Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

[Hiwatari]

So the first 8 eps are two different arcs telling the same story?

[Ryllharu]

Sort of. Every arc represents the same or similar period of time, right before and a little bit after the Watanagashi Festival.

Everything makes sense by the time you get to the end, and they say it outright at the beginning of season 2.

I won't spoil it and say why there are alternate retellings, but the series is broken into "Question" and "Answer" arcs. The first season only has one "Answer" arc, and the rest are all question arcs. The second season is primarly "Answer" arcs.

You usually get to see the same or very similar events play out one way as a "Question" arc, and later on a great deal more is revealed, often from a different character's perspective in an "Answer" arc.

There is a flow to the way the arcs are arranged, and the way they are set up is to slowly reveal the truth about everything to the audience and some of the characters themselves.

[Nadouku]

Like what Ryllharu said, so make sure to finish up season one and go on to season two to find your answers (and maybe season three if you want to continue the series).

[Hiwatari]

ic. interesting concept for an anime. this is somewhat new for me i guess, cos i think very few series have this sort of alternate retelling concept

[Ryllharu]

I just checked it, and there are two Answer arcs in the first season. I never really saw the second one as much of an Answer, but I suppose it is true. It's paired with the first arc, and you'll see the similarities when you get there. It is the final arc of the first season.

[Xrlderek]

I thought that the first season was just question arcs and the second season was all answer arcs, but I checked it again and you are right.

Slightly offtopic:
The first higurashi game has been translated(the first question arc) and I am wondering if it is worth reading if I've already seen the anime. Everything has been in the anime, unless they left out some stuff. Have anyone of you here read it?