Two kids and one guy face off against a machine man in a children cardgame. Usually not a big deal in YGO.

But then three of them get this device that pierces them

*just* above their hearts that ties their actual lives to their Life Points. Therefore low lifepoints = near death state and pain.

Coupled with the fact that they get shot at with real blasters whenever the machine guy inflicts Effect Damage

(which just so happens to be anytime they try to do anything, and even after that)

and the fact that they are shackled to the very spot they're standing on, it's just plain cruel to look at.

Especially when the two kids are twins, with the older brother (who' *doesn't* have any special powers at all)

who's super protective of his frail sister (her powers are practically useless most of the time though)

and super eager to help out the team for once, indirectly caused massive damage to her and the other guy.

By the end of the episode, it's all he can do to not have a Heroic BSOD.

I'm also feeling for the machine guy; all he wants to do is help his friend save the future of humanity

and for that purpose he had just forsaken all his emotions, including the one that defined him, Despair.

I know what's going to happen two episdoes later, but watching it all happen is an entirely different story.

I <3 it when shonen anime gives us sympathetic villains that help/inspire the heroes even after they've died. i237.photobucket.com/alb...