Let's begin dismantling the bomb.

Episode Review

The dub starts the episode by adding taunts from the chief during the establishing shots and field review. Shou and Hayato cheering Judai on becomes Syrus cheering Jaden on while Chumley yells about how he wants out, because the dub likes portraying Chumley as more of a coward. The dub also cuts a moment with Daitokuji thinking about how this test allows him to see Judai's full abilities only to realize he literally can't see anything with the coffin lid blocking his view.

The Chief insults Judai's strategy with Winged Kuriboh in the sub, and Winged Kuriboh itself in the dub. Making fun of the individual monster is also a dub trend, as with previous Winged Kuriboh duels and also Ojama Yellow. The dub jazzes up the duel procedural dialogue as usual. After the failed LV10 play, the Chief's insults about Winged Kuriboh (and Judai/Jaden's retorts) are about calling Kuriboh small/weak in the sub and a rodent “for pounding” in the dub.

I’m not sure Winged Kuriboh is even a mammal, but more importantly does “pounding” count as slang in this context? My (admittedly not that indepth) research has been mixed, and if it counts that’s extra funny because a few turns later the dub changes the chief’s duel trashtalk to commenting on Jaden’s slang again.

After the Chief summons himself Jaden finds out he's participating in a shadow game, which Judai has known this entire time. The dub cuts a couple lines from Judai and the Chief's description of his "heart which does not yield to the powers of darkness," as well as a close-up of Sara/Gravekeeper's Assassin's hesitation. The dub omits a reference to Yugi participating in duels of darkness, and Jaden's dialogue is more pep talk than Judai's determination.

Judai: For my friends' sakes, I can't lose this. I've got a big dream - to be the Duel King! And even the Yugi Mutou - the guy I look up to - won his way out of tons of Duels of Darkness! You think I'll let that take me out?!

Jaden: Come on, Jaden! You've gotta get your game on! You've gotta get it on for your friends! They're all counting on you! And I won't let 'em down! Especially when down means...six feet under in an old sarcophagus! No way, no how - they're coming home!

The Chief calls out Sara's hesitation in attacking, which buys Judai time for his Emergency Provisions play; the dub instead has him trash talk, so it appears Yasmin's approach is just slow motion. The Chief gives an order to Sara in the sub, while he ignores her and addresses Jaden in the dub.

Chief (sub): Gravekeeper Assassin, listen to your Chief!

Chief (dub): Curse you! But Assailant's attack still cuts through!

The dub cuts the shot where the Chief backhands Sara, but keeps the part where she withdraws. The Chief doesn't speak here in the sub, but the implication is that she's being punished for disobedience; in the dub, he instead explicitly says he's punishing her for being too slow. In response Judai calls him out for not appreciating his own monsters, while Jaden calls the Chief out for blaming her for his mistakes.

After this the dub cuts some of the sub’s post-eyecatch footage recycling and continues with minor dialogue changes: Judai and the Chief banter about Judai's hopes of winning vs. Jaden having fun, which is kinda interesting because usually the sub focuses more on how much fun Judai has in duels. Some of the Chief’s taunts are slightly changed or cut. When it comes time for his final turn, Judai’s explanation of how that he can still use in-Graveyard effects has a more metaphorical tone in the sub compared to the dub (highlighting the Necrovalley symbolism).

Judai: Ravine of the Resting Royal Family - Necrovalley, sacred ground protected by the Gravekeepers... Here on this sacred ground, any magic aimed at the afterlife loses its effects. Chief: If you are aware of that, cease your struggling! I will at least send you to your rest peacefully. Judai: But that doesn't mean the monsters in the afterlife always want that to happen! Chief: What? Judai: Powers from our sacred ground might not hit the afterlife, but powers from the afterlife will just activate on our sacred ground instead!

The dub by comparison has a much plainer explanation.

Jaden: For sure, Necrovalley field spell card is all I need! Chief: Please! Necrovalley simply negates any effects aimed at monsters in the graveyard. Jaden: Exactly, but not the effects coming out of the graveyard. Chief: What? Jaden: Don't "what" me! You know exactly what I mean! My monsters that are in the graveyard? If they have an effect I can use, I can use 'em!

The rest of the duel finishes the same in both.

After the duel, Judai says the duel was fun because he got to duel against spirits while in the dub Jaden talks about how he'd rather his friends hadn't been in danger. The dub skips over a brief mention that the other person who passed the trial (i.e., Fubuki/Atticus) didn't have the luxury of enjoying the duel like Judai did.

The Chief's directions to return to their world are more flowery and prophetic-sounding in the dub for a joke. The soldiers' attack and Sara/Yasmin's save is the same between both up until she gives her message for Fubuki/Atticus to Judai/Jaden, at which point the dub makes a joke about her already having a boyfriend. The rest of the scene proceeds the same, aside from an added Yasmin line at the end.

