cypsiman2 | Where I rewatch Yugioh GX, Episode 20

Before I begin with today's rewatch, I'd like to mention the

ygodrabble community; things have been going great, but we are always welcoming new writers to fill out the weekly prompts. I know I should have mentioned this back when it first started, but hey, better late than never. Now for the episode...

It is twilight, and there are no sparkly vampires in sight. Which makes sense, since this is still Yugioh, and actual vampires have no place in this canon, thank you very much. At the Osiris Red dorm Daitokuji is announcing that he's introducing someone; it is Rei Saotome, who took the transfer test and has been admitted into Osiris Red. Rei Saotome is keeping her head down and trying to cover her long feminine hair with a hat of some kind, but it's pretty obvious that Rei is a girl, especially for anyone who's familiar with Ranma 1/2, which stars Ranma Saotome. Wow, that was subtle. Hayato remarks that Rei is as good looking as a girl, Shou wonders if Rei is upset at being put in Osiris Red, and I wonder who the hell greenlit this episode in the first place. Judai stands up and gives an enthusiastic cheer for Rei, cheering "him" up that it doesn't matter if his grades suck. Daitokuji then explains that Judai's misunderstood the situation; Rei, who's run behind Daitokuji to get away from the crazed lunatic known as Judai, is not in Osiris Red because of bad grades, but because that's where all transfer students get placed at first. HO SHIT, IS THAT SOME ACTUAL FORESHADOWING I SEE? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT DOING HERE? Anyway, Rei's grades are actually good enough to put "him" into Ra Yellow, so he won't be in Osiris Red for long. Judai nevertheless proclaims that he, Shou, and Hayato will still be good friends to Rei, which is a big relief for Daitokuji, as he was wondering who's room he would put Rei in. OBLIVIOUS CO-HABITATION HIJINKS, AWAY!

EPISODE TITLE, THE "MAIDEN IN LOVE IS STRONG" DECK! taking all bets, who bets rei's deck will actually be weak as hell?

So now we're in Judai, Shou, Hayato, and now Rei's room as well, where a fourth bed has been shoved into the tiny little hovel. Rei apologizes for the inconvenience, but Judai reassures Rei that it's no big deal as he strips down in preparation for taking a bath. Rei blushes furiously, turns and covers her eyes while letting out a quick high-pitched yell. Judai says something about washing each others backs to get closer, and Rei composes herself and makes up an excuse about having a cold.

Now we're out in the Osiris Red outdoor bathhouse, where Judai, Shou, and Hayato are washing each others backs. 'bout damn time we started getting some equal-opportunity fanservice, but couldn't we be getting someone like Misawa or Kaiser Ryou? Shou thinks there's something weird about Rei, Hayato continues his whole 'Rei looks like a girl' gag, and Judai says that there's all kinds of people out there. Then everyone turns around, reversing who is washing who's back, and then Judai sees that he is washing the back of a bear. Which is washing the back of a seal. No, I don't get it either. And in lieu of an actual joke or punchline, Judai wonders why the animals are there.

So the next day we hear an announcement from Principal Samejima that the annual good-will duel with Duel Academia's north campus is coming up. Wait, they can barely fill one campus, but they've got another somewhere in the "North"? Seriously, there has to be less than 100 people in attendance for this announcement, which is, of course, not being done in person but on a giant video screen. A focus shot on Kaiser Ryou as Samejima explains that Kaiser Ryou dueled in last year's match and won, and Rei looks over at Kaiser Ryou. Shou brags that that's his brother, and Samejima says that this years representative hasn't been decided yet, and so everyone should keep up the hard work so that they can have their chance. Or, if your name is Judai, just be lazy and rely on pure dumb luck, and you'll win at everything forever. Me, I'll drink Powerthirst. Judai is excited, Shou points out that Kaiser Ryou is the obvious choice, and Rei gazes longingly at Kaiser Ryou. Judai notices, but is of course clueless about what it means, as he is with all things.

SCENE TRANSITION!

Judai whines about how hungry he is, even though it isn't lunchtime yet. Shou suggests that they go to Ms. Tome's shop and buy some food, a reference to the Golden Draw Bread from that stupid "Tarzan" episode is made, and Judai sees Rei running off, so he gives chase, telling Shou and Hayato to pick up some bread for him.

