Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episode 25 (Completed)

What's this - Only a single episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya this week? Could it be that we're finally coming towards the end of this series of mini-episodes? Well, this is Haruhi we're talking about so who knows, but seeing as this episode is twice the length of a normal instalment I would imagine it's simply a production time thing.

Anyhow, episode twenty-five is bookmarked in brilliant fashion, beginning with the credits of a Haruhi Suzumiya visual novel and ending with Kyon being shown around said visual novel by its creator, which is course none other than Yuki Nagato. Given the amount of blood and guts in the game, I can only assume that Nagato has taken her influences from School Days...

That aside, the mainstay of the episode is an attempt by Haruhi to stave off boredom by designing some new clothes for Mikuru - A plan which goes badly off track thanks to Haruhi's far from stellar drawing skills, somehow leading us down the path (thanks to the equally poor artistic abilities of Tsuruya) of an idea for a special effects movie. A really funny episode overall, and definitely worthy of its longer than usual running time.


Meanwhile, Nyoron Churuya-san hits unlucky number thirteen in its episode count - Then again, luck and Churuya don't exactly go together in the first place. Of course, the usual hilarity ensues in this instalment, from the thwarting of Churuya's efforts to have fun in the snow, through to her three in a bed romp with Kyon and Achakura... Well okay, it's hardly a romp, but it got you thinking, right? Anyhow, the climax of the episode sees Churuya dream of the day when everyone bows down to worship the wonder of smoked cheese, and I think that's a dream that we can all get behind and wish for as the future of humanity. Banzai smoked cheese!

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 23-24

It wouldn't be Friday without a couple of episodes of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya to digest... Which means that the world will become weekend-free once this series finishes I guess. Damn.

Anyhow, episode twenty-three sees Haruhi try her hand at hosting an impromptu talk show, but even her very best Terry Wogan impersonation (okay, she doesn't actually try that... it would be too surreal even for this show) while interviewing Kyon brings forth nothing of worth, leaving us all to stare off into the distance and watch Mikuru in a maid outfit playing with a pet lion, and making for a pretty irreverantly funny little episode.


Episode twenty-four on the other hand takes us to a rainy day at Yuki's apartment, making life rather difficult when it comes to drying the laundry. As so often seems to be the case, Nagato's fix for this problem seems to involve doing freaky things to Kimidori the balloon dog (how soon until he gets his own spin-off series?!), although this ends up back-firing. With that out of the way, the episode finishes with a literal bang, as Ryoko and Kimidori find that Yuki's idea of relieving boredom seems to involve immersing yourself in some kind of 24-esque scenario.


Finally, and gloriously, where would we be without some Nyoron Churuya-san to round things off? Rather unseasonally, it's Christmas in this instalment, and as per usual these brief two minutes had me laughing more times that I have during the rest of the week in its entirety, with the phrase "Sorry, I don't speak human" absolutely slaying me for some reason. This is the stuff of genius, and I simply can't get enough of it.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 21-22

Time for another The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya double-bill, and this time around our double helping of insanity kicks off with a surprisingly action-packed little number.

Thanks to Tsuruya obtaining some free tickets to the "Supernatural battle show" (which is of course in no way a take on Power Rangers), and due to Yuki's enthusiasm towards it, the SOS Brigade get to enjoy a Sunday out. Of course, this being what it is the good and bad guys in this particular event are played by Mr. Arakawa and Miss Mori respectively, with the latter ending up in an epic battle with Tsuruya. Meanwhile, Kyon and Koizumi pass the courtesy of a 100,000 piece jigsaw (as you do), but even they aren't entirely immune to the side-effects of Tsuruya's big fight.


Meanwhile, episode twenty-two has Ryoko doing the housework, and very serious she is about it too. That's pretty much all there is to it apart from an obvious gag or two, which somehow makes it all the more amusing. You still can't beat Kyon's jigsaw puzzle despair in the previous episode though.