As the gang runs towards the gate, Hayato saying he can't keep going on his twisted ankle is changed to another Chumley potshot because we can’t have nice things. And of course they add another joke about running...while he's being carried on Death Koala/Des Koala's back, and therefore not even running.

After waking up from the return to Earth, Judai thinks it was all a dream while Jaden calls it hallucination by way of moldy sandwiches…which is apparently the hot new name for rice balls (see last episode for my thoughts on this), and additionally calls into question why the students brought moldy food for a ten-mile hike.

The episode closes out with Judai confirming the experience was real, while Jaden ends on a more ominous note.

Judai: So, that wasn't a dream! That Duel of Darkness...that world of spirits...they really did happen!

Jaden: Oh well, at least we're back to one sun. But still, something just tells me...the shadows will be back.

And that's game! Gotcha!

Spoiler Zone

Empty!

Final Thoughts

Chumley slander counter: 1 fat joke, 2 miscellaneous potshots.

There isn't a lot to say here because the primary changes aside from the usual dialogue jazz-ups were cutting the Chief's punishment (not unexpected), the graveyard effect explanation (a bit of a jazz-down, if you would, also not unexpected with 4KIDS avoiding death and related imagery as much as they can in a Gravekeepers/Necrovalley episode) and Chumley slander (so regular I'm keeping a per-episode counter until he leaves). None of that is especially fresh territory to discuss.

If there's anything more to consider, it's the fact that Jaden is a bit slower to catch onto the supernatural stuff he's involved in like with the shadow game this episode. This despite the fact that the dub - again! - suggests that supernatural stuff is part of the curriculum. Then again, you could easily say Jaden probably skipped that class...

In the episode opening, the dub adds an extra toilet humor joke about Syrus's food adventures while he’s searching for the bathroom half-asleep. Kagemaru's and Daitokuji's conversation is a bit exaggerated on both ends (Kagemaru is more forceful, Banner praises Jaden more highly) and explicitly namedrops Jaden where the sub was ominously vague, but the meaning is ultimately the same. The dub cuts a close-up of Pharaoh towards the end, so honestly just pack it up because the sub version of this episode is clearly mandatory.

The next day, Banner's alchemy lecture is vaguer (mixing unknown compounds without mentioning the goal of making gold) and he also connects it to Duel Monsters fusion in the dub. When Judai wakes up Shou comments on his nap, while Syrus comments on the lecture. Banner's description of his field trip is exaggerated to sound more tedious and boring.

Daitokuji: I've planned a picnic for this Sunday to visit the island's dormant ruins [meow]! I'd like anyone interested to participate [meow].

Banner: We're taking a 10-mile hike! All the way to the excavated ruins, where we'll be taking geologic core samples!

Cut to the morning of, and Syrus mentions that Banner threatened everyone with detention to get them to come where Shou just mentions he forced them without specifying. Chumley complains about beauty sleep (friends polled said this wasn’t a fat joke, but I still don’t love it) while Hayato talks about how the ruins are usually off-limits due to their proximity to the active volcano.

Judai asks Asuka her reasons for coming, Jaden jokes about not sleeping. Both Asuka/Alexis mention potential connections to duels of darkness/shadow games, but Alexis treats the connection as more of a sure bet.

When Shou/Syrus brings up what he heard the other night, Syrus frames it more personally as targeted at Jaden - which makes sense, because Banner mentioned Jaden by name during that call while Daitokuji merely implied it. In both cases Judai/Jaden waves it off.

The hiking montages is silent in the sub, while (DING goes the fat joke counter) the dub adds a stream of Chumley whining. When they arrive, the joke between Judai/Jaden and Asuka/Alexis about how the ruins look ruined is the same between versions.

Daitokuji describes the ruins as a duel site as well as a grave; Banner instead unleashes what's clearly meant to be historical/architectural jargon, which was really interesting to note after looking at how the dub similarly handles a certain character from a later season.

Daitokuji: Further in, we'll find the more-amazing ruins said to be of the ancient duel arenas and the ruins of the graves [meow]! Shou: I wonder how the Professor's so energetic...

Banner: It's beautiful! You can still make out the faded remains of the oculus! Ooh! And the fastigium! No doubt inspired by Amenemhet of Saqqarah! Syrus: He sure seems excited to see some rocks.

The dub takes another potshot at Chumley because of course it does, then continues the Banner jargon joke as they set up for lunch. Famously Daitokuji's special bento from Tome-san becomes pizza, and the students' riceballs become "whatever it is I'm holding?!"

And. Okay. Look. I think this is funny and so do a lot of other people, but let’s break this moment down here. Why is this funny? Because the “whatever it is” Judai/Jaden is holding is in fact rice balls, which 4KIDS is famous for renaming as jelly donuts - or pastries, in the case of a previous GX episode - as a form of cultural censorship. We can't talk about these weird foreign foods, they’re not American enough. They'll confuse the poor American kids who have never heard of rice or balls. 

