Question about Haruhi DVD/Broadcast order (No spoilers, please)

[Botman]

I'm considering picking up this series, due to the fact that it reminds me of Azumanga Daioh, but then I heard that the DVD episode order differs from the original TV broadcast order.

Being that I can be a little obsessive over watching things in order, I was wondering what the reason was behind this, what episode order the series was truly meant to be seen in for first time viewers, and recommendations on what I should do.

Please, do not put any series spoilers in this topic if it can be avoided. I know next to nothing about this show, and I'd like to keep it that way. Thanks in advance, and please bear with me if I have even more questions after this.

[Roman Legion]

Your dedication to seeing things properly is most admirable.
Why can't everyone be like this? :crying:

Start with the broadcast order.

Haruhi was originally aired achronologically, that is, not in a chronological sequence. Why? Because it's paced that way, as suggested by the author of the source material. (Not a spoiler, btw.)

When the series went to DVD in Japan, the episodes were rearranged into chronological order. Some believe the original order was a publicity stunt, but the evidence would indicate that the DVD order was more or less for publicity, as in, "You've seen it one way, now see it again, in chronological order!"

When Haruhi was licensed for the US, contract required a release in chronological order. Some took this as evidence of being an "authoritative" order, but I recall that, were Haruhi ever broadcast, the contract would require the original broadcast order.

You only get once chance to experience the full mystery and puzzlement of the broadcast order. Start there. Once you've seen things chronologically, you'll already have stuff figured out, so the broadcast order's appeal will likely be lost on you. Alas, the broadcast order disks only come with the special edition.

Final tip, no matter which order you go with (broadcast!), don't let the first episode put you off. It's supposed to be that way.

--Romey

[Botman]

Thanks. That's just the kind of detailed explanation I was looking for.

I just found out that it was already in the US earlier tonight, and I'll see about picking up the limited edition.

[Roman Legion]

Much welcome. You could wait for all the disks to be released, find a chart mapping DVD order to broadcast order, then swap disks around and hope you haven't made a mistake, but darnit, that'd be a pain... At least with the special edition, you get disks with both orders, among other things. So no hassle, either way about it.

You might wanna wait until the second volume is available.
From what I've heard, the broadcast order disks don't begin until then.

--Romey

[Nobuyuki sama]

Much welcome. You could wait for all the disks to be released, find a chart mapping DVD order to broadcast order
Happily provided by Bandai/Kadokawa (http://asosbrigade.com/oplet01/) (caution: including the episode titles, if that's an issue). ;)

[Botman]

You might wanna wait until the second volume is available.
From what I've heard, the broadcast order disks don't begin until then.

I've done some research, and that not the only issue I'm going to have.

I found out that the broadcast order bonus disks will be sub-only, which may not be a problem for some, but it is for me.

The way you stressed the importance of the broadcast order is only making this more stressful now. I doubt I'll have enough money to get all 4 volumes at once, and then there's the matter of the episode previews, and the availability of the limited edition versions...this is getting to be a lot of trouble.

[Roman Legion]

I knew there'd be trouble for newcomers - those who care or know there's something odd going on, anyway. It's unfortunate that the DVD situation is apparently the best that could be arranged.

--Romey

[HG Revolution]

But Episode 11 is the first episode shown on the first American DVD. Did the "00" joke make it an exception to the rule, or are the American DVDs going in the achronological order?

[Botman]

Ok...now to make sense of this. According to the list, I can watch the first 5 episodes if I purchase the first 2 volumes, the second of which will be coming out in about 2 weeks. After that, I have to wait until volume 3 comes out before continuing.

Concerning the episode previews: are they simply featured as an extra alongside the accompanying episode? And if so, I assume I should watch that before the episode itself, then?

[Roman Legion]

But Episode 11 is the first episode shown on the first American DVD. Did the "00" joke make it an exception to the rule, or are the American DVDs going in the achronological order?The American release (Standard Ed) is in chronological order.
Episode "00" is the only exception, appearing first in both orders.


Ok...now to make sense of this. According to the list, I can watch the first 5 episodes if I purchase the first 2 volumes, the second of which will be coming out in about 2 weeks. After that, I have to wait until volume 3 comes out before continuing.Good luck working it all out. =)


Concerning the episode previews: are they simply featured as an extra alongside the accompanying episode? And if so, I assume I should watch that before the episode itself, then?The episode previews will be different, depending on the set you watch. If you re-order the DVD order disks yourself, you might as well skip the previews, as they won't apply anymore and may add more confusion. You won't miss out on any plot tidbits, just a bit of random dialogue, and you can always rewatch them later.

--Romey