Episode 016: The King Goblin in the Dark Night/S1E16: The Duel Giant
In this post, I'm going to review and compare the subbed and dubbed versions of Yugioh GX episode 16. Although this is a relatively normal one-off episode, the dub rewrites here are going to bring some recurring differences from the past fifteen episodes to the forefront!
Episode Review
In the episode opener, the duel giant's warning to the Obelisk student hints to the duo's motives in each version.
Duel giant (sub): If you've learned from this, you'll fix your cocky attitude.
Duel giant (dub): Next time, pick on someone your own size.
The dub also cuts a shot of Kohara/Briar in a tree, hinting at the giant's true nature. Get ready for another pattern forming this episode!
In the daytime, the Obelisk students in the hallway are discussing the stolen rare cards in the sub, and trading rumors about the giant in the dub. In both versions they react with surprise when Judai enters the scene, but the dub also has them give an additional scornful grunt as they turn to leave, compared to the sub having them leave more quietly - like the issue is being overheard, rather than being near lower-ranked students. Interestingly here of all points in the episode Syrus acknowledges the class divide, which will be rewritten for most of the rest of the episode: "Lousy Obelisks! Whispering behind our backs then just strutting off."
Shou and Hayato's conversation discussing the duel giant is slightly mixed around in the dub but more or less conveys the same information aside from Hayato's last line, talking about the moniker "Giant Duelist in the Dark Night" in the sub and the rumor that the giant wears the coats of the Obelisk students he's defeated in the dub.
Chronos's entrance is about the same in both versions - Crowler does put a little more emphasis on his ego ("Making a mockery of my Obelisks...making a mockery of me!") but the same is implied in the sub (paraphrased, "Students that I supervise lost?!") so I don't think it's really significant. Chronos promises to waive Judai and Shou's Duel Theory reports (very likely the ones assigned at the end of their punishment tag duel - thanks to @eleanorose123 for pointing this out!), while Crowler promises no homework for the rest of the year.
Of course, when Hayato tries to warn Judai accepting the proposal is a bad idea the dub adds a fat joke. We couldn't go two whole conversations without one of those, now could we? Judai throws Chronos off by knowing about the duel giant issue before Chronos explains, while Jaden makes it about poking fun at Crowler: "Sure, the guy that's whupping your dorm!"
Crowler is more treacherous in the dub, planning to actively punish Jaden and Syrus for helping out rather than leaving things to fate:
Chronos: Now, I just need them to find our mystery duelist. Should they lose and their rare cards are lost, such is what they deserve!
Crowler: Once Jaden reports back to me with whoever this duel giant is, I'll have them both expelled for illegal dueling! I can't lose!
Shou and Hayato sighing over "well, that's Judai all right" is changed to a joke playing on one of Jaden's lines about "how can you say no [to this opportunity]?"
When the trio walks in on Kohara's duel, Shou comments on the match while Syrus has a line about the detours they've had in their investigations - implying a lot of time has passed, where it's unspecified in the sub. This kind of sets up a dub punchline at the end of the episode.
Briar is more blatantly anxious than in the sub, though in either case he struggles to think through his move. The Blues' bullying is different between versions: the sub focuses on rank, while the dub focuses on Briar's size. This is a significant pattern of difference this episode, and will continue to be throughout.
Opponent: Hurry up and go! I've been going easy on you, you know! Peanut gallery Blue 1: Play what you want, Ra Yellow, but it's no use! Peanut gallery Blue 2: There's no way you'll win, anyway! Hurry it up!
Opponent: Get a move on! I'd like to get home sometime this school year! Peanut gallery Blue 1: What's the matter shortstack? Can't see over the cards? Peanut gallery Blue 2: Looks like the little baby's gonna cry! Wanna call your mom?
Misawa characterizes Kohara as someone who crumbles under pressure, while Bastion says Briar has stage fright. This is almost the same thing, but stage fright implies Briar is more concerned about having an audience than the pressure of the duel itself - which itself ties into the bullying he experiences at the hands of Obelisk Blue students. The dub will reference stage fright as Briar's primary issue several more times this episode, so keep this in mind!
When Kohara's opponent mocks him, once again it's rank vs. size:
Opponent (sub): What makes you think someone like you could ever make it into Obelisk Blue? Peanut gallery Blue: You should just quit already!
Opponent (dub): I didn't think it was possible... But on his knees he's even smaller than he was before! Peanut gallery Blue 1: I think I need some glasses to see him! Peanut gallery Blue 2: Better yet! A magnifying glass! Peanut gallery Blue 3: Try a microscope!
The next change is a bit hazy. Judai starts to piece together the episode mystery here, using his intuition as a duelist and especially somebody who connects best to people through dueling. In particular, he notes that he feels something from Kohara but not Ohara. But instead of Judai agreeing with Winged Kuriboh that he doesn't feel "it" from Ohara, Jaden agrees "exactly what I was thinking." This in itself doesn't seem that different, but in light of the full reveal later it's an interesting difference.
