Predictions and Observations:
The Scars of Defeat - Double Trouble Duel II

The Scars of Defeat | Arena of Lost Souls I | Arena of Lost Souls II |
Double Trouble Duel I | Double Trouble Duel II

The Scars of Defeat - 1/20/07
"Pegasus always makes sure that he has every possible advantage working in his favor; if I'm going to stand any chance at all of beating him, I need to play by my own ruthless rules. Not his!"
Why do the Big Five want KaibaCorp? To restore its high reputation after Kaiba's disgraceful defeat? They mentioned that. To restore things to how they were before Kaiba took over the company? No doubt, and that's another way their wanting to restore the company's reputation could be interpreted.
Plans for Kaiba and his technical knowledge, Pegasus said. What does that have to do with what actually happens? I can't think of a single time Pegasus showed what the plans for Kaiba's technical knowledge might be, though it's safe, though sorry, to say that Pegasus played Kaiba expertly throughout this. I also noticed in this episode that the conversation Pegasus chose to strike up with Kaiba in the flashback was regarding his virtual technology… not exactly the weather. I'd say Pegasus has his eye on this stuff. Notice that the arenas on the island have the Industrial Illusions logo on them. One reason may be that Industrial Illusions made them, another could be that Industrial Illusions owns them. But hang on: Industrial Illusions *can't* be *making* duel arenas, because KaibaCorp has the patent—otherwise Zigfried and SchroederCorp would have been fine! Hence, Pegasus doesn't want Kaiba's technical knowledge to improve his own duel arena, but to make more technology with KaibaCorp and the profits in Pegasus' pocket. But then he wouldn't have arranged for some lackeys to do away with Kaiba and have Mokuba be a puppet. He would have found some way for Kaiba himself to be the puppet, and good luck with THAT! Still, the fact also remains that Kaiba's virtual technology, exemplified in the duel disks demonstrated here, is far superior to that which is currently in use on the island, because otherwise why would Yugi and company have been so amazed?
Y'know how flashbacks are sometimes slightly different? In this episode, I noticed that Kaiba recalled his duel with Yugi, and we heard this line: "You're a good duelist, Kaiba, but not good enough to stop Exodia!" The original was "My grandpa's deck has no pathetic cards, Kaiba, but it *does* contain the unstoppable Exodia!" I think that this subtle change might be a hint that Kaiba sees Yugi as a person to respect, and one who respects him back, as well as just a rival. Or maybe it's just selective memory on Kaiba's part.
"As if it's being TUGGED toward the castle…" Bakura said here, of how the Millennium Ring was pointing to the Millennium Eye. What if Bakura were to let it go? What if that's how it got back to Bakura after Tristan threw it away? Because it was being drawn towards two other Millennium Items in use, and it had to be near a Millennium Item? It could just be that Yami Bakura was able to get it back because he tends to be like that, but it also seems to me that this is a possibility. Moreover, it's just fine, doesn't pull towards anything, while it's in Yugi's duffel bag or stashed under his bed or whatever, because it's in the company of the Rod and the Necklace, not to mention often the Puzzle. My point is, what if the pull it exerts when it senses another Item is strong enough to cause it to act as a magnet rather than simply a compass?
Joey keeps insulting Kaiba, but the one that hits home is when he tells Kaiba that he's *not* the world's top duelist anymore, and since Yugi dethroned him he's afraid to play.
Duel glove on right, duel disk on left—both can be worn at the same time…
Rabid Horseman- Seto's monster in The Intruder I, remember? We saw it here first!
The main reason I like this episode, even though Kaiba is the essence of nastiness throughout, is that for one of the first times, Yugi and Kaiba acknowledge that they're on the same side: Yugi actually says it straight out, when he wishes Kaiba luck, and Kaiba does so indirectly, by telling Yugi what can be expected from Pegasus, what there is to worry about. He wouldn't have told just anyone near as much.
The title: the defeat handed to him in this episode "scars" Joey, evident in his nightmare in the next episode and his particular sensitivity to dog remarks. Kaiba is still "scarred" from his loss to Yugi, as he mulls over on his way to the island, but he begins to move past them somewhat, and deal with them, as he and Yugi are forced to become allies as well as rivals, as I mentioned above. Bandit Keith is still "scarred", smarting from Pegasus' slamming him at the Intercontinental Tournament, which is first mentioned in this episode, before being developed next episode. Yugi is "scarred" from his loss to Pegasus, missing his grandpa.
Note: Posted jointly with GX's Blinded By the Light II

Arena of Lost Souls I - 1/20/07
“Welcome, duelist, to the arena of lost souls; abandon hope, for no duelist gets out of here alive!!”
Not much to report on Arena of Lost Souls I.

Arena of Lost Souls II - 1/27/07
“-Ectoplasmic fortification!
-Ecta-whosis, forta-whatsis?”
Not much to report on Arena of Lost Souls II.

Double Trouble Duel I- 1/27/07
“A’right, youse brothers Paradox, me’n Yugi’re gonna clean your clocks!”
Not much to report on Double Trouble Duel I.

Double Trouble Duel II - 2/3/07
“ - With that last trap, you stopped our attack—
- Just as you did pledge. But with our scores—
- Ahead of yours, we still have the edge!”
"Movie event"—EXCUSE me?!?! I can't have heard right. They couldn't possibly be so shameless as to resort to something like THAT. "Watch it now because we're never showing it again!" that's really nice, guys—drop dead!
I'd meant to mention this before now, but I hadn't noticed the last time I watched Duelist Kingdom that Kaiba and Mokuba canonly say that their parents died; seeing Battle City I was in some doubt. Nice to have that cleared up.
"You do know no one takes Pegasus by surprise? He probably already knows you're here, somehow." Gee, I wonder how? Foreshadowing, foreshadowing…
Atem senses something ancient and evil in the boxes? Just how common *are* the Trinity? There can't be *too* many cards that have real, radar-registering power of their own!
Why wouldn't anyone adopt Mokie? The way it was told, plenty of folks wanted to adopt Seto because he was so intelligent; Mokuba's smart (sometimes smarter than his big brother), and a really nice kid—I could see plenty of people wanting to adopt him. I suppose it was more a matter of taking the both of them at once; adopting two kids is quite a big commitment!
Kaiba's presence *wasn't* in the plan?! What was this grand plan of Pegasus'? He only tells us what it wasn't; he didn't expect Kaiba to help Yugi against the impostor, and he wasn't planning on Kaiba making it to Mokuba, though he tells Kaiba that he knew nothing could keep him from his brother for long. The only hint he gives as to what it *might* be is that he has plans for Kaiba's technical knowledge, but I don't remember anything occurring that would have made use of them.