#character defense

For me Judai Yuki has had the very interesting character development as far as Protagonists goes. He doesn’t start as the underdog like Yugi Muto was nor is he the brightest duelist with the likes of Seto Kaiba. He’s an average schoolboy who has very good luck.

One would say that he believed in the heart of his cards but that’s beside the point.

Now let’s get on with the defense.

• First off He’s Annoying
  

Judai Yuki is far from being the “annoying” character in the group, to me its Sho who fills that character archetype, with his constant fearful attitude towards everything and anything, most especially things that involve his older brother and that was an endearing trait of his. But I digress, Judai is that character who likes to goof off and enjoy duels as much as he can, even when his life and the life of friends are on the line.

Evidenced with ending the duels he won with “Gotcha! That was a very fun duel!” And that speaks volumes towards his characteristics.

• Dumb and doesn’t study but still top of the class.
  

I know the dub and original differ greatly but both versions show Judai strugglingwith his academics. How is he the top of the class when he clearly is struggling with things like homework that Professor Cronus hands out to his students? Heck near the end of series, He had to take a lot of exams and tests and the like for him to graduate from the school.

Dueling wise, he’s incredibly lucky. He always get the card he need at the right time. Most of his duels were won with his incredible luck that it could be considered miraculous.

For instance, Judai has no cards on his hand. During his draw phase he drew the magic card “Pot of Greed.” He activated the spell card and drew two more cards. Using the effect he drew E-Hero Necroshade and Graceful Charity.

Judai activates Graceful Charity and drew O Oversoul, Bladedge and Mystical Space Typhoon. He discards to the graveyard Necroshade and Mystical Space typhoon. He then activates O Oversoul and summoned Neos and by effect of Necroshade in the graveyard he normal summons Bladedge.

TL;DR: He’s just lucky, incredibly lucky. It does not make him the top of the class, but it does make him one of the strongest duelist in the school as he knows when to adapt to things, shown when he battles in tag team duels and group duels.

• Stupid Catchphrases.
  

This is subjective and I find them endearing, adding more depth to his character.

• Goofy
  

Now when does being light hearted and goofy a bad thing. He had tried not to be one in Season 4, look where that got him.

• Joey Wheeler as a Protagonist.
  

Joey at the beginning of YuGiOh! Was essentially Yugi’s bully, and yes I’m including Season 0 of the series, before befriending him and that was after Atem initiated a dark game. How is Judai a clone of Katsuya Jinnouchi when we were introduced to him as the protagonist’s bully whereas Judai was just a kid who wanted catch up to the academy’s entrance exam?

• Disliked the HERO deck
  

His deck also screams more of his personality and whatnot. He has a huge hero complex, and that has been addressed in Season 3. He became to engrossed with Saving Johan from the other dimension that he put his friends in danger killed them, in his point of view.

• None of the depth of protagonists before or since except an attempt to make him edgy in later seasons.
  

I vehemently disagree with this statement. Judai’s journey throughout the series was about balance and maturity. He was a goofball at first, just trying to enjoy duels as much as he can, even prolonging duels for maximum enjoyment. By the start of season 4, he toned down his happy go lucky attitude and essentially became the lone wolf character. Ending duels in single turns as much as possible and retreating towards the abandoned Osiris dorm when its finished.

He doesn’t even bother to go to class because of the guilt he feels and the belief that he’s the one causing everything to happen.

For me, Judai is the best written character in terms of character development. Its just sad that people see him from both sides of extremes and not see him as a complex character that has fought to balance his enjoyment of duels and his sense of duty and danger.

Of course he’ll continue to grow with Yubel by his side, guiding him.