I have watched the original series and movie and am a huge fan of it, but that being said, one should go into this show with an open mind and realize that this isn't the same show. If you hold onto your belief that the old characters will come back and do SOS Brigade shenanigans, then you shouldn't watch as the entire premise is different. There is no bigger picture or universal scale events, just an eccentric girl crushing on a guy that helped her at the library.
P.S. - I just finished writing this review and re-read the synopsis. Don't trust that, it's wrong. At no point is the literature club in danger. I don't find Asakura to be perky, that makes it sound like she's energetic which is wrong; she's closer to a doting onee-san. And what's this "court her crush" thing? It should be "wanting to get closer to the person you admire" type of thing. Not outright seeking romance, but to further develop their relationship. Why are Tsuruya and Mikuru described like that? They're literally just friends that like to visit; the synopsis makes them sound like annoying antagonists when they really only get like 4 appearances. MAL descriptions can be weird sometimes.
Story (8/10):
So, that being said, it's not like it's a special story. Girl meets boy, they go to the same school, same club, and try to get closer. While there is progress there by the end of the series, the story is primarily character driven where we can see the changes that occur within characters over the course of the series. Unlike many other shows of this nature, the beginning and ending of the series show clear developments have been made.
Art (8/10):
Haha, I've seen that a lot of people are put off by the change in art style. If such a small thing bothers you then okay, don't bother watching. It should be obvious to not expect a KyoAni art style and to instead expect a style that fits a school, slice of life, romance, comedy. I for one think the art style suits the narrative well. Bubbly and light like Nagato's new easy-going personality.
Sound (8/10):
As a slice of life, the selection of music leans towards the light, relaxing side. In terms of direction, I find it to be used well in general. No spots where it seemed out of place and listening to Chihara Minori sing is always a pleasure.
Character (9/10):
To address the elephant in the room, yes, Nagato's character has changed significantly from the original. Is this a bad thing? No of course not, I gave it a 9. Imagine if alien Nagato starred in this show; it'd be ultra boring. Alien Nagato works well in the original because we know she's an alien with orders to not stand out but is over time more affected by emotions that she didn't realize she had. To expect the SAME THING from a different show despite using the same characters is nonsense. Her background, personality, mission/goals, and growth are COMPLETELY different, thus the change in character to one that fits better and is frankly more entertaining in this setting.
Aside from the elephant, the other characters are actually pretty faithful to their original personalities with some minor changes: Haruhi is not as lacking in empathy, Asakura is not unsettling, Asahina is not a baby nor does she suffer any great pains or abuse at the hands of Haruhi, and Kyon isn't as sarcastic. The dynamic that worked well in the original apply to here as well with the addition of Asakura who fills the void of voice of reason. Likable people all around.
Enjoyment (9/10):
The only reason this isn't 10 is because it was sorta slow sometimes. Enough that it was noticeable, but not enough to takeaway immersion. Seeing the dorky actions of Nagato was endearing and seeing relationships beyond mere club members was nice. The prominent arc later in the series (Disappearance) especially takes the experience to another level. To achieve a drastic change in tone and narrative without disturbing the flow or suspension of disbelief is incredible and deserves praise. Direction is taken up a few notches and the new character introduced is quickly likable despite the differences from the main cast.
Overall (9/10):
Don't expect SOS Brigade shenanigans here. As its own standalone, this show stands up well. A slightly different yet familiar setting makes this an easy watch to enjoy. By all means, think of it as an alternate world, but that means to... think of it as an alternate world. They may not be the same as you knew them, but deep down, they're still the dorks we love.
