But wait? Isn’t the season over? Not quite for Yuki and friends as we will be getting a few more installments. Now that old Yuki is back, will things return to normal?
What They Say:
Episode 14: “Her Confusion”
After Yuki goes back to being her old self, the lives of the North High Literature Club members are also going back to normal, except for Kyon, who doesn’t know how to deal with the old Yuki due to knowledge of the other Yuki’s feelings towards him.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
After a weird dream where the two Yukis meet each other (and the old Yuki is woken up by the “newer” one), things slowly return to normal for Yuki (the original one). The person who seems to have the biggest challenge getting back to “normal” is Kyon. Understandable, since he’s still trying to process the love confession from the other Yuki.
But no rest for the lazy as the “noisy one” returns: yes, Haruhi is back and being Haruhi, she wants to do something for Tanabata (I have a (not serious) theory that most Japanese people ignore the holiday or do very little for it, just based upon how insistent Haruhi is on celebrating it grandly). So, time to steal some bamboo and for Haruhi to recall a memory from the past (in its own odd way, the alternate universe does retain some parallels to the “main” universe, so some knowledge of “Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody” might be helpful for viewers).
But the real story of this entire episode is to alert us to the strained relationship of Kyon and Yuki. Kyon’s unease is palpable throughout the episode. Added into the mix now, there is Haruhi as well, who has her own fragile and static-laden connection to Kyon. For in this world, “Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody” did happen, but not with time travel or any unnatural nonsense. Haruhi broke into East Junior High to write her message to the stars, but it was middle school Kyon who helped middle school Haruhi. And the stars did not reply. But the memory of that time has stayed with Haruhi all these years. Kyon may have forgotten all about it, but Haruhi has not…though it appears that she has come to terms with him and Yuki getting closer and closer. It’s clear that Haruhi harbors feelings for Kyon, but she’s not going to create a triangle.
All in all, I was slightly hesitant to leave the solid arc which was just completed, but this episode was very well handled. While it has to take into account the history of this particular time of year and how it plays out in the main Haruhi-universe, events are reinterpreted in a logical way that both stays true to the spirit of the original as well as the norms of this universe. Right down to the specific pseudonym Kyon seems to like employing no matter what world he is in.
Oddly enough, though, the greatest strength of this episode is that it gives us something that I think the main universe desperately needed at times: a more complex and layered Haruhi. Much as I enjoy the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, the enjoyment for me mainly comes from watching and listening to Kyon’s world-weary cynicism and resigned responses to Haruhi’s boisterousness. In that universe, Haruhi is, more often than not, fairly shallow because her main purpose is to drive the plot forward, the better for Kyon to comment about it all snidely from the side. I’m sure this opinion will not go down well with many, but take a look again at Haruhi in about 80% of the main franchise (there are times where Haruhi is given much greater depth) and you’ll see that her actions and mental state can be described in just a few words: impatient, demanding, energetic, and annoying (to Kyon’s desire to just sit and do nothing). She is more a plot device, a tool to create a conflict or drive the action forward, than a fully-realized character. She was given the same role at times in this show too, if one looks back at the hot springs “training camp.”
Here, we see a somewhat more thoughtful, pensive Haruhi. One who can enjoy a little nostalgia (at times, one doubts the main universe Haruhi could ever be nostalgic about the past. She would be too wrapped up in wanting to get on to the next adventure). One who can be wistful. One who can nourish an unrequited love without anger or jealousy (main universe Haruhi’s jealousy has threatened the existence of all life on more than one occasion). I like this Haruhi more, frankly. So, chalk up one for the spinoff, in that it managed to give us a Haruhi who is more like a real teenage girl than a plot device.
Again, I will give some credit to Satelight for adjusting well to different moods. The background music continues to match the changes of scene and tone very well, with comic riffs returning with Haruhi’s return, but quieter, softer pieces to provide the proper ambience to a more pensive Haruhi. The animation continues to be good, with some interesting framing and lighting choices. While the early part of the season felt a bit lost at times, with some vague wandering around romcom cliches, these past four episodes have found a firm footing and manage to stand tall.
In Summary:
The old Yuki is back and reconnects to everyone without too much trouble. The only one who seems to feel that things cannot go back to being exactly the same is Kyon. Well of course: the other Yuki just confessed her love to him. And she’s not the only one who has an interest in Kyon as we learn of Haruhi’s long-standing connection to our snarky young man. With Tanabata (the Star Festival, July 7th) coming back again, old memories come back. And the show comes back to the fuller cast but still stays at the higher level of the past few episodes.
Episode Grade: A-
Streamed by: FUNimation
Review Equipment:
Apple iMac with 4GB RAM, Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard