Agreed with Kit; the comic relief was a bit extreme, but still funny. I just assume it is like that because it's ep one. Haruhi also kind of had a comidic statement in it's first ep. The comic relief did work, though. It wasn't as effective as say, Druaga, but it did make me laugh. I think I prefer to be drawn into a darker and more serious mood in this type of anime. Of course some anime get too dark and moody like Eureka Seven and Blood+ D:

(Series en Fuego?)