Thread: Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

Where did you hear this? All I've seen are summaries saying Alit-sama has a crush on Kotori, which sounds adorable considering he's the first boy in the series to develop a crush on a main girl. I don't see the problem in this anyway, it's like y'know, character development.

I've heard about that from a slightly more detailed summary for the episode a few days ago. Honestly, I don't see how developing a crush on Kotori is cute considering she's still rather boring and we've seen other boys instantly developing a crush on her, so it's not like this is new. The only difference here is that Alit isn't a one-shot character. I also don't think that Alit's crush is going lead into character development. It could potentially if his feelings for Kotori could make him question his role in the conflict between the Barian and Astral Worlds and if he would want to continue doing that if it means putting people like Kotori in harm's way. Something like that, rather than just instantly wanting Kotori because she's cute, would be character development, but I seriously doubt that they're going to go that route.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

Again, I fail to see the issue with this. It sounds cute and entertaining. I'm sure he'll get more serious as the series goes on, just right now this seems like a good start.

It does not sound cute or entertaining to me. If they want to make the villains look more serious, that shouldn't happen as the season progresses, but rather right from the start and keep that going so that the audience has more of a reason to see these villains as significant threats to the main cast. I definitely don't think that starting off with Alit instantly getting a crush on Kotori and automatically forgetting about why he's really there is the first place is a good start. If anything, it just makes the idea of taking these Barian villains seriously all the more difficult if the first two they send down there are acting like this.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

We haven't seen the episode so I think it's a tad presumptuous to assume they won't be a threat. Alit-sama has a crush on her, which can be called 'love at first sight' and I don't think one person's judge of character can really show the rest. Misael sounds serious and menacing, as does Durbe. Gilag and Alit-sama seem to be a tad more 'goofy' so to speak, but I don't think this messes up their character. I assume they'll have more development plot-wise later anyway.

While that is a valid point on how we haven't even seen the episode yet, falling in love with Kotori and that being the focus of his duel with Yuma does not make me think that he'll be much of a threat. Misael and Durbe haven't even done anything yet, so I don't know if just judging them by how they sound is any better in this case, although I'll admit that whoever has that Number 107 card at least sounds more threatening on paper than the other villains at least. Gilag and Alit being more goofy and in at least Gilag's case, not having any thought into their plan, does mess them up. It makes the idea of taking them seriously rather difficult. A goofy villain can be taken seriously. Tron had some downright silly looking moments, like how happy he was when he was dueling Droite in the semifinals, but they didn't make him look completely incompetent and he was in control of many different situations. Right now, Gilag is just all muscle with no brain power, at least that's the impression I'm getting from him now, and Alit, based on the preview information, doesn't sound like much of an improvement. At this point, there's nothing about either character that makes me think that they'll be more serious threats down the line and I certainly don't have faith that these characters will just improve over time given the quality of writing in this series.

Originally Posted by Hidden Mew

Honestly, I don't see how developing a crush on Kotori is cute considering she's still rather boring and we've seen other boys instantly developing a crush on her, so it's not like this is new.

The only two to develop crushes on her were that tomato guy and that little kid. I don't think they should really count for much.

Something like that, rather than just instantly wanting Kotori because she's cute, would be character development, but I seriously doubt that they're going to go that route.

Yes, it's unlikely, but I don't think there's really much to say about that until we'll finally see. I'm not saying it will or won't happen, but I don't think you should totally discount that thought.

It does not sound cute or entertaining to me. If they want to make the villains look more serious, that shouldn't happen as the season progresses, but rather right from the start and keep that going so that the audience has more of a reason to see these villains as significant threats to the main cast.

If that was the case than all villains would be the same. I think it's a good idea to have two slightly less serious ones and then the other two serious ones for good balance. At least they all have different personalities going for them.

Right now, Gilag is just all muscle with no brain power, at least that's the impression I'm getting from him now, and Alit, based on the preview information, doesn't sound like much of an improvement.

I agree with you as far as Gilag goes, but I will have to disagree with the Alit-sama part. The preview is only a small part of showing him, and I can't really judge either... but I don't think he looks stupid or bad at dueling. I think he'll probably surprise us with his dueling skills. That, or maybe hold back his powers so Yuma doesn't find out he's a Barian.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

The only two to develop crushes on her were that tomato guy and that little kid. I don't think they should really count for much.

I mentioned them before. I don't see why they shouldn't be counted since they still had crushes on Kotori. The only difference is that Alit is a villain, rather than a one-shot. They've still done something similar before with other characters crushing on Kotori, so this isn't new. Even if I don't count them, having a crush on Kotori really isn't that great when she's still is a boring character and it just sounds like it will be used for comedy relief more than anything else.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

Yes, it's unlikely, but I don't think there's really much to say about that until we'll finally see. I'm not saying it will or won't happen, but I don't think you should totally discount that thought.