Now we're at the Obelisk Blue dorm, where Rei is climbing up a tree to sneak into someone's room. HMM, I WONDER WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT? Judai follows after Rei up the tree, and we see Rei taking out someone's deck. The card on top is Cyber Dragon, which would make this Kaiser Ryou's room. NO WAY, I NEVER SAW THAT COMING! Judai is at first confused, and then Rei starts snuggling the deck against her cheek...okay. Judai, apparently having never heard of homosexuality or cross-dressing before, seems dazed and confused on the whole matter. Then Judai looks back down the balcony and sees that Kaiser Ryou is coming, along with some cronies that this episode has decided he has for some reason. Judai rushes back into the room and yells at Rei, demanding to know what "he" is doing there, and that people are going to think "he's" a spy from North Academy. Rei yells that "He's" not, not even bothering to disguise her voice, and then we hear Ryou's loud, annoying cronies getting closer, so Judai grabs Rei so that they can get out of there. This causes Rei's hat to fall off, revealing her long feminine hair and some manner of jewel encrusted hair clip.

I would like to mention that I do take personal offense at this episode's conceit that long hair is inherently feminine, as I grow my hair pretty damn long, and I'm unquestionably quite masculine. Of course, the beard and mustache probably help, but that's beside the point.

The point is that Judai's finally figured out the obvious, Rei grabs her cap and runs, and Judai is caught by Kaiser Ryou's one-episode only cronies. Right, that's why they're there; because if Kaiser Ryou were there by himself, he would have had a calm, rational conversation with Judai about why he was intruding into his room, which means that Judai would not have to deal with the unjust oppression of those mean old Obelisk Blues. The cronies accuse Judai of being a spy, and Rei is long gone so Judai tries to claim he was just closing an open window, but the cronies don't buy it for a second and declare that they're going to drag him off to be expelled. Oh, and Kaiser Ryou notices the hair clip and tells his one-episode only cronies to let Judai go. He tells Judai to leave through the front door this time, and then picks up Rei's hair clip.

Judai whines about how cruel the Obelisk Blues were being for wanting to punish him for trespassing in someone else's room and looking like they were trying to steal their deck just before the big annual cross-campus duel, and Rei emerges from some bushes, despite a previous shot establishing that she ran much further away than that, and wonders why Judai didn't turn her in. So that night at the lighthouse, and Asuka says that it's rare for Kaiser Ryou to call her over like this, and asks if he has any new information. He says no, but he does have a question to ask and shows her the hair clip, which has bunny-design now that we get a proper close-up shot of the damn thing. Asuka wonders why Kaiser Ryou has a Girl's Hairclip, which makes sense for her to do, given that Kaiser Ryou has no discernible sexuality, or indeed personality.

Meanwhile, back at the Osiris Red dorm, Shou is coming back after another bath, and finds that Judai isn't there. Hayato tells him that Judai left with Rei, fulfilling his true function of Spear-Carrier. Shou can't believe Judai is being so forceful about finding out why Rei wouldn't take a bath with them, and Hayato explains that it was Rei who invited Judai out. Now we're down in the area where Judai and Shou dueled back in episode 7, and Rei demands to know why Judai kept quiet. Judai restates what's going on, and says that Rei must have her reasons. Reasons, as we will discover, that make no sense whatsoever. Rei is insistent that Judai not tell anyone, and Judai, speaking reasonably for once, says that when you ask for help, you should explain why first. Rei refuses, and so Judai returns to his one-track mind and says that they should duel. Rei is confused, but Judai says that no one can lie in a duel, and while I could be generous and think that the writers are remembering the Jounouchi vs. Rishid duel from the original series, I don't feel like extending that courtesy to them. Rei asks if this means he'll keep quiet if she wins, and Judai says that since he won't have anymore questions, yeah.

Not that it matters, since Shou and Hayato are watching them and hearing everything. Shou is shocked that Rei was a girl, and Hayato wonders what "this afternoon" is in reference to. Shou lampshades how Judai's always rushing to the duel, and Asuka notes that that's typical Judai. Kaiser Ryou goes on about how the duel reflects a person's nature and heart, and Shou is shocked that Dueling is so profound, making me wonder where the hell he was during his own tiny little plotline. The duel begins and Rei takes the first turn, summoning the Maiden in Love; it looks like what you would expect, and it only has 400 attack points, also what you would expect from Japan. Shou thinks Maiden in Love is cute, causing Hayato to give him the stink-eye; jealousy, perhaps? Judai's turn now, and he summons Featherman and declares his attack, prompting Shou to whine about how Maiden in Love doesn't stand a chance and Hayato to wonder who's side Shou is on anyway; the side with the boobies, obviously.

