Hello and sorry for necroing the thread (I'm a new member, I'm not english).
As I'm pondering how to rewatch the whole serie myself, because I never watched the Disappearance and plan to do it soon, I've stumbled here (and
http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/ ... _suzumiya/ ).
I learned that many different orders are possible, and that the "Melancholy" arc is considered the best one (some people advice watching only that one).
Personally, I watched the serie in the 2006 airing order, then the season 2 episodes (chronological order) years after. I recall I nearly dropped the serie right at episode 1 ("Episode 00"), the next two following episodes made me think it was just a boring school life anime, and it's only at Melancholy III (where we learn the the SOS brigade members
claim to be the very alien, AI and "esper" people that Haruhi is desesperate to connect with) that I got really hooked. I quite disliked most of the fillers of season 1, excepted "Boredom" and maybe "Live Alive" that I linked to the episode 00 (and I rewatched it with pleasure then). From season 2, Endless Eight was annoying, the Sigh was interesting, and the "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody" was a very nice tie in.
Overall, the episodes I find weak are the "Remote Island Syndrome" couple episode (could someone tell me what is specificly interesting in that arc? The only thing I remember is when the Esper guy is talking and looking at Kyon's hairy mole), the "Mysterique sign", the "Day of the Saggitarius", and a selection of Endless Eight (people overall tend to consider 1 2 4 and 8 are the best out of the 8).
So, I've thought about making a custom order where Endless Eight and the Sigh arcs would replace those as "filler". Additionally, I would make sure there is no particular "spoiler" before the proper "Melancholy" episodes. In the Melancholy arc, the SOS brigade members reveal who they "are" only at episode 3, but we have a confirmation of the truth of their claim only at episode 4 (the AI and time traveller girl, not yet the Esper dude).
25 The Adventures of Asahina Mikuru Episode 00 (wtf episode)
1+2 The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi I & II
20 The Sigh of Suzumiya Haruhi I (filler without spoiler, linked to Episode 00)
3 The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi III (members claim their non-human status)
21 The Sigh of Suzumiya Haruhi II (members are "randomly" cast as what they claim to be, strange).
4 The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi IV (we learn the AI and the Time traveller girls do have powers)
8 Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody (more AI and time traveller power, filler linked to Melancholy 2-3 storyline)
22 The Sigh of Suzumiya Haruhi III (same, some powers are unleashed here)
5 The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi V (Esper dude proof, Haruhi is to be distracted)
12 Endless Eight I (can be put anywhere between Melancholy II and Endless Eight II)
7 The Boredom of Suzumiya Haruhi (funny filler, with foreshadowing for Melancholy VI, obviously because technically it's right after)
13 Endless Eight II ("time" power of Haruhi, proof that she is to be pleased, can be put after Melancholy III, IV or V)
15 Endless Eight IV
19 Endless Eight VIII
23 The Sigh of Suzumiya Haruhi IV
24 The Sigh of Suzumiya Haruhi V (can replace "Live Alive" as ending)
6 The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi Part 6 (apocalypse)
26 Live Alive
--------------------------------
28 Someday in the Rain
Movie (I haven't seen it yet)
I'm not really sure about the Endless Eight episodes positions though, but I must say Endless Eight (2) fits nicely right after Melancholy (3) (4) or especially (5), since it's the proof Haruhi has her own powers. I'm not particulary sure splitting them is that nice of an idea.
And if "Remote Island Syndrome", the Mysterique sign" and the "Day of the Saggitarius" were to be added, where would they fit without spoiling the "Melancholy" arc revelations order?