Given how they've handled most of the characters, there is absolutely nothing that makes me think that they could use this crush to give Alit development. It's not entirely impossible since I described one way that they could have the crush give him character development, but there's nothing in this series' history that makes me think that I shouldn't expect for this crush to be played out as a gag, or at least not at all in a serious tone.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

If that was the case than all villains would be the same. I think it's a good idea to have two slightly less serious ones and then the other two serious ones for good balance. At least they all have different personalities going for them.

Not necessarily. I already said how a villain can be kind of goofy and still be taken seriously and I used an example from this series no less, so it isn't like they couldn't have done that if they wanted to make them look more intimidating. While there is an advantage for the villains to have different personalities, although we haven't seen how the other Barian villains' personalities are, I'm not sure if making them less serious in this case really works. Having them less serious than the others wouldn't be a problem if they still came off as being threats, but Gilag is just repeating the same plan without putting any more thought into it and Kotori is apparently so cute that she makes Alit forget about why he's there, so in this case, I do consider that to be a problem.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

I agree with you as far as Gilag goes, but I will have to disagree with the Alit-sama part. The preview is only a small part of showing him, and I can't really judge either... but I don't think he looks stupid or bad at dueling. I think he'll probably surprise us with his dueling skills. That, or maybe hold back his powers so Yuma doesn't find out he's a Barian.

I didn't say anything about Alit looking stupid or being bad at dueling. Please don't put words in my mouth. I'll admit that I didn't like his design when I first saw it, but seeing it in color makes it work better. It's nothing to write home about, but the design isn't appealing. I also didn't mention any problems with his dueling skills. The problem I have is that the reason he's dueling Yuma has more to do with Kotori than the conflict between the two worlds. I don't know if he could hold back his powers on Yuma or if he would want to keep being a Barian secret from him, at least once he remembers that Yuma has Number cards, and it should still affect Astral, which would be a huge give-away anyway.

Originally Posted by Hidden Mew

I mentioned them before. I don't see why they shouldn't be counted since they still had crushes on Kotori. The only difference is that Alit is a villain, rather than a one-shot. They've still done something similar before with other characters crushing on Kotori, so this isn't new. Even if I don't count them, having a crush on Kotori really isn't that great when she's still is a boring character and it just sounds like it will be used for comedy relief more than anything else.

*shrugs* Mmm, I don't have an issue with comic relief so either way would be totally fine with me.

Given how they've handled most of the characters, there is absolutely nothing that makes me think that they could use this crush to give Alit development. It's not entirely impossible since I described one way that they could have the crush give him character development, but there's nothing in this series' history that makes me think that I shouldn't expect for this crush to be played out as a gag, or at least not at all in a serious tone.

It might be done like a Jack and Carly situation, but... It's unlikely given their ages.

I didn't say anything about Alit looking stupid or being bad at dueling. Please don't put words in my mouth. I'll admit that I didn't like his design when I first saw it, but seeing it in color makes it work better. It's nothing to write home about, but the design isn't appealing. I also didn't mention any problems with his dueling skills. The problem I have is that the reason he's dueling Yuma has more to do with Kotori than the conflict between the two worlds. I don't know if he could hold back his powers on Yuma or if he would want to keep being a Barian secret from him, at least once he remembers that Yuma has Number cards, and it should still affect Astral, which would be a huge give-away anyway.

I don't recall mentioning you did. I was merely repeating that to myself, since I know many other characters who are comic relief are usually that way. As I just said, I don't remember mentioning that you did say anything about his dueling skills. I like to repeat things to myself while making a point.

All I can say in closing is that I have high hopes for these episodes.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

*shrugs* Mmm, I don't have an issue with comic relief so either way would be totally fine with me.

It's not so much as having an issue with comic relief in general for me. It's just that it doesn't strike me as particularly funny, although it helps that I really don't like the humor in this series as well, and it doesn't make me think better of the villains if this is the second guy they send after Gilag.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

It might be done like a Jack and Carly situation, but... It's unlikely given their ages.