I'll go get my coat.

Asuka makes this annoying line about women changing when they're in love, and now we get back to the actual attack. Featherman brings Maiden in Love to her knees, and Rei activates her monster's effect; Maiden in Love can't be destroyed by battle so long as she's in attack position, and all of a sudden the whole field is covered in Shoujo bubbles as Winged Kuriboh appears before Judai. Huh, I always thought those two looked cute together...wait, Winged Kuriboh points to Featherman and Maiden in Love, who are standing in a field of flowers as Featherman gets down on one knee and asks 'milady' if she's alright. Judai, for once, is shocked by the clearly unnatural behavior going on before, unlike the time when he saw a man get eaten by slime demons and dragged down into hell. Of course, Judai is the only one who can see all this, so everyone else thinks he's going insane as he tries to tell Featherman that falling in love with girls isn't like a hero!

Well, that was telling, wasn't it?

Hayato thinks that Judai is seeing something the rest of them can't, and Judai is baffled by Featherman's behavior, and Rei explains that the monster that attacks Maiden in Love has a Maiden Counter placed on it, which is represented by Maiden in Love shooting a little heart at Featherman's face as one appears on his chest.

EYECATCH!

Rei takes her turn and equips Cupid Kiss to Maiden in Love, causing a tiny cutesy little cherub to kiss Maiden in Love on the cheek. She declares her attack, and Judai has another attack of Soap Opera Vision; Maiden in Love asks Mr. Featherman to accept her true feelings, and then trips onto her face. Presumably because that would be cute. She exclaims "h-how cruel!", and Featherman apologizes, Maiden in Love blows Featherman a kiss, and Maiden in Love asks if Featheman will listen to what she says. He replies 'of course', and she tells him to attack Judai.

REMEMBER BOYS, WOMEN ARE EVIL WHORES WHO WILL TURN YOU AGAINST YOUR REAL, MALE FRIENDS. SAY NO TO ICKY YUCKY GIRLS AND THEIR ICKY YUCKY FEMININE WILES!

And so Featherman attacks Judai, who can't believe that Featherman has fallen so madly in love with a GIRL! Repeat of the earlier scene with Shou and Hayato, and Rei explains what happened; if Maiden in Love attacks a monster with a Maiden Counter and takes damage, Cupid's Kiss lets her take control of that monster. Then Rei sets a card and ends her turn. Judai whines about his situation and decides to summon Sparkman and attack Featherman, since that way his monster won't get taken away from him. Rei is prepared though, and activates her trap card, Defense Maiden; Maiden in Love takes the attack for Featherman, and yet another round of Soap Opera Vision ensues. Featherman is outraged that Sparkman, a hero, could attack a defenseless maiden, and Sparkman holds his head in shame, which I have to concede manages to amuse me despite my knowing better. Sparkman is ashamed of what he's done and asks 'milady' if she's alright. Maiden in Love tells Sparkman not to blame himself, for fighting is his destiny. Sparkman proclaims to the heavens that he's in love.

So yeah, Sparman has a Maiden Counter on him now, Shou is worried that his big bro has gone insane, and Asuka notes that Judai is clueless about the workings of the hearts of men and women. While this is technically true, Judai is clueless about many other things besides. Kaiser Ryou makes a veiled reference to Helen of Troy, and Asuka says something about the "Kaiser" having met his match. Rei takes her turn and equips Happy Marriage to Maiden in Love, putting her in a wedding dress.

I'm not even going to go into that.

This increases Maiden in Love's attack power by Featherman's, up to 1400. Maiden in Love stumbles past Sparkman, entrapping Sparkman in the same web of lies as Featherman. And so Judai gets beaten up by his own monsters again, which I have to admit is fun to watch. Oh, and now Rei takes this opportunity to take off her cap and proclaim that a girl becomes stronger when she's in love. Whatever you say, Rei Saotome. Still, it's hard to argue with the fact that Judai's down to 400 life points and no monsters on the field. Kaiser Ryou comments on how even Judai is being overwhelmed by Rei, and Asuka says that "seducing monsters in a duel is probably easy", and goes on to say that Rei has come all this way to this distant southern island to chase after her first love, passing even the difficult transfer exam to do so. Ryou attempts to express an emotion, but his botox infected face just won't let him.