Never mind though, because Ryoko gets yet more screen time in the latest instalment of Nyoron Churuya-san, where she tries to remove her name from a test because Kyon had forgotten to write his, only he actually had. Thus, we're left with Ryoko and Churuyahaving to resit the exam. I won't spoil the rest of the gags (a number of which had me laughing out loud), but I'm sure you can guess at least a couple of them without even watching the episode. As usual, hilarious stuff.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 19-20

It's Christmas! Well, it is in The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya world anyway. That can only mean one thing - A Christmas party for everyone... except Kyon of course.

Naturally, Kyon's job is to protect the SOS brigade from the threat of an evil Santa out to destroy them and their club, although given that thought Haruhi seems to be entirely too pleased when "Santa" actually appears. Mildly amusing stuff, and I got a kick out of how the arrival of "Santa" actually tied in to a much earlier episode.


Meanwhile, episode twenty fast forwards us to April Fool's Day, with mini-Ryoko and her balloon dog companion Kimidori (you know, when I type it like that I have to wonder what drugs the episode writers have been taking) trying to play a couple of pranks on Nagato. Naturally, Yuki is having none of it, coming back with an evil prank of her own, and giving us a brief dose of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya's ridiculous hilarity at its best.


Last but not least, do I really need to mention how hilarious is Nyoron Churuya-san is yet again? From trying to smoke some smoked cheese to getting lured into the Windows Recycle Bin with smoked cheese (which is officially the funniest thing I've seen all week), as per usual episode ten had me laughing long and hard.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 17-18

The blossoming of cherry trees is always a time of peaceful introspection and wonder at the beauty of nature... Unless you're Haruhi that is, in which case chances are you'll start pondering the possibilities of burying bodies under said blossoming cherry trees.


So goes these latest two episodes of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, with a blossom viewing party turning more into a "let Kyon dig a big hole while we enjoy ourselves" party. Luckily for him, Kyon gets some assistance with his hole-digging (albeit unwittingly), but there appears to be more ominous forces at work, between Tsuruya's behaviour and the discovery of some mysterious gem...

There isn't all that much funny stuff on show in these two episodes, I hjave to admit, but who knows maybe it's building up to something glorious next time around as the end of episode eighteen seems to suggest.


No such problems for Nyoron Churuya-san however, which manages to be as funny as ever. This time around it's school sports day, and needless to say having such a diminiutive height can be quite an issue when it comes to most athletic events. Churuya's attempt at the three-legged race was priceless, although I actually felt a little cruel for laughing at Kyon deliberately throwing balls at her head. Nyoron....

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 15-16

No week is complete without a double bill of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, which if nothing else allows us to put aside our questions about whether we'll be seeing a second season of the show proper soon or not.

If you're looking from a distraction from such thoughts, then episode fifteen delivers it in spades with possibly the most hilarious couple of minutes of this series so far. Using the balloons procured last episode, Yuki tries her hand at making balloon animals in her own inimitable style, with impressive (yet at the same time terrifying) results. The episode ends with another of those great pieces of comedy whose inevitability doesn't diminish the fact that it's just downright laugh out loud funny.


Next up is some kind of Haruhi-led cooking show - "These aren't just instant noodles, these are The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya cooked for fifty hours noodles..." It has to be said that Haruhi's cooking skills are somewhat outdone by Nagato's skill with a sword, although she does appear to be cheating by programming it into "homing mode" - Something which gives Kyon confidence to give it a try, with slightly more painful results.


Finally, where would we be without another instalment of Nyoron Churuya-san, which could probably be subtitled "Tsuruya is entirely too short". Too short to fish and too short for a group photo - Nyoron.... Again, we can close with a classic line from this episode; "I want to become a shell". Funny stuff, as usual.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 13-14

Once again it's The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya time again, with another double bill of episodes on offer. Episode thirteen (rather aptly, all things considered) takes in Halloween, with Haruhi seemingly clueless as to how this particular event should be celebrated. So, what we end up with is an immensely scary prop, kitted out with a somewhat ruined pumpkin on account of Nagato's exacting nature. Oh, and real bats.


