Welcome to the Literary Analysis series on the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV show. Here we will observe the themes and arcs of the characters as they develop. In this article, we will go over episodes three, four, and five. Before we start the analysis, let's recap the events:
• Joey's sister, Serenity, is introduced. They have been separated for six years. Serenity needs an expensive eye surgery, or she will go blind.
• Yugi receives an invite to the Duelist Kingdom by Pegasus - a tournament for the greatest duelists with a massive cash prize. The crew decide to sneak into the tournament with Yugi.
• On the boat to the tournament, Joey trades for some key cards, including Shield & Sword and Baby Dragon. Yugi gives him Time Wizard.
• Weevil, the National champion, asks Yugi to look at his deck. Weevil proceeds to throw Exodia the Forbidden One and its four pieces off of the boat. Joey jumps off the ship to try to retrieve them, but can only rescue two pieces, making the combination useless.
• Mai is introduced, and it is revealed that she can supposedly control what card is on top of her own deck.
• The main group arrives at Duelist Kingdom, and are given star chips - these are the players' lifelines.
• Yugi and Weevil duel, but Weevil has the advantage because of the Duelist Kingdom's mechanic, "field power bonuses." Despite this, Yugi finds a way to beat the National champion.
The Physical Nature of Cards
Last time we talked about the Blue-Eyes White Dragon being ripped in half, and in these episodes, we witness the unstoppable Exodia the Forbidden One being lost to the sea. This is likely for the best - it wouldn't be so fun to just watch Yugi draw Exodia to win each time, right?
In these episodes, the Duelist Kingdom rules are established, the first of which are the field power bonuses. This means that cards that match the theme of the field the duelists are playing on gain ATK points. Oftentimes, these rules surprise the duelists - and the viewers - introducing a level of tension when it comes to the creativity of the players. If it makes sense, it works mechanically in Duel Monsters!
We also see Joey trading for cards. It's interesting that the first season of Yugioh is concerned with showing how players receive their cards. Even the great and mighty Kaiba must receive cards either through trade, purchase, or ante. In this sense, obtaining powerful and synergistic cards are a form of dueling skill as well.
Joey's Growth as a Duelist
Speaking of skill, Joey continues his rapid growth as a duelist. He is already trained by Yugi's Grandpa by this point, and does well at his first tournament. But now we see him trading for tactical Spell cards, a much-needed improvement from his brute-based deck from the first two episodes.
Brains Over Brawn
Joey also receives the Time Wizard from Yugi. Similarly to Kaiba's Saggi the Dark Clown combo, this establishes that monsters with low ATK usually have powerful interactions with other cards. But this theme is especially established with the Dungeons & Dragons-like mechanic of cards interacting with each other in ways that aren't written on the card.
Game Mechanics
Which leads us to the most important interactions of the Yugi vs Weevil duel! First, Yugi attempts to crack the Cocoon of Evolution, with its heavily boosted defense of 2600 by combining Burning Land with Curse of Dragon, eliminating the Field Power bonus. So not only does the field affect the monsters, but the monsters can affect the field! Future duelists will attempt to take advantage of the Field Power bonus, but this turns into overreliance - the duelists play the game, but Yugi plays the duelist.
However, after Yugi cracks the Cocoon with Gaia The Fierce Knight, it has developed enough to become the Great Moth! This, again, represents a physicality to the rules of Duel Monsters that is only present in Duelist Kingdom. Instead of just being destroyed, Cocoon of Evolution could have just been destroyed - but instead it evolves and develops like a real insect.
Great Moth also has two abilities - one that affects land monsters, and the other that affects monsters in the air. Of course, there are Yugioh cards that only affect certain types and attributes of monsters, but "land" and "flying" monsters aren't included in that, defining a monster by how it moves.
The flying affect works via pollen, and thus can be washed away by Makiu, the Magical Mist. Furthermore, water conducts electricity, so Summoned Skull can take advantage of the mist, much like how the insects get powered up by the forest. Hey, if it makes sense when described to a kid, it works in Duelist Kingdom!
Unfairness
Obviously, throwing your opponent's best cards into the ocean and having an inherent increase in ATK power isn't the most fair duel. But Yami Yugi says something interesting in this duel: that he will win the duel because he plays with honor. Throughout the series, duelists will apply many dastardly tricks to gain an advantage. But it's more than just a sentiment! In Yugioh, duelists that instead have faith in their friends and their deck can employ the Heart of the Cards, a tangible way to will the cards you need on top of your deck. In a way, that's a type of unfair play! But it's used by the forces of good, so I suppose it's fine.
Conclusion
Welcome to the Duelist Kingdom! Thus begins a "villain of the week" type arc, where the protagonists must overcome the unfair strategies employed by their enemies. In a way, these duels are more like physical battles, where all aspects of their monsters and spells must be considered, for they might interact in unexpected ways. And not even the unstoppable Exodia is immune to being lost! Next time: a psychic foe and a threat from the deep!