The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Episode 23 Review

Episode 23, "Endless Eight (Part 8)" (FINAL PART)


*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: This time around, Kyon has an idea. Realizing what Haruhi has said about doing her homework within three days, while he hasn't touched his, Kyon suggests the SOS Brigade go to his house and finish any homework they might have. Haruhi insists on coming as well, and so September 1st finally arrives. Kyon and Itsuki play cards in the clubroom.


 

Comments:

So, here we are. Finally, the "Endless Eight" episodes end. Eight episodes based on a single short story, no more than thirty pages long. Two more episodes than the adaptation of the entire first novel got in the first season. Eight ninths of the new episodes in the season thus far. After having waited for three years for more episodes, this is what we get.

What have we learned?

Well, for one, we've learned that some people will watch anything. Apparently, I must be one of those people, since I've sat through each and every one of these eight episodes, out of my duty towards my anime blogging. I committed to blogging the show back nine episodes ago, and I wasn't going to quit. Would I have quit otherwise? I'd like to think so, at least.

What else? Oh yes, we've learned that, for whatever reason, Kadokawa and KyoAni decided it was a good idea to let us wait three years for these episodes. Sure, why not? It's not as though there are several other books with Haruhi material to work with. This particular short story was deserving of eight episodes, right? Sure.

I'm sure that, with these episodes over, we're in for a whole boatload of new material! All that wait couldn't have been for nothing, right? Disappearance is just over the horizon! They surely wouldn't stick us with several episodes of Sighs and call it a season, now would they?

Let's face it. You can't trust this production company. See the ending credits in this episode? Look familiar, the way they set it up? Like the ending of a certain first season? Yeah, well guess what? It wouldn't surprise me one bit if this was it. If this was the meat of the new season. If we never get to see Disappearance, at least not this season, I could not be moved to shock. We've seen what these people are capable of, and it's not pretty.

Whether they did all this just to fuck with the fans or out of some pretentious "artistic" reasons, it's easy to suggest it was a complete waste of time, and yet, somehow, will likely be a selling point for the DVDs. Will I buy them? They'll have to be pretty tricky to get my money for it.

I have to admit, I liked the climax of this episode, where Kyon is screaming in the cafe about doing homework, leading Haruhi to nearly attack him for suggesting something without her approval, and then demanding to take part in it. It's a great scene. Probably one of the best in the entire anime. Does it compensate for all I've been through with "Endless Eight"? Not really.

Anyway, that'll be all about this. Hopefully. KyoAni execs will fall asleep tonight on a pile of money with many beautiful women (or at least a Mikuru hug pillow), laughing, while I will fall asleep with dreams of strangling them to death with the Haruhi headband that came in the first Limited Edition boxset of the first season DVDs, which otherwise has been of no use to me.

You win, KyoAni. Now shut the fuck up, get to Disappearance, and if I see Sighs, I'll...

Well, let's face it, I'll probably blog that, too. Fuck you guys.

Overall Score:

∞8


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