I gave this episode an 8. This episode builds a very solid foundation for future stories to be built upon, since the viewer will know just what is going on after this episode.
The Mikuru fanservice and the music are all good, and Haruhi looks so cute even when she is pissed off!
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In the eternal service of Her Most Holy God-Empress, Suzumiya Haruhi and Primarch Fate Testarossa Harlaown of the Blood Angels Legion.
~~~~~
We are armored by the Empress Herself.
Rightousness is our Shield, Faith our armour and Hatred our weapon.
Aye, we are indeed the Angels of Death.
~~~~~
Blog featuring anime, manga, seiyuus, tabletop wargames (WH40K) and everything in between: http://nk-ds.org/
This episode, again, reproduced vol.1 of the novel almost to a tee, from page 120 to page 174. I was expecting them to cram all the denpa talks into one episode, but actually seeing it happen is still quite a surprise. People who haven't read the novel will probably have difficulties following the conversations (there's an understatement).
Now then, highlights, highlights.
1.
「あなたが選ばれたのには必ず理由がある」 (There must be a reason why you were chosen)
「ねーよ」 (Heck no)
Sugita-san, suteki--
2.
Obligatory Mikuru shot.
3.
「もういいだろう、これ以上は色んな法律に引っかかる！」 (Enough already, you're going to violate various laws if you go any further!)
「何の法律よ」 (What law?)
...*Ah*
Harunyan suteki--
4.
Haruhi's active skill: Beverage Drain. (You should see her when she does this with hot coffee)
5.
Mikuru's "introduction" event. The soothing music cutting off in a sudden but natural way was a nice touch.
Also, a personal comment,
Spoiler:
This riverside (and its surroundings) was a key location in vol.7, so by the end of the volume, I already had a mental image locked in my head for what it might look like through the various descriptions (path along the river lined with cherry blossom trees, the river is shallow and the bank is 3m lower than the walkway, the other side of the path is a slope going up to the prefectural roadway, etc.).
The anime matched my imagination exactly, so I was quite surprised. Thank you Kyoani for not ruining my image.
6.
「禁則事項です♥」 (That's a prohibited subject ♥)
The cheesy scale was over the top, but I suspect that's what they were aiming for.
Is this a sign to my earlier question about buying them? Alright, I'm sold!!1!
8.
Nice atmosphere, don't you think? ^^;
9.
Next week, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, Episode 9! Lone Island Syndrome (前編 Part 1).
Arakawa-san~ Mori-san~
I see one of the predictions hit the mark (well, I pretty much guessed everything, so there shouldn't be any misses ^^; )
But... 前編... that means there's going to be a part 2 (後編)... that means this thing is going to take up 2 episodes (9 + 10), that means... that means...
Noooooooooo~~--....
Another winner, even though I could only get the gist of what they were saying, and won't get the details until the second watch and the Chinese and English subs, lol.
Mikuru's conversation with Kyon made me glad I chose her in the favorite character thread. Her tone was just serious enough that I could believe her through the miasma of moe. Her first date.... Not that Haruhi, Yuki, Kyon and Itsuki (Ono Daisuke) weren't great, too.
And the cell-phone in the library scene was definitely another unstoppable-laughter moment. So was Yuki's wonderful tripping gait in the library (similar to her gait rounding the bases in the baseball game). I can imagine the animators loving getting that right.
Some of the shot composition was indeed incredibly good. The pan up from the ground to Kyon and Itsuki talking, even though it was a money-saving long shot, worked extremely well for me, giving a you-are-there feeling.
The unearthly side-images during Kyon's first conversation with Yuki were amazing, too, giving a lot of visual interest during a necessarily talky sequence.
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YUUKI Aoi 悠木碧. b92.03.27 (age 29). 2008 Kurenai (Murasaki). 2009 Yumeiro Pâtissière (Ichigo), Kiruminzuu (Riko), Yutori-chan (Yutori-chan). 2010 Vampire Bund (Mina Tepeş), Shiki (Sunako), Samurai Girls (Juubee), Pokémon: Black and White (Iris). 2011 Madoka Magica (Madoka), Gosick (Victorique), A-Channel (Tooru). 2012 Symphogear (Hibiki). 2014 Pilot's Love Song (Claire/Nina), Nanatsu no Taizai (Diane). 2015 Owari no Seraph (Krul Tepes), Rokka no Yuusha (Fremy). 2016 Boku no Hero Academia (Tsuyu, Froppy). 2017 Kino no Tabi (Kino). 2021 Kumo desu ga (watashi), Kaizoku Oujo (Karin), Heike Monogatari (Biwa), etc., etc. Total of 513 roles in anime and games.
