Hello, I just finished Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds this morning! This is the first Yu-Gi-Oh series I've ever just sat down and watched all the way through. I used to watch the original series when it would air on Saturdays, but it was only in passing so I could see Sonic X. Also, when Yu-Gi-Oh GX would come on during my elementary school days, I couldn't stand the opening so I never watched it. Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, during its initial release, instantly connected with me but again when it was airing I only watched it in passing so I could see Sonic X. Jump from 2011 to 2016, I decided to marathon Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds just to reaffirm how much I liked it when it was first on TV. I was really surprised because when I actually sat down and really paid attention to it, I loved it even more than I did back then.
Yusei Fudo is an incredibly relatable and unique character to watch because when you first see him you initially think he's gonna be one of those badass edgy characters who don't feel or express any emotions, but it turns out he's just a young man trapped in poverty trying to bust his way to the top to take down a bastard who wronged him. And that's what I like the most about him. When someone does something to his friends, Yusei's the type of guy to raise all hell on them. Yusei's nature is what pulled me through the first season and then it was through him that I grew to love difficult characters like Jack Atlas and Akiza.
Now, let me say I watched Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds as far as I could in the English dub. I don't know why people hate it so much but it's one of the best dubs I've ever heard. Jack Atlas being Australian gave his character extra personality that he would've lacked otherwise. I loved this dub so much when I found out 4Kids neglected to dub the last 20 or so episodes, I was crushed. Reluctantly I decided to continue the series in Japanese.
Unfortunately, the whole last arc of 5Ds jumped the shark for me. There was just a lot of stupid things happening that didn't make any sense to me. Zone being a version of Yusei from the future was a really interesting plot twist I saw coming but he wasn't the real Yusei Fudo and I wish somebody would've called him out on that. All the science in the world couldn't make a person someone their not. That's why he failed to achieve his goal cause it was wicked and out of character for a person like Yusei Fudo. Next, I'd like to address Shooting Quasar Dragon because that was over the top and it only appeared for like 5 seconds. I barely remember it. It came and went just like that. Also, the scene where Yusei met his father again really pissed me off. What kind of douche slaps his son in his weakest moment? And then Yusei just takes it like he's his father's b*tch. That really made me angry cause that destroyed the epic picture I had in my head of Yusei Fudo being this legendary hero from the slums. Turns out he's just his dead daddy's b*tch! Next I'd like to address the final duel between Jack Atlas and Yusei Fudo. Why did Jack revert back to his original callous and blockheaded state? I seriously thought his character developed to the point where he wouldn't act like Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z but I guess not. Turns out, Jack Atlas was still so self absorbed that he'd ditch a girl he supposedly loved (Carly) and dedicate his life to training to beat Yusei Fudo (so much like Vegeta it hurts).
Honestly, I get why 4Kids didn't dub the last arc of 5Ds because it really f*cked up a lot of preconceptions. I did like Leo becoming a signer though. Those were the only few episodes I really liked. Everything else was too much and not enough all at once.
I'm glad I saw Rally again. And I screamed when Junk Warrior came back. Those things made me really happy. I wish I could give two separate scores to this series.
Season 1/2 - 9
Final Arc - 6 |