I sincerely doubt that not only because of their ages, but because they would have to play the crush as more serious, which doesn't seem that likely at all. Plus, it would also require for Kotori to be play a more active role in this conflict and even with having her see Astral now, I really don't think that they're going to make their relationship into a key subplot for the rest of the season that gives both characters really nice development. I wouldn't be necessarily against it since the idea of playing a villain's crush on a main character on a serious note at least sounds good on paper, but it's just something that I don't see them going with, especially when Kotori will obviously stick with Yuma because of her obvious crush on him and I think that would be a more serious storyline than I expect they want to convey here. Besides that, even if they went with an idea like that, I think it wouldn't have the best kind of execution to make it work.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

I don't recall mentioning you did. I was merely repeating that to myself, since I know many other characters who are comic relief are usually that way. As I just said, I don't remember mentioning that you did say anything about his dueling skills. I like to repeat things to myself while making a point.

I believe that you mention that you don't think that he looks stupid or that his dueling skills are bad, despite how that never came up in the conversation, which made me think that you were putting words in my mouth. I apologize for misunderstanding repeating points to yourself as something directed at me.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

All I can say in closing is that I have high hopes for these episodes.

In closing, I really do not have high hopes for these episodes. Maybe it helps that I'm pretty much the only here who finds Zexal to be pretty bad with extremely boring characters, but nothing about the show's quality gives me high hopes about these episodes or gives me any hope for the future. I sadly even expect the worst for Rio in the future, in terms of being rescued and her skills being forgotten, even though I seriously hope that doesn't happen. So far, Rio is the only high hope I've had for the series and that turned out surprisingly well, but I don't expect that to last given how female characters have been handled in this and other Yu-Gi-Oh! series. So, I've developed a kind of "hope for the best, expect the worst" mentality with this show, especially when the execution of the otherwise good/decent ideas is still a huge problem for me and I don't that expect to change anytime soon.

Originally Posted by Hidden Mew

I sincerely doubt that not only because of their ages, but because they would have to play the crush as more serious, which doesn't seem that likely at all.

Mm, true. Crushes don't seem likely to be serious, but then, there was Droite who seemed to love Kaito in a 'crush' and 'motherly' way.

Plus, it would also require for Kotori to be play a more active role in this conflict and even with having her see Astral now, I really don't think that they're going to make their relationship into a key subplot for the rest of the season that gives both characters really nice development. I wouldn't be necessarily against it since the idea of playing a villain's crush on a main character on a serious note at least sounds good on paper, but it's just something that I don't see them going with, especially when Kotori will obviously stick with Yuma because of her obvious crush on him and I think that would be a more serious storyline than I expect they want to convey here. Besides that, even if they went with an idea like that, I think it wouldn't have the best kind of execution to make it work.

I'm just hoping it'll last for a little while and then he'll have to tell her at some point he's from the Barian World and she'll have to tell Yuma, creating conflict... but that does seem very unlikely for me to think.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

Mm, true. Crushes don't seem likely to be serious, but then, there was Droite who seemed to love Kaito in a 'crush' and 'motherly' way.

Droite and Kaito are technically adults, even though Kaito really doesn't look eighteen, so a crush between two adults can be handled more seriously than say all of the young teenage girls who have crushes on Yuma. Besides that, Droite's crush was only focused on for one episode, it didn't have any significant character development for either one of them and by the end, Droite had basically become the Kotori of Kaito's group given how often she was cheering for him and calling his name during his duel with Yuma.

Originally Posted by Rio Kamishiro

I'm just hoping it'll last for a little while and then he'll have to tell her at some point he's from the Barian World and she'll have to tell Yuma, creating conflict... but that does seem very unlikely for me to think.

That does sound potentially interesting, but I still doubt that they'll go that route, especially when I can't see this crush lasting for more than an episode, or at least being that important to the overall storyline for this season.

Originally Posted by Hidden Mew

Droite and Kaito are technically adults

Oh wow. I can't believe I forgot he was 18... XD But you're right, they were both adults, so... XD

Originally Posted by Human

Originally Posted by Hurricane Kishore

Really excited about Alik fawning over Kotori.
I wonder why he even fall for Kotori when other boys in school doesn't show much interest in her.
Less-attractive boys seem to get attracted to her.

@Rio Kamishiro;

:3

I don't get it !!!

There's Kotori and Cat-chan.

Chaos Xyz manipulated.

Oh and Kotori holding a Duel Disk.

Wow.

Those wings she has behind her? Probably because she has a Bird themed deck like how Cat-chan has a Cat themed deck. It sounds very interesting.

Regarding the episode itself... Keyhole stopped working for me in the middle. I gotta say, BARian made me laugh xD.

Kotori look so cool while Dualing .
May be she should Dual more.

So far when people are possessed by Barian they have that mark thing on their foreheads, yet Cat-chan, and Kotori don't. I'm not so sure they'll be possessed, I'm thinking that maybe they're just angry. Also Gilag is dueling against them with Yuma and I doubt Alit is going to be controlling them, and Misael isn't set to appear for a few more episodes.

