Review of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2009)

[Note: this review covers seasons 1&2, watched in chronological order] Haruhi is a weird one. It's a show that very much has a clear idea of what it wants to be, and doesn't aim to be universally liked if it can be the best example of... that. But is it worthwhile? For the most part, I say yes. The reason is the characters. The majority of them spend their time playing one note, but they harmonize together really well together, and rather than feeling underdeveloped end up feeling clean and clear. Together, the leads of the SOS Brigade can be put througha number of different events, mostly trying to manage the fantastical exuberance of Haruhi. This is a cast of characters I'm happy to see interact with the various phenomena and events they're thrown in with, and there's at least a little exploration everywhere.

In chronological (rather than broadcast) order, the flow of the show as a whole is a little bit wonky: the biggest climax happens in the first half of the show, and the final few episodes feel more like filler. I find that to be... OK. In a sense, Haruhi is a slice of life show. The life in question is extremely strange, but it doesn't need to have a dramatic arc to it. This is actually one of the turns I've come to appreciate.

So, let's get down to it, the part everybody talks about: the Endless Eight. This arc is so infamous that despite going in spoiler-free, even I knew to "Beware". I received lots of recommendations from reviews like this one, many to watch only the first and the last of those eight episodes, and dire comments about it driving viewers insane. Well, I disregarded that advice and watched the whole thing and... I at least am no more insane than I already was. I think what helped may have been pacing. I typically go through shows at about an episode a day; I neither had to wait a week for the next installment of the Endless Eight nor attempted to surmount the whole thing at once. There are some nice details to it that I feel like I was able to appreciate, so while I won't lie and say it didn't wear on me, it was interesting as an exercise in the art of cinema and storytelling, based on how the changing of elements throughout the Endless Eight made each entry unique. That said, if you're not the kind of nerd who would like to pick apart, compare, and contrast tiny details... watch the first (because it's the first) and the second (So you know what the arc is all about), and then if you feel like you're going to have a bad time if this continues for six more episodes, skip to the last.

Outside the Endless Eight? I liked all the other arcs. the titular "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" (the backbone of Season 1) was my favorite, and "The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya" was also very good for the most part, though there was one episode in particular that strained the likeability of a character who's normally at least fun to watch. The shorter arcs and one-off episodes were fun, but light. The show worked best when it had more time to set up and break down the goings-on.

For the art and Sound, outside my academic interest in the artistic interpretation of the Endless Eight, it's a good-looking show, and easy to see why so many followed in its style... but neither the content nor the choices made are perfect. It's good, but not great. The voice acting and music though are notably above average. A lot of personality is brought to every character by their voices, and the opening and ending themes are damn catchy.

Scores
Story: 6
Art: 7
Sound: 8
Character: 8
Enjoyment: 8
Overall: 8

Final Thoughts: Haruhi the show and Haruhi the character are a lot alike -- not always easy to get along with, but usually charming enough to be easily forgiven for missteps or even premeditated misdeeds. I'd say that, overall, it's worth the watch.