[anime review] The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya(ver.2009) 28 “Someday in the Rain”

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” which began airing in April 2006, changed the position of anime in Japan.As the age of the Internet began in earnest, its popularity spread among the youth.

This phenomenon is of great importance in Japan.”Dance videos” and “MAD videos” that originated with Haruhi fans have changed the public’s image of OTAKU culture.

The image of a healthy OTAKU culture created by Haruhi fans quickly spread through the Internet. It has improved the public’s image of anime and it spawned a lot of new anime fans.

But that’s not the only reason for Haruhi’s popularity.Another big factor is the science fiction based story. The character’s personality and the interesting stories were the deciding factors that led to the explosion in popularity.

The episode 28 reviewed here is a different story from the main story, and is about the daily life of Haruhi and her friends. Even without the sci-fi elements, the story is a great example of how fascinating the characters can be.

※This article is based on viewing as of December 17,2020.


28 “Someday in the Rain”

Episode 28 is 23 minutes 25 seconds(1405 sec). I divided this episode into four parts in the Japanese way. The method is “ki-shō-ten-ketsu“.

“ki” is the introduction. “shō” is the development. “ten” is the turn. “ketsu” is the conclusion.

I should say that all the divisions are done at my own discretion.


I’ll briefly introduce the characters and their club.

<Members of the SOS Dan(Spreading excitement all Over the world with brigade of Haruhi Suzumiya)>

Haruhi Suzumiya
Commander of the SOS Dan. The heroine of this work. She always looking for the unusual, always causing a ruckus and getting everyone into trouble.

Kyon
Main character.He and Haruhi are same class.

Mikuru Asahina
Senior girl and very cute.

Yuki Nagato
Quiet girl with glasses.She is always reading books.

Itsuki Koizumi
Deputy commander.Hruhi’s yes-man.

<Other people>

Tsuruya-san
A friend of Mikuru.

<Taniguchi and Kunikida>
Kyon’s classmates.

ki (122 sec + 238 sec)

0-32 
Monologue by Kyon. 32 sec

32-2:02 
Opening theme. 90 sec

2:02-2:42 
Club room. Stillness. 40 sec

2:42-3:47 
Memorabilia. 65 sec

3:47-4:01 
Haruhi appears! 14 sec

4:01- 4:25 
She got the stove. 24 sec

4:25-5:40 
Push to Kyon. 75 sec

5:40-6:00 
Kyon is leaving. 20 sec


ki

It begins quietly with Kyon’s monologue.And to break it up, Haruhi appears.In ki,It depicts the usual routine in the club room.

shō (240 sec)

6:00-6:16 
Kyon walking through the school building. 16 sec

6:16-6:50 
Haruhi closing in on Mikuru. 34 sec

6:50-7:20 
Kyon’s concerns. 30 sec

7:20-7:41 
A photo session with Mikuru in a maid outfit. 21 sec

7:41-7:50 
Kyung going down the slope. 9 sec

7:50-8:29 
Dress up Mikuru in a bunny girl outfit. 39 sec

8:29-8:35 
Kyon buys a ticket at the station. 6 sec

8:35-9:09 
A photo session with Mikuru in a maid outfit. Dress up Mikuru in a nurse uniform. 34 sec

9:09-9:14 
Kyon waiting for the train. 5 sec

9:14-9:50 
Haruhi in a groove. 36 sec

9:50-10:00 
Train arrives at the station. 10 sec


shō

Haruhi playing with Mikuru as a toy.The passage of time is expressed by changes in the temperature of the tea and the number of people at the station.Also interesting play of the camera with the audience in mind.In shō,It depicts the scene in the club room before Kyon gets on the train.

ten (495 sec)

10:00-10:06 
It’s going to start raining. 6 sec

10:06-10:12 
In the train. 6 sec

10:12-10:40 
Take off her stuffed animal. 28 sec

10:40-11:38 
Kyon receive the stove. 58 sec

11:38-13:54 
Nagato reading a book. 136 sec

13:54-14:00 
In the train on the way home. 6 sec

14:00-15:00 
Nagato notices something. 60 sec

15:00-15:40 
Taniguchi and Kunikida on their way home. It began to rain. 40 sec

15:40-16:00 
Kyon returns to the club room, drenched in the rain. 20 sec

16:00-16:17 
Tsuruya-san has come to club room. Nagato pointing at out of window. 17 sec

16:17-16:26 
Kyon climbing the slope. 9 sec

16:26-16:43 
Tsuruya-san joins the shooting for some reason. 17 sec

16:43-16:47 
Nagato reading a book. 4 sec

16:47-17:27 
Kyon talks with Tsuruya-san in front of the shoe box and returns to the club room. 40 sec

17:27-17:46 
A club room with only Nagato in it. 19 sec

17:46-18:15 
Shooting in the gymnasium. 29 sec


ten

The highlight is a scene of Nagato alone.A misterious time flows.Even in her brief appearances, Tsuruya-san is charming.In ten,begin to rain.

ketsu (245 sec + 65 sec)

18:15-19:00 
Installing a stove. Warming and calming 45 sec

19:00-19:30 
Kyon, whose eyelids are coming shut down. 30 sec

19:30-20:00 
Nagato stands up. 30 sec

20:00-20:15 
Kyon wakes up and flustered Haruhi. 15 sec

20:15-21:00 
Why was Haruhi still here? 45 sec

21:00-21:30 
One more cardigan. 30 sec

21:30-21:37 
One umbrella is enough. 7 sec

21:37-22:00 
Sharing an umbrella. Haruhi’s prank. 23 sec

22:00-22:10 
Kyung in disgust. 10 sec

22:10-22:20 
Beh! 10 sec


22:20-23:25 
Ending theme. 65 sec


ketsu

A lovely time until the club room warms up.Haruhi wanted to leave school with Kyon.This time,Kyon and Haruhi will go down the same path he went down alone earlier.In ketsu,the two of them leave school together.



Impressions

Haruhi, which gained popularity through anime and novels, spread through dance videos and MAD videos made by fans, invading reality from fiction.The movement was truly science fiction.

In episode 28, nothing like an incident happens. It’s just a coming-of-age drama with no futurists, aliens, or space aliens playing an active role. But even so, the metaphorical direction with the viewer in mind, and the scene in the club room that makes you feel as if you are in tune with Nagato, prove that this anime is an extraordinary work.

If you’re even slightly interested in Haruhi after watching this episode 28, I hope you’ll enjoy the main story from the first episode. I’m sure you can understand why Haruhi’s popularity exploded.