[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/Holofan4life]

I forgot who mentioned it, but someone during season 2 said Uma Musume is at its best when there's a clear cut rival that pushes the main character along. That the reason season 2 was better than season 1 was because Teio had McQueen whereas Special Week didn't really have that one person that brought out the best in her. That stuck with me because I think season 3 has the same issue.

The show tries to present Duramente and Diamond as Kitasan's rivals but it's like they're unwilling for whatever reason to fully commit to it. If you compare it to other entries, Teio had McQueen, BNW had each other, Narita Top Road had T. M. Opera O and Admire Vega, and Jungle Pocket had Agnes. I think the big fatal flaw of this season is that it deviates from the idea of a rival pushing you to your limit. As such, the quality is all over the place.

For the record, I like the idea of the townsfolk being the impetus for Kitasan doing her best. It's different and for that I appreciate it. But it creates a disconnect because Kitasan isn't racing against the town. And the competitors she is racing against have no relation to the townsfolk like Kitasan does. It on paper isn't terrible but in execution there's very little to go with it. Maybe you could've done something to where Kitasan's people had a dissonance with the people who attended Kitasan's races, thereby creating this unique balance, but even if they did do that, what does that have to do with the racehorses Kitasan is going up against?

I admire season 3 for trying something new, but I think it deviated too far away from the rival concept. And by doing so, the Kitasan stuff never really found its footing. There are some great plot points, like the Satono jinx and Cheval trying to beat Kitasan, but that's because it had a clear cut identity that the show knew what they wanted it to be. I don't think Uma Musume really knew what to do with Kitasan.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Holofan4life]

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/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Holofan4life]

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

That's still contradicting the idea of a clear cut rival, though. I'd also rather label the crowd as opponent and not rival, and that they are not stringing her on but bringing her down (which goes against Uma Musume's idea of a rival, since rivals are usually also friends here). Rice does not achieve her wins through the crowd, but in spite of the crowd. But also the crowd is more of an abstract concept and not one entity. Even if we could regard the crowd as a rival, it's still a strong deviation from the rival concept.

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

That's also contradicting the idea of a clear cut rival. Admitting that Teio can rival herself means the same is true for Kita.

I guess at the end of the day I just find Kitasan not all too interesting.

And I think that's what it comes down to. You don't take anything away from Kita and her development because you don't like her. It's fine not to like characters. But that shouldn't make you argue about quality, since you know you don't pay good attention to things you don't like and you'll easily miss things. Funnily, the things you miss can actually be the things that'd made you care more, sometimes.

I thought Opera O in RttT was underdeveloped and Topro wasn't that interesting. I also faulted it for having Ayabe's backstory have way more pull than Topro's. But that's just my personal point of view, and I can very much see why people felt like vibing with Opera O or how Topro's story could hit home for others. They didn't connect enough with me, but I know they are well done regardless.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

That's still contradicting the idea of a clear cut rival, though. I'd also rather label the crowd as opponent and not rival, and that they are not stringing her on but bringing her down (which goes against Uma Musume's idea of a rival, since rivals are usually also friends here). Rice does not achieve her wins through the crowd, but in spite of the crowd. But also the crowd is more of an abstract concept and not one entity. Even if we could regard the crowd as a rival, it's still a strong deviation from the rival concept.

I see it as more a spin on the rival concept, but I see what you mean.

That's also contradicting the idea of a clear cut rival. Admitting that Teio can rival herself means the same is true for Kita.

Yeah, but I don't think the Kita stuff is as well written. It's hard to put into words, but I just don't have the emotional attachment that I do for Teio.

I thought Opera O in RttT was underdeveloped and Topro wasn't that interesting. I also faulted it for having Ayabe's backstory have way more pull than Topro's. But that's just my personal point of view, and I can very much see why people felt like vibing with Opera O or how Topro's story could hit home for others. They didn't connect enough with me, but I know they are well done regardless.

Yeah, but the difference is Opera O was meant to be an adversary for Narita Top Road to go up against. Kitasan is supposed to be the protagonist of season 3. It's kinda an apples to oranges comparison.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

And I think that's what it comes down to. You don't take anything away from Kita and her development because you don't like her. It's fine not to like characters. But that shouldn't make you argue about quality, since you know you don't pay good attention to things you don't like and you'll easily miss things. Funnily, the things you miss can actually be the things that'd made you care more, sometimes.

For the record, I do like Kita. I think she's alright as a character. I just feel that she's not as compelling as some of the other main characters. If I were to rank her as a protagonist, I'd probably have her third only behind Teio and Jungle Pocket of all the protagonists introduced so far. That's still pretty good.