The Disappointment of Haruhi Knockoff-chan continues apace this week, with a hot springs episode that has to be the most by-the-numbers hot spring episode I’ve seen in years. It takes the Haruhi pedigree to trick me into watching a show that’d even consider tossing off an episode like this – episodes that just come fresh out of the factory fully constructed, no sharp edges or rough touches of personality left to distinguish them in their endless, undying ranks. C’mon, Nagato Yuki. I’m dying here.

My full episode review is here. Notes below!

They ran out of snacks. So they bought some snacks

“A Plot by Haruhi Suzumiya”

Nagato just staring at the bird and slowly resolving to touch it is pretty cute

The open-air bath is a matchmaking bath?

Koizumi and Kyon enjoying some tea

It’s pretty nice just watching the characters be themselves

Some fanservice in the changing room

Tsuruya’s bathing hair-thing is pretty great and ridiculous. Like a huge version of Kotori’s one

Another low-key episode. These conversations feel more natural and less canned, though

Man, these leg shots. Whole lotta fanservice this time

Haruhi and Tsuruya groping Mikuru, as girls apparently do

“Just as you’d expect from a hot spring”

“We now hold the Literature Club’s 15,000th Ping Pong meet” oh hey, Genshiken reference

Haruhi setting up a tournament and then immediately and overtly rigging all the games so she and Yuki are the final round is pretty great

And now time for karaoke

Mikuru’s thin, wavery singing voice is pretty great

Haha, the timing of Haruhi slamming the door on Kyon is great

And the cleaning lady humoring Kyon. Also great

Food time

The main chef is also the driver

The show continues to have very little to distinguish itself

Romantic tension between Kyon and Nagato continues to be a distant memory, sadly

Everyone just hanging out and doing their own thing in the evening. Classic vacation mood

“Ah… this is healing time.”

Uh oh, Kyon and Nagato gonna meet at the bath!