Be Reel Blog - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: An Adventure Into The Bizarre

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: An Adventure Into The Bizarre

I started the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, produced by Kyoto Animation Studio and adapted from a light novel series of the same name, after I learned about its premise: a girl named Haruhi Suzumiya has the godly power to change reality around her but doesn’t know it, so her friends have to keep her entertained to keep the world from getting destroyed. Like this premise, the show is bizarre and full of both fun and drama. Any adventure Haruhi drags her friends into, and any problems she causes for her friends, are always entertaining in one way or another to watch. It could be as silly as everyone using all means necessary to win a game of baseball in order to keep Haruhi happy, as action-packed as aliens fighting with powers beyond space and time, or as serious as reality literally changing because Haruhi is too immersed in her own imagination.

Despite the name and focus of the show, however, what really makes it all a joy to watch is the character beside Haruhi, Kyon. Kyon, voiced by Tomokazu Sugita, is the actual protagonist of the show, and the story is told from his point of view. He imbues the story with his own sarcastic narration, making what are simply bizarre situations and making them funny and entertaining. His relationship with Haruhi also makes for some the most heartwarming moments in the show. Haruhi and him have the closest connection of any of the characters, and it is a delight to see that relationship develop through its highs and lows.

Haruhi, voiced by Aya Hirano, herself is both the draw of the show and a major reason not to like it. She is manipulative, narcissistic bossy, and has a surprising lack of empathy. What made me uncomfortable was the tone the show took to her sexual harassment of Mikuru Asehina, a member of Haruhi’s friend group. Haruhi gropes Mikuru and force dresses her into suggestive costumes because her group needs a “moe girl.” The show comments lightly through Kyon that Haruhi could go to jail for it, and that it really isn’t nice to Mikuru, but exasperation is the farthest the show goes for a lot of the episodes. When, in a later arc, the show addresses the appalling treatment of Mikuru and Haruhi goes too far, the resulting dark shift in tone was full of poignant character conflict and tension. The only problem with it is that, in the two seasons of this anime, Haruhi herself doesn’t go through much of a progression, even after that darker arc. Everything goes back to the status quo everytime, which fits to the episodic nature of the show but also leaves something lacking.

Despite these minor faults, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a must-see classic for any anime fan, and for anybody in general. It is full of fun, humor, action, and memorable characters that will leave an impression on anyone who watches it.