The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Episode 2 Discussion / Poll [2006 TV ep. 3]

[dxgarten]

Originally Posted by rooboy666

Hook up has become my new favorite catchphrase, thank you dxgarten.

You're welcome.

I think Haruhi is a normal guy who prefers to see pretty women and is just realizing in his gut that he's surrounded by three women who are each very pretty in their own way

I think at this point in the story it's safe to say that's pretty much it. Suddenly joining SOS must not be such a bad extracurricular activity for him.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by eVaX

Hmm, I failed to really put this on the top of my head but Haruhi's VA really came out on top for this episode, whereas Mikuru has taken top awards for the first 2. Every time she makes that sound with that evil smile smile of her's, I feel all warm and tingly....

Credit to Hirano Aya, who is Haruhi's VA:



She's 18, had her first role at 15 as Monkey Momo in Tenshi no Shippo, is in four animes this spring (Haruhi, MagiPoka, NANA, and Himawari), actually sang the classical pieces her character sang in Canvas2, and is a first-year university student.

Mikuru's VA, Gotou Yuuko, is in my avatar and sig.

[Pepperidge]

Episode 3 really surprised me. That alone isn't saying much, because the first two both surprised me in completely different ways as well, but episode 3 really seemed to set a different tone for the show. It doesn't seem to be discussed much here, but I'm really starting to get the feeling that at its core, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is quite a dark satire.

I mean, Kyon's line "is this supposed to be a comedy?" makes it pretty clear that the extortion scene (or any aspect of Mikuru's exploitation, for that matter) definitely wasn't being played for laughs, despite the comedic music. There's definitely a lot more to this show than meets the eye, and the writing seems to work on many many levels. I'll keep watching in hopes that this trend continues and the show doesn't get crushed under its own weight. I generally don't go for this kind of series (ever), but so far Haruhi is something extremely unique. Personally, I think that a lot of the elements being emphasized or obsessed over are quite deceptive, which in itself is highly reflective of the first episode being done the way it was.

But maybe it's just me.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by npal

Well, if he likes being dragged around and having to walk through hell to please an incomprehensible mind, he can as well hook up with Haruhi I still think Mikuru is better. Even Yuki has her advantages

Yuki definitely has advantages! its the Rei Ayanami complex all over again!


ah.....she's so nostalgic, (my lost youth! GIVE ME BACK MY YOUTH!)

but she also has this cute non-verbal communication style.

While people keep going on about mikuru, I think those who like Yuki are the quiet ones here. Probably cos they know that Yuki could easily kick the arse of all the others except the Goddess herself.

As for what Pepperidge said, yeah we all obssessing over the superficial antics at the moment, but im sure its that magic underlaying mysterious story thats what pulling us under, it's just the icing on the sponge chocolate fudge ice cream filled cake, we can't wait to get into it.

mmmmmm.... get into cake.....

[Pepperidge]

I don't mean so much the story as the underlying themes, and I'm really getting the feeling that they contradict the superficial aspects of the show completely.

This show is moe, but at the same time anti-moe.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by Pepperidge

I don't mean so much the story as the underlying themes, and I'm really getting the feeling that they contradict the superficial aspects of the show completely.

This show is moe, but at the same time anti-moe.

ah.. so....philosophical.
I see, this show is also comedy, but at the same time anti-comedy.

no wait.

It's also comedy, but at the same time serious science fiction.

no. that doesn't work.

It's...ah. fudge it.

IT'S THE HARUHI EFFECT!!

HARUHIISM BANZAI!

[Eclipze]

Originally Posted by SoldierOfDarkness

Probably better safe than sorry, next thing we know some guys will come in and complain about how were spoilering episode 3 for them.

Err, I don't think anybody has rights to complain about spoilers regarding the very same episode. The only time a spoiler is not allowed would be if:
1) Its a novel spoiler.
2) Its a future episode spoiler (derived either from novels or some megazine).

[Danj]

Originally Posted by Pepperidge

This show is moe, but at the same time anti-moe.

Ooh.. forget Zen Buddhism, here comes Zen Haruhiism!

[rooboy]

Originally Posted by Leo_Otaku

Poor Mikuru ^-^" She is too afraid to fight back I guess. I'm totally going to get the SOS Haruhi H on my car XD.

