Predictions and Observations:
Memoirs of a Pharaoh

I’d just like to note that when I first heard Shadi (which was before he was on screen) I did a double-take: is that *DARTZ?* It turns out that they’re played by the same guy, who also plays Joey. If, of course, we can rely on TV.com (which we can’t because it’s an awful source and it originally inspired me to ep-guide with its awfulness, but for cast, it’s all I got). Wouldn’t it have been interesting, though, if it *had* been Dartz?

“Tablet of Lost Memories” is clearly synonymous with “Pharaoh’s Tablet” and “The tablet in the museum.” I guess that’s its real name.

On a sidenote about chronology, Téa says that Yami’s memory goes back a few years. That means that it’s been a few years in their world since just before the series started, because we all know that Yami’s memory begins when Yugi put the Millennium Puzzle together.

Yami seems for the first time sure of himself (at least a bit) when he addresses Master Seto for the first time. I think that, while still feeling completely alien to Ancient Egypt, Yami is relieved to see a familiar face.

As an English nerd as well, I wanted to note for the record that ‘relinquish’ means ‘release,’ not ‘capture.’ Master Seto beseeched the Millennium Rod to ‘relinquish this beast,’ and I don’t think that’s what he meant.

To me it seems that some members of the Sacred Court are of higher rank than others. Some, like Isis, Shada, Mahad, and probably the bearer of the Millennium Scales, are of lesser rank and are addressed by simple first name, however I note that the bearers of the Millennium Rod and Eye are called ‘master.’ Come to think of it, it’s a bit of a strange coincidence that the court-members correspond to their items’ importance in the rest of Yami’s adventures; the Millennium Eye and Rod have both been very much a part of the plot, through Duelist Kingdom and Battle City respectively. The Millennium Necklace and Ring have been smaller parts of the story, only cropping up now and then. The Millennium Key has been much less prominent, only showing itself very infrequently, and of course, the Millennium Scales have been entirely gone until now, just like the bearer of the Scales never said a word, nor was he introduced. I’d also like to note that Shadi’s ownership of the Scales is now canon, because he revealed them to Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Téa.

Master Seto:
I also would like to explain my reasoning how come while both of the other ‘masters’ of the group are old men and clearly chosen because of seniority, experience, wisdom, all that good stuff, Seto is a master much younger. It is clear from his actions and appearance that he is their official or unofficial leader. For one, he dresses in blue while the others dress in white, and in that time period, I’d say that’s a symbol of high rank. For another, he is the one who proclaims both the start of the festival, and the commencement of the trial.
Just like the Kaiba we all know, Master Seto demonstrates his talent for reading people (when he asks Yami if they should postpone the festival, probably noticing Yami’s confusion, and when he suggests that they conduct a Millennium Trial I believe he both sees that this man may contain a shadow-monster and also sees that Yami is entirely lost and could use such a demonstration), for facing danger and disaster with a calm eye, for thinking on his feet, and leadership.
I would like to also say what we’ve learned of Master Seto before now, in glimpses given us now and then:
-He is depicted on the Tablet of Lost Memories in a duel against the Pharaoh; his monster is the Blue-Eyes, White Dragon
-The tablet reads that one day he marched into the Pharaoh’s chamber (probably the room they’re in in this episode) and challenged the Pharaoh and his legions of magicians to a duel with the fate of the world at stake (“By all tradition, duel me if you are not a coward!”). The Pharaoh accepted. Both sides played their strongest monsters, Master Seto to destroy the world, and the Pharaoh to save it. The winner of the duel was written on the Tablet of Lost Memories, but has worn away.
- He is described by Ishizu as the Pharaoh’s greatest rival.
-In visions of the duel waged between Master Seto and the Pharaoh, Master Seto thanks his monsters for their service, and sacrifices them to summon Blue-Eyes, White Dragon, blasting everything and apparently winning the duel.
-In the vision Yami and Kaiba are shown during the Battle City Semifinals, the Pharaoh and Master Seto duel among the ruins of Ancient Egypt, the shadows and darkness. Beneath the curtain of smoky gloom, they are the only two bright or alive things. The Pharaoh glows with red light, Master Seto with blue; the Millennium Puzzle and Rod shine golden yellow, as do their foreheads. They play Blue-Eyes and Dark Magician.
-Ishizu tells Kaiba that while Master Seto was the Pharaoh’s greatest rival, he was also his friend, challenging the Pharaoh to improve constantly.
-Master Seto, as we saw quite recently, has a close relationship with a mystery-girl named Kisara.

I’m also tempted to list what we know about the ancient Pharaoh, but it doesn’t tell us much about what may happen and besides it’s somewhat irrelevant, because now Yami’s the Pharaoh, and he has to save the world all over again, so it doesn’t really matter that much how he did it last time.

I think that Yugi and friends will definitely show up in Ancient Egypt to help Yami. Boy, will Yami ever be surprised to see them there! However, it could be difficult. This whole time, Yami and Yugi both have spent hours searching the Millennium Puzzle for such a door, and never found one.

Like I said before, the issue that Yugi wants to help Yami, but doesn’t want him to leave comes into play. I think that Yugi’s reaction to Yami suddenly being gone was entirely understandable.

I think that the guy who wields the Millennium Ring, Mahad, is experiencing a bit of difficulty because it’s time for him to pass it on to someone else; I’m reminded of when the Millennium Necklace stopped working for Ishizu.

Let’s review, because names got confusing:
Master Shimon (shih-MOHN)- The advisor who is not a member of the Sacred Court and who looks exactly like Yugi’s grandpa.
Master Akhnadon (ock-NAH-dehn)- The elderly Sacred Court member who wields the Millennium Eye.
Master Seto- The Sacred Court member who wields the Millennium Rod. He bears strong resemblance to Seto Kaiba of the present.
Mahad (mah-HAHD)- The Sacred court member who wields the Millennium Ring. He is in charge of palace security and his Millennium Ring has been behaving strangely of late.
Shada (shah-DAH)- The Sacred Court Member who wields the Millennium Key.

Oh my gosh! I just had the weirdest idea! What if Yugi and the others use the Millennium Items to open the gateway? Could the world unlocked by the Millennium Items be the same as the one Yami was sucked into by the Egyptian Gods and Millennium Puzzle? Would they try it? I was just thinking about the Millennium Stone stuff Bakura said. No clue if it would work, but is it possible they would decide to try it?

I notice that Yami still wonders if all of this is happening only in his mind, while Yugi and the others know that it’s all real. It worries me to try and imagine what will make Yami realize that he’s actually in the past and it’s up to him to save the world if not Yugi and the others somehow finding him and letting him know. I also wonder if it’s possible that Yugi’s close connection with Yami, both destiny (as in Yami knew who to wait for somehow for five thousand years and fate brought the two of them together) and a close bond of friendship that comes from sharing the same body for the past few years, saving the world together a handful of times, and making such a seamless team, could assist in finding the portal to the past.

The past already appears to be affecting the future. The sky seems to be getting darker, and Ishizu, Odion, and Marik seem to have vanished. Either that, or it’s going to rain soon and they went into the minivan to escape the rain. Either that, or they ran afoul of Yami Bakura there and tried to stand in his way of entering the cave. Either way it does seem sort of ominous.

Okay, I think I’m finally done, though I’m very sure I’ve forgotten something, as always. If anyone wants to discuss what’s going to happen next, I’m glad to, also as usual. Next week’s episode is The Intruder I, like I said. My next post, though, will be Monday’s GX. Wait- Gaaah! There IS no Monday’s GX! They’re doing reruns! The next new GX is on November 11th, and it won’t say the name! Well, then, until next week! -Clio