Bringing attention to the mystery food that is clearly neither donut nor pastry highlights the absurdity of that censorship…but by refusing to call it what it is, even something as understandable as “rice balls,” it’s still upholding that same censorship. I’ll leave the rest of this discussion for the end of the review but TL;DR interpreting this as poking fun at 4KIDS' own cultural censorship and as continued perpetuation of said censorship can both be true.

The lunch comedy is about the same leading into Pharaoh activating the buried relic. The dub adds a joke during the three-suns transition, and a second as everyone runs for cover. They also add an explanation that Jaden runs off to lead the storm away, which is kind of wild but the sub doesn't offer a better stated reason.

Jaden catches on instantly that he isn't in Kansas anymore (in exactly those words), whereas Judai needs a moment. He still thinks it's a dream though, leading into the "Winged Kuriboh pinch me--OW" bit

Once Sara/Yasmin enters the scene, the dub adds some minor jokes at the expensive of making Jaden a bit slower to catch onto the situation despite his early start. Yasmin skips the detail about the intruders being treated as graverobbers, instead focusing on trespassing - not unlike episode 3, where trespassing is used in place of voyeurism. The dub adds more dialogue during the establishing shots of the three suns and pillar formation.

While hiding out, Judai worries about his friends while Jaden wonders if Yasmin was lying to him until Daitokuji (sub)/Alexis (dub) screams for help. The dub adds more jokes to Judai getting surrounded.

The gravekeeper chief is the first to broach the topic of other worlds, while Jaden tosses it in as a joke about returning to their dimension. The dub again writes out graverobbing in favor of trespassing, and omits the allusion to someone who succeeded the trial before Judai (i.e., Fubuki/Atticus). They also censor the chief's threat about taking his liver and turning him into a mummy, and in the dub he simply threatens to bury Jaden alive. They also add a bit more banter between Jaden and the chief in place of Judai’s dialogue about borrowing Hayato’s duel disk.

As the duel starts, a small moment illustrating the formality difference between Judai and the Chief is exaggerated into a joke while skipping over another Fubuki/Atticus allusion.

Judai: Duel! Chief: May the ceremony begin. The first move is mine. I draw my card. Judai: Dude...this is totally just normal Duel Monsters... Chief: Did I not mention that there have been people who have wandered into this world before?

Jaden: All right! Get your game on! Chief: Get my game on? What do you speak of? Jaden: Sheesh. It's a figure of speech! Y'know, like slang? Chief: It's like slang?! How dare you speak to me with the rotten tongue of a filthy serpent!

The dub version of the duel contains some mechanical errors (calling a flip summon a normal summon), and some usual dialogue changes. Chumley gets slandered twice more. Taunts in place of duel procedure. Banner throws in a joke referencing the lunch comedy.

When Judai summons Flame Wingman he frames it very slightly differently, a comeback from the risk of his last turn (sub) or the product of Bubbleman's draw advantage (dub). In the peanut gallery, Asuka talks about how Judai has the advantage while Alexis talks about how he has no margin for error in this duel with their lives at stake, and part of her speaking time is given to Jaden and the chief rehashing stakes.

Necrovalley's explanation is cut slightly down to make room for trash talk. After the peanut gallery reacts, the dub cuts some duel summary and trash talk, skipping ahead to remind us of the stakes again before the episode ends. Roll To Be Continued.

And that's game! Gotcha!

Spoiler Zone

Empty!

Final Thoughts

Chumley slander counter: 1 fat joke, 4 miscellaneous potshots.

My first impression from an initial watch was that this was a relatively straightforward episode, aside from the usual Chumley slander. But upon writing it up I came to realize that censorship is a bit of a theme this episode. It happens three times in the dub version of this episode: first with the rice balls at lunch, second with graverobbing changed to trespassing, and third with the chief’s threats of disembowelment.

I’m not really going to argue that last one because it was probably a required change for American TV standards (which has its own implications, but not the part I'm most interested in discussing here). I’m not sure the same was true for the graverobbing, and honestly I think it’s of minor note that they rewrote both voyeurism (from episode 3) and graverobbing into trespassing in terms of what’s considered acceptable crimes for kids' television.

But the real moment of note to me is the rice balls, and the highlighting of their censorship by sidestepping the need to give them a name with “whatever it is I’m holding?!” To me, it’s not that different from if 4KIDS decided to keep kanji onscreen but called them “moon runes” (which was a real joke of the era). This thing is weird and unknowable, rather than something that would have been regular life for people of certain cultures.

4KIDS was very much an American corporation. The 2000 US Census reported 1.15 million people self-identifying at least partial Japanese ancestry in America - yes, I checked - and 11.9 million Asian Americans, including me at age [REDACTED]. I brought rice balls - or something like them - to lunch as a kid, and I did have conversations with people about what it was. If you told me my delicious lunch was a donut I’d have thought you were stupid; if I told you the name and you told other kids it was a donut, I’d have been insulted.