My Little Over-Analysis of 'Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters' Part 2: Episode 1 'The Heart of the Cards'

As far as pilot episodes go, this one pretty much nails it in terms of balance. On the one hand, it does a good job at establishing many of the show's staplers as well as introduce us to the world and the characters. In fact, a lot of this set up already gets taken care of even before the rather excellent opening credits roll, as we learn of the show's ancient Egyptian themed lore and how it all connects to our lead Yugi.

Yet, at the same time, it's never in any particular hurry to set everything up right away (or get the actual plot going for that matter), and simply offers us a nice little opportunity to get to know the characters and settle into the world they inhabit. That, in turn, leads us to the opening scene in Domino High.

Meeting the Gang (and Kaiba)

Now, what makes this first scene great is that although it's essentially just our leads chilling out and playing some cards, we immediately get the jist of who they are. Indeed, whether it's Yugi's kind-hearted and mellow nature, Joey's stubborn but well-meaning one or Tea and Tristan's role as the ever supporting background players, it's all there and one really gets a sense that they're good friends.

It's also a nice way to give us our first brief glimpse into the Duel Monsters card game. Or, in other words, introduce us to the means by which the characters solve most of their conflicts in this world.

Speaking of conflict, this is also where we meet arguably the show's most fascinating entity—Seto Kaiba. A true enigma, what makes him so special essentially comes down to how effortlessly he switches between the roles of an antagonist and one of the hero's the story. He's somone, who is—at the same time—a deeply interesting character with fascinating backstory and complex motivations while also just your average textbook jerk. Now, since it's only the beginning of the story, its that latter part of Kaiba's psyche we must contend with for now, as he overhears our gang talking about a rare card Yugi's grandpa has ("awesome-super-rare card" to be more precise) and immediately sets his sights on it.

Introducing the Staplers of the Show (and Atem)

So, after Yugi's grandfather (Solomon) refuses to sell it, Kaiba sends some of his goons to pick him up, they have an off-screen duel, grandpa gets seriously injured by playing a childrens card game (as it so often happens in this world), Kaiba rips his special card apart (it being one of the four legendary Blue Eyes White Dragons), grandpa gives his deck to Yugi so he could teach Kaiba a lesson on "the heart of the cards" and we're on to our first proper duel of the series. Well, almost, as there are still three crucial elements that need to be set up before the duel begins.

First of, there's the whole heart of the cards theme, which for now is really just a nice little allegory on how inanimate objects can attain sentimental power, when somone puts their heart and soul into them. Secondly, it's of course the whole "friendship's the best thing ever" theme of the show, as Yugi, Joey, Tea and Tristan confirm their unbreakable bond with some neat handrawing. And, well, while it is undoubtedly cheesy as hell, the characters deliver it with such straight-faced sincerity that it quickly becomes endearing.

Last but not least, this is also we meet the final of our leads—Atem—the spirit of an Ancient Pharaoh with no memory of his past now sharing a body with Yugi through the magic of Millenium Puzzle. Now, as this series goes on, we'll have plenty of time to explore this truly fascinating two souls in one body dynamic (and how their respective characters arcs compliment each other). For now, however, it simpy looks like Yugi inserted an instant puberty cheat code—as Atem takes over his body—and we should just roll with. So, let's do that and get on with the duel.

It's Time to D-D-D Duel!

Now, while this first duel is all over the place in terms following the actual rules of the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game and only lasts about 10 minutes, it does do a good job in laying down the basics of the game, as well as treat us to some the franchise's most iconic monsters like the abovementioned Blue Eyes White Dragon (well, three of them actually), Dark Magician and of course Exodia. The latter being also the one that wins the duel for Yugi and naturally—as yet a another main trope of the show—just when he's about to lose.

Finally, just to cap it all off, Yugi (or the spirit of the puzzle at this point) performs some strange Mind Crush magic on Kaiba, thus proving that he has retained at least some of the tendencies of his considerably more twisted manga counterpart.

All Set on a Journey

So, the day is saved, world established and we're now free to get the actual story of the first arc going. For that—as a little bonus—we also get our first brief glimpse of the first season's main baddie: the king of class (and camp) himself Maximillion Pegasus. But more on him in the next episode. Right now, let's cap things off with a bit of trivia (as is going to be the case with each following entry into this little review series).

Today's Card Trivia

• Kagemusha of the Blue Flame: While this monster has literally nothing else to show for in any other aspect, it does get the honor of being the first monster played in this long-running series. For those wondering what "Kagemusha" means, it's essentially a political decoy (a Samurai general's body-double for example).
• More on that note, Negative Energy Generator becomes the first spell card played on the show.
• Blue Eyes White Dragon: Kaiba's singature card is one of the strongest none effect monsters in the entire game. Ironically enough, while one of the rarest printed cards in the anime, it's arguably the most common card in real life. Now, in regards to the actual monster this card is based upon, it is revelaed later in the show that it was the spirit of Kisara—a woman who lived in Ancient Egypt—as well as the patron monster of the Priest Seto (who Kaiba is a reincarnation of). On a more personal note, it's also my favourite monster in the entire game.
• Dark Magician: Yugi's signature card is probably the single most supported card of all, with 15 cards specifically stating "Dark Magician" as part of their effect (in addition to the "Magician" theme its design has inspired). During Dawn of the Duel arc, it is revealed that the Dark Magician is the reincarnation of Mahad, a servant of Pharaoh Atem, fused together with the Illusion Magician.
• Exodia: A proper deus ex machina, as summoning it means an instant victory, Exodia's dismemberment appears to be a reference to the Egyptian god Osiris: who was sealed away and dismembered by the god Set (Osiris being the god of death and judgement).

Changes in the Dub

• During the opening scene, Kaiba is seen reading a green book. In the Japanese version however this book is Friedrich Niches's philosphical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None. And, well, there really couldn't have been a more fitting choice for the character. You see, among other things the book deals with the concept of the overman (Übermensch), a self-mastered individual who has achieved his full power and lives his life with no regrets. Now, when looking at Kaiba's obsession with being the best duelist along with his cunning and ruthlessness in general, it's certainly a concept close to his heart. More on that note, the book also provides a strong critique on the concept of after-life and religion, which perfectly compliments Kaiba's rather sceptical world view.
• Yugi's grandfather's injuries are explained in the Japanese version to have resulted from the hyper-realistic monster holograms. In English version, this is left uncleared
• When Joey is encouraging Yugi to Duel Kaiba, in the English dub he tells him he is the best Duelist he has ever seen while in the Japanese version, he reminds Yugi that he was the one who helped him turn his life around (a reference to the manga).
• The pentagram that Exodia emerges from has more points in the English version to remove religious connotations.

Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series Quote the Day

Yami: Wait, did you just summon a bunch of monsters in one turn?Kaiba: Yeah, so?Yami: That's against the rules!Kaiba: Screw the rules, I have money!

Perfectly summing up Kaiba (as well as the show's overall endearing disregard for the actual rules of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game).

Keeping the Score

• Number of major friendship speeches: 2
• Monologues on the heart of the cards: 2
• Main character drawing just the right card at the last second trope: 1
• Yugi's overall victory count: 2 (including the little game in the opening)
• Yugi's overall losing accout: 0
• Kaiba's overall victory count: 0 (off-screen doesn't count)
• Kaiba's overall losing count: 1
• Joey's overall victory count: 0
• Joey's overall losing count: 1

Sources: Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia!, Every 4Kids Change to Yu-Gi-Oh: Episode 1 by Gamechamp3000, Wikipedia, tvtropes.org