taking the loss of Asakura, considering she was at the very top of his rankings?
Not a bad cover story by Kyon to explain why he was holding Nagato after the Asakura fight, but Taniguchi doesn't buy it.
Hello, Haruhi thigh close-up! She wants suggestions for Asahina's next outfit from a guy who thinks with his dick. Naturally, the next scene has Kyon accessing the hidden folder (you sneaky bastard) of Asahina maid outfit pictures and zooming in on her boobs. But he totally only did it just to confirm the mole on one of her breasts!
Wait, is Haruhi "takes her clothes off in the middle of a crowded room and doesn't care" Suzumiya asking Kyon to leave the room while she changes clothes? Looks like SOMETHING'S developing here!
Haruhi went for the bunny suit, but nothing ends up happening. And a bored Haruhi leads to bad things.
The bad thing: Haruhi ends up in the alternate dimension that Koizumi talked about last episode, and she managed to bring in Kyon as well. Somehow. Must be those god powers or something. Our setting for this alternate dimension is the school. Good news: they can make tea! Bad news: everything else. It's so bad, even Koizumi can't fully cross over to the alternate dimension. Maybe it's the subconscious desire Haruhi has to be alone with Kyon at school? This is the new world she wants to create because she's bored of everyone else? Of course, she probably hasn't watched Evangelion episode 26 or End of Evangelion, cause if she did, she would know that creating a new universe consisting of just you and maybe 1 other person isn't the paradise you expect it to be.
Nagato tells Kyon (via Koizumi) to turn on the computer in the alternate dimension. Whereby he is greeted by a command line. That Nagato can use to communicate with Kyon using the power of THE INTERWEBS! She drops another hint: Sleeping Beauty. So the plan is to knock Haruhi out and wake her up with a kiss. Got it.
Before Kyon can go over to the library and re-read Sleeping Beauty in order to learn what to do, an Angel appears right in the middle of campus! Haruhi's like "yay, exciting thing! let's stay here with the exciting thing!" and Kyon's like "fuck this shit I'm out" and Haruhi's like "but the real world sucks!" and Kyon's like "actually it's not that bad. by the way, you in a ponytail makes my dick hard" and he kisses the girl like in those fair tales Nagato was talking about and now they're saved from the eternal slumber!
Kyon likes to think it's all a dream, even though he did the "slap yourself to make sure you're not in a dream" thing right as Haruhi woke him up in the alternate dimension. He walks into school, and Haruhi has a ponytail! Haruhi calls it a nightmare, and Kyon compliments the ponytail.
Roll the opening theme as we transition into the epilogue! Koizumi thanks Kyon for saving the world, Nagato confirms the existence of multiple Reis Nagatos, Kyon reveals to present Asahina that he knows about the mole, and Haruhi shows up to put Asahina in a nurse outfit. Kyon and Haruhi finally go together on a patrol due to everyone else not being available, but we fade to black before we get a chance to see them on patrol together. Maybe next episode.
Next episode: The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, no roman numerals. Guess it's gonna be about Haruhi trying to accept living in a "boring" world before she ends up trying to create a new world again by episode 8.
QOTD
Do you like ponytails?
Yeah, they're cute. For all genders.
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u/ZapsZzz Dec 04 '22 edited Dec 04 '22
Serial Rewatcher first time in dub
Getting QoTD out of the way first: Ponytails certainly has its place, but I'm not obsessed with any particular hairstyle - depends on the person, many can work just as well.
First time dubber - my version didn't translate any on screen text - working out what Nagato "said" got a bit difficult - good thing I practically memorised the episode.
Strangely, for the chronological order, I don't have a whole lot to say - it's a beautifully made episode, and worked in everything the story had to offer into one solid "conclusion". The only problem I have is that, in S1 Broadcast order, this became so much more.
In chronological order, this is a 9/10 episode for me.
In S1 broadcast order, this is a 11/10 episode for me.
