Forum - View topicREVIEW: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya DVD 3
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CaptainAvatar
 Posts: 381 Location: Saint Louis, MO |
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Although I personally prefer the original performances, the dub has been enjoyable with Crispin's Kyon being the highlight. I did prefer getting the 2-part island mystery episodes together (whereas they are split up in the broadcast order). I have picked up the special editions, but looking back on it now I doubt I would do it again. Although the broadcast DVD's are nice and I certainly enjoy the CD's, the fact is the songs on all the CD's could have easily fit on one CD, and I could live without the extra DVD's. I'm sure some folks love the pillowcase, but I personally find that extra a little weird (Yes, now YOU can rest your head on Haruhi, Mikuru, and Yuki!).
Oh well, I still like the show. This is the most I have spent on a series, with the exception of Hellsing Ultimate that is! |
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WesW
 Posts: 144 |
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I saw the fansubs last year, and really enjoyed the show. Last month, I was running out of things to watch at my parent's house, and decided to watch the series again. I usually wait another year or so before going through a series the second time, so maybe this was a factor, but this time I didn't enjoy the show nearly as much.
Thinking on it, I wonder if this was because much of the show's entertainment value comes from Haruhi's attitude and audacity, rather than the one-liners and rapid-fire pratfalls that make shows like Azu-dai fun even after repeated viewings? For example, upon first viewing it was audacious and surprising how she went out and grabbed the girl to be the club mascot, and then went further in forcing her to wear those costumes. The second time around, you still remember Haruhi's personality and basically what she did with the girl, so you're not surprised at her actions, and therefore not nearly as entertained. Or, maybe I just never made a strong enough connection to Haruhi and her wish to be wildly different from every other human on the planet. I mean, most people want to be recognized for who they are as an individual, but we also want people we can identify and fit in with, things which Haruhi apparently wants none of. |
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Scaramanga
Posts: 135 Location: San Diego, CA |
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spoiler[Haruhi, being what she IS,] why would you expect her to behave anything like normal? Also, I don't know that you're supposed to sympathize with Haruhi's character. Now Kyon on the other hand... |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 11446 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Yeah, when I first saw that pillow case, I got one of those "weird/obsessed otaku" vibes, like how some of them have those body-sized pillow cases with moe characters in lingerie or whatever the crap. However, I actually have a lot of spare pillows for when my friends spend the night, though not enough pillow cases.. until now. It'll be interesting to see which one of them gets to sleep with the Haruhi pillow, hee hee  . That, or maybe I'll need to use it as a spare, since I.. tend to drool in my sleep on occasion and need to switch pillow cases until laundry day  .
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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I've already watched this series through in fansubs, and as I watch it again in chronological order I must agree that volume 3 is the series' weakest period. (Never much cared for the island murder-mystery episodes.)
I am much looking forward to seeing the festival episode in English in the next volume. Wendee Lee isn't known for her singing, so I will be curious to see how they handle that. |
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Randall Miyashiro
 Posts: 2451 Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park |
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To me this series seems to be pulling in too many directions. The comedy seems at odds with the darker themes which was the same problem I have with the very popular Welcome to NHK.
The other issue is that going through most of this DVD without any science fiction elements got a bit frustrating. It really feels as though they lost their direction, and I will agree that this is a weaker volume than the first two. It is especially a letdown after watching the excellent baseball episode from the last volume. Maybe this is due to the alternate episode ordering, and I will try to watch the entire series in English and broadcast order upon a second viewing. I had no idea what this series was about going into the first DVD. My expectations were high (much like NHK) since the thread for this series was so long. |
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Polly E.
 Posts: 140 |
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The show loses something for me in chronological order and I think it's that after the first 6 episodes everything else is more or less filler and episodic. It's GOOD filler...well maybe not the murder mystery 2-parter, but it just loses steam for me entirely. Even reading the original novels, a lot of the stuff is too "one shot" for me to enjoy it sometimes. Different strokes, different folks, though.
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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I don't think the problem is the shift to the chronological order, as I often found the episodes being out of order to be rather irksome. It's more that the three weakest episodes in the series, when put in chronological order, just happen to be back-to-back-to-back. Certainly not as sharp-witted a show during this period as it was in earlier episodes, but as Carl said, it's still better than a lot of the comedy drek out there.
And Randall, there's never really anything particularly dark or serious about this one, especially not compared to Welcome to the NHK. The murder-mystery episodes are as serious as the series ever gets. (And wasn't the whole think with spoiler[the cricket] sci fi enough for you?) |
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Randall Miyashiro
Posts: 2451 Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park |
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Although not as dark as Eva the themes spoiler[of closed spaces, and Haruhi ending the world] is somewhat of a downer for me. Two other series that really don't work as a comedy for me are the very popular Full Metal Panic and My-Hime, and considering how well they are received here I can say I'm definitely in the minority. I suppose I'm more of an Azumanga and Excel type of fan.
As for the SF angle I suppose that this volume was a let down after watching the really cool end of the second volume. The first episode of volume three felt like a low budget X-flies episode compared to the giants from the previous DVDs. I feel so conflicted with this series which seems to be so many genres in one. We can agree, this is the weakest DVD so far. |
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Dorcas_Aurelia
 Posts: 5344 Location: Philly |
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Well when the final disc will is released, you can eliminate the "so far" from the end of that sentence. Live Alive is one of, if not THE best individual episode of any anime. Day of Sagittarius is also quite spectacular, and also has more of a sci-fi feel to it. Someday in the Rain has a lazy feel to it, and it varies as to whether people think this is a good or a bad thing (personally, I think it's incredible). |
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the Rancorous
 Posts: 2248 Location: Hunting the Dragon in Gransys |
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Or more importantly, who will end up fighting over who gets the Haruhi pillow. 
Personally I found the pillowcase feature to be pretty humorous. I mean, the hair ribbon and armband are understandable for cosplaying or slapping on a jacket or back-pack like many people (myself included) do with band patches, but a pillowcase?? My pillow is too big for it, so no (literally) drooling over the SOS gals in PJs for me. *hopes for a Haruhi beer mug with vol 4* 
Well that's reasurring. I liked these 3 episodes, but I agree that they do not compare with what came before. Anyways, I was glad to see Tsuruya(sp) in the next-episode-preview. I'm not sure why, but I took a liking to her and want to see more. |
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