"Any card—so long as it exists—has a power that is needed."

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Dennis Macfield; The Coward and the Chained Man

Alternatively - How Dennis showed us his entire character in a single episode.

In any Yugioh series, a character’s cards have two purposes - they serve as a tool through which characters can make connections as well as being a way to represent the character’s views and personality.

Dennis Macfield, as we’ve been shown, has two decks to match his two personalities: The Entermage deck that belongs to the eccentric and charismatic street performer Dennis Macfield, and the Antique Gear deck that belongs to the cruel and cunning Academia spy Dennis Macfield.

The question, then, lies in which of these decks represent Dennis’ true personality - a question that Dennis himself answers in his last duel with Shun.

In this duel, we see Dennis go out of his way to protect Trapeze Magician, the card that represents Dennis’ street performer personality.

Perhaps it could be said that this was simply a last-ditch effort in order to protect his innocent identity, but it goes to the point that really it would have been easier and more fruitful to simply give up Trapeze Magician. Had he not focused on protecting that card so vehemently, he could have won the duel - possibly without the aid of the Antique Gears.

But Dennis did not want to give up Trapeze Magician; he did not want to give up this identity, this Dennis Macfield that was not the Academia spy. The Antique Golems are not an unique deck to Dennis. He uses the same cards that every other Academia soldier uses. This deck represents Dennis’ status as an Academia spy. On the other hand, the Entermages represent Dennis as a person, as an individual separate from an institution and a situation. He clung to this part of himself until his hand was forced to take up the Antique Golems, and even then, he watched Trapeze Magician fade with a cry of despair. And thus he puts on the mask of the Academia soldier, cruel and ruthless.

But he did could not maintain that personality for too long before slipping out of it. Soon after Trapeze Magician’s destruction, Dennis takes it upon himself to tell Shun of his involvement with the invasion and most profoundly, with Ruri. He describes Heartland fondly, his words void of the harsh words that are often associated with Xyz natives in the mind of an Academia soldier. Here, he outright mourns the loss of the more peaceful days, and shares his dislike regarding the invasion.

“The adults and children watching all had smiles on their faces. But when I found her, the fun was over. It was awful. I wanted to keep doing those street performances. But since I found her, I… I had no choice but to green light the hunting game.”

Due to the timing, it would seem as though Dennis is sharing this information to Shun for the sake of being malicious. But his behavior completely lacks any trace of malice; rather, it seems as though this is the first time we see Dennis being completely and brutally honest. He’s not saying any of this with a smile on his face or even a hint of smugness. Dennis is incredibly serious - something we don’t see from him very often. What is more, is this is placed in direct contrast to the sadistic, gleeful we have been shown from the other Academia soldiers.

Dennis continues the conversation by saying to Shun, “…why don’t you hurry on to Academia instead of dueling here?” which raises the question as to why it would serve Dennis’ interests to encourage Shun’s rampage onto Academia. It is not as though Shun is incapable of putting up a fight and would fall to Academia easily.

Simple; Dennis doesn’t approve of Academia any more than Shun does.

Dennis is, at his core, a coward. He continues to work for Academia because he is aware of what Academia is capable and he fears it. But due to the dependency that Academia crafts, Dennis has nowhere to go. He is likely an orphan, and had been raised within the walls of Academia. Even if he wants to run, to him it is impossible to escape. However, Dennis conveniently holds a position that allows him to be physically far away from Academia, and gives him excuse to maintain minimal contact. He found a way to run from Academia without actually abandoning the institution and possibly angering those he fears.

Dennis wants to see Academia fall, so he can be free of this life that he hates. This is why he failed to sabotage the Lancers, despite the multitude of chances he was presented with. This is why he brought Serena back to the others rather than sweeping her away back to the Academy. This is why he kept his identity a secret until the very end instead of revealing himself with bravado like we might expect him to do, only giving up when his choice was pried from his fingers by Shun. He encourages Shun to take his anger to Academia, because he knows that Shun could possibly succeed. Dennis respects Shun’s power, never once dismissing Shun’s capabilities as a duelist. He plays the villain because Shun has forced him to take up that mantle, but it does not prevent Dennis’ truer desires and truer self from shining through in this moment of seriousness.

Dennis’ fear of Academia is extremely significant to him as a person, prevailing over any affection he might feel for others - for the Lancers, for the people of Heartland, for Ruri. Ruri, who is someone that Dennis knew and was likely good friends with. They are shown to have history together, and in the very least spent enough time together for Ruri to have told Dennis that Shun wanted to be a pro duelist - which is not something you usually tell a complete stranger. She is the person that Dennis is encouraging Shun to go rescue from the place Dennis thinks so poorly of. It is furthermore implied through the duel that Dennis did honestly care for Ruri, despite his position as an Academia spy and her life’s bane. Throughout the last series of attacks Shun conducted, the only one of the five attacks that we see Dennis react to…

… is the one where Ruri is mentioned.

It’s extremely likely that Dennis does not like himself. If you were to call him a coward, he’d agree with you. He does not condone Academia’s actions, and he condemns himself for not having the willpower to act against it. Dennis’ cowardice forces him to go against his moral code and harm people who he honestly cares for. He hates himself for what he did to Heartland and Ruri, and seeks to heal that wound by saying he was only following orders. And so Dennis continued on, being overly friendly to Yuzu and calling Serena princess all while thinking of Ruri.

This is probably also part of where Dennis’ respect of Shun comes from. Here is a man who is the polar opposite of Dennis. Shun fights the fear that Dennis shies away from. Dennis is a coward and Shun has a heart of steel. Shun’s unshakable resolve is something that Dennis perhaps wishes he had, but does not.

Though he returns to his villain persona after his moment of candor, it seems false. He’s distracted, unable to regain his footing in the situation, which ends up in him losing the duel - which is something he readily admits, in contrast to Sora’s grasping for straws.

At heart, Dennis is the carefree street performer he originally seemed to be. He genuinely enjoys the role, as it allows him to be who he truly is. This is Dennis without the chains that Academia has placed upon him. This is Dennis who can live a life he would lead had his options not been taken from him at such a young age. Perhaps Dennis did believe in Academia’s cause and actions at one point, but somewhere along the way, a taste of freedom changed his mind and allowed him a glimpse of a life not dictated by a corrupted code - something that he could never truly attain being who he is. Something he will always pine for.

(via se-to-oh)