My take on the cinematography of this episode is the Kyon's state of mind as each of the three members explain why they are there. Kyon is most confuse when Yuki is explaining, so b/w, fish eye, wide angle, and etc. When Mikiru is explaining, Kyon is only a little bit confuse. Only a few fish eye shots and echo of Mikru's voice in the beginning. And when Kyon ask Itsuki to explain, so no weird effects only lower and tilted angle shots.
PS, my take on the background music is that the music reflect the personality of the three members.
My take on the cinematography of this episode is the Kyon's state of mind as each of the three members explain why they are there. Kyon is most confuse when Yuki is explaining, so b/w, fish eye, wide angle, and etc. When Mikiru is explaining, Kyon is only a little bit confuse. Only a few fish eye shots and echo of Mikru's voice in the beginning. And when Kyon ask Itsuki to explain, so no weird effects only lower and tilted angle shots.
This was a total shock. With the most dialogue and exposition so far in the show, you'd believe it'd be a snore. I should have never of doubted the win of Mikuru in a maid outfit.
KyoAni once again exceeded my expectations in every way.
Couldn't stop laughing at the club's mission.
Spoiler:
"I don't mind joining but what does this club do?"
"I'll tell you! SOS brigade is about finding aliens, time travelers, espers and to play with them!"
rofl.
Thoroughly enjoyed this epsiode, and I can't wait for the sub.
Spoiler for Random thoughts:
Mikuru looked so lovely in this episode even though she had to deal with Haruhi's antics. Kyon gets alone time with her too? Lucky. I'm just wondering if the fansub can explain all that xD Good thing I read the translations.
Next ep: Wait...Yuki finally gets a change of outfit? That doesn't make sense D: Curious to see how that episode turns out.
I think people who are watching the raw will find this episode abit of a drag, its by far the mose dialogue intense so far, i suspect all you Monolingo viewers, will be tearing your hair out for the subs. it just can't come fast enough.
On the upside, its still enjoyable, visual gags and scenes that you just seem to "understand" what they are saying, either from words you recognise or from reading the novel. kudos to kyoani.
Definately can't wait for it!
Oh and as for the next episode. i love you kyoani. It's skipped so far ahead not even the translated Novel readers have got that far!
It'll be total surprised for all Mono-Eigo fans! banzai!
This episode is pivotal as it serves as the foundation for everything so far. Do not skip this one even if it is dialogue-heavy. (or wait for the sub, or even goto vol1 ch2-4 of the wiki and give that a read-through). You won't regret it.
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It would be enough for the depressing things in life to only exist in reality.
It is because that I think the birth of a story... is from people dreaming of a happy ending. ~Misaka Shiori
Yuki explanation FTW! Suitably other-worldly and confusing I am now officially glad I followed the novel and thus was able to identify more words than without. My Japanese listening comprehension isn't built for the speed and lingo-laden explanation.
Spoiler:
Though I was half expecting a brilliant flash of light across the globe floating in the background when the "explosion" was mentioned.
Going back to what some people mentioned about fitting the 'style' of animation to the 3 explanations, Mikuru's explanation on the other hand with its fade-ins and fade-outs of dialogue, resulting in a skipping over/jumping through different points of her "the nature of time" explanation, seems suitably time-travel-ish to me.
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"Every man has two countries, his own and France" - Attributed to Thomas Jefferson
I usually watch episodes of Haruhi once over zoning out the dialog to appreciate the little things KyoAni puts into the show. Luckily this time, the staggering amount of dialog proved easy to ignore the first time through
Anyone else notice Yuki staring in interest at Kyon and Mikuru playing othello? For any other studio, a small detail like that would have probably been overlooked. I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I watched Yuki turn her blurred head towards the two until she finally appeared right beside Kyon.
Ah and it's the first time I've had a moment of wavering stance for Haruhi. Mindyou Mikuru completely cheated with her hairstyle (my secret weakness...damn) otherwise I would've been for Haruhi's epic genki-ness
They just decided to get all the revelations out of the way at once ... I guess it's the most efficient, but it'll probably make this one of the more "boring" episodes of the series if you're not into hefty talking
They just decided to get all the revelations out of the way at once ... I guess it's the most efficient, but it'll probably make this one of the more "boring" episodes of the series if you're not into hefty talking
That could be the reason why they threw in another episode mixup for next time, just to balance the "boring"
Then again, a nice action scene could also remedy the "boring" parts of the previous episode. Regardless, the massive walls of dialogue (sometimes even literally) were, as mentioned before, needed to set the stage for the remaining episodes.
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