Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains

So how is VRAINS so far? It feels like the hype has died down.

The hype has died down.

It's all right, kind of a better-executed ZEXAL mixed with some early 5D's. Pacing could be a little quicker (the recaps haven't helped), and we're past due for the part where the cast becomes an ensemble (though we're currently working towards that), but there's been nothing glaringly dumb so far like the quiz dochenozzle who had appeared around this time in ARC-V.

VRAINS been doing quite well, for the most part. It's a bit slow, and some of the characters are kind of just in the plot, like Go. But damn if Yusaku's backstory isn't brilliant writing. Really explains why he's so distant from others.

That said, I feel VRAINS isn't nothing too special. I had more hype for Arc-V around this point than for VRAINS.

I dunno what the heck means with a better executed ZeXal, but here are my thoughts:

It's the textbook example of mediocre. Aside from some jank animation at times, Vrains is nothing special so far. Nothing has really grabbed me or engaged me in any major way and everything about it just screams 'okay'. The story functions but I'm not really feeling the tension, the characters are alright but I don't really care about them, the duels serve their purpose but they don't really get me hyped, ...

Really, so far I found the best episodes to be Go Vs. Doctor Genome. It's a solid two-part duel with some neat music and good pacing while also characterizing both participants and having an entertaining and genuinely interesting one-shot antagonist. Everything before and after hasn't really grabbed me and the first episode of that duel is the only episode in Vrains that I've really felt 'hype' from.

That's not to say Vrains is bad. For all its mediocrity, it doesn't actually do anything offensively badly. The female lead is treated respectably, most of the cast is relevant and the antagonists don't come across as fodder, except for the intentionally fodder Hanoi grunts. Vrains, so far, is a good balance of everything in YGO without being 'great'. It doesn't excel in animation and music like ZeXal or in the tense, gripping storyline of (early) 5D's, but it also doesn't stoop to the lows of the horrible pacing of Duel Monsters or the rather lackluster opening set of episodes for ZeXal.

It could still go to shit, though. Lord knows Arc-V screwed up big-time.

edited 24th Dec '17 11:17:50 AM by Nickpws

Is crunchyroll down again? No new episode up, and it's supposed to be today too. I checked.

I think the subbers at CR have been having issues or something.

EDIT: "Due to the New Year's holidays, episode 33 will be delayed by at least 1 week. It will be released with, or before, episode 34. We apologize for the inconvenience thank you for your patience and understanding." So no one is working is all.

edited 27th Dec '17 9:35:59 AM by RedRob

Are you kidding me?

We have to wait an extra week?

Well it is Christmas and all, but still.

Thirty-four isn't even airing until the 10th so the fact that they say it'll be released either with or before then means we could be waiting up to two weeks, since a week is the minimum timeframe.

I don't know what they are trying to accomplish with Spectre's characterization here. Blue Angel calling him Not So Different seems to be implying he is more sympaphetic than he acts, but he still such a Card-Carrying Villain so far. Also his deck feels like it will join Armors, Fossils, New Order and C/C/C in the list of decks too mechanically weird to be in the game.

I don't care where they intend to go with explaining Specter, because as long as he keeps up what he's doing currently I'll be a happy camper. Easily the most entertaining character in Vrains so far, in my opinion. Shame it took him this long to get the spotlight.

...Ok. So I decided to break down and find the raw of 33 so I could at least see what happened...

Only I got a sub of the episode.

Whut?

And it was episode 33 too. I'm not sure how, since I assumed the Crunchyroll subs wouldn't be around until next week. Whatever the case, I watched it.

Specter is certainly a joyful jackass. It'll be interesting to see if Aoi can really beat him or not. As heroines in Yugioh go, she's got a pretty good record, only losing to the hero so far, but it's truly hard to tell.

The summary for the next episode is basically "Aoi's on the ropes BUT THEN! new Trickstar" so it seems more likely that she'll win than lose.

But come to think of it, Aoi's dueling Specter and Yusaku is of course going for Revolver ultimately, so who's Go supposed to duel?

Revolver? No one said that Yusaku would find him first.

edited 28th Dec '17 8:25:56 PM by MorningStar1337

Bye Go.

Oh, I think Aoi's lost. The scene where the pieces of the book flutter in front of her feet while burning seem like a climactic 'Vilainous win moment' shot to me. Something something "I don't need to rely on some story".

By the way, this episode proved something: Even in this internet centric world, physical books still actually exist.

I hate to be the guy always asking this, but is Crunchy roll having troubles with episode 34?

Cause it's not up again.

Edit: Never mind. I saw it.

Oh shit. She landed face first on the ground. And Spectre is fucked up man. He was clearly enjoyed every moment like he took some kind of personal joy in destroying her.

I was really hoping Aoi would win this one, but I guess Spectre needed a real showing after all this time.

Edit 2: And it looks like Spectre might be one of the victims of the Lost incident. Who knows, maybe he's the one who told Yusaku the three things mantra. I know all narrative evidence points to it being Revolver, but we can rule out the possibility of it being someone else.

edited 10th Jan '18 12:41:42 PM by HandsomeRob

Good duel. Sucks that Aoi lost though. Seemed like a perfect "The hero wins" moment but they pulled it back at the last second.

I don't think it can be helped. Spectre had been in the background for sometime, so he did need to establish his threat. Also, while I hate that they chose Aoi instead of Go, Aoi's had more victories since her debut (the AI duelist, and Baira) compared to Go's one important victory against Genome. It sucks, but somebody was gonna take the hit. I am curious as to who Go is going to duel since Yusaku is going to follow up on fighting Spectre (and since it looks like he was not only part of the Lost Incident but may be the one who gave Yusaku his three rules mantra, it's appropriate that he duel the hero).

It still royally sucks. She landed head first on the ground. That''d be a lot worse if this were the real world.

Honestly I think a tie would have been a better choice. That way you can give Specter credibility as a threat while not undermining Aoi as a character.

It's kind of hilariously sadistic that he goaded Aoi on the entire match and even pretended to have a rising redemption chance before revealing his true colors as the Manipulative bastard he is. God Damns I had a feeling Aoi would lose but I didnt expect the turn around to be so overwhelmingly cruel.

And this is the second time he's messed with her if you consider how he targeted her for their plan against playmaker too.

I mean, that was probably mostly convenience, but I feel like it's establishing a precedent with Spectre. I truly hope she's get a real shot at him in the future. This shitter has messed with her enough already.

Double post for the latest episode:

Wow. Spectre is messed in the head.

He's not only a Misanthrope Supreme who Hates Everyone Equally, but he actually enjoyed the lost incident, which makes him the exact opposite of Yusaku.

And I love it.