Okay, I have officially reached the final couple of episodes of a show I REALLY liked as a kid, and I'm kind of regretting buying it? I had the urge to watch it again, out of that nostalgic urge to recapture some greater sense of magic, and I couldn't find it on any of my subscription streaming services, so I ordered the series online. Thing is, it's kind of long, and I've spent weeks in my time by myself during work putting on the episodes in the background. I haven't really been paying all THAT close attention, and even if I could, I don't really want to. Whenever I've sat down to actually watch the thing, I've had a LOT of unflattering questions about how things worked in the story's universe, what happened to previously established facts that had been retroactively glossed over, and WHO WROTE THIS CRAP. I mean, I get I was a kid when I got into the show, but was my taste really THAT bad?
I guess I'm over denying it (ahem). I must have been a bit of a dumb kiddo. XD
Yuugi ponders the reason they came to Egypt in the first place, and because of that, isn't able to quite get into the "tourist" spirit. They're just kind of sitting there on some dunes or standing looking into the distance, too, so that might be part of it. Although, in the next panel, Jonouchi is on a camel with a guide on either side, his legs flailing out on either side as he tells one of the guys to beat it for telling him that he has to PAY to get down. This doesn't SEEM like much fun from my view, but it's over this image that Yuugi suggests that at least his friends are having a good time. The best indication that no matter how he's grown and changed over the course of this story, he's still a LITTLE WEIRD.
As he watches some dudes pass by on camels, Yuugi thinks about his "other him", knowing that though it's not Atem's real name or anything, he's still going to call him that. Yuugi cradles the Millennium Puzzle in his hands, asserting that, for now, they're still two souls in a single body. He thinks about how Atem used to live in this land 3000 years before, and soon he'll be leaving. He wants to keep calling Atem his "other him" until that time, however.
I doubt Atem would be too annoyed by that.
Somewhat of a contrast to the more stereotypical imagery we were getting before, lol.
Just outside, the kiddos are looking at an open guidebook and a map, a spot on which Jonouchi points to and affirms that they'll be taking a plane to this place called Luxor, and Yuugi agrees, telling them that's where the Valley of the Kings is located. Ryoji is looking at the guidebook in Jonouchi's hands and looking a little perplexed, which is how I feel about his presence here. Not that I don't think he doesn't DESERVE to be with the gang or anything, but it's a little baffling to me that he'd have too many stakes in their little errand. Then again, that whole debacle with his dice game and almost burning Yuugi alive was fundamentally due to his clown!dad's vested interest in the puzzle, so...
They stand all grouped under an awning, opining about how late someone is, and Sugoroku asks Yuugi if he's sure this is really where they're supposed to wait. Yuugi holds up a letter to his grandfather and says this is the place they told him to wait in it, pulling out a photo they also sent in the envelope. Apparently this is the first time Sugoroku is seeing this picture of a stone with hieroglyphics carved all around an upper central carving of an eye, split right down the middle like it's a door, which it probably is. Seriously, Yuugi didn't show this cryptic photo to his granfather when he got the letter, on the plane, or anything? Really? I find that one hard to believe.
Sugoroku peers at the picture and says it's all hieroglyphs, and Anzu leans in for a look too, asking what it means. Yuugi says he's been thinking about it, but a boisterous Jonouchi complains loudly about how long he's being made to wait, and says he would have done more sightseeing if he'd known it would be so long. They'd only seen the pyramids, according to him. Bakura points off to the side and says they could see the Cairo Museum, something he'd LOVE to check out. Huh, not a little OVER museums for the time being since your recent experiences, Bakura? Oh well, can't change a kid's core interests, I suppose.
Jonouchi and he start to walk off, but Sugoroku shakes his fist at them and yells not to wander, Yuugi saying his grandfather is right, given that they're on an important mission and can't be distracted. On his way to fetch the meandering kids, Sugoroku steps over Honda, who's laying on the ground with some sort of bedroll under his head. He groans, asking if they could all keep it down, as he has the runs from drinking the water here. I'm not familiar with the kind of diarrhea that's sound-activated, but okay Honda.
We're shown a wheel VROOM VROOMING up at the curb, getting all their attentions.
Cool bike, I assume you're not there to pick them up. And if you guys were all flying together then you'd have parked before coming over...
Yuugi gives Marik a friendly wave, but Jonouchi makes a gesture that suggests he REALLY wants to punch Marik, yelling that he's late. Marik pays no mind to Jonouchi's threatening demeanor, apologizing through an amiable grin. It doesn't really matter; Jonouchi drops it once he gets to Rishid and just pulls a fake play punch on his shoulder, asking how he and Marik are doing. Rishid responds that they're all good and were really excited to see them all. It's an overall friendly reunion between them, and very heart-warming. Almost makes you forget all the almost murder Marik and Rishid committed on these guys during Battle City.
Ahem.
