Haruhi season 2 episode 5: Endless Eight (part 4)

We have been trolled once again…

Yes, despite how much we all desired it, this was not the final part of “Endless Eight.” This episode followed the same pattern as parts 2 and 3, with Kyon and the others finding out about the endless summer, but in the end Kyon is unable to come up with the one fulfilling activity they need to do in order to satisfy Haruhi. While I was watching this episode, I was almost certain it would be the final part, considering the fact that Kyon had way more deja vu in this episode that he did in the previous ones, especially during the pool scene (this was also one of the rare times that Haruhi took off her yellow ribbon). In addition, the last scene where they’re in the cafe before Haruhi leaves and Kyon tries desperately to figure out what final activity to do, seemed to come sooner in this episode than in the last few, which I thought would then provide the extra time needed to wrap up the “Endless Eight” saga…but unfortunately that didn’t happen >_< Putting the frustration that this was not the final part aside, I actually liked this episode better than the last couple of "Endless Eight" parts because there were a lot of interesting metaphoric symbols floating around, such as the airplane and clouds that Kyon was constantly envisioning, and well as the movie theater scene towards the end where he later relates the scene to himself and Haruhi. But even well made cinematography could not save this episode from being a dispensable addition to the number of "Endless Eight" cycles. It was also quite painful watching Yuki having to relive yet another cycle of the endless summer. It's amazing how she can be expressionless, and yet you can still see the sadness and hopelessness in her face throughout all these episodes. Although it's not as I originally thought, I still think there’s some symbolism going on with the way KyoAni arranges the characters of the “Endless Eight” title at the beginning of each episode. With this episode, the characters looped all around the screen, so perhaps next time there will be an opening in the loop, thus ending the endless summer.

Anyway, here’s hoping that next week will be the final part of “Endless Eight,” though I don’t know what to think anymore XP Who would’ve thought that one of the shorter stories from the novels would take up so many episodes? As I said last time, this strategy that KyoAni is trying to pull has its good and bad points, but the longer it drags on the worse it’s gonna get at this point. I’m sure even the seiyuus must be getting tired of saying the same lines over and over again XP If “Endless Eight” ends up being six parts, the same number as the longest Haruhi anime arc so far, “The Melancholy,” which is an entire novel’s worth of material, that will be pretty outrageous XP

Note: I will probably be unable to review the new Haruhi episodes for the next 3 weeks because I will be in Japan on a study/travel program. I don’t know how much time or Internet access I will have while I’m there. You can still check back the next few Thursdays just in case but it’s not likely. I should hopefully resume my reviews on Thursday, August 13th, if it’s a new episode.

UPDATE: Actually, I may still have time next Thursday for one last episode review. Hopefully I’ll be able to leave on my trip with satisfaction, knowing that “Endless Eight” finally ended XP In the meantime, you can check out some theories (first two comments are mine) on why “Endless Eight” is going on like it is.