Episode 33: The Final Game of Friendship - Yugi vs Jounouchi, Part 1

Yugi and Joey face each other across the dueling arena, as Croquet announces the final match of the tournament. (Why do they always call it a match? These guys aren't playing matches, they're playing single elimination duels.)

Yugi is thinking that he has to win this duel so he can save his Grandpa from Pegasus, while Joey thinks he has to win for his sister. Up in the gallery, Téa, Tristan, and Bakura talk about how rough it is that the two friends have to duel each other. Tristan says at least one of them will get to face Pegasus, but Téa wishes they could have just flipped a coin or something instead of having to battle each other. (In the Japanese, Anzu says they know Jounouchi's going to get the prize money anyway, so why do they still fight? Honda says it's the rules—if they don't duel, they can't win the prize. But she's still upset.)

Yugi tells Joey he's not sure if he can go through with it, but Joey tells him to suck it up. They've already agreed they'll both fight their best and most honorable duel—that way they'll know who's best prepared to take on Pegasus. (The thing about them dueling hard so the stronger one will be ready to duel Pegasus isn't in the Japanese. They just fight hard because it's the thing to do.) Yugi reluctantly agrees, and Yami comes out to duel.

Pegasus congratulates the finalists, and tells them he's looking forward to their very best.

Joey takes a moment to thank Yugi for helping him to reach the final, and that no matter what happens, he'll always be his friend. Even so, he's going to do his best. (In the Japanese, Jounouchi says, "I want to fight a real battle with you one day. There's an enormous power within you, and I will get to share that power by fighting you." This is a bit of a preview of the True Duelist thread that runs through the upcoming Battle City tournament. And Bakura reflects that the true dueling spirit is awakening in Jounouchi—the instinct to challenge a stronger fighter. This kind of thing always gets cut from the US version for some reason.) Yugi says Joey earned his place in the final.

They both vow to fight their hardest. Now, we get a little music video about Yugi and Joey's friendship to the song "No Matter What." Awwwww! This is probably the one thing I love most about the US version that isn't in the original Japanese.

Yugi begins by summoning Celtic Guardian (Elf Swordsman) in attack mode. Téa talks about how so much is at stake in this duel, unlike the casual duels the two duelists often had back home. Tristan wishes they could both win, while Bakura hopes there will be some way for both of them to get what they've worked for. Pegasus, eavesdropping from his ringside seat at the duel, chuckles evilly and tells Bakura to dream on. (In the Japanese, Anzu says that both of them are fighting for their family, while Honda says that doesn't matter now—they are just battling as duelists, and that's what makes them men. Bakura wonders if Jounouchi's head-on attacks will be able to defeat Yugi. And Pegasus just marvels at how beautiful the sight it is, as if two wild beasts had been released to battle.)

Joey summons Giltia the Knight (Giltia the Dark Knight) and attacks Celtic Guardian, striking the first blow of the match and reducing Yugi's life points to 1550. But then he leaves his Giltia unprotected and open to attack.

Yugi calls for a time out, much to Joey's surprise, and tells him that he must use everything he's learned in this match. Every move is crucial, and he can't afford to make any mistakes. Joey takes Yugi's advice to heart, and they continue the duel. (In the Japanese, Yugi reminds Jounouchi that the key to winning is the balance between monster cards and magic cards, and advises Jounouchi not to use up all his monsters right away.) Yugi summons Gaia the Fierce Knight (Dark Knight Gaia) and destroys Giltia the Knight. Now they're even at 1550.

Joey congratulates Yugi on his move, and plays Armored Lizard, a weak monster, in defense. Yugi knows Joey has better monsters than this—what's Joey up to? (In the Japanese, Yugi realizes that Jounouchi is calling out his stronger monsters, and accepts the call.) Yugi responds by playing Summoned Skull (Demon Summon) in attack mode and destroying Armored Lizard.

Joey's not bothered. This is exactly what he was planning on! He tells Yugi to watch out for his next move. (In the Japanese, he tells Yugi that the balance between magic and monster cards is the key—now he gives Yugi's advice back to him!) He summons Flame Swordsman, then plays Shield and Sword (Shield in the Right Hand, Sword in the Left Hand) to reverse the monsters' attack and defense points. Now Flame Swordsman is more powerful than Summoned Skull, and destroys it.

Yugi counters with Curse of Dragon, using Polymerization to fuse it with Gaia the Fierce Knight to form Gaia the Dragon Champion (Dragon Knight Gaia), using it to destroy Flame Swordsman. (A close-up of the Dragon Champion's lance hitting the Flame Swordsman's chest is cut out of the US version.)

Up in the gallery, Bakura and Téa agree that Yugi and Joey are pushing each other to duel their very best, while Pegasus reflects on how much he enjoys watching two friends push each other to their limits. (In the Japanese, Bakura says that Yugi and Jounouchi are now battling on instinct, like two beasts. And Pegasus agrees—once in the arena, they must fight until one of them falls.)

(In the Japanese, there's a bit here that was cut out of the US version, where Jounouchi stares at his hand, wondering how to counter Dragon Knight Gaia. His strongest monster, the Red Eyes Black Dragon, has only 2400 attack points—less than the Dragon Knight. He wonders if he can use a magic card somehow to increase Red Eyes' attack. Meanwhile, Yugi is thinking that he will not lose, and he will block Jounouchi's attacks any way he can.)

Joey draws Copycat, sees that he also has Graverobber in his hand, and gets an idea. First, he summons the Red Eyes Black Dragon, then he uses Graverobber to steal Summoned Skull from Yugi's graveyard (the real Graverobber can only be used to steal a magic card). Finally, he plays Copycat, using it to copy Yugi's Polymerization card (and the real Copycat can only copy monster cards), and fuses Red Eyes Black Dragon and Summoned Skull to form the mighty Black Skull Dragon (Black Demons Dragon), with an attack of 3200! Pegasus applauds Joey's move, and Black Skull Dragon destroys Gaia the Dragon Champion, reducing Yugi's life points to 550.

Joey celebrates his success, hardly believing he's just taken down Yugi's Dragon Champion. Yugi is grim and silent, and Joey says he understands—Yugi's got his game face on, trying to keep Joey in suspense. But Yugi says that's not it—he's just letting Joey enjoy his triumph. He played a fine move. (In the Japanese, Jounouchi tells Yugi he's beginning to understand the fun of dueling, and Yugi agrees that this is a true duel.)

But Yugi's got a move of his own planned, and the gang all agree that it's anybody's game! Rain falls over the castle, as Yugi tells Joey this duel is just getting started!

To Be Continued