Sad Duel has got to be my favourite instrumentals of Yugioh only made better by the fact that we first hear it not when the Supreme King awakens but when Johan sacrifices himself.
at least, as far as I'm aware
No cause I noticed this on my latest rewatch and my eyebrows shot the fuck up. I was like. HM. THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. And the person who I was watching with (seeing it for the first time) (@chickinu when you were watching but also @shuchelle can see this now too and @moonlitlotvs would like this) was like “what's interesting??” oh you know haha don't worry about it <3
Johan is central to Judai's fall to darkness and the fact that THIS is where sad duel first plays feels so intentional. Johan sacrificing himself is the point that marks the beginning of Judai's end. Before we even know the dark world or Brron or super fusion exists there is Johan “fly and be their bridge!” Anderson and Judai “to save Johan I'd make any sacrifice” Yuki. Something something Johan would sacrifice himself to save everyone else and Judai would sacrifice everyone else to save Johan. It's tragic because Judai could have feasibly saved Johan without any of his friends dying and without... y'know, mass murdering thousands of people. But because of the person he is (or was, at that point), because of who Johan is, and because of their relationship, Judai becomes inexorably bound to the path season 3 has been building him up to, from the second Johan disappears. And THAT is tragic yaoi.













