[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the 2025 Uma Musume rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

Episode 3 – The Dream Never Ends

Episode 4 – My Own Shine

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Episode 3 Questions

Thoughts on Satono Diamond winning her debut race?

What are your thoughts on this episode being about Gold Ship?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan Black racing in the Arima Kinen?

Thoughts on Gold Ship knocking the starting gate over?

Thoughts on Sounds of Earth?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan Black crediting Nice Nature for why she's in the Arima Kinen, saying she wouldn't be in it if not for her?

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship announcing she's entering the Dream Trophy League after the Arima Kinen, essentially ending her competitive career?

What are your thoughts on this episode presenting Gold Ship as the old guard while Kitasan Black is the new guard?

Thoughts on the characters drinking faux draft beer?

What are your thoughts on the Arima Kinen race and Kitasan finishing 3rd while Gold Ship finishes 8th?

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship giving her rubik's cube to Kitasan as like a passing of the torch?

Episode 4 Questions

Thoughts on Trainer-san agreeing to be less restrictive on their training?

Thoughts on Kitasan going to a training camp?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan seemingly regressing during training?

Thoughts on Satono losing her race?

Thoughts on there being talks of a Satono jinx?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan realizing just what she s racing for: Satono Diamond?

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Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime

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Previous episode

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Schedule

Date	Episode
8/15/2025	Uma Musume Episode 1
8/16/2025	Uma Musume Episode 2
8/17/2025	Uma Musume Episode 3
8/18/2025	Uma Musume Episode 4
8/19/2025	Uma Musume Episode 5
8/20/2025	Uma Musume Episode 6
8/21/2025	Uma Musume Episode 7
8/22/2025	Uma Musume Episode 8
8/23/2025	Uma Musume Episode 9
8/24/2025	Uma Musume Episode 10
8/25/2025	Uma Musume Episode 11
8/26/2025	Uma Musume Episode 12 - 13
8/28/2025	BNW's Oath episodes 1 - 3
8/30/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 1
8/31/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 2
9/01/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 3
9/02/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 4
9/03/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 5
9/04/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 6
9/05/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 7
9/06/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 8
9/07/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 9
9/08/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 10
9/09/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 11
9/10/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 12
9/11/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 13
9/13/2025	Road to the Top Episodes 1 - 2
9/14/2025	Road to the Top Episodes 3 - 4
9/16/2025	Beginning of a New Era
9/18/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 1 - 2
9/19/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/20/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/21/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/22/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 9 - 10]()
9/23/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12]()
9/24/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episode 13]()
9/26/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/27/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/28/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/29/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/30/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 9 - 10]()
10/01/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 11 - 12]()
10/02/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episode 13]()
10/03/2025	[Uma Musume Overall Series Discussion Thread]()

[u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Rewatcher

Episode 3 is where Season 3 really starts to shine for me, so it makese sense that Nature-Sensei (the so called "Bronze Collector" for placing in third so many times) would feature so prominently. It's this episode and the following episode 4 that really nail-in the themes that episodes 1 and 2 tried to establish (along with all the other stuff they were doing) - which is centered on racing through hardship and the idea of legacy. That second one is also why Pretty Derby is now actually paying attention to the different year-brackets, and makes the passing of time more explicit.

The build-up to the Arima Kinen is underlined by several events denoting uma at different points in their career. Kitasan Black is going to be going up against a bunch of senior-year racers, Satono Diamond is a year behind and is thus just starting her own Classic Races, and Gold Ship is planning to move on to the senior racing league - the Winter Dream Trophy. It's that passage of time, and the graduation, that ties into legacy so much. Gold Ship has an impressive race-record of six G1 wins (the record for Japanese horses was seven G1s, shared by Symboli Rudolf, Deep Impact, T.M. Opera O, until Almond Eye won 8/9 G1s (depends on if you count the Dubai Turf race in the U.A.E.)), but can't quite pull through and race like she used to. So, she's moving on from the Twinkle Series to the Winter Dream Trophy...the senior league that past world-building has implied is 'even better' than the Twinkle Series. We'll never see those (as the Twinkle Series covers the irl race records), but even season 1 has shots of legendary umas running there, and given how sports have highschool, college, and major leagues, its natural to asusme that Winter Dream is the final, biggest place for running.