Winged Kuriboh tries to cheer Judai up, and he says that it was a mistake to send his guy Heroes after a girl. So he summons Burst Lady, whose voluptous maturity stands in contrast to Maiden in Loves loli qualities. Soap Opera Vision resumes one last time, and Burst Lady is pissed at her boytoys, falling for that so-called maiden. BECAUSE WOMEN ARE ALWAYS FIGHTING OVER MEN, AM I RIGHT? Featherman and Sparkman cower, Judai notes that Burst Lady is more intense than usual, and plays a ridiculous situational card, Burst Return; with Burst Lady on the field, he can return all other Elemental Heroes on the field back to his hand. Featherman and Sparkman, freed from Maiden in Love's pernicious power, express their shame and return to Judai's hand at the command of Burst Lady.

Also, it sounds like Burst Lady is being voiced by the lady who does the voice for Shou. Weird.

Judai proclaims the bond between heroes to be stronger than the so-called romance, and Judai plays, what else, Fusion, bringing out Flame Wingman and attacks for the win. Rei falls to her knees and is about to say something, but Judai interrupts, saying she should hold on and tell the guy who's been watching her the whole time. Sure enough, Shou, Hayato, Kaiser Ryou, and Asuka have all managed to climb down the cliff face in under a second, and Asuka tells Ryou to step up, calling it a man's responsibility. Rei apologizes for sneaking into Kaiser Ryou's room earlier, and that ever since he came to Duel Academia she wanted to follow him there. And now that she's here, while she may have lost to Judai, she won't lose her feelings for Ryou to anyone, and asks him to accept the feelings of a true maiden as Maiden in Love appears above her.

Judai grins like an idiot as he says even the Kaiser Ryou is overwhelmed, and compares what just happened to the duel. Rei tries to explain that it isn't from the duel, and Asuka goes into this spiel about how while Rei's feelings are wholehearted, real women can't woo men with winks and kisses, and something about love and dueling being connected somehow, the translation is unclear here. The point is that Rei demands to know who Asuka is to Ryou, accuses Asuka of being her love rival, and then glares at Asuka's bosom. Asuka is somewhat off guard, and Ryou says that while he is flattered, not that you'd see it on his face, but for the time being, he's devoted to dueling. Ryou returns Rei's hair clip and says she should go back home. Judai yells out that he doesn't have to go that far, that Rei can just stay at the Obelisk Blue Girl's dorm, but Ryou is insistent that Rei can't stay. Judai wonders if Rei has another secret she's not telling, like maybe she's really a he after all! And while that would be hilarious, the truth of why she can't stay...

is that she's a fifth grader. As in ten years old or thereabout. Which would actually explain why she's so short and does not have a huge rack like Asuka, Junko, and Momoe.

Judai turns white in a sight gag that again manages to amuse me despite my knowing better, and everyone freaks out as the kanji for "Elementary School Fifth Grade" appears behind Rei. Judai freaks out about how he'd been dueling, and almost had his ass handed to him by a grade-school kid, Rei throws his stupid catchphrase right back at him, and Judai facefaults and laughs, which I find I can't really blame him for.

So the next day Rei is leaving on the ferry, and I think the man and woman standing next to her might be her parents, though they're never called out as such, and Rei declares that once she's graduated from Grade School she'll take the Duel Academia test again. Kaiser Ryou notes that he'll be gone by then, and then Rei yells out as she waves, "Wait for me, my Judai!"

Uh oh, I smell sitcom!

The words echo in Judai's empty head, and I laugh at his suffering. Judai demands to know why, and Asuka attributes it to their duel. Kaiser Ryou gets the hell out of there, Shou and Hayato take off, noting that Judai has to stay to see her off, and Asuka tells him to keep waving until he can't see the ferry anymore. And so we end the episode with the sight of Judai in misery. I like it when that happens.

NEXT TIME! Some guy who looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties tries to pass himself off as an Osiris Red student for some reason. Shou, having already forgotten everything learned in the last episode, thinks that he's a real student, and more important is Judai's academy selection duel with Misawa! Judai looks forward to finally facing Misawa's seventh deck, and we get our episode title, THE FUSION SEAL! JUDAI VS. MISAWA (PART 1)

Well, that episode had an annoyingly stupid sexist text and subtext, and if Rei was going after Kaiser Ryou, then why did she disguise herself as a boy? Duel Academia does not technically exclude women, so unless she was banking on the possibility that Ryou was gay, it really doesn't make any sense. Oh well, Judai got to end the episode miserable, so it's all okay in the end.