


It took me a while to watch this because of all the confusion. What most people have probably figured out by now, unless they’re like me and don’t have anything to do with the anime community, is that they’re re-airing Haruhi in chronological order. What that means is they’re also adding in the parts of the first two novels (and more, if they get that far I suppose) that didn’t make the jump to anime last go around. Which initially struck me as incredibly lazy, almost as lazy as the “new” FMA series. Then I thought about it for a little while, and I suppose it’s alright. I mean, Haruhi’s storyline is convoluted at the best of times, with the time traveling added on top of the first season’s broadcast order shenanigans. So this is fine, although liable to confuse just as many people. The first new episode in the now chronologically correct Haruhi was episode 8, followed by episode 11 (I think) as number two. Yes, we will hit a point where the bulk is new, but for now you’ll have to keep your ear to the ground and see what surfaces. Of course, if (when) they package the initial series and the new episodes together in one insuperable package with a premium pricetag, then I’ll be less understanding.
If you’ve read the novels (or the manga), this is the Tanabata episode, Tanabata being the fairly common holiday in anime where you write what your wishes on the slips of paper and hang them on the tree. Haruhi decides everyone in the SOS Brigade is going to celebrate it this year. Pretty simple stuff, and the first part of the episode is over pretty quickly.
That’s where the time travel starts, and cutting to the chase it turns out Kyon is the one who helped Haruhi draw that chalk message three years earlier, while she was in middle school. He gives his name as John Smith, which will become relevant later on, and accidentally persuades Haruhi to join North High, where there are plenty more interesting people according to him. It’s a fine episode, and a great introduction to the Back to the Future-esque shenanigans that begin to play a pivotal role in the series, in particular that day, three years before the present. You gotta love when strands of story are tied together in surprising ways.
The question which may be on some people’s minds is if it lives up to the last season, which is over three years old now apparently? I don’t know, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and really, they’re just ripping the story straight from the novel. There’s not much wiggle room, which I think has served the series well so far. Those anime people can really rip a series apart at the seams if given a chance. I liked the episode, and I’m glad Haruhi’s back.