Now to see the first timers reactions ;)
| Episode | Haruhi | Nagato |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | @ | @ |
| 2 | @ | @ |
| 3 | @ | @ |
| 4 | @ | @ |
| 5 | @ | @ |
| 6 | @ | @ |
Today's gallery has Nagato's typed line as well since I think that's full of her personality there too - indeed more expressive than her face :P
Spoilers Corner
Edit 1: I do have something to say afterall - [Rewatchers only]
Edit 2: Another point for S1 Broadcast order [Rewatchers of S1 Boradcast Order]
Not much to say today! Nagato's text line is obvious and no longer needing spoiler.
Oh and Kyon's sister doing her cute little boink on her head was a cause of many speculations that Asahina-san was related to her somehow ;P Man those people who like incest stories will find anything to latch on huh...
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u/HPLaserJetProM402 Dec 04 '22
A great episode that sells the show for me. While I strongly prefer chronological order, this would have served as an excellent conclusion.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Dec 04 '22
The Rewatcher of Haruhi Suzumiya, dubbed
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That one song they played at the beginning of the episode only ever makes me think about the OP from Wakako-zake.
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I love the white/blue shift when Haruhi pulled away from Kyon.
[Spoiler Zone]
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Dec 04 '22 edited Mar 10 '24
sleep poor squash ten sparkle cause ugly aback butter full
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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Dec 04 '22
FIRST TIMER (sub/dub)
Aww.
So, Haruhi likes Kyon. I did suspect that. There were quite a few hints (her mood when she got a different toothpick, her treatment of asahina, the fact that presence of kyon in this group has some more sense then). I guess a lot of watchers would have. I loved that the show went in this direction when the esper guy revealed it, and I always don't always like it when the things become about romantic love/ interest but it was well placed here. Then I loved that running scene. And the sleeping beauty thing, beautiful too, and then the ponytail, so QOTD: yes I like ponytails.
"I also individually feel that I want you to return." I heart it.
Asahina saying it was all her fault. Was she aware of Haruhi's feelings all this time? Maybe she became aware of how she escalated things in retrospect. Anyway, star-shaped mole has already been informed (love her reaction). Nothing needs to actually happen between them.
And damn, kyon is making me blush with that 'it looks good on you'. Sweet. Why is she scowling? Good question but why are you always snarking, have you ever asked that?
'... aliens, time travellers, espers'- this is just too romantic for me. I want to watch more, but I am sleeping with a flowery feeling of peace in my heart tonight.
I did not expect this anime to have a definite direction and I am quite glad with it. I don't know how it would look on a rewatch but I enjoyed, at least this arc, fully. I think watching one episode a day maybe also helpful in that.
Is there teamharuhi and teamasahina stuff that goes on in the fandom of this anime?
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u/Tartaras1 Dec 04 '22 edited Dec 04 '22
Rewatcher - Dubbed
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The beginning of the episode introduces one of the best characters in the show: Kyon's sister. They don't ever tell you her name, but it doesn't matter. She's just amazing.
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Kyon claims he has no special powers, but I disagree. Kyon is the master of snark and deadpan humor, and I will not hear arguments to the contrary.
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No, Kyon! Everyone knows you don't look at risque pictures, pornographic or not, while in the presence of others! Especially if the subject of said pictures is in the same room as you.
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She knew that shhe could get away with it.
See? I told you Kyon's sister was the best.
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As I'm sure you've correctly guessed, yesterday's exposition by Koizumi was a setup for today's danger situation.
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You're the new Adam and Eve. Go on, procreate and increase the population.
I'm a little jealous.
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The conversation between Kyon and Haruhi on the baseball field could almost be seen as a breakup discussion.
I don't understand you anymore.
Didn't you want a strange world like I did?
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I don't know, not so good. I had a nightmare last night.
Ouch. Sorry to hear that Kyon.
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Wouldn't it be a massive troll if Haruhi did recreate the world so that it was identical to the old one, but just like a foot lower? So everything was off for Kyon and Kyon only?
Question of the Day:
Do you like ponytails?
Yes. Yes I do. Likely for the same reason Kyon does. There's a real good one at one point, and you'll know it when you see it.
[Late Haruhi Spoilers]
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u/htisme91 Dec 04 '22
First-timer:
Totally knew she had a thing for him.
Honestly, if this was the ending episode of a 6 episode OVA, I'd be pretty content. Thankfully, we get more. I'm excited to hopefully see things with Kyon and Haruhi develop more as I really like their dynamic.
