I hear/see a lot of people bashing this season for Endless Eight. Let me just get this straight: I loved Endless Eight, and would watch it again. This is my favourite series of all time, and I was not at all disappointed by this season.
Overall comments:
Kyoto Animation must have forgotten that they weren't drawing K-On. Mikuru's and Haruhi's faces looked like Yui's sometimes and Koizumi's face almost always looked like Mio's. That's the only complaint I have. As for the theme music, I liked Bōken Desho Desho (the first season's opening) better, but Super Driver was still good. As for the endings, I personally liked Tomare better than Hare Hare Yukai.
Arc 1: Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody (episode 1)
This was very close to its light novel counterpart (The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, chapter 2). No other comments.
Arc 2: Endless Eight (episodes 2-9)
I would not know how close this is to its light novel counterpart (The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya, chapter 1). This is the arc that everybody hates since it consists of a time loop and spans eight episodes of very similar material. However, there are minute differences that keep you guessing. The arc seems mostly like a mystery, where you have to guess at the cause. Though I haven't read this arc in the novels yet, I do know that it didn't have nearly as much of an impact in the manga, and I believe that I would like the anime version of this arc the most, even over the novel version. Kyoto Animation did a fantastic job on this arc, and was probably my favourite in the season.
Arc 3: The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya (episodes 10-14)
This is extremely accurate to the novel of the same name. Very well executed, mice effects. Very enjoyable.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this season. I liked it almost as much as the first season, and it makes me sad to see so many people hate it just because they can't appreciate Endless Eight.
