Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal

The previous Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series suffered from plots going completely absurd at times, especially in the first one, not to mention all the filler episodes that add nothing to the plot (looking at you GX). Zexal does not have these problems since the plot is fairly coherent and each episode feels like it fits well with the rest. It's visually good and the character design is captivating.

Now the most important part in the whole deal is the dueling itself and how the cards are played and presented. If you like the card game, then that's what really matters anyway, and Zexal has some interesting and intense duels. Of course the main course here is XYZ summoning, along with the cards that make it possible to achieve, and if you're playing Duel Links which introduced it recently, then you'll gain a lot of insights about it by watching.

The only thing I find annoying is how bad at dueling Yuma is, the protagonist, sometimes (unlike Jaden for example), but I understand it was a necessity to justify his bond with Astral and show how acquiring number cards can make you stronger.

Greatly received the most parts of the world, except a few places, mostly in the west. It was a broader reach series reached into broader. Topics didn't just go over tangible things like the penitentiary, like the previous series did or ancient Egypt Egyptian history like the first series or the Classroom like the second, it did what Pokémon's Fourth did. The reason why this series isn't greatly received everywhere isn't really explainable in the given context (Not what I have laid out right here, but the other context here YOU can see) Otherwise, it went over a plethora of great themes in a great way. Lessons that require experience alongside a broader understanding of life in general to be able to understand and relate to, and to appreciate and especially within the characters of the barians.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a tedious and lackluster entry into the long-running Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise, failing to live up to the standards set by its predecessors. With its uninteresting characters, repetitive plot, and lack of strategic depth, this series offers little to captivate or engage its audience.

One of the major flaws of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is its unremarkable and poorly developed characters. The protagonist, Yuma Tsukumo, lacks the charm, complexity, and relatability of previous Yu-Gi-Oh! Protagonists. His constant bumbling and unconvincing growth as a duelist make him an uninteresting and frustrating character to follow. The supporting cast fares no better, with forgettable personalities and lackluster character development. The absence of compelling and relatable characters hampers any emotional investment in the series.

The storytelling in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is repetitive and lacks originality. The plot follows a formulaic structure with predictable duel after predictable duel, offering little in terms of surprise or innovation. The narrative fails to build suspense or create a sense of genuine stakes, making each episode feel monotonous and unexciting. The attempts at injecting dramatic tension often fall flat, lacking the intricate and compelling storytelling that defined earlier iterations of the franchise.

The duels in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal lack strategic depth and fail to create engaging gameplay. The battles feel formulaic and rely heavily on overpowered card effects rather than strategic decision-making. The animation during duels is lackluster, lacking the dynamic and visually engaging style that fans have come to expect from the franchise. The duels lack intensity and fail to generate the excitement that made previous Yu-Gi-Oh! Series so captivating.

Furthermore, the dialogue and writing in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal are uninspired and lackluster. The dialogue often feels contrived and shallow, lacking the wit and cleverness that characterized earlier iterations of the franchise. The attempts at humor fall flat, relying on tired jokes and uninspired banter. The writing fails to deliver engaging and memorable lines, further diminishing the overall impact of the series.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal also suffers from a lack of meaningful themes or messages. The series fails to explore deeper moral dilemmas or delve into complex character growth. It lacks the depth and thought-provoking elements that made earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! Series resonate with audiences. The missed opportunity to address meaningful themes leaves the narrative shallow and uninteresting.

In conclusion, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a tedious and disappointing addition to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise. Its uninteresting characters, repetitive plot, lackluster duels, and uninspired writing make for an underwhelming viewing experience. The series fails to capture the strategic depth, engaging storytelling, and memorable characters that defined earlier iterations of the franchise. Fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! Would be better off revisiting the classic series or exploring other entries rather than investing their time in this lackluster installment.

After finally watching this show I've come to the conclusion that most of the show (almost half) is terrible. The start is so dull and stupid. There are number cards that seem to be evil, (as they control people) though they are never fully explained in the whole series. I'm aware of how they work (through my own theories) though there is no official explanation in the show. There is shown early on a door with a lock that speaks to Yuma telling him that to unlock it he must give up that which he wants most.. Well there ARE no consequences!!!! He opens the door and nothing CHANGES... Not to mention after a while even though the duels start to become entertaining.. the constant cheating and lack of respect for the games rules leaving me rolling my eyes.. like others shows had cheating too... though not as often as zexal gosh. Then there are the constant op monster effects in every duel after like the 45th episode or so. It gets real old real fast! Like not every duel has to be so op. It gets boring when every episode becomes about Yuma and the duels are simply overused and overdone to the point you want to puke.

The one redeeming factor of this show is Yuma and Astrals relationship they both grow throughout the show and although Yuma is unbearable at times... His relationship with Astral really made me keep watching the show. Yeah some of the characters like Kite and his brother, Trey are alright or at least somewhat interesting. The story near the end of the first season behind Kite Yuma and Treys parents was nice to see though cane far to late and took to long to bring up. And of course the Barians which helped make the show more engaging. However it takes like 70 episodes or so to even get to that point and considering the first half is rather dull upto the 40th episode. It's not worth the time.

Was absolutely phenomenal and was greatly received the most parts of the world, but seeing as this review website, most commonly takes influence from America - you can see the mindset of the people who don't like it here. The need for someone to unjustly hate this show stretches so far as they had to wait, nearly a decade later to continue the same retired opinion is evident in this section of IMDb. It is when the psyche of such close-mindedness and rigid hate spreads that they must regress progressively wait in the future to reinstate such an opinion that doesn't allow the show to be married from when it was in its highlight and was fairly judged (Although still quite unfairly) A decade ago.