Anyway, the dub doesn't edit anyone's uniforms so at least the visual element of "guys in blue bullying guys in yellow" is retained. However, the dub still tries to write around saying it out loud and instead has the Blues make fun of Briar's size. This is repeated in the next hallway scene:
Obelisk (sub): We've got Ra Yellows walking in the middle of the hallway! This is where you clear a path! That makes sense, doesn't it? Kohara: Ohara... (Standing aside, which Ohara follows) Obelisk: Great! That'll do. Know your place around here! (The group laughs)
Obelisk (dub): Well, lookie what we got here! Someone's exceeding this hall's maximum weight limit! Hey! Are you catching my drift, wide load? You are in my way! Briar: Come on... (Standing aside, which Beauregard follows) Obelisk: That's better. Next time maybe use the freight elevator! (The group laughs)
Okay, so it's bad to make fat jokes about Beauregard now??? When we literally can't go two conversations involving Chumley without making a fat joke about him???
Most of Judai's confrontation with the giant duo is the same, but the dub adds extra lines between Briar and Jaden for comedy as the duo walks off. When his friends point out the reasons it's unlikely to be Ohara, Judai has a mostly unspoken conversation with Winged Kuriboh ("Yeah. I know") while Jaden spells his thoughts out for the audience more: "No, it doesn't! Yet! But it will."
At night, Hayato notes the time they spent investigating would be better spent working on their reports. Chumley gets a fat joke approximately one (1) minute of episode time after we get done establishing that people are bullying Beauregard over his size And That's Bad, But Not When We Do It To Chumley. And there's a second fat joke when everyone runs into the forest! Syrus then has an additional quip when the duel giant is revealed.
In the sub Judai wagers Winged Kuriboh for ante, mentioning that he got the card from Yugi himself. Shou reacts, and Kohara advises Ohara on what to say.
Judai: I see... You trust me and you'll fight with me, huh? If I lose, you'll get this! Shou: Big Bro! Isn't that... Judai: It's the rare card I got from Yugi Mutou - the Duel King! Shou: It's too valuable, though... Hayato: He means it. There's no stopping him when he's like that... Shou: Big Bro... Kohara (through earpiece): "All right. Just don't regret it." Ohara: All right. Just don't regret it.
The dub cuts this down to Jaden betting Winged Kuriboh and the giant accepting.
Jaden: Huh? All right. If you say so. I guess that we're in this together now, aren't we! Here you go! Since I know you only duel playing with an ante, I'll put...this card up! Beauregard: So be it, duelist.
One interesting bit about the dub version of this episode is how the signs of Briar's involvement are cut until Judai calls him out for the "official" reveal. This makes the second incident of such, and there will be a third in a moment!
The dub cuts some peanut gallery lines upon Giant Orc's summon. When summoning Winged Kuriboh, Judai talks about how he won't give his partner away and Jaden responds to implied Winged Kuriboh dialogue wanting to come out and play. The dub cuts a brief moment where the giant stands passively after Judai declares turn end, and Judai visibly becomes suspicious of the lack of response before the giant stammers out a draw declaration. Instead, the giant just trash talks and once again the clues to Briar's involvement are gone.
When Giant Orc destroys Winged Kuriboh Judai thanks it for the help, while Jaden comments on its sacrifice: "I hope it was worth it." Another peanut gallery line gets cut here. Hayato comments on the giant's Second Goblin combo and Chumley comments on the goblin's appearance instead, and Jaden follows up by making a quip about the giant where the giant declares turn end.
The duel is the same between versions up until the moment Judai/Jaden calls Kohara/Briar out, and his explanation of how he figured out the mystery are different. As stated previously, Judai relies on his intuition and relates to people through their dueling - which helps him sus out that the giant handling the cards isn't the one dueling. Jaden instead puts things together more logically.
Judai: We were dueling, but I couldn't feel what was driving him. See, it almost felt like I was facing a puppet.
Jaden: I felt how mad you were at those Obelisks! Then when I saw this big guy was your friend, it started coming together.
Judai points out he got the sense (intuition again) that Kohara was a pretty good duelist after all, and Kohara talks about how he struggles with handling pressure in duels. In the dub Bastion's already told us Briar's a good duelist who gets stage fright, and Jaden reiterates that while connecting it to his use of a proxy. Briar instead talks about how people laugh at him, rather than about his mental fortitude.
The flashback and talk about the ante rule aren't 1:1 on lines between dub/sub, but ultimately communicate the same thing. The dub additionally adds a point about wearing the costume to avoid getting caught breaking the rules, which...yeah? I don't know why we needed to point that out but all right. Judai tells Kohara the answer to his anxiety problems is pretty much to git gud and start having fun. Jaden instead threatens to rat the duo out unless Briar continue the duel, "out in the open."
After Briar's battle phase, he has an additional line in the dub reminding everyone Winged Kuriboh is still the ante for this duel and Jaden says he won't give it up without a fight. This is repeated a few lines later, when in the sub he instead talks about how he really is a good duelist and Judai responds that he isn't a real duelist when he's getting help from someone else. The rest of the duel is the same between versions.