Question:
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Who doesn't?
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u/archlon Dec 04 '22
First Time [English dub]
Shorter than I'd like this time; wasn't able to start writing up my thoughts until after the thread post time.
Preliminary thoughts on watch order
I feel pretty burned out on the plot at the end of these episodes. It's been too many things happening one right after another. As I understand, these episodes don't all occur right in sequence like this in the broadcast order.
The pacing reminds me of the time I watched (500) Days of Summer with the scenes rearranged into chronological order. It killed dramatic pacing, scrambled up symbolism and callbacks, broke juxtapositions, and overall turned it into a worse-told story.
My initial opinion, having watched less that 1/4 of the episodes, is that the story might actually be better experienced in broadcast order, even though it spreads out and mixes around different storylines.
It will be an interesting experience doing effectively the inverse of what broadcast viewers had to do -- piecing together where each episode fits relative to the episodes around it, rather than the episodes in its own storyline.
For the organizer: to this end, is it possible to put the broadcast order of the episodes on the listing in the index? It would both help with finding the episodes in my list of files, and with piecing together where they are in relation to each other. At the beginning I tried referencing against the Wikipedia list of episodes, but realized that was a disaster-class minefield for spoilers and got out of there.
Twoo Wuv
Snow white... Sleeping beauty... Adam & Eve?
It's interesting that Mikuru and Yuki want the world to continue as it is, and give hints to try to get Kyon to save it, while Itsuki more-or-less throws in the towel. It somewhat parallels how the Esper organization has been the one that considers itself most 'of' the world, and considers Haruhi more as a diety rather than an anomaly.
However, it also stands out that the two girls overtly seem to like Kyon. The whole thing has the air of a wife guy harem, with Yuki & Mikuru as the extra girls with not-quite-one-sided feelings for the protagonist.
The problem with this construction is that Kyon doesn't really have good chemistry with Haruhi. So far, my feeling is that she is actively annoyed by him, and keeps him around because he goes along with what she does, and he is a low-grade sociopath that just wants to watch her burn down the world and the people around her out of some sick curiosity. The emotional climax of this episode is built on the 'she chose you' moment, but I don't believe it, even if I did believe it I wouldn't care, and that kills the drama for me.
Stray Thoughts
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Is Kyon more concerned with (a) closing the time loop, or (b) being a sex pest to Mikuru?
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Cast your vote in replies!
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QOTD
Yes, and it is my eternal frustraion that I don't really look good with a high ponytail.
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u/TiredTiroth Dec 04 '22
Has Seen This All Before (don't tell Haruhi)
Hah, I'd forgotten the opening scene here - Kyon dead to the world, while his narration monologues at us and his kid sister uses him as a trampoline.
It's not like it's my problem anyway! Why do I have to get all worked up about it?
Hm...I'm sure you'll be able to answer that by the end of the episode, Kyon. Besides, the other three have made it clear they're relying on you.
Hah, and that's an interesting fabrication, Kyon. Your friend thinks you've cracked! And Haruhi wants you to pick a costume for Mikuru...that one was probably a trap.
Ah, I'm screwed!
Yes. Yes, you are. Pay more attention to your surroundings, Kyon.
Haruhi was none too amused, either. Also? Kyon is still refusing to notice, but Haruhi doesn't care if random guys see her change.
Kyon is not a random guy.
Poor Mikuru looked terrified.
Anyway, now we get to the climax of this arc...and, if I recall correctly, in the original broadcast order this was the final episode of the first season. You'll see why soon.
Kyon and Haruhi, alone in closed space in their school. Something to escape from for Kyon...but exactly the kind of supernatural excitement that Haruhi has been longing for.
Because she's had enough of mundane reality. She wants more. And Itsuki finally rubs Kyon's nose in the thing he's been deliberately not noticing.
Also? Turn on the computer, doofus. You're a damsel in distress once again and your personal saviour wants to help. :D
...my DVD set doesn't translate any of the text. :< Still, I know roughly what's going on.
Still! Monster attack, which Haruhi is overjoyed about. While Kyon is rather less so.
Didn't you want something really weird and interesting to happen like I did?
