Haruhi Suzumiya

If they all just went polly, it would save a lot of the trouble. For the most part, the series gives every combination some implied something, so just let them all mingle and we'll be good.

Definitely not in the movie, not in my last three viewings.

Didn't Nagato basically drain all of Haruhi's power away? How could Haruhi have known about it? In the film she was just excited when Kyon told her "your whole life is a lie, your real life is more interesting."

Where'd you get Haruhi from? I was talking about Ryoko.

Episode 7. In which Nagato eats.

Ryoko's studying math. Why is that so hilarious?

I get it. She's actually a time traveller.

Oh, wait, her own explanation makes more sense. And that really is her strategy for summer homework.

Kyon's got her pegged down right as well.

At least she's realistic about why she saw what she saw. It's actually kind of refreshing to have these common misunderstanding scenes where they're instead thinking they're probably misunderstandings in the first place, rather than thinking they're deliberate and spin off into some kind of rage or whatever instead.

Sometimes I don't know if she wants those two to hook up or not. Well, she wants them to take exactly the pace she wants them to, that much is clear. Just what that pace is I don't think she knows herself, though.

Either way, it's always funny seeing Haruhi be the straight man.

Haruhi somehow reminds me of Rin. Even if it's just that sweater and short skirt combo. Even if it's white. Looks good, though. Also like Tsuruya's choice of clothing. And Asahina's.

Kyon's treat. A good ol' mainstay.

"This is important. It could affect the entire trip. Let's do it randomly!"

So tense.

Well, at least he gets the best view of Asahina.

Yeah, can't blame Haruhi for reacting the natural way, no matter how much she should already know.

I heard a loud whoose over Haruhi's and Itsuki's heads.

Haruhi, get a mirror.

Funny how you recognise Ryoko's ghost-like cheaply drawn self by her eyebrows.

Asahina buys a Nice Hat. And lots of other stuff.

Haruhi is smokin'.

Next episode should be fun.

It's called The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki because that's what happens to her screen-time. If her name wasn't in the title I'd think this was the Ryoko/Haruhi show. Ryoko, you're supposed to be cheering on Yuki, not stealing her scenes. Haruhi, you already had 2 seasons. Otherwise a relaxing and comedic episode. Haruhi gets stuff done. Ryoko is the only one that can control Haruhi. Tsuruya eats Haruhi's antics right up. Mikuru manages to be more likeable than she is in the original. I think it helps that she doesn't suffer nearly as much abuse.

Episode 8, I can't tell if the fanservice is intended as a parody or not. At least there's some with the boys. But only now do I realise just how huge Mikuru's hairdo is.

In-jokes aplenty. Arakawa again looks like a cameo from a different art style. At times I was reminded of Teekyu.

The art changes are nice, but sometimes look less quirky than cheap.

Good comedy, but I can't help but feel that it's dressing up the fact that nothing is happening concerning Yuki. Not only does she not get much screentime but she and Kyon are not getting beyond awkward moments.

That's probably going to change very soon. Given the events that happen after the trip. Hell, I'd expect the 'vanishing' of Nagato Yuki to perhaps start near the end of the next episode.

For those that care about dubs, Yuki-Chan's getting the original dub cast back!

...I really want my Season 3 now. Do it before the dub cast doesn't want to come back.

Huh, guess Wendee Lee got her Haruhi voice back or something.

Now to decide if I should wait for the dub to catch up and just watch that.

That's my plan. I caved with Panty & Stocking, Battle of Gods, World God Only Knows - came back x months later and the dubs weren't terrible.

Plus, hearing Nagato's VA actually exhibit emotions for once will be refreshing - Dissappearance excluded.

edited 28th May '15 4:07:53 PM by Soble

And here I thought my prediction would be wrong. Turns out, post credits stinger.

the Disappearance of Nagato Yuki has begun.

Card games. Koizumi gets into even more baths. Ryoko has some very detailed fantasies. Yuki/Kyon sort of gets screen-time. Tsuruya officially has super-strength. Yuki reaches out to her kind. Is this show about the Yuki/Kyon relationship, or the Ryoko/Haruhi relationship? Because the latter gets far more development. Post credits, why doesn't Yuki at least try to move out of the way? Well, time to get that started.

Did Asakura's VA change?

Regardless, watching Tsuruya battle Asakura with barely any involvement from Haruhi brought me a great deal of joy.

This entire spin-off is where Kyon chose the alternate timeline, right? Just, with everyone's memories rearranged.

edited 29th May '15 11:45:08 PM by Soble

It is what if the world was completely changed, even Kyon who now matches the flashbacks in Disappearance. There is barely a trace of the former world, only allusions to it.

No actors have changed, at least for the Japanese version.

edited 30th May '15 1:09:01 AM by Memers

It's kinda funny seeing Haruhi, of all people, getting caught into Asakura's rhythm.

