Predictions and Observations:
Curry Worries

It occurred to me over the weekend that in the past few weeks we’ve begun discovering what the characters’ fears were. In Sad But Truesdale, Syrus realized that he feared being left behind by his friends. Sartorius told Chazz in I’ve Seen the Light that he feared failure.

Now, down to business. Not much to cover here, it was a fluffy episode, but there were a few things anyway:

Isn’t anyone in Slifer worried about the diseases contracted from eating raw meat?

“And we’re lucky to have any!” What did Hassleberry mean? Was he referring to the fact that some people don’t have food to eat (his general dad probably had some stories like that to tell; Hassleberry would have that to heart probably a tad more than most)? Or was he referring to the fact that Slifer still apparently has no headmaster?

Chazz used to tolerate Slifer food, but since he joined the Society of Light, he’s “destined for more.” At first I was going to say that now that he was a Light guy he felt like he was above all that, that he had received an ego boost. I immediately realized that was erroneous; Chazz has always been a bit aloof and disdainful of others. I’m still lost. Perhaps the change is that he sees the bad in everything except the Society of Light, which he of course loves like it’s a religion. However, note this: the Hanged Man, Chazz’s supposed symbol (especially with regard to the Society) is supposed to passively sort of say, whatever, and let things happen to him. However, in this episode Chazz speaks of taking a stand, and how if they keep taking it the school will keep treating them that way (interesting argument, that one). Hey, what about this? Being captured by Sartorius has caused Chazz to have a very strong belief in the Society and Destiny; a very strong opposition to Jaden; and for everything else, it causes him to try to project his opinions (including the ones skewed by the capture) on everyone else. Usually, Chazz kept himself to himself. Unless he had good cause, such as rallying Jaden’s friends to defend the Dorm, or another reason, such as an argument or duel banter, Chazz, a loner, kept his opinions to himself. Now, of course, he’s in everyone’s face about what he thinks. I think that may be the change that Sartorius affected.

Don Simon, Ra’s headmaster (imagine an accent over the “O” to make it read correctly). Apparently, if I have my social studies and stuff right, of Spanish origin, with that accent. We now of course know him as a good chef and one who loves it, as well as already knowing him as the art teacher in, I believe it was, Magna Chum Laude. Like he pointed out in the arrow scene (I laughed out loud), he’s been around in the background for a whole year now. Just for the record (she said petulantly), *I* noticed him. I kept wondering, and I couldn’t believe that we didn’t know anything whatsoever about him yet. We still only know him as Don Simon, and we don’t even know if that’s a pseudonym he worked up to go with his paper bag or what. He only had one line in the entire first year, “Cheers to Ra. Hear, hear,” in Welcome to Duel Academy at the Welcome Feast. I always did love imitating that, just to underscore the hilarity that we still knew nothing about him. He had a very different accent back then, lol. They probably didn’t think we’d notice.

I’ve got it: if all the Ras have moved out and Slifer has no headmaster, have Don Simon be Slifer’s new headmaster and cook good food (that doesn’t have risk of icky diseases) and be reunited with his favorite students again! Problem solved!

Okay, so the only thing standing in the way of Bonaparte’s plan is that Alexis, Hassleberry, Syrus, and Bastion (I don’t think Chazz quite counts anymore) won’t let Slifer be torn down? Wow, student power! They’re not even *in* that Dorm! Speaking of, this is the first time we’ve seen Slifer Dorm populated by many more than Jaden and his pals; I had begun to wonder if Jaden’s pals *were* the Slifer Dorm now.

Well, Alexis, considering we’ve seen: the Rare Card Air Force; a circus freak with a fake Millennium Puzzle; a squad of teachers dedicated to hunting down and capturing students who have been out-of-bounds; a hot sauce nut; a pair of rhyming, dueling mercenaries; a world domination plan involving as a centerpiece the domination of a card game; a dueling monkey; three dips in bedsheets who like to summon dangerous spirits in their free time; said dangerous spirits; a student who ran away and lived in Duel Academy’s forests while training himself to be lucky; a second-grader who’s head-over-heels for a high-schooler; card crushes; a Yugi wannabe; same wannabe who wants to be Jaden (“Let’s throw up!”); same wannabe as a Crowler imitator; Belowski; Foster; the Ojamas (speaking of which, are they okay?! *sob*); the superintendent as a supervillain; Tanya; the Admiral; the Dork- uh, I mean *Dark*- Scorpions; a time-vortex-warping loophole; a student dressed up as a giant Winged Kuriboh; Jaden’s “duel montage” costume; Chazz dressed up as one of his V-to-Z machine monsters; Duel Academy’s own Harpy Ladies; Dorothy as Dark Magician Girl; “The Gambler”; Chazz with whiskers; Tackle Marco Polo; a ticklish, talking rag doll; Dorothy as the seventh shadow rider (because her name rhymes with “tree”); Zane smiling; Chazz in love; a duel stopped in the middle for a snack break; a duel stopped in the middle for a cell phone; Bonaparte; Hassleberry; Crowler; a 24-foot-long flaming sword; Missy; Atticus; the dueling pop star idea; Jaden and Syrus as Atem and Seto; Obelisk pixies; Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphins; sure—a mystery chef vs. a sergeant wannabe, why not? Just another typical day at Duel Academy!

Bastion and Ms. Dorothy must be worse than *I* am when it comes to names and faces, and that’s saying something!

“How do these nincompoops get jobs here?” Well, Bonaparte, how*ever* did *you* manage to?

“Or maybe I’ll disappear like Professor Banner, never to be heard from again.” Cue Banner’s spirit almost escaping Pharaoh again. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him just yet.

Of course without a calculator; he’s Bastion Misawa! He does attack point quantum mechanics on his baseball bat for cryin’ out loud!

I’m not sure if things are mellowing down between Syrus and Hassleberry. Hassleberry referred to Jaden as his best friend in this episode. However, Syrus was very supportive of Sarge, much in the same way Hassleberry supported him against Missy.

Hassleberry’s got dino eyes again.

Jaden’s lived at Duel Academy for a year and he doesn’t know his way around yet on the island? Well, if it’s true that Jaden can’t spell (The Maiden in Love), can’t tell time (A New Breed of Hero I), can’t do basic arithmetic (couple early Year 2 episodes, I recall), can’t tell the difference between French and Malay (Hearts are Wild)… I digress, then I guess I can believe it. But I’m not badmouthing Jaden; he’s got talent to spare in other areas—just, not these!

Okay, sorry this was kinda hastily done, but I think I covered plenty. Tomorrow’s episode is Camaraderie Contest. ‘Til then, I’ll defer to homework. Good night! -Clio