Yu-Gi-Oh, King of Games

Ah, Yuugiou/YuGiOh... Why do I like this series, you ask?
Good question. The art is inconsistent, varying from very good and sensitive to looking incredibly rushed and off (in both the manga and anime), the plot (after graphic novel 7) has entirely too much of some card game, and there aren't enough strong female characters. So why would a person like it?
Well, I like it for a lot of reasons, and here I'll give you three. The first reason is Bakura -- but he's just one character and might not appeal to everybody. ^_~ The second reason is that it deals with the duplicity of people's characters -- everybody in our world is a little two-faced, ne? YuGiOh just gives that darker side some more depth. Mou hitori no boku -- My other side -- it's such a wonderful concept. Contrast, conflict... ah, I tend to obsess over these things. But the third and final reason, which probably everybody would like if they took the time to notice:

The main character is flawed.

You read it right. Yuugi is a flawed character. He's too short, too naive, can't stand up for himself, shy, and the list goes on. And his darker side, Yami Yuugi, isn't too perfect himself. Yami Yuugi's rather evil, especially in the beginning of the comics. And even in the TV series airing on Kids WB -- what sort of protagonist is willing to sacrifice the life of his opponent to win? (refering to the duel with Kaiba, where Kaiba threatens to kill himself if he loses the duel.) Yami Yuugi was willing to let Kaiba die. That's not your standard hero, is it?
That's what I love about YuGiOh. Yuugi is too much of a wuss, and Yami Yuugi's a little too dark for a savior. It's imperfect, just like the art.

And Bakura's a hottie.

So, anyway. My thoughts on YuGiOh. If you're at all interested in the series, please don't buy the shit that Funimation translated -- imported, uncensored, subtitled DVDs are available here (though the english subtitles are awful). The comics are being translated and published by Viz, in Shonen Jump. This is good YuGiOh. What Funimation shows is _not_ YuGiOh, but uses the same footage and a similar plot. Funimation sucks.

So, here are some of my insane ramblings on Yu-Gi-Oh. This shows you that I am entirely too obsessed with the series, but whatever.
Random Thoughts
Meditations on a Bakura's Sex Life