Review of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

So what is this? It's not entirely absurdist or self indulgent. It's just a very weird coming of age story set about a centerpiece character, Haruhi. Whatever the hell the title means is irrelevant, this anime is very enjoyable even if it doesn't seem to make sense at first. It's not helped by the fact that the episodes were aired out of order--something that has beeen rectified by the american subbers. Whether the idea to show an anime completely out of order was brilliant or a fucktard idea, I'll forego the details. Haruhi can do stuff. On the surface she's an overenergetic school girl, who suddenly finds herselfsurrounded by increasingly improbable characters--from time traveling agents, to androids, to espers and the like. The main character, tho, isn't the titular one, but Kyon. Kyon is Sisyphus. The show makes no effort in hiding this, it would have been better if it had, but whatever.

Kyon narrates the story of Haruhi and the increasingly complex events surrounding her through a rather odd (read normal) perspective since it is soon revealed that time and space are relative elements and a some great realization (central to the plot) has essentially changed the nature of the universe, all of it seems centered around Haruhi--and this is something the main characters are aware of, but act on in different ways, whether through intervention, guidance, observation, or whatnot.

It mostly works, with episodes ranging from a baseball game, to a school concert to a Sisyphean ordeal of a space heater, to core elements of the plot. In its out of order original Japanese version most of the events sort of take you by surprise, something that the show in proper order doesn't seem to accomplish. The characters are entertaining and well put together. Haruhi remains 'real' and vulnerable without stooping to the usual babbling anime girl stereotype.

Kyon is the obvious, unwilling protagonist, but manages to escape the typical shortfalls of an anime male lead mostly by his ironic grasp of the reality presented to him. There are others, mostly moe Mikuru and Yuki (but the latter having redeeming moments, but often existing for advancing the plot).

Overall this is an overhyped but well done anime that despite having a jumbled plot manages to make sense of it all in the end. It falls victim to hype, but is good enough to stand on its own. The endearing characters and overall production elevate it above average.

Choose to watch it in whatever order you want.