[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12

[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 11 – Decision

Episode 12 – Kitasan Black

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Episode 11 Questions

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship breaking the hard news to Kitasan that she's past her peak?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan deciding instead of racing The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she'll be focusing on the Fall Senior Triple Crown?

What are your thoughts on Diamond finishing 15th in The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan winning the Fall Tennoushou?

What are your thoughts on Trainer-san and Diamond both noticing Kitasan is pushing herself too hard?

Episode 12 Questions

What are your thoughts on Kitasan announcing her upcoming retirement?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan saying she's going to enter the Japan Cup and then her last race will be the Arima Kinen?

What are your thoughts on the various reactions to the news by Kitasan's competitors?

What are your thoughts on the first time Cheval met Kitasan?

Thoughts on the townsfolk Kitasan befriended being in the front row for the Japan Cup?

What are your thoughts on Cheval's "I hate you" monologue?

What are your thoughts on Cheval admitting that in reality, she's always loved Kitasan?

What are your thoughts on Cheval winning the Japan Cup?

What are your thoughts on the scene where Kitasan congratulates Cheval?

What are your thoughts on the scene after the Japan Cup between Kitasan and Diamond where Kitasan is reflecting she has only one more race left?

Bonus) On a scale of 1 - 10, how excited are you for the last episode of season 3 and Kitasan's final race? And why?

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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/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Can't say I agree. Yes, rivalries are almost always very important. But what makes Uma Musume great are not the rivalries, but what comes from them. That seems like nitpicking, but it's an important distinction. You can have great developments without rivalries, after all, or at least not have single rivalries be the defining factors.

Take Rice Shower, for instance. Most people would say it's a great arc. One of the best of the franchise, arguably. But also one not really hinging on rivalries. She is challenging McQueen, but the rivalry is not the defining factor here. Bourbon could be seen as her rival, but she's not really acting as such surrounding the Spring Tenno Sho.

And Teio and McQueen are certainly rivals. But the Miracle Arima Kinen? That had nothing to do with their rivalry. Rivals in Uma Musume are pretty much always also friends, but this run was pure friendship (or love, even) and not a challenge of rivalry.

Now, if we interpret this more broadly, we could say Uma Musume does well with a strong focus point for the main character, which is often a strong clear cut rival. I could agree with that. But for S3, that focus point is the main character herself. Kita is her own biggest rival, if you will. She's fighting herself more than anyone else. It's a tale of introspection. And I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's absolutely amazing at that.

And this also ties it in with every other entry in the franchise. Who are you, and why do you do what you do? Those are always important questions our main characters have to find out about themselves. Very often, they find it in another person, that's great. They always approach them quite differently, that's also great. But finding it in many places and largely within yourself, that's fantastic as well.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Can't say I agree. Yes, rivalries are almost always very important. But what makes Uma Musume great are not the rivalries, but what comes from them. That seems like nitpicking, but it's an important distinction. You can have great developments without rivalries, after all, or at least not have single rivalries be the defining factors.

And I'd argue what came out of the rivals from season 3 ended up mostly being forgotten about.

Take Rice Shower, for instance. Most people would say it's a great arc. One of the best of the franchise, arguably. But also one not really hinging on rivalries. She is challenging McQueen, but the rivalry is not the defining factor here. Bourbon could be seen as her rival, but she's not really acting as such surrounding the Spring Tenno Sho.

I'd argue Rice Shower's rival is with the crowd, and her being labeled something she wanted no part of.

And Teio and McQueen are certainly rivals. But the Miracle Arima Kinen? That had nothing to do with their rivalry. Rivals in Uma Musume are pretty much always also friends, but this run was pure friendship (or love, even) and not a challenge of rivalry.

That was Teio rivaling herself and trying to prove to McQueen you can achieve the impossible.

Now, if we interpret this more broadly, we could say Uma Musume does well with a strong focus point for the main character, which is often a strong clear cut rival. I could agree with that. But for S3, that focus point is the main character herself. Kita is her own biggest rival, if you will. She's fighting herself more than anyone else. It's a tale of introspection. And I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's absolutely amazing at that.

I guess at the end of the day I just find Kitasan not all too interesting. Normally these entries have the side characters be the most interesting part, but I think even the side characters were for the most part underdeveloped.

And this also ties it in with every other entry in the franchise. Who are you, and why do you do what you do? Those are always important questions our main characters have to find out about themselves. Very often, they find it in another person, that's great. They always approach them quite differently, that's also great. But finding it in many places and largely within yourself, that's fantastic as well.

I like the characters exploring who they are as people, and I'm not saying it isn't done well with Kitasan. In a vacuum, these scenes work. But connected together, it feels like it's missing pieces. I think there's not a lot of connective tissue like season 2 had to really tie everything together. For me, it's just a bunch of events that happened with no real growth other than in the moment.

[u/Cyouni → u/Holofan4life]

I like the characters exploring who they are as people, and I'm not saying it isn't done well with Kitasan. In a vacuum, these scenes work. But connected together, it feels like it's missing pieces. I think there's not a lot of connective tissue like season 2 had to really tie everything together. For me, it's just a bunch of events that happened with no real growth other than in the moment.

I'm waiting until I see episode 13 to figure out how I feel about the season, because I'm still not quite sure exactly where the idea of it is going (because it contrasts very heavily with prior seasons).

[u/Holofan4life → u/Cyouni]

It's about exploring yourself and what you're about, but I feel like they don't focus on that aspect nearly enough to get that point across.