The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Episode 24 Discussion / Poll [2009 added ep. 14]

[zzeroparticle]

Finally got around to watching this. I can say that this episode basically allowed the series to go out with a bang even if it wasn't enough to make up for all the crap the audience had to suffer through. Where this episode shined was in presenting the wealth of background information on the various factions that populate this particular universe and the stakes that these sides have in the outcome. Somehow, the wrangling strikes me as philosophers with sticks more than anything substantial, but I obviously don't have the background knowledge to do more than just speculate at this point.

[Heminga13]

I've got a feeling that KyoAni isn't really constricting themselves with series endings and are focusing more on the stories. Obviously the 2006 ending is now episode 6 of this airing, giving closure to the first arc instead of the whole series. Endless Eight VIII had a similar setup with an ending that felt to many like a 'season ending.' The Sigh arc is the latest example of this. Any future long story arcs might also feature 'closure' endings that discard the ED to wrap things up without necessarily being the last episode of the season, choosing instead to take tell the story one 'arc' at a time.