This anime is so amusing ^-^

Spoiler:

My guess would be that Mikuru is not really as innocent as she appears (if she really is a time traveller). If her job is to divert Haruhi, then she seems to be doing a good job of it. She seems almost too perfectly moe to be real. Though whoever said that the time traveller bit (sorry, I'm too tired to go look back for the thread and find it) explains a heck of a lot in episode 2 was right. I didn't even think about it at the time, but a lot of the things Mikuru does make a lot more sense when filtered through that aspect.

I have to admit, after the first episode I couldn't see what the big deal was, it was well animated, and kind of funny, but it didn't seem like the kind of show to get excited about. Tonight I'm going to have to rewatch the first two episodes (normally when I watch anime it runs in a tiny window while I do other things) and actually maximize the screen. I had no idea there was this much packed into this series. I'm kind of hoping Tokyopop's novel brigade takes off so that they can bring this kind of stuff over.

[Vexx]

Yeah... "the duality of Zen Haruhiism" is probably the shortest description of this show one could muster (ignoring the other option of "whacked out, man!")

@rooboy

Spoiler:

thats sort of my take on Mikuru at the moment as well... she's been assigned a job she really doesn't enjoy but she's being a tragically good trooper about it. The mysterious remark when she spotted Yuki becomes less so under that context. Makes her even more moe (must hug and protect).

[Thelastguardian]

Originally Posted by Vexx

@rooboy

Spoiler:

she's been assigned a job she really doesn't enjoy but she's being a tragically good trooper about it.

Spoiler for a note from the novel:

Nah, she does enjoy it.

Spoiler for details:

When her future-self came back to help the main character, she reminisced about all the events and how fun those times were.

[Reppa]

Funny stuff. I just want to know why Kyon is able to talk to her. Is he like a deamon or somthing like that?

[panzerfan]

That he is so normal that he in turn becomes abnormal...

[rooboy]

I think it's more because he provides a kind of focus to her crazy-ness. As an example. She wants to meet unusual people, so she sits around and waits for them to come to her. Kyon suggests she join a mystery club. Haruhi's brain spins and decides to form her own club. Kyon is able to get her to go from sitting and thinking about what she wants, to actually going out and doing it.

Plus,

Spoiler:

I'm still partially convinced that Kyon has actually been created by Haruhi for this purpose. While he's a separate entity now, the only reason I think he exists is because Haruhi created him to help her achieve her goals (whatever those are, besides meeting weird people and randomly groping Mikuru). I forget who originally posted this idea, but it would seem right in line with the series.

EDIT: LOL! Though I like this reason too:

Originally Posted by panzerfan

That he is so normal that he in turn becomes abnormal...

[MihawkXGP]

This episode was brilliant. I really enjoyed it. Especially the way a certain person got that computer-that was great. 10/10.

[PastPrime]

Spoiler:

I have been wondering if Mikuru might be this series equivelent of Chibi Usa. Saying that it was inevitable that she would fall in love with a younger version of her father.

[felix]

Originally Posted by PastPrime

Spoiler:

I have been wondering if Mikuru might be this series equivelent of Chibi Usa. Saying that it was inevitable that she would fall in love with a younger version of her father.

Spoiler:

Are you suggesting Kyon is Mikuru's fa... fa... father... so who's the mother ... Haruhi ... meaning poor Mikuru got ruined for marriage by her own mother

Originally Posted by philip72

So is Haruhi chaos and Kyon order?

Spoiler:

Maybe Kyon is just part of Haruhi's imagination... you know... she wished for the perfect guy... or she wished she would meet the perfect guy

[Daniel E.]

Just finished watching eps. 3 and all I am gonna say is:

Best show I have seen this season.

I can only hope that the anime gods will forgive the fact that it took me more than 3 weeks to notice someone as Haruhi.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Originally Posted by BlackCatXIII

Spoiler:

Are you suggesting Kyon is Mikuru's fa... fa... father... so who's the mother ... Haruhi ... meaning poor Mikuru got ruined for marriage by her own mother

Spoiler:

Maybe Kyon is just part of Haruhi's imagination... you know... she wished for the perfect guy... or she wished she would meet the perfect guy

Well

Spoiler:

Mikuru is from the future afterall so it's not that impossible

[Onizuka-GTO]

mmm.... maybe...maybe...Mikuru will look at Yuki & Kyon and go... "Mama! Papa!"

lololololol