Episode fourteen on the other hand proves to be far funnier in its own bizarre way, with a balloon and blowgun fight between Kyon and Haruhi leading to the "death" of Mikuru. Never ones to let such opportunities go to waste, this state of affairs leads to a balloon art contest between the pair of them as they try to decorate the "tomb" upon which Mikuru is crucified. No, I don't know what's going on either in the script writer's minds either, but it's bloody hilarious.


But, of course, where would we be without Nyoron Churuya-san? Nowhere, that's where, and thankfully we're regaled with another new instalment here. It probably goes without saying that this is the funniest short segment of the day, but I really cannot begin to describe the hilarity that is the Churuya's Great Great Adventure video game displayed here. By the end of it I'd fallen off my seat in tears of laughter, it's utter, utter brilliance.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 11-12

It's time for another double bill of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya (and of course we can't forget another episode of Nyoron Churuya-san) - What craziness can Haruhi et al get up to this week?

Episode eleven brings us an event at Yuki's house, with the female characters working on making some Valentine's Day chocolates, even if Haruhi's initial plan for a life-size naked Mikuru chocolate is dashed. A shame really, it sounds delicious... Of course, for the duration of their visit Nagato has had to hide mini-Ryoko in a box, bringing us the joy of a Ryoko-in-a-box when they leave. I laugh at the daftest things sometimes.


The Valentine's Day theme continues into episode twelve, with Itsuki and Kyon given chocolates by Haruhi, Mikuru and Yuki.... well, on the condition that they have to work for it and suitably impress the ladies, that is. For some reason, Itsuki decides that dressing and acting as male "companions" would be the best way to impress them, which has the rather more predictable outcome of making them look like idiots. Oh, and causing Mikuru to cry in the most disturbing and strange way.


As usual however, it's episode six of Nyoron Churuya-san which makes me laugh at the most random things, like a good luck charm that says "No way", Tsuruya being taken to a festival in a backpack, and a gravestone for some smoked cheese. RIP smoked cheese. Nyoron...

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 9-10

It seems that it's time for another double bill of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, with the series taking ever more bizarre turns in its bid to amuse and entertain.

Episode nine involves the creation of a drama, which (thanks to ideas posited by all of the SOS Brigade members, which Haruhi receives entirely too warmly) ends up as some kind of scenario involving maids fighting to the death - Certainly not good news considering that Kyon is paired up with Nagato in the first battle...


Meanwhile, episode ten features some more mini-Ryoko, as she attempts to reach the bathroom sink before inadvertently giving Nagato a head injury, and then trying to make her way out of the house before the appearance of a neighbourhood cat gives her pause for though (or should that be "paws for thought?" Haha. Ha. Ahem). Not particularly great episodes on either count it has to be said, but you can't win them all.


The same cannot be said of episode five of Nyoron Churuya-san however, with its miniature episodes that never fail to crack me up with their utterly bizarre pointlessness. Wandering off with a model Tsuruya? "You will die"? It's hilarious.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 7-8

It's time for another double-bill of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, and this series of brief web episodes really seems to be getting into the swing of offering a more Haruhi-esque experience in terms of both visuals and storylines (if you can call such short episodes stories) without losing the humour that made those first episodes pretty funny.

Episode seven sees some kind of hastily arranged SOS brigade "sports day" (or "wow, lots of girls day" according to Haruhi - She certainly knows how to market an event), which brings us a shocking, nigh-on literally world ending confession from Kyon (and Haruhi's priceless expression below), followed by perhaps the main attraction, a tug-of-Kyon in the absence of any rope for a proper tug-of-war. Mildly amusing and entertaining stuff.


Meanwhile, episode eight features a "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" festival, where Haruhi makes the shocking revelation that she's decided to be nice to demons, while also featuring bean throwing and other Japanese customs that I don't really have a clue about. Mini-Ryoko also makes an appearance, getting captured and dressed up in a kimono by Nagato for Japan's Girls Day on March 3rd (a cultural reference that I do get).


