Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 020 Game Over

Well, here it is, folks. It's painful, but all good things must come to an end. I'm still going to have a hard time saying goodbye to this arc, though, because it's the very first time we see the person constantly GIVING out challenges GETTING them. It's also the very first time we see a villain as deliciously hateable as Shadi, a person I'm looking forward to seeing again after this. That's really the only thing that's going to keep me chipper throughout this chapter. He will return to piss me off once more!

This chapter starts with a couple of recap pages, showing Jonouchi holding up Anzu's plank, Yami looking relieved, and Shadi's disbelief at the notion that friends could possibly be strong united.

Yami narrates what just happened, reminding the audience that the Millennium Key can now slide down the rope and into Anzu's hand, as you do. Not sure why the pictures of this happening couldn't have just reminded us of this, but you know Takahashi. He thinks the kiddies at home can't possibly decipher what he draws, I guess.

The moment the key touches Anzu's hand, she blinks. She questions where she is and looks down off the edge of the plank.

I love her Peanuts character look here. Jonouchi complains that she's too heavy, which is hilarious since he has to be stronger than a tiny little statuette. He tells Anzu to climb down from the plank, and she looks around at him in shock, asking what he's doing there. Jonouchi thinks this question is just as stupid as I do, and urges her to climb down again, but she cries that she's too scared to move. Jonouchi is about to retort when he notices zombie!Yoshimori reaching for him once more.

Jonouchi seems surprised that Yoshimori is still following him, though he should be used to by now, what with him having been chased for the entire arc. He calls to Anzu to get herself to safety as soon as possible, and Anzu starts to crawl back toward the chainlink fence around the roof. Jonouchi tells her not to look down, but that never helps ever, boy. He looks down himself as Yoshimori grasps his calves, crawling up Jonouchi's body.

Yoshimori is pulling on Jonouchi's legs, and his feet are slipping from the ledge. Jonouchi knows he can't hold Anzu much longer and silently begs her to hurry. She walks across the board like she's on a tightrope, but whether due to Jonouchi's weakening grip or her own clumsiness, the board tilts to the side and she slips.

If you make it out of here alive, Anzu, you might want to work a bit harder on that balance. Pretty sure dancers should have that.

Yami hopped the fence and grabbed her just in time! Looks like you have a second chance to work on balance after all, Anzu! Jonouchi is relieved that Anzu's safe, but he still has a zombie clinging to his legs that he has to worry about. Yami draws Jonouchi's attention to the Millennium Key, telling him to touch Yoshimori's hand with it. Confused, but probably willing to try anything at this point, Jonouchi grabs one of Yoshimori's hands and pulls it up to the key.

Once Yoshimori stops groping at him, Jonouchi announces that he's back to normal. Jonouchi tells him not to look down, and Yoshimori is perplexed by the greeting, but he soon finds something else even more wrong to concentrate on - most of his teeth have been knocked out.

He just wanders on up to the roof like it was the most obvious place for everyone to be. How much you wanna bet he didn't call the police or an ambulance? I mean, dude, I know Yoshimori is your friend and all, but he assaulted you and your grandson's best friend. Just saying.

Know what else I'm just saying? Anzu is staring at Yami as he walks away from her, blushing. At least I understand how this rescue could get her all hot and bothered. At this point, though, I think she's still not sure what to make of Yami, and still thinks he's Yuugi. This is the first time she's been able to actually SEE the change that has taken place in Yuugi, along with everyone else, so it should be interesting how this is handled. Does Yuugi tell them about his episodes? Does Yami tell them about his connection to the puzzle, Millennium Items and Shadi?

Speaking of Shadi, Yami was headed to stand victorious before him, but not too close, mind you. He did just try to murder Yami and all the people he loves tonight, so it's a good thing he's keeping his distance. Shadi admits that Yami has won every challenge and defeated him. Good, maybe Shadi won't be a little bitch about it this time. The way Yami is looking at him, I would say he's 10,000% done with Shadi's shit either way.

He lets Shadi continue his losing speech, though. Shadi says that he tried to show Yami illusions that would tempt him into darkness, but even in his illusions, Yami's friends were there to support him. So I guess he knew all along that his monologue about how friendship and strength are mutually exclusive was bullshit all along. But that begs the question about how his statuette was destroyed by the evidence that he was wrong. Whatever. He says that maybe his defeat isn't so bad after all. Why? Because you ended up not murdering people? Yeah, I'd say it's not a bad trade, you losing for everyone continuing to live.

Yami says he might understand what the power of the puzzle actually is. He explains that even when he and his friends weren't physically together, they were working in tandem to each other on the problem before them and were greater than they would have been alone. Yami is convinced the puzzle created this dynamic.

Shadi, what is your problem? I don't understand why this explanation should shock you so much. That lightning background was appropriate for when Yami was dealing with the life-and-death situations you put him through, but it just doesn't work here. Calm the fuck down.

Or, you know, maybe you should just run. It looks like these people are ready to drop-kick you right off the edge of the building. I'm surprised that Jonouchi doesn't throw a punch when he tells Shadi to get lost because he doesn't belong in their territory. Shadi agrees and turns around, but still has a couple more words for Yami. He's happy in spite of his defeat, because he and his family have been looking for people like Yami for a long time. He walks off muttering about whether or not Yami would be able to open some door.

Jonouchi is angry that the "turban guy" didn't explain what he meant by any of that, but Anzu has a different concern. She whispers to Jonouchi, asking if he noticed that Yuugi's face was a bit different when they saw it before. Jonouchi confirms that he noticed that too, and Anzu wonders what they should do. Jonouchi goes up to Yami, hand extended to tap him.

Now everyone feels like they're crazy. Yoshimori apologizes for not keeping his guests entertained for this whole time, though he does mention that he's aching everywhere and can't remember what happened. Grandpa is gritting his teeth as he thinks about how different Yoshimori was for a while. Jonouchi and Anzu argue about how many teeth she managed to knock out of Yoshimori's skull.

Grandpa suggests that they all get dinner on him and receives a unanimous acceptance, with Yuugi suggesting burgers. Guys, Yoshimori doesn't have teeth, he's in pain, and he spent a good majority of the night a zombie. Are you not going to question that? Are you not at least going to call an ambulance for him? Are you at least going to consider the fact that he's not going to be able to eat a HAMBURGER??

Why am I the only one who cares?

Meanwhile, the plank Anzu was standing on starts to phase out of existence. Once it does, the key falls to the quad below.

Maybe by the time you do, you won't be such a gargantuan tool, Shadi.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Standard wrap-up, as far as I'm concerned. The conclusion about the puzzle's power being that of unity made sense, because metaphorically that is a fair analogy. In all the instances when Yami has shown up, it was in response to something unfair happening to his friends. The puzzle protects the team, because each member is a piece of it, just like the actual physical puzzle pieces. The pieces, and members of Yuugi/Yami's support, come together to form something greater than themselves with their contributions to overcoming all obstacles in their path.

It's a shame that this message is a little undermined by the cartoonish lack of concern for Yoshimori's physical condition at the end there. I realize this IS a cartoon, but when we were dealing with such tension and action throughout the rest of the arc, and then ended it all with "let's all go get burgers" because the injured character is minor, it feels... a little like falling off a cliff. What our author is basically saying here is that the use of the Millennium Items don't have any consequences that we should care about. Bad things only happen to bad guys, and occasionally the neutral bystander who was unlucky enough to be controlled, so don't even worry about it!

It feels a little cheap and unfinished, like he was rushing to get on with the next chapter. Well, I hope that next chapter is worth it, because my disappointment runs high right now.