Marik tells them there's been a change in plans, because the Luxor airport is closed due to a sandstorm, and there's no telling when it'll be running again. He assures them all that Ishizu is off using her government contacts to get them a ship, and it shouldn't be too much longer. A fair reason for being late, but Jonouchi might get pissy again if he has to wait much more. Thankfully, we skip the part where he's throwing more conniption fits to where they're at a river dock, where Ishizu is standing with two soldiers at attention behind her, a middling cruise vessel in the background. She wishes them a good day, saying she and hers were waiting for THEM, which has to be some sort of joke at Jonouchi's impatient expense, lol.
Someone calls to her affectionately, and Ishizu smiles, welcoming them to Egypt. She gets straight down to business, turning to Yuugi and suggesting that he must have the rest of the Millennium Items if he's here. He confirms this and tells her he got her message about the other two being here already. Ishizu says that some members of their Tomb Guardian clan have taken the Tablet of the Pharaoh's Memories back from the museum and returned it to the Temple of the Underworld. All VERY cool and important-sounding things. Anzu hangs her head a little at the mention of the Temple of the Underworld, thinking that this is where the pharaoh's soul needs to go.
Yuugi reaches into his pocket to pull out the picture Ishizu sent him and ask her about it, but Marik is already at the top of the gangway plank to the ship and is urging everyone to come aboard so they can talk on the way. Wouldn't want to have to wait any LONGER, after all. The kids rush to do as he says, shouting in excitement about a cruise on the Nile. Jonouchi, of course, heads the pack with his fist pumping in the air.
The boat gets going and they stand at the bow of the ship looking over the railing. Anzu has her arms raised with a declaration that this is great, Jonouchi is pointing of one side of their line and Bakura is waving on the opposite. Once they're all settled down, there's a sentiment shared that perhaps the sandstorm had a purpose, because ancient Egyptians believed that ships carried kings or people back to the gods from the land of the living to that of the dead. Remarkably not a particularly unique belief from a lot of other cultures. Again, Anzu is moody as she looks at Ishizu, who had expressed this information, not wanting to think about that despite knowing what she means.
Once more, Ishizu turns to Yuugi and encourages his question about the picture. Remembering, he pulls it out and holds it up, where Ishizu tells him that what he sees are the Hieroglyphics inscribed on the door to the afterlife. Yuugi asks what they say, and Marik attempts a simple explanation:
Yuugi says he thinks he already knows what he needs to do - put the Millennium Items in the tablet and say the pharaoh's name. Marik is shocked that they found the pharaoh's lost name, and Jonouchi affirms that they did indeed, and I THINK he's the one who says it over the gaping faces of Marik and Ishizu in the next panel, but I can't be TOTALLY certain. In any case, when he recovers from the disbelief, Marik tells Yuugi that this isn't the ONLY think written on the door. It's now Yuugi's turn to be a little shocked.
Shit, does EVERYTHING have to have a duel incorporated into it???
Marik says that the pharaoh isn't able to make his homeward journey into eternal rest still holding his sword, and this statement is so cryptic that Jonouchi has to ask after a moment of pause just what in the hell Marik is talking about. So, Marik elaborates that the "sword" is a symbol for a tool to fight in this current world, which for duelists like them, would be their cards. He asks if they're picking up what he's putting down, and Yuugi hangs his head much like Anzu has been doing, thinking that Atem must have to put down his "sword" in order to find peace. With a somewhat concerned expression, he says that someone will have to fight his "other him"'s soul and win.
As Yuugi's friends look at him with shock, Marik says that he interprets this particular part of the instruction manual on the door the same way. The ship continues along its way, the sun sinking on the horizon, and Ishizu philosophizes about the Land of the Dead being in the west where the sun sets, and how the pharaoh's soul needs the rise of a new sun. We get it, his opponent needs to take up his weird card-game mantle, the symbolism is a little on the nose there. Yuugi looks at the sunset with his poop-face on. Shit has once again gotten real, despite the woo-woo talk going on at the moment.
When night has fallen, it seems their cruise has taken on a decidedly somber tone.
But this one's nerves just got turned up to eleven.
His cabin door is slightly ajar and Anzu is outside it, asking if she can come in. He just acknowledges her by name as she walks inside, informing him that they tell her they'll arrive at the Valley of the Kings in the morning. Yuugi just gives her a generic, short response, but Anzu doesn't really see this as a hesitation to talk, inquiring if he was thinking about the Rite of the Duel. He answers that he was actually thinking about the "other him" and how many duels he's fought, and Anzu remarks on how he's calling Atem his "other him", suggesting that it's easier to keep calling him that. Not as easy as NOT being having to engage in forced tense conversation when emotional turmoil is running high, if I had to guess.
But Anzu keeps pushing a discussion, asking if Atem has SAID anything for himself recently. Yuugi says that no, in fact, Atem hasn't shown himself from the depths of his heart. Anzu pauses and meekly says she sees, a pained look on her face. Then she stands, saying Yuugi's name once more in further question, to which he hums. Anzu looks all the more unsteady and devastated, leaning on the table for support for a moment, until she chippers up and claims she was looking for medicine for Honda's diarrhea and all. She tells him to never mind, making rapidly for the door again with the spoken assumption that he probz doesn't have any. She shuts the door behind her with a jaunty good night, slamming the damn thing by the sound effect, actually. Yuugi looks at the door in stunned silence once she's gone, and she leans on the other side in a very deflated mood.