On another note it looks like Rio has been teaching Kotori how to duel. I just watched 79 and Kotori asks Rio to teach her dueling.

First off, I honestly couldn't care less that Kotori is dueling in the next episode. Dueling does not automatically make a character any better. Asuka in GX was the first female duelist in a main cast and I still thought she was boring. Cathy and Anna being duelists haven't really helped them either for me. This sounds like a one time deal anyway since I don't think that they'll have her duel more often since she's primarily there just to be the cute cheerleader and I think that this is over some argument over who gets to be the female mascot of the Numbers Club, which sounds completely stupid. Unless they actually start to flesh out Kotori's character by giving her more of an interesting personality and not have her entire world revolve around Yuma, dueling in what sounds like a filler episode isn't going to help her at all for me, or any of the other Numbers Club members considering they're dueling in this episode as well. We'll probably just see clips of those matches while the majority of the focus is on the tag duel.

Anyway, as for the episode, I didn't like it. I understand why they're going for these comedy episodes before the more serious villains appear, but the comedy is too forced/cartoonish to laugh at. I did laugh at Alit's first fantasy because Kotori's head being the sun was just so stupid that I couldn't help it. All of the other attempts at humor didn't make me laugh, although the whole BARian sign was kind of cute in a way. I didn't really care for the duel due to the reason why it happened and how long it took for Alit to remember why he was really there in the first place. The ending where he now basically has a crush on Yuma, as his fantasy was pretty much the same one he had for Kotori, was more creepy than anything else, added yet another person to Yuma's harem and basically made it impossible for me to take him or Gliag as serious threats. Even with knowing how a couple of the other Barians sound like from the previews, it's kind of hard to take them seriously too if their first two choices are this silly. At least it should get more interesting once they go for a more serious tone, but I really dislike the attempts at light-hearted humor in this series.

@Hidden Mew; When Misael appears in a few episodes it's supposed to get really serious, so in my opinion the humor is nice before they go and do that.

I like the way they are going at this season of Zexal. They aren't rushing into what's important by putting fillers, but they also aren't dragging things out. It balances things out. I'm hoping Kotori will continue dueling after the next episode and it'd be nice of them to address the background characters more. Haruto and Anna appear in the ending and opening but they have yet to appear or there being any mention of them in future episodes right now.

Originally Posted by Midorikawa

@Hidden Mew; When Misael appears in a few episodes it's supposed to get really serious, so in my opinion the humor is nice before they go and do that.

I'm aware of that. I'm pretty sure that I mentioned that I understood why they're doing these kind of episodes and to be honest, I don't mind the idea of having some light-hearted humor before the serious stuff happens. The problem is that the humor doesn't appeal to me and it makes the villains look stupid rather than fun, interesting and/or threatening. The kind of humor they go for just isn't my cup of tea and the times I do usually laugh at it is when they're poking fun at Yuma yet again, since I still don't like him, and occasionally when it's so stupid that I can't help but laugh at it.

Originally Posted by Midorikawa

I like the way they are going at this season of Zexal. They aren't rushing into what's important by putting fillers, but they also aren't dragging things out. It balances things out. I'm hoping Kotori will continue dueling after the next episode and it'd be nice of them to address the background characters more. Haruto and Anna appear in the ending and opening but they have yet to appear or there being any mention of them in future episodes right now.

Well, I do appreciate that they are dragging out these duels or these filler episodes like they did in the first arc of the series, so that's certainly a good thing. I don't care for Kotori and unless they give me a reason to care about her, seeing her duel more isn't going to do that for me, so I don't quite understand why people want her to duel more. I seriously doubt that they're going to make her more important to the plot so she can duel more since she's primarily there to be the cute cheerleader for Yuma. I'd prefer it if they just dropped the background characters. Most of them don't contribute much of anything to the plot and are just boring characters, but I doubt that they'll either do that or give more attention to them. If they had any interest in doing that, there would be more of a point to the class rep kid, Tokunosuke and Cathy being in the main cast other than being Yuma's cheerleaders.

Haruto will probably appear at some point. I'm still expecting that he'll be involved for Kaito's reason to duel the Barian villains. A part of me also expects that they'll go back to how he's suppose to be sick, but since he's just all happy now, I wouldn't be surprised if that was just dropped too. Anna isn't an important character. I think that she's included in the opening and ending themes because she's part of Yuma's harem and can be used for cute fanservice, even though her only accomplishment in the series so far has been as a shield for Yuma, so she's not really important at all. I'd honestly be fine if she never appeared again. There's already too many characters in this show that I don't care about as it is and I don't think that she's necessary for the current storyline either.