The Plot dithers around at the start so they can introduce Aster Phoenix (a polymerization of Yugi and Seto) and undermine Chazz's credibility for a bit (why?), while this is not too painful as they do some more slice of life stuff to break it up it does seem a tad unnecessary and gives the season bottom heavy pacing.
They also introduce a new character, Hassleberry. He's part dinosaur after having a fossil jammed in his leg during an emergency operation. The magic cards are explained, this is never explored and sticks out like a plot tumour. Other than this he's a likeable dynamic character who drives the story forward when Jaden's otherwise busy.
So with that out of the way the story finally steams forward, The Society of Light stuff is great, they did the black pointy hooded cult of chanting every one does in season one, the brainwash cult of evangelical happy clappy and bright colours is a refreshingly different and disturbingly real take on the concept and works well. Everyone gets sucked in and becomes their antithesis leaving Jaden, Sho and Hassleberry as the only survivors. This is played well and is believably done.
The first of the two problems that will haunt the rest of the seasons starts here: The only person who can achieve anything ever is Jaden. Hassleberry is useful for the rest of this season only, but everyone else sits around waiting for Jaden or failing horribly when they try. Jaden ceases to be the ace of a team of hero's and become the janitor and nanny for the whole universe.
Then finally the villain Satorius, Satorius is introduced early and starts as an interesting villain who can see the future and believes it is his destiny to destroy the world and seems genuinely upset at the actions he believes he must take. This is all great stuff and makes for a great villain with lots of sympathy and conflict. However they can't wait to to ruin it with long standing problem two:
SPACE ALIENZ! You know that nuanced character you were building, well now he's just possessed by an evil alien, enjoy your boring villain. You know your deck Jaden, it now has aliens in it, enjoy your ham-fisted acid sequence as you collect the cards from deepspace or monster world (maybe?).
But really, this season is worth your time, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, it just could of done with a tweaking here and there.
Season Two - Cracks Form
The Plot dithers around at the start so they can introduce Aster Phoenix (a polymerization of Yugi and Seto) and undermine Chazz's credibility for a bit (why?), while this is not too painful as they do some more slice of life stuff to break it up it does seem a tad unnecessary and gives the season bottom heavy pacing.
They also introduce a new character, Hassleberry. He's part dinosaur after having a fossil jammed in his leg during an emergency operation. The magic cards are explained, this is never explored and sticks out like a plot tumour. Other than this he's a likeable dynamic character who drives the story forward when Jaden's otherwise busy.
So with that out of the way the story finally steams forward, The Society of Light stuff is great, they did the black pointy hooded cult of chanting every one does in season one, the brainwash cult of evangelical happy clappy and bright colours is a refreshingly different and disturbingly real take on the concept and works well. Everyone gets sucked in and becomes their antithesis leaving Jaden, Sho and Hassleberry as the only survivors. This is played well and is believably done.
The first of the two problems that will haunt the rest of the seasons starts here: The only person who can achieve anything ever is Jaden. Hassleberry is useful for the rest of this season only, but everyone else sits around waiting for Jaden or failing horribly when they try. Jaden ceases to be the ace of a team of hero's and become the janitor and nanny for the whole universe.
Then finally the villain Satorius, Satorius is introduced early and starts as an interesting villain who can see the future and believes it is his destiny to destroy the world and seems genuinely upset at the actions he believes he must take. This is all great stuff and makes for a great villain with lots of sympathy and conflict. However they can't wait to to ruin it with long standing problem two:
SPACE ALIENZ! You know that nuanced character you were building, well now he's just possessed by an evil alien, enjoy your boring villain. You know your deck Jaden, it now has aliens in it, enjoy your ham-fisted acid sequence as you collect the cards from deepspace or monster world (maybe?).
But really, this season is worth your time, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, it just could of done with a tweaking here and there.