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Impressions:

So, most of the characters are properly introduced – Kyon, whose real name remains a mystery, Suzumiya Haruhi, Asahina Mikuru and Nagato Yuki, as well as Kyon’s two friends (Taniguchi and something else…) I’m still not quite sure as to when I became addicted to the series. Was it this episode? At around this time, many people would’ve started watching the series. Its popularity would’ve risen, but not drastically, as opposed to its popularity of 0 before it aired. No one had been expecting this series would turn out good, and I can say that few people watched the first episode when it aired (outside of Japan, I mean). I hadn’t caught on to this show until the third or fourth episode aired. By then, it was very popular so I had to have faith in random people’s opinions on the internet and watch through the whole first episode. This episode clears a lot of things up and establishes the real story. I think it’s the general, happy and carefree feel of the series that I like, as well as its high originality. I’m surprised a crazy concept as Haruhi being able to make whatever she wishes a reality drew me in, but I’m glad it did.

Summary:

Episode 2, the REAL first episode! Kyon had believed in ghosts, demons, espers, aliens, time travellers and secret government organisations for some time, but with his graduation of middle school, all those beliefs left him. He knows they cannot exist, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want it to happen. If only things like those could just pop up in front of him…

It’s the first day of high school and Kyon has just introduced himself to the class. Sitting right behind him is Suzumiya Haruhi. In her introduction, she asks if anyone in the class is a time traveller, slider, alien or esper. Obviously with this kind of introduction (and Haruhi was being serious) anyone would think she’s weird. Kyon tries to approach her, but is asked if he’s an alien. He says no and Haruhi immediately tells him to stop wasting her time. Kyon makes a few friends quite easily and he is informed of Haruhi’s abnormal behaviour in middle school. During the first month, Kyon observes Haruhi’s good grades and athletic ability, and thinks of what it would be like if she had a normal personality. He also notices that Haruhi’s hair changes everyday, supposedly as some form of alien counter-measure. Another peculiarity is that Haruhi has no shame, and sees boys as ‘potatoes’, in Kyon’s words, changing when there are guys around.

Despite all Haruhi’s abnormal ways, Kyon still gets the urge to approach her. He begins to talk to her more often and their conversations last longer, even though Haruhi is never in a good mood. Kyon’s friends are already noticing that Haruhi talks for longer with Kyon. One day, it is decided that everyone will be assigned new seats. Kyon receives a window seat, second from the back. He is quite pleased with this, until Haruhi winds up in the seat behind him.

After a conversation with Kyon, Haruhi comes up with the idea of forming her own club that hunts abnormal and mysterious things. She forces Kyon to help her, and does not even hear Kyon’s words as he complains. Haruhi uses the literary club’s clubroom as her own. There they meet Nagato who does nothing but read all day. Quite mysterious indeed… Haruhi recruits her, as well as a second grader (second grader of high school which means 11th grader), Mikuru Asahina. In my opinion, she is far too fragile and afraid of everything. Haruhi explains her reason for recruiting her – her cuteness and big chest. However, after pointing this out, she gets pissed because Mikuru’s is larger than hers. Finally, Haruhi names the club the SOS Brigade.

ED:

Popularity: 30% [?]