Review of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is a brilliantly told story and a great study in structure. So let's talk about the structure. Note: if you watch this chronologically, you're making a mistake. The broadcast order of this anime starts with episode 25 (chronologically). Hopefully, I won't be spoiling too much by saying that this episode is the episode that comes after the second season of the show, which, keep in mind, released 3 years after this season. It is, in essence, the product of the second season and everything it tried to convey. You won't think anything of it when you see it, but the second season is spentleading up to that episode. It then takes the first two episodes to establish the universe it's in while inciting the drama and plot, which I would argue, are the best features of the series. It leaves you uneasy and confused as you, and the main character, cannot really trust or believe what you're told in this series, basically ever, even up to the end of the movie. After that, an episode of filler, one more of story and then we're on the filler train for a while. The filler in this; however, is not like the filler in most animes. It's not pointless. It's also told completely out of order, you get episodes 7, 10, 9, 11, 27, and 26. None of which disclose too much plot, nor do they require you to know much plot to understand. The series flows thematically through the episodes, almost as if it was meant to be watched in this bizarre order... *cough cough*. They tend to be light-hearted, but relevant. And, being relevant means having this undertone of stress, this uneasiness that everything that happens is because the world isn't right. The cause and effect in every encounter IS the plot. The season then ends with episodes 5 and 6, which is the climax of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. It sets an unmatched tone for the second season.

The plot and characters are great, everything else is either above average or slightly above average for this kind of series, but what I think makes it stand out the most is it's structure, so that's why I spent all my time talking about it. Anyways, I highly recommend it. The series is fine chronologically. I'd probably give it a 4, maybe a 5 if you skip the filler. There wouldn't be a reason for watching the filler if you watched it chronologically. The pacing would be pretty off and the structure inconsequential. Some characters would feel forced. Just watch it in its broadcast order if you want to appreciate all the effort and the full ramifications of the plot. I'm rambling at this point. Enjoy the show!