Also, we finally... finally get another episode of Nyoron Churuya-san to enjoy, with episode four proving to be suitably bizarre yet hilarious. The highlight of this episode is Churuya equipping herself with a "silent mode", much like a mobile phone on vibrate. There's nothing more I can say about that, it just made me laugh. A lot.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episodes 5-6

Still no new Nyoron Churuya-san (much to my chagrin), but we now have a new double bill of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya to enjoy. Is it just me, or has the animation quality improved in these two short episodes?

First up is episode five, with the computer club challenging the SOS club to a game of dodgeball... on the computer of course. Haruhi is having none of it, so what we're left with is a real game of dodgeball, made more than a little high octane thanks to Haruhi's subconscious bending of the laws of physics. It's the kind of thing that makes me wish she was an Arsenal fan.... Anyway, I digress - This could almost have made for a full-on episode of a second season of Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, as it seems like the most "focused" mini-episode of this run thus far.


Onward to episode six things return to a more comical nature, with Nagato's new-found otaku status now apparently extending to cosplay, causing a heated battle between herself and Mikuru in the process. We then move on to the infinitely amusing possibilities of Nagato's home life with the new, miniaturised Ryoko, who takes offence to being offered up baby accessories, despite it making for (in turn) an awesome merry-go-round and a great behicle for karaoke. Not absolutely laugh out loud funny perhaps, but it made me smile.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episode 4

The fourth instalment of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya gets a longer running time of close to four and a half minutes this time around, with what seems to be a continuation of Yuki's spiralling otaku tendencies, caught between gaming and looking at inappropriate images of Mikuru.


That aside, Ryoko manages to "revive" herself in this episode, albeit rather smaller in stature than she'd planned. Cue a hilarious gag involving her sat on a folded cushion... A spot of pure hilarity in an otherwise pretty average episode.

No sign of episode four of Nyoron Churuya-san at present though. Nyoron....

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episode 3

Every episode so far of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya seems to be getting more and more random - Not that this is a bad thing, as however short they may be each episode also seems to be getting funnier and funnier.

This particular episode was two and a half minutes of surreal genius, with Haruhi holding a local quiz with questions on the Big Bang (that's not local!), the name of some passing dog, and pitting Kyon against a small truck. With a firework of course, to make it fair. Between that and Nagato with a siren/buzzer on her head, the entire thing left me laughing while simultaneously (and frequently) shouting "What the Hell is going on?!". Mission accomplished for this episode, methinks.


Meanwhile, Nyoron Churuya-san seems to be getting by on a mixture of a mini-Churuya being really rather adorable, and the repeated use of her catchphrase (which does seem to be catching, as I've used it a few times this week when things haven't gone to plan). It did make me laugh a couple of times as well, so it seems to be working somehow.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episode 2

After a relatively luxurious five minutes for its first instalment, episode two of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya gets less than three minutes to impress.


For some reason, Haruhi herself has seemed to turn into a clumsy, accident-prone comic distraction here, which doesn't really work in all honesty. However, far more amusing is Nagato's research into what makes humans tick, which appears to have reached the point of watching pornography on a laptop with the sound turned up too high. I suppose one chuckle out of three minutes isn't really something I can moan about.

Meanwhile, the second episode of Nyoron Churuya-san sees Churuya fail at rock, paper, scissors and fire drills, fail (yet again) to find smoked cheese and... well, just fail in general really. Nyoro~n.

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya - Episode 1

A new series of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya it ain't, but for us Haruhi fans we have to take what we can get these days. So, after a stalled start featuring a "nice boat", we finally get the four-panel manga based Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in streaming video form.


With only five minutes per episode, the focus is of course on getting laughs, and if this first episode is anything to go by in a suitably surreal fashion - This particular vignette features Kyon going to sleep, and waking up in some dream world with all of the other major characters "disguised" in various ridiculous fashions. With such simple animation, much of the core of the episode's humour is in the dialogue, and it actually worked pretty well at getting a few smiles out of me, proving to be amusing enough for my particular tastes.

Also released alongside this episode is another two minute short in the form of the first instalment of Nyoron Churuya-san - All I really have to say about this is "smoked cheese". It's random, but again it made me smile, so I can't really fault it for that.