Did Asakura's VA change?

Nope. Not in Japanese, and not in English. It'd be refreshing to hear Ryoko exhibit actual emotion for a change...but Achakura exists. :)

What DID change was the ADR director — Alex von David is still there, but Todd Haberkorn is the lead director for Yuki-chan's dub.

edited 30th May '15 5:12:11 AM by PikaHikariKT

Something changed. Kyon's face is rounder than it used to be, and Asakura's voice dropped a bit, it's not as girly as it was back in Haruhi Prime.

I also liked the nods to the original - Nagato brushing Haruhi in the street, Mikuru's running scene from the club film, the library flashback.

It's... sort of Harsher in Hindsight now, given this is almost what happened in the normal world then. I mean, heck, everyone seems a lot better off in this reality. As mentioned, Kyon's cheeks even look bubblier.

edited 30th May '15 11:08:53 AM by Soble

She is a bit more Tsundere in tone now that she has an understands emotions, The original was Yandere Stepford Smiler style and had no understanding of tone and facial expressions outside of her programmed range.

As for Kyon his face became more friendly and less harsh as we are probably seeing everyone as Yuki see them all instead of from Kyon's cynical eye.

Episode 9 sees some dinosaur exhibits that are themselves dinosaurs, of the upright-theropod, tail-dragging-sauropod sort.

That stinger could have done with making the whole thing vaguely believable. It was like she just stood there as the car crawled forward. At least her umbrella was well animated.

I'll be seeing the dub. Is this sort of speed standard now? It used to be a six months at least between the two.

Well, that's what broadcast dubs are to avert. Funi gets the scripts around the same time the Japanese cast does, and they come out about a month after the series first starts.

I've never actually seen much of the original anime, I'm for the light novels. But I'll watch for the dub take on the characters.

It's like the reverse of what will happen when Viz's dub cast will do Sailor Moon Crystal. A much darker, plot-riven new adaptation.

Episode 8. In which there's bathing.

Good view for Kyon and Itsuki.

Not sure "cute" is the right word.

Tsuruya looks odd with her hair like that.

Why would being able to see the floor matter that much for her balance? And even if you have poor vision, if you can see well enough to find reference points that's not an issue either.

Kyon is not in the mind for some Ho Yay fanservice.

Sure. Let's call that a tournament.

Asahina gets an A for effort.

Kyon gets a door in the face. And one fan.

Ryoko eats with style. That makes one of them.

Horse is indeed tasty.

Slice of Life.

Haruhi does not agree with Kyon. That's not new. What is new is that she doesn't drag him along.

The fanservice was kind of like they tried to joke about it at first, but then just couldn't help but do it anyway. Still relatively mild, though.

Episode 9. In which they trek to the stars.

Kyon sure loves what he can sense coming.

Ryoko's so indecisive about pairing them up. Wonder why...

Ryoko can be half asleep and still steal the show. But not steal the game.

Doesn't give Haruhi the time of the day, even when she drags her along.

Yeah, she's a bit of a tsundere, all right.

And she's a bit not normal. But no one knows what kind of not normal she is.

Perfect imitation.

And suddenly they notice there's a starry sky above them.

Perfect idea, Haruhi. Just perfect.

I've never understood that sentiment. Close enough to touch? How bad is her vision anyway?

It would be nice if they could show anything other than sappy clichés to show Kyon and Nagato getting closer. Actual character development or chemistry would be a start.

That stinger's gotta sting.

I think "Someday in the Rain" is one of my favourite titles.

I'd say it's odd to say she had no understanding of such things in the original, considering how well she could fit in with the rest of them. I'd think that requires a bit more than just programming.

Having seen the dub, I can say that Funimation's casting is excellent. I usually have a tin ear for these things, but I took note of Crispin Freeman's frustrated observational tone (perfect for the main series, maybe a little too world-weary for this one), Michelle Ruff making Yuki sound far more like her normal self (which I personally preferred), and Kari Wahlgren making Tsuruya beam with energy. Still need to hear Haruhi; Aya Hirano is one of the best voices anywhere, I noticed that she made Konata sound very different from Haruhi, whilst Wendee Lee gives them very similar voices. So I don't think she can measure up.

Good job on making the script sound very natural, too.

Episode 10. In which Nagato is as Nagato is.

She checked her over and still missed some scars on her forehead?

For once, I'm with Yuki. Ryoko's overreacting. And that's far more bandage than she needs.

"She's reading, which is rare for her." I want to say something about that.

I don't think Kyon would consider that information valuable. Nor would anyone knowing his position.

Yeah, he was totally listening and heard everything clearly, as evidenced by his comment.

That train crossing.

Good question. Or as I like to put it, "An informed question, but difficult to answer."

In this continuity Yuki is a gamer and a VN fan, she never is actually seen reading in the club room or anywhere else. Kyon has forgotten that they first met in a Library though.