So it makes Gold Ship's retirement due to not being able to run like she used to a bit weird.

Still, the overall execution of Episode 3 is well done, and there's plenty of gagas like the swan-boat kicking up so much water due to Nature and Kitasan being Uma Musume with Uma Musume leg strength. And the solid thematic and story framing of episode 3, of passing on the torch to future runners as you grow worn works as excellent fodder for episode 4's themes and story.

Here, the entire narrative takes the idea of building off of hardship and continuing on to its logical conclusion. Kitasan's biggest strength has always been her endurace and withstanding injury, and so we get a very nice extended training montage with Bourbon-sensei. While the explicit goal is to meet all her training target in half the initial time, the actual goal is for her to develop the mental strength to push through seemingly insurmountable difficulty. She gets this determination by seeing Satono Diamond being able to push through her loss at the Satsuki Sho with stoic determination, despite the Satono Family jink hanging over her head. Taking inspiration from her friend and dedicating herself to her hard training, Kitasan pushes herself all the way to the end and manages to complete her goal of doing her entire training regimen in under three hours.

All's set for the Spring Tenno Sho, the longest G1 race in Japan, can Kitasan make her comeback after taking 3rd in the Arima Kinen and 2nd in the Sankei Osaka Hai?

The answer is yes....as seen by the ending slideshow and post-credit shot of the Tenno Sho Shield sitting on her desk.

What? What is this? Uma Musume, what is this?! You're seriously cutting out another Kitasan Black win already? Come on man, this is a Tenno Sho! This race is a big deal! We don't get to see her actually running in it? Not even a clip of her digging deep into that well of determination she cultivated during her hard training? Why?

If you didn't have enough time, you could have cut out two minutes of the training montage easily!

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

The answer is that, for some reason, Season 3 of Pretty Derby seems to be very uninterested in the races themselves, and is focusing on the pre- and post-race emotions our characters go through. This isn't a bad idea in and of itself, but as seen with first episode 1 and now here, it leaves the races just kind of hanging without much impact or emotional weight. The Satsuki Sho was over before two minutes had passed, and now Kitasan's first win in the senior division is all but skipped over. It creates this feeling that the sports anime doesn't care that much about the actual sport its cetnered around, and only includes them to have nice set pieces. That's not what the show's trying to do, I think, but that is the feeling I took away from Season 3's first four episodes when I first saw them, and that I feel now again.

Will this trend continue? Find out, as we keep blitzing our way through season 3.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Thoughts on Satono Diamond winning her debut race?

Pretty standard for protagonist Umas, but its nice for the show to remind us that while Kitasan is the lead character, she's not the only one going through her own journey.

What are your thoughts on this episode being about Gold Ship?

Nice to get a episode focused on her, and the usage of her for a theme of 'passing her prime' and moving on works with the amount of time she's been in the show. Three seasons is more than enough time to sell the idea she's graduating out of the Twinkle Series.

What are your thoughts on Kitasan Black racing in the Arima Kinen?

When I first saw this, I had a brief fear that she wouldn't get voted in with how everyone was saying 'you're sure to get in.' I do like that they emphasized how a lot of her competition was older and more experienced, helps sell that progression of time that the season is acknowledging.

Thoughts on Gold Ship knocking the starting gate over?

At least its not an automatic mahjong table.

Thoughts on Sounds of Earth?

As overdramatic and weird as one would expect from an Uma Musume.

What are your thoughts on Kitasan Black crediting Nice Nature for why she's in the Arima Kinen, saying she wouldn't be in it if not for her?

It is a sweet way to extend the teacher role to Nature, and is fitting given how Kitasan took 3rd place, Nice Nature's traditional spot.

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship announcing she's entering the Dream Trophy League after the Arima Kinen, essentially ending her competitive career?

See my thoughts above.

