5D’s positivity!

As someone who likes and thinks a lot about 5D’s (1-64) and recently rewatched the series, I realized I have a tendency to get pretty frustrated/negative about how some things turned out at the end, especially in the latter half of the Dark Signer arc (which I may make another post about), so wanted to take some time to think about things I genuinely appreciated!

• (For the most part) doesn’t completely drop/forget the non-Signer supporting characters from the beginning arc! I always thought it was funny how Himuro/Yanagi went from Yusei’s prison buddies to Rua and Ruka’s babysitters and it’s a nice subtle way to demonstrate how Yusei’s really someone who connects people together. Of course Tenpei probably could have been more of a character than he is, but 
• Also appreciate how Rally-tachi get a little more development in the DS arc–being the first to react to Yusei being King, for instance, and even getting to save his D-Wheel (even if it’s largely also comic relief) . It’s nice to see people caring about Yusei and trying to go out of their way to help/support him rather than Yusei just going out of his way to help others
• I really really like the exchange Blitz has with Yusei in episode 37 when Yusei’s like like “sorry for causing y’all trouble ^^’ ” after they help get his D-Wheel and Blitz like “lol dude we’re your friends it’s ok you can rely on us” because I think it really shows that as much as Yusei believes in bonds/cares for his friends, he doesn’t always let them care for him. (Also similar to how Yusei helps fix Rua/Ruka’s duel disks but then leaves them so that he doesn’t cause them trouble.) Also clearly Yusei surrounds himself with supportive people which is gr8 (another reason why it really sucks that Rally-tachi are basically written out later–oops sorry this is supposed to be a positive post)
• Carly’s character in general is pretty awesome. Maybe I just have low expectations for female characters in YGO, but even I think it’s pretty great that even though she’s obviously primarily introduced as a catalyst for Jack’s development, she’s also allowed her own character arc (which I think parallels Jack’s nicely), her own highs and lows, and her own motivations that are distinct from other characters. She even has some interactions–however minimal–with characters that have nothing to do with Jack (shocking!!!). Like I think it’s easy to forget that Carly actually met and talked with Yusei before she met Jack (not that that relationship is important, but still)! 
• She’s also an active character whose actions actually advance the plot (she’s the one who seeks out Jack at the hospital, she’s the one who decides to infiltrate the Arcadia Movement). Honestly, in 5D’s, especially in the DS arc, a lot of times the plot kind of just happens to our main characters (the antagonists do more of the plot-moving), and it’s refreshing to see a character’s actions actually moving the plot forward. 
• She and her thoughts/emotions are given a decent amount of dignity. When she dies and becomes a Dark Signer, obviously it’s important because wow now our rival character has something to be angsty about/motivate him, but also we get to see how she reacted to becoming a Dark Signer (poorly) and how she eventually became swayed to continue in the role.
  
• I feel like all too commonly female characters become centered around another male character and you can argue that Carly’s character is basically about Jack at a certain point. But honestly, Jack’s character (his motivation and development) in the DS arc is, if not just as centered, at least centered a comparable amount around Carly, so it’s nice that at least they’re balanced in this way.
  
• Overall, I could totally imagine, given the purpose of Carly in the overall narrative, that the writers could have had her be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl or have her simply get Stuffed in the Fridge, but they didn’t, and I’m grateful for that.
  
• Also, Scoopshipping <3
• Jack’s arc (even if rushed) and it’s relationship to the theme of 5D’s in general! If ultimately 5D’s is primarily about the importance of bonds (to the point that it’s the name of the first OP, and the reasoning behind Yusei’s multiple victories), I think the egotistical Jack learning to care about one person (romantically or not, although obviously they decided to go romantically) first is probably the best way they could have developed his character to support the overarching theme. 
• I like how the penultimate episode of the FC arc is about the Lonely King, Jack Atlas, and the penultimate episode of the DS arc revisits that King with Jack’s speech to Godwin. Honestly, I adore that speech in general–especially Jack’s line about how he’s not the King anymore, since it’s something he’s said before throughout the arc but more offhandedly.
• I also appreciate how Yusei has pretty much no role in Jack’s arc after he beats him. Not that I don’t think he could’ve played an interesting role, but given the surplus of characters relying on Yusei in the series, I think it’s nice that Yusei literally has no idea about anything Jack goes through in the DS arc. Jack vs Carly is the only Dark Signer duel Yusei is not present for because he’s stuck in the rainbow pit. 
• Also, Scoopshipping <3
• Rua’s arc (already talked about here)
• They let Yusei lose!! (or basically lose–though tbh I’m pretty fine with his FC arc wins because they were all pretty necessary/plot-relevant and Yusei is always the underdog anyway) Also I think they at least tried to show with Kiryu the downsides of Yusei’s mentality about bonds and how his self-sacrificial nature can be bad sometimes. Having Kiryu hate Yusei’s guts because of what’s essentially a misunderstanding of an officer’s pat on the back is pretty dumb, but I do think there was potential in showing the darker side of Yusei’s loyalty to Kiryu as the latter became more and more toxic. 
• Speaking of Yusei, I really like the scene in episode 47 when Yusei’s like “yeah, after we beat the Dark Signers, everyone’s coming back!!” and Jack/Ushio are like “wtf you don’t know that’s true ??” and Rua’s like “stop Yusei’s sad too :(” I think it’s one of the more interesting moments of the whole group interacting with one another where you can see them playing off each other especially since clearly the situation is stressful and upsetting. It seems like Yusei feels like he needs to step up as a leader to boost morale but also still feels uncertain and doubtful, and it could have been even more interesting if Yusei had been allowed to be wrong about this, even just a little bit. 
• I’ll always have a soft spot for Ushio’s character development and the erosion of the prejudice that is a fixture of his character during the Fortune Cup. It’s also nice how it’s ultimately Martha and Takuya who help show him another side of Satellite, rather than Yusei. Ushio’s dynamic with Rua and disbelief about the Spirit World is also pretty fun to watch.
• Little moments of continuity like Jack remembering Godwin’s metal arm in episode 62 and incorrectly guessing that he’s the 5th Signer like the rest of us thought, or Ushio recognizing Saiga in episode 45 since they briefly interacted before.