The Best Episodes Directed By Noriko Takao

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   9.7/10(6 votes)

   #1 - The Ends of the Earth

   S2:E182/13/2009

   While on the trip, Tomoya buys a toy robot he picks out for Ushio to play with after they arrive in the countryside. The next day, after staying at an inn the previous night, Tomoya and Ushio take a walk through the area and come across a field of flowers. Ushio plays in the field as Tomoya watches, but Ushio soon loses the robot in the field; they try to look for it, but to no avail. Remembering something from his past, Tomoya goes off to another area and meets his grandmother Shino Okazaki, his father's mother. She tells Tomoya how he came here with his father shortly after his mother died, and Shino tells Tomoya how his father worked very hard to support him over the years. Tomoya finally comes to terms with his father, and realizes he is not a bad father. When they go back to the field where Ushio is, she still cannot find the robot, and does not want to stop looking because it was the first thing her father ever gave her. Tomoya realizes his previous mistakes and vows to try his best for Ushio from now on, who is very happy at the prospect of being with her father. On the way home, Tomoya starts telling Ushio about Nagisa for the first time.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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2. 

   9.2/10(5 votes)

   #2 - A Sudden Happening

   S2:E1212/19/2008

   Yusuke tells Tomoya a little about his past and how he met Kouko in high school. After graduating, Yusuke went on to become a successful singer-songwriter, but ultimately it all came crashing down and he started taking drugs. When he came back to the city and saw Kouko again for the first time in years, he regretted not continuing to sing for her sake. Tomoya is offered a new position as a manager in a new electrician firm, but the deal falls through when his father is arrested. Tomoya is enraged that his father is still managing to mess up his life. Tomoya finally proposes to Nagisa, and she accepts.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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3. 

   8.8/10(4 votes)

   #3 - Teacher!

   S2:E106/9/2010

   Yui finds herself playing guitar for a band called Death Devil.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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4. 

   8.3/10(3 votes)

   #4 - An Adult Child

   S1:E113/24/2021

   The girls realize that there's more waiting for them at the end of missions than they bargained for. As doubts pile up and tensions rise, Ura-Acca decides to tell Ai his story.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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5. 

   8.2/10(6 votes)

   #5 - Crisis!

   S1:E116/12/2009

   The annual school festival is getting closer and the Light Music club will be performing again... however, Mio and Ritsu get into an argument.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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6. 

   8.1/10(7 votes)

   #6 - Advisor!

   S1:E55/1/2009

   Three days left 'til the music festival, the girls are still not officially recognized as a club. Ritsu blackmails a previous club member to be their advisor.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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7. 

   8.0/10(3 votes)

   #7 - Upperclassmen!

   S2:E167/21/2010

   Azusa realizes the music club has been slacking off lately, and she resolves to practice more.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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8. 

   7.7/10(3 votes)

   #8 - Entrance Exam!

   S2:E229/1/2010

   Azusa makes a cake for her friends and visits the shrine to pray for success and good fortune for them all.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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9. 

   7.6/10(5 votes)

   #9 - Hidden World

   S1:E1212/21/2007

   Kotomi returns the violin to Rie Nishina and becomes friends with her. Kotomi changes her usual routine and starts attending her classes. Due to Kyou's idea, she, Ryou, Kotomi, Nagisa, and Tomoya go out together as a group and have fun in town. While out, Fuko makes an appearance in, but no one remembers her. The next day, Nagisa runs up to Kyou thinking Ryou got in a bus accident, though when they rush to the scene, they find no one was hurt; however, Kotomi has an emotional episode and collapses while screaming out. Kotomi leaves early that day, but when Tomoya, Nagisa and the Fujibayashi twins go to see her later, there is no answer at her house. After they leave, Tomoya goes back and runs into the strange man from earlier; he finds out the man is an acquaintance of Kotomi's parents.

   Director:Noriko Takao

   Writer:N/A

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   Director:Noriko Takao

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10. 

    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Counter Measures

    S1:E182/15/2008

    During the time that Tomoya is suspended from school, Tomoyo continues to come to his house, wake him up, and make him breakfast, though when she tries to ask him about his relationship with his father, he does not answer her. On Sunday when Tomoyo is making him lunch, Kyou, Ryou, and Kotomi arrive each bringing a bunch of food, and even Fuko appears with food; Tomoya ends up eating everything. Once back at school, he finds out how Tomoyo's reputation is dropping due to rumors of her as a gang leader, and arranges for Tomoyo to compete against several school sports clubs to boost her reputation. After school, Tomoyo tells Tomoya about her family situation and how her brother risked his life to keep their parents from divorcing. Nagisa finally comes back to school and is welcomed by her friends. During a tennis match between Tomoyo and a male tennis club member, a stray ball hits Nagisa on the leg, and Tomoya overprotects her, showing everyone how devoted he is to her.

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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11. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #11 - The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya (2)

    S1:E258/21/2009

    Preparation for the SOS Brigade's short film continues, with character roles revealed—Yuki as an evil alien, Itsuki as an esper, and Mikuru as a battle waitress from the future. Mikuru is forced to dress in an embarrassing waitress costume for her role, while Yuki appears as a witch. On the first day of filming, the Brigade film two commercials to advertise their sponsors with Mikuru dressed in her waitress costume and then her bunny girl costume, much to her embarrassment. They then film several scenes in a park, and Kyon points out that Haruhi did not actually write a script.

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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12. 

    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #12 - The Older and Younger Sister's Founder's Festival

    S1:E611/9/2007

    Tomoya and Nagisa invite Fuko's older sister Kouko to the Founder's Festival. In the meantime, Fuko hands out more carved starfish to students at the festival, and her fan club helps spread the word about Kouko's wedding too. Nagisa and Tomoya meet Tomoyo, who is wearing a bear suit to find people who are causing trouble, and manages to knock Youhei out a window for bothering a girl. When Kouko finally comes, she cannot see or hear her sister.

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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13. 

    7.0/10(8 votes)

    #13 - Your Thorn, My Badge

    S1:E52/9/2018

    It's time for Plantations 13 and 26 to start kissing, and the squad prepares for the huge battle this will cause. They also have to get used to Hiro being Zero Two's partner, and so does he.

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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14. 

    7.0/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Stargazers

    S1:E226/22/2018

    Hiro is left shattered with an unresponsive Zero Two, and the children struggle to come to terms with the aftermath. Left all alone to battle for their survival, what path will they choose to take?

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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15. 

    6.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Endless Eight (4)

    S1:E197/10/2009

    The previous time loop continues for the 15,513th time. This time, Kyon mentally senses an even greater familiarity with events and places from previous cycles. Once again, none of the Brigade members can devise anything to stop the cycle from repeating. On their final meeting in the restaurant, Kyon tries to call out after Haruhi but fails to do anything as visions of the loop's events flash in his mind. As Kyon regains his senses, Haruhi has left. As the last day of vacation arrives, Kyon, resigned to the loop repeating itself, goes to bed without finishing his summer homework.

    Director:Noriko Takao

    Writer:N/A

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    Director:Noriko Takao

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