It is all PROFOUNDLY awkward.
A brooding misery here, by contrast.
Yuugi walks through the door behind Jonouchi onto the deck, asking if he ALSO can't sleep. After a moment of mild surprise at the company, Jonouchi affirms this. They stand at the railing for a time silently, looking out onto the water, Jonouchi addresses Yuugi curiously. He confesses that sailing along under the stars like this reminds him a bit of when they went to Duelist Kingdom. Yuugi actually smiles at this memory, agreeing that this does feel a lot like that. Jonouchi talks about how WEAK he was back then, and how he's gotten just a little stronger since he met HIM. No need to guess who he's talking about here, despite the lack of a name.
Jonouchi asks Yuugi for a favor, and Yuugi looks at him askance.
Speaking of remembering their trip to Duelist Kingdom and all, lol.
Yuugi hugs the backpack he was wearing before to his chest, looking frazzled and sweatdropping MAJORLY. Jonouchi laughs that it was a joke, but Yuugi looks a bit resentful to be reminded of Haga. Totally with him on that one, I almost had blissfully forgotten that little twerp existed.
They quiet down again and even when Jonouchi utters a request for confirmation that it's all going down tomorrow, Yuugi just quietly continues looking at the water. When he does speak again, he hesitantly confesses to Jonouchi that there's something he hasn't yet told his "other him". But Jonouchi smiles, taking on a sure tone when he says that "he" won't be able to rest until Yuugi shows him. Yuugi agrees, declaring he has to fight "him", and there can't be any holding back. Jonouchi's smile is turned to Yuugi in encouragement. He doesn't say anything more.
Dueling against a person sharing your body SHOULD be a pretty big challenge, for sure.
So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The fact that Atem's true name was only uttered ONCE and then everyone avoids saying it afterward like the plague really gut-punches me. No doubt this is partly due to nervousness over Atem's name being the key to his entry into the afterlife - despite the other steps involved in the ritual, I can see how these kids might not want to say it before they have to just in case it opens that door too early. But a much bigger part is the avoidance of identifying Atem as wholly separate from them just yet. Yuugi has been thinking of Atem as part of him for so long, his friends also defining Atem in terms of Yuugi's identity, that the two of them aren't just difficult to untangle, but PAINFUL. Though it's obvious that Atem WILL always be a part of them in some way, right now the notion that Atem is in fact a whole person in his own right is tied to his leaving them, and that's really hard to come to grips with. All of them just want to hold onto him and his entwined identity with them just a little longer, especially Yuugi, who still clings so tightly to Atem as his "other him". Calling Atem by his name would break the illusion that they are inextricable from one another, and he can in some way "keep" Atem.
I'm reminded of a while back, just before Battle City, when Atem was trying to convince himself it would be OKAY to just share Yuugi's identity forever. That he didn't need memories, that it was fine going halves on a body with another soul, and he could be at least somewhat happy with that. The suggestion of stagnation had a tinge of depressive defeatism in it; Atem was nervous to learn who he actually was, so he considered the relative comfort of the status quo. Now from the other side, we see a depressive anxiety around the proactive movement Atem ultimately chose to pursue, because while stagnation is unsatisfying, saying goodbye and parting is sorrowful.
Man, where is Priest Seto when you need him, talking about his "heart prison" concept?
Still, Yuugi is preparing in earnest to do what needs to be done to give Atem peace regardless. Heroes aren't heroes because they lack selfish impulses, but because they do the right thing to help everyone involved. Yuugi's sadness at the upcoming duel between himself and Atem is palpable, but he's also shown actively getting ready, going through his deck, keeping the Millennium Items safe and close by, declaring that he's going to win this fight because he has to, for his friend's sake. Just when you think he can't look any stronger, this kid shows ever greater emotional competency and fortitude. Yuugi is a BEAST. Of the cinnamon roll variety.
Jonouchi and Anzu's pain can't be overlooked either, and it's clear that they're really suffering here. But it's clear that they won't have to be the ones who are strongest throughout this ordeal, so I won't be surprised if we see some resistance to Yuugi winning during the duel from them - Anzu in particular. I think Jonouchi might get by with his sense of humor alone, but Anzu is bound to object at some point to Atem's inevitable departure. After all, she's been holding her tongue on this subject for quite some time, longer than any of them, save Yuugi himself. I'm anticipating a really big emotional outburst when she just can't take it any more. She'll be okay in the end, though. Girl's got chops.
I REALLY hope Honda is able to get over the diarrhea before the next chapter. Imagine missing the last duel - Atem vs. Yuugi - because you had to stay glued to the toilet. That would be the WORST.
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