#and because that currently doesn't fit organically into the New Domino setting they just set it near the Nazca lines I guess

[inkblackorchid]

Ok, first off? The drama in these episodes is exquisite. The occult nonsense. Jack being his usual bullheaded self. The pizzazz and theatrics of the duel. The familiar of an ancient destructive spirit playing a freaking card game. Delicious.

I just wish any of this made sense, like. Worldbuilding-wise. Or even characterisation-wise.

Like, we can agree that the super-old, ten times as powerful extra Earthbound Immortal had about as much setup as Black-Winged Dragon did (which is none), right?

(Also, what the hell is that thing. Was it too much to ask to at least stick with the visual theme of the other Earthbound Immortals??)

And don't get me started on the whole "Jack's solution to needing a strategy that doesn't rely on power is to get one that relies on even more power". Like. Bestie. I love you, but that's not how anything works. And while the concept of burning soul and everything is pretty cool and does go with Jack's character (he's the guy who doesn't know when to quit so having the power of the man who also did not give up despite overwhelming odds is neat), it just doesn't feel like something that goes organically with the rest of the signer lore.

(That said, I adore the narrative parallel of Yusei gaining a new power from the future while Jack gains one from the ancient past, and Yusei's being themed around a clear mind while Jack's is themed around an unwavering, burning soul that does not give up. Narrative symmetry, babeyyyyyy)

So yeah. Bit conflicted on this mini-arc. I love the drama and pizzazz, and think it fits Jack pretty well (and I do appreciate the brief return to magical bs VS sci-fi bs, tbh), there are just a lot of things here that confuse me. On a rewatch perhaps even more than the first time around. Not really feeling strongly enough about it to rant, though, so I guess in the end my reaction this time around goes something like this: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