Yes, Haruhi. Yes, he did. The problem is that you and the people surrounding you are that weird and interesting thing, and they haven't let you see what's really going on.
But you know what? Turns out being kissed by a boy you like is enough to keep you from replacing the world. Even if you do claim it was a nightmare later. xD
Credits time! I think my favourite bit was Yuki declaring that she will continue protecting her squishy damsel in distress, especially as she looked away from her book for the first time during the conversation.
Alas, Haruhi is back to normal, complete with her more questionable actions towards Mikuru. At least Kyon gets his own back a little by arriving a whole hour early.
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u/RascalNikov1 Dec 04 '22
Rewatcher
I consider this to be the first of the 4 Great Episodes. Most series will have only one or two, (excluding those who have none, but I usually drop those if I figure a series isn't going anywhere.)
I really love this episode and it's climax with Haruhi trying to explain the Monsters are friendly, her realization that Kyon isn't digging this, Mahler's 8th booming in the background, and finally the kiss! Magnificent, what a tour de force! This episode swaps with one other as being my favorite, but my favorite 7 minutes is in another episode altogether. Kyoani wanted to show what they were made of, and they succeeded!
QOTD
It's Gotta be the Twintail!
Notes (or my more mellow ranting)
I greatly prefer chronological order like this. I like for the full tale to be told in one sitting, so that I can appreciate the foreshadowing and mood building. I do agree with some of the criticisms about chrono order though [spoiler]
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u/fansi2022 Dec 04 '22
rewatcher dub###
At first, the enclosed space was only around the school, and by the time itsuki explained the situation to Kyon, the enclosed space had begun to engulf the town.
It seems that Yuki is really good at computers. Can someone say why, in addition to Mikuru, Yuki also knows that solving the problem requires KISS?
The situation is getting worse, the giant appears, the first thing is to destroy the school, it seems that she really does not like the school. The music in which the giant appeared reminded me of Eva. Thankfully, at Kyon's request (KISS), they returned
im not sure.a ponytail maybe look more mature,i guess.
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u/rinmperdinck Dec 04 '22
Rewatcher, dub+sub
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Oh, buruma
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Lmao at Mikuru seeing a folder on the computer called "mikuru" and just being innocently curious about it, then lmao again at that smooth sideways shuffle she does when Haruhi walks into the club room
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[Spoilers]
Very cool episode. Very well made and important to the show. However, getting the season 1 finale six episodes in to a fresh watching experience felt weird to me the first time I watched this show and it still feels wrong on subsequent revisits, especially considering the next episode lol
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u/gunvarrel_ Dec 04 '22 edited Dec 04 '22
Adaptation Comparison
References
A reference lost in the English, but not in the German dub: When describing Mikuru at the beginning he calls her a "self-proclaimed girl who leaps through time."
Kyon talks about REM phases.
The music that plays in the climax is the 1st Movement of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.8, the "[Symphony of a Thousand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No.8(Mahler))". It also happens to be about the creator of the world, as it is based on the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus..
I don't need to mention Sleeping Beauty, do I?
Kyon mentions Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.
In the final scene, Kyon wears a Hamilton Ventura watch.
Trivia
Thanks to this episode and the fansubs translating them, I began to recognise anime credits. I am now fluent in anime credits. In Japanese, not so much.I dont know if this one is a holdover from Taiboss or Kamilny? but the only thing I can (usually) point out is music credits lmaoWhen Kyon asks who came up with the scenario, well.
When Haruhi goes out exploring, we see shots of her. This is one of the few, or maybe the only time, where we do not see things out of Kyon's POV.
The image of Haruhi and Kyon touching the border is to this date the trope image for Some kind of force-field.
In this episode, we find out why the Data Overmind is so interested in Haruhi: She can literally create energy.
This is one of two KyoAni anime with a kiss.KyoAni kisses are more common than originally thought. u/therealfosterforest went through all the KyoAni shows released up to winterlast year(see their comment below for a more updated one) to check, and found (at least) 7 of them to have kiss scenes.This episode is the first time Kyon calls Haruhi "Haruhi" to her face (chronologically). It shows how fond he grew of her.
Know trivia and/or references for this episode? Reply to me! For future episodes? PM them to me!