#mfb parallels

In the first part of Beyblade Metal Fusion, Kenta and Benkei (despite their rocky beginnings) are pictured as quite similar.

Admiration for a strong blader

I bet you fought a lot of tough battles. That must be what make you so strong. Anyway, how I can become stronger like you? (…) I hope Ginga is still here. I want him to give me some beyblade tips today.

– Kenta, episode 1

I've never met a blader like you Kyouya. You can teach me so much.

– Benkei, episode 4

Wishing stars

Kenta and Benkei both (unawaredly) make a wish upon a star, about the blader they admire. A wish that is going to be fulfilled in later episodes.

Ginga, hey Ginga, are you leaving for the next place soon? Because if you like maybe you could stay in this town a while.

– Kenta, episode 1

But I'd still like to know who that guy is and where in the world he took Kyouya.

– Benkei, episode 3

Refusing to give up

One more time.

– Benkei, episode 4

One more battle.

– Kenta, episode 6

The scenarists shoving the parallel to our faces

Those eyes… That look… I know how you feel Kenta. You're… [flashback of Benkei meeting Kyouya] Hey kid, you're just like me that time.

– Benkei, episode 6

Wild Imagination

Kenta, episode 1 – Benkei, episode 4

"Fighting Spirit!"

(They're so funny... It's the starting point of their friendship.)

Part 2

Beyblade Metal Fusion – Episode 8 // Episode 17

This parallel is so interesting.

It's (once again) showing Ginga and Kyouya as the same blader at heart (check this tag for similar posts!)

But it's also pointing out a huge difference.

Ginga faced a real trial. Ryuuga is his enemy. He killed his father. He hears again his taunts, his insults toward his father, toward his own weakness.

Episode 4:

The episode is focused on Benkei. We have a flashback about him meeting Kyouya. Kyouya seemed to be travelling to face strong bladers (like the Ginga). Benkei fights Ginga and, at the end of the episode, saves him. Madoka and Kenta are surprised by it, Ginga not so much. The end of the episode focuses on maybe the Face Hunters aren't that bad. And Ginga saying a blader training hard is an honorable opponent… with the episode starting on Kyouya training hard.

Episode 5:

Tetsuya cheats heavily and actually damages the beys. What Kyouya did against Ginga (using the Wind at the top of the Metal Tower) is shown as strategy. The Face Hunters threatened Sagittario, Kenta pictured them destroying it, but it did not happen. Contrary to the several scenes in which Tetsuya is shown damaging and destroying beys.

Moreover, having battled Kyouya allows Ginga to win against Tetsuya.

Episodes 6 and 7:

Hikaru appears. She isn't a villlain, but she respects less efforts than Kyouya. There's a very blatant parallel between them.

Episode 8:

Ginga and the others talk about Kyouya like he belongs to their group. He asks Benkei if Kyouya ordered him to keep challenging him, without a single hint of judgement in his voice.

Conclusion:

Madoka, about Alekseï (episode 64)

Two of my favorite Beyblade characters have similar replies and reactions in some scenes:

“But you are a dog” - moments.

“I just want to get rid of everything and don't care about my friends/allies” - moments.

(Can we have a thought for the unfortunate Ginga who is always near the bladers who freak out?)

And one of my favorite episodes: