Review of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

**Edit: Added 1 point to my rating because, while re-watching the series, it holds up so well! The soundtrack is catchy enough to get stuck in my head, and Haruhi is such a fun character - I would love to have a third season just to see more of her shenanigans! Take all of the high school anime tropes and turn them to their extreme to get "Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu". This is a comedic series rooted in satire but takes a life of its own with its ridiculously contrived scenarios. Ultimately, is a fun show and I would recommend giving it a try! However, itis definitely not a beginner anime due to its dependence on certain story-arc and character archetypes, so I would recommend not making this your first anime.

Story [6/10]: As one of its characters points out, Melancholy follows the principle "let sleeping gods lie". That is to say, the show has no intention of rushing off anywhere and instead is just focused on making each arc spontaneous and enjoyable.

Pacing [5/10]: Unfortunately as stated above, the episodic nature of Melancholy renders its overall pacing glacial. Some individual episodes also suffer from explanations and monologues, but most of them find a good stride. If nothing else, the show remains captivating with its beautiful artwork.

Art/Concept [8/10]: Melancholy is almost obsessively drawn, making it a real pleasure to watch! Moreover, the concept of the series elevates it above the average anime. It is inventive and witty.

Sound [8/10]: Like most others, the soundtrack of Melancholy is bouncy and fun. It is also slightly addictive, and adds to the experience more than most anime music.

Character [6/10]: The main cast is composed of one-dimensional archetypes endowed with ridiculous sci-fi powers, thus forcing out a completely contrived second dimension to their characters. They are mostly likeable (Haruhi is a joy to watch), but are also underdeveloped, and I would have liked to see some actual relationships develop after they are thrown together.

Enjoyment [7/10]: A short way into the series, Melancholy makes its purpose clear. It is a reminder to the audience of what anime is about: to have fun! There are no convoluted plots, and no messy love triangles. So sit back, enjoy the incredible artwork and ridiculous situations, and remember that Haruhi always wins.

Overall: [7.5/10]