With the commencement of Endless Eight, the crazy volume numbers begin…

This actually came out almost a month ago, but the Royal Mails customs clearance process has a habit of adding a few weeks to the shipment time. Still, even if it had arrived in a prompt fashion, I’m not really sure I’d have much to say about it – replace Bamboo Leaf with the first two episodes of Endless Eight, and the no-credit ED with the no-credit OP, and the content on both the disks is the same as what was on the previous volume only with “Part 2” appended onto all the feature names.

But since when was a post about the Haruhi DVD release about the actual content? Never, of course – it’s all about the terrifying game of nerves as you gamble your money on that smallest of chances that you’ll get better extras than everyone else who’s buying the show. Well, not really, it’s about buying the show to watch, but that doesn’t really make much of a post at this stage in the game.

In any case, the score is now DiGiKerot 0, Kadokawa Pictures 2. CURSE YOU CHAIRMAN KADOKAWA!

Yes, once more I’m left devoid of the additional coaster or the super-rare film bookmark. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if these things actually exist, or if they are really just another part of the Epic Asshatery of Suzumiya Haruhi. I’m also wondering if I should risk ordering the next volume from another supplier, in the off-chance other retailers get a better awesome:lame LE ratio.

Still, at least the lame LE is a little better packed this time than with previous volumes. I’m not sure if it’s an attempt to get more people to buy it, something existing to remind you precisely what it is you are silly enough to be getting into buying, or merely a simple way to encapsulate the Endless Eight epic into one convenient unit, but this volume came with an artbox. An artbox just for Endless Eight – nothing more, nothing less. That’s not to mention that it’s the only Haruhi R2 artbox. The other plot-arc’s have not benefited from the same treatment.

Also shipping with it is Haruhi’s Postcard Case, which, just to confuse, has a picture of Yuki on it. It contains sixteen pouches, so it’s just big enough to hold all the postcards from both the first season and the second season release assuming you stick two in a pouch back to back. Finally, for the record, my coaster number this time around is Number 9. Like last months release, it’s unexciting.