Afterward, Ohara says he knows Kohara has the potential to improve as a duelist, while Beauregard says Briar is already the best duelist he knows. Judai lets them go because friendship is as important as being able to handle a duel alone, and Jaden because he (nonspecifically) understands what it's like to be made fun of and makes a point of "See, you dueled fine just now!" Kohara resolves to improve and face Judai again, while Briar goes "oh wow, I really did duel in front of everyone! Stage fright solved."
When reminding Jaden that their schoolwork was at stake, Syrus has an additional line about how they have to do all that homework they skipped while investigating - implying a lot of time has gone on since the start of the episode despite the fact that this episode could have taken place in a single day. Hard to assign any concrete timescales in either version though.
Judai's excuse to Chronos is that they looked but determined the giant wasn't real, and Jaden says they found him but the giant escaped up a beanstalk (LOL). Crowler additionally asks about whether they used the ante rule going back to the dub-only expulsion scheme, and Jaden is like "no, and nobody else did because they just magically found their cards again." The sub makes this same point but to drive in the "well he wasn't real after all" bit. The dub recycles a shot of Jaden speaking to give him one last quip as the episode fades to end.
And that's game! Gotcha!
Spoiler Zone
Dub trivia: Jaden refers to Rampart Blaster with he/him pronouns in episode 10 and she/her in episode 16. 4KIDS said bigender rights but only for Rampart Blaster. Dub!Yubel has to be female though (albeit a transgender female, if you take Yubel's human form to be male in the dub).
Final Thoughts
I'm going to start with the smaller main point this time. As I've said in previous episodes, the dub seems to have a trend of cutting hints to ongoing questions or mysteries. It's only episode 16 - we're through about 10% of dubbed episodes now - and the dub has cut or rewritten the hints about Titan's illusions in episode 5-6; about Shou's Drillroid in episode 11; about Manjoume's deck in his duel with Misawa in episode 12; and now the hints about the nature of the duel giant in this episode. On one level I understand that things need to be cut for time, but this is just such a weird focus for cuts to me. While I think this trend is less significant than writing away from the elitism issues I'll discuss in the rest of this section, it is pretty curious.
There are two more major differences in this episode: Chronos/Crowler's characterization, and the nature of the giant duo's bullying. These ultimately tie back to the same root: the dub rewriting points about DA's elitism/classism to be about individuals instead of larger systems. As I wrote about previously (spoilers for all four seasons of GX in link), this is a significant recurring theme in the sub and especially early season 1.
My takeaway from this episode has always been about the classism at DA and especially establishing that Ra Yellow students also experience it. Which is an important point! It's not just Judai/Jaden, it's not just the Red dorm; even those in the middle ranks are looked down upon, even as they look down upon the Red dorm themselves (previously discussed in the sub version of episode 12 when Misawa sleeps over).
Early season 1 of sub GX spends a lot of time demonstrating that the dorm rank system hurts students no matter their rank. Hayato struggles with a curriculum that values winning when he doesn't; Kohara/Ohara are bullied for the color of their uniforms, even when their rank means they're on the upper end of non-rich students; Manjoume struggles to live up to the expectations of an elite student, and crashes when he can't. Chronos, on the other hand, is part of the school system and the one most involved in enforcing its norms whereas Judai - who demonstrates that he has the skill to merit a higher rank but chooses to stay in a lower rank out of preference - defies them.
But whether 4KIDS intended it or not (and I can speculate, but I can't make hard claims as to whether they did intend it - again, I'm not a 4KIDS employee!), the dub writes away from all those things. Chumley's problem isn't a conflict of values; he's just fat and lazy. Briar/Beauregard aren't bullied because of their rank; they get made fun of for their size. Chazz isn't caught up in the expectations of an elite student; he's an arrogant hotshot who flounced away from the academy. Chronos isn't bad because he represents a flawed system; he's bad because he's evil and mean to Jaden. The problem isn't with the ranking of dorms, it's with people's individual flaws.
And in a way, this is reflected in how Kohara/Briar is portrayed between versions. Kohara is characterized as a good duelist who's crippled by anxiety, beaten down by both pressure to perform well (which has real consequences - as we've seen and will continue to see, the school favors winners and demotes losers) and verbal mockery from higher-ranked students. Briar is a great duelist hindered by his stage fright, which does in part stem from bullies' mockery but lacks the element of environmental pressure that bears upon the school's student population in the sub. (And then Jaden helps Briar solve his stage fright, so even that isn't an issue!)
This means that the dub loses out on a significant theme in the show about dorm elitism and the fallacy of assuming your grades determine your worth that - while strongest in season 1 - is present all the way to the series finale in season 4. The dub still works without it; Briar and Beauregard's story coheres just fine even if it's just about a little guy and a big guy bullied for their sizes. But it's a little less memorable to me without that throughline of "don't forget, those of us in the middle struggle too."