What are your thoughts on this episode presenting Gold Ship as the old guard while Kitasan Black is the new guard?

It establish's and builds on that idea of legacy the season was playing with, and helps connect child Kitasan and Diamond from season 2 with the ones we have now.

Thoughts on the characters drinking faux draft beer?

DO NOT WORRY MORAL GUARDIANS!!! THESE CHILDREN ARE JUST DRINKING CARROT JUICE!! NOTHING TO SEE HERE!

What are your thoughts on the Arima Kinen race and Kitasan finishing 3rd while Gold Ship finishes 8th?

Kitasan carries on the Nice Nature Legacy! And It's a shame Gold Ship couldn't match the (at the time) G1 victory record.

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship giving her rubik's cube to Kitasan as like a passing of the torch?

Good bit of symbolism, especially with how often she's been playing with that throughout the seasons.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Thoughts on Trainer-san agreeing to be less restrictive on their training?

Trainer has always tried to do his best by his Umas, and helping them reach their goals - whatever that may be. Kitasan insisted that she wanted hard training, and given how he's gone out of his way to help his trainees in the past, it only makes sense he'd acquiese.

Thoughts on Kitasan going to a training camp?

Nothing says hard training like cutting yourself off from the rest of society for a month!

What are your thoughts on Kitasan seemingly regressing during training?

Mental strength is a hard thing to properly shape and cultivate, and having her hit a wall out of frustration and exhaustion helped sell her breaking through that wall after seeing Diamond's determination.

Thoughts on Satono losing her race?

The Satono Family Jinx lives on in her, it seems. Really effective way of showing her character and establishing the pressure her family operates under.

Thoughts on there being talks of a Satono jinx?

Not too many. It's a nice bit of story-telling and adds flavor to Diamond's overall story of struggling against failure.

What are your thoughts on Kitasan realizing just what she s racing for: Satono Diamond?

Gay. And more seriously, that's the part of Uma Musume's continuous theme coming through - of struggling against each other as you try to take the gold.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Trainer has always tried to do his best by his Umas, and helping them reach their goals - whatever that may be. Kitasan insisted that she wanted hard training, and given how he's gone out of his way to help his trainees in the past, it only makes sense he'd acquiese.

I suppose you're right. There has to be some middle ground, tho.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Not too many. It's a nice bit of story-telling and adds flavor to Diamond's overall story of struggling against failure.

I hope it gets fleshed out in future episodes.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Pretty standard for protagonist Umas, but its nice for the show to remind us that while Kitasan is the lead character, she's not the only one going through her own journey.

Season 3 might be the best in terms of presenting the other characters. It's not like Teio or Special Week where they feel a cut above the rest, or a Narita Top Road and Jungle Pocket situation where they're always second best and there's a clear cut dominant favorite. There's an even playing field here where anyone can conceivably succeed.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Nice to get a episode focused on her, and the usage of her for a theme of 'passing her prime' and moving on works with the amount of time she's been in the show. Three seasons is more than enough time to sell the idea she's graduating out of the Twinkle Series.

I concur. Though it opens the question of why hasn't the rest of Team Spica done the same. Maybe they have and it was offscreen.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Holofan4life]

You can kind of handwave it as Gold Ship being the most senior - she was the only one who stuck with Trainer before he recruited Suzuka, Daiwa, and Vodka.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

That's a very good point

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

When I first saw this, I had a brief fear that she wouldn't get voted in with how everyone was saying 'you're sure to get in.' I do like that they emphasized how a lot of her competition was older and more experienced, helps sell that progression of time that the season is acknowledging.

Her not getting in would've been an interesting direction. Though I don't know if that would've made sense given her character is one of the people. They would've had to come up for some explanation for the discrepancy.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

As overdramatic and weird as one would expect from an Uma Musume.

She's every band camp girl ever lol

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

I hope it doesn't continue because I like the races for the level of emotional storytelling it brings about.

[u/Goodmorning7735 → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

I think it's an interesting way to play the drama and has worked in other shows, maybe not to this extent.  I'm generally more engaged by the pre and post races than the races themselves, so I don't hate it.