#mfb episode 41

[sky-of-dusk]

The Dark Power : Those who lost and the one who won

The Dark Power wasn't supposed to infect Kyouya.

First, Kyouya has all this arc with the Wolf Canyon that differentiate him from Hikaru and Tsubasa. And the Dark Power doesn't overwhelm him as he does with Hikaru, Tsubasa and Ryuuga.

And those aren't the only differences. Let's take a look at two other points showing the difference in Hikaru's, Tsubasa's and Kyouya's reaction, and consequently on Dark Power's influence on them.

Psychological influence

The Dark Power, and Ryuuga, uses a psychological ascendancy to win. Their power impress, or even scare their opponents. If it's not enough, however, Ryuuga doesn't hesitate to use words to make their opponents doubt about themselves.

Hikaru loses even before the duel's beginning.

"Why did I- Why did I think I could ever win for a moment… against a guy like that?"

-Hikaru, episode 41

Thought Tsubasa resists longer than Hikaru, using the strategy he planned to battle Ryuuga, he loses before the battle's end.

Ryuuga: What's wrong? If you think you can dodge it, give it a try. If you think you can stop it then go ahead and stop it. Why don't you?

Tsubasa: Don't quit Eagle.

Ryuuga: I congratulate you for being able to make me use some of my real strenght. As a reward, I'll take extra special care and stealing that power from you. (...) It's finished. You were reckless and foolish to even consider challenging me in a battle at all.

Ryuuga: So say hello to the pit of despair!

-episode 45

Tsubasa lets Ryuuga's words (and power) touch him without replying. At the end of their duel, he's entirely passive.

On the other hand, we have Kyouya. He is evenly matched with Ryuuga, driving him to give up the Dark Power for their duel and even snatching some kind of compliment from Ryuuga:

"You are no match for me. (…) However, I can't remember anyone taking so many of my direct hits without completely collapsing. I give you credit for that."

Kyouya fights Ryuuga as if he was any other blader (an interesting blader, not a horrible monster he has to defeat to protect the world). He returns every blow and taunt, without being impressed, and even less scared, by Ryuuga. When L-Drago's Dark Power intervenes, Kyouya isn't afraid…

Ryuuga: Ah what?

While Ryuuga is shocked by the Dark Power's apparition. This is the first time he shows such an expression.

Kyouya is destabilized, somewhat worried for Ryuuga, but he isn't afraid.

Kyouya: Ryuuga? What's wrong? (…) Yeah. Just when I thought it was getting good. Now the circus' act is becoming a bit much, huh? Hey Ryuuga?

He tries reaching out to Ryuuga but the Dark Power entirely overwhelms him. It soliloquizes about its need and Kyouya's answer is just:

"Okay, that's really nice. Go ahead, and try. But I'll never let you steal from me my blader's spirit. (then, thinking) Ginga, take a good look. This is my blader's spirit."

Kyouya stays in fighting mode until the end of their battle. The last sentence he says is adressed to Leone, "Shatter him! Let's use everything that we've got left!"

If Kyouya loses the duel, he isn't the one who loses against the Dark Power. Ryuuga is. The Dark Power controls him as a puppet at the end of the battle.

A symbolic detail

Hikaru and Tsubasa fall. Kyouya doesn't. He's standing despite his defeat, which is shown from different angles. He never hits the ground.

[funkii4-blog]

I had a personal realization that I impulsively feel like talking about right now even though its 01:30. This is about Beyblade, but it's also me getting real/serious for a second.

So I may have figured out why I keep putting off continuation of my MFB rewatch. I think it's because since the only things I vaguely remember from Masters are the really 'scary' scenes n shit, the idea of seeing those moments as an adult is absolutely terrifying. Like the whole thing with Dark Tsubasa, I have an inkling feeling it's gonna trigger the hell out of me when I watch it in real time now since back then I hadn't at all processed the true depth of my traumas, y'know?

Even at nineteen years old, all of the Ryuuga/Reiji battles from the big tournament in Fusion shook me to my very core. The two back to back battles from the second half of ep.41 fucked me up. I've been putting off proceeding to episode 50 for months now.

It's just a lot to think about in depth now that I've matured. (at least matured compared to 7-8 year old me)

[johannepetereric]

https://www.wco.tv/wild-kratts-episode-41-bad-hair-day

I revisited my childhood for the Lion episode as if the MFB gang are reacting to it

TIL:

Lions actually ARE social creatures

Male lions patrol the Pride or do hunting

Lioness moms can’t hunt until their cubs are full-grown

Lion naps can be up to 18 hours (this can make you not take Kyoya as seriously, but it’s Fluff Fodder!)

Lions at 5 years old are pretty aged, mature