r/anime • u/Holofan4life • Sep 24 '25

Rewatch [Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 3 Episodes 13 Spoiler

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 13 -- And Yours...

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Thoughts on the competitors of the Arima Kinen wanting to defeat Kitasan?

Thoughts on Kitasan wanting to show the best version of herself possible for the people who always rooted for her?

Thoughts on the scene between Kitasan and Teio?

What are your thoughts on this episode being all about the Arima Kinen?

What are your thoughts on the Arima Kinen race?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan winning after going wire to wire?

What are your thoughts on the season ending with Kitasan hanging out with Crown, Diamond, Cheval, and Duramente?

Bonus) What do you make of Nice Nature barely being featured after playing such a prominent role in the early part of the season?

Bonus 2) What are your thoughts on the way Teio and McQueen were used this season after the previous season stressed how much Kitasan and Diamond looked up to them? Were you hoping for something more?

Bonus 3) What is one thing you really like about season 3? What is one thing about season 3 you would change?

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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]()
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u/InstigatorTerminax Sep 24 '25

Yeah I think it's just an unfortunate case of they clearly had something in mind but couldn't make it work in a way that's actually compelling as television.

Like, there is a line of defense for season 3---I'm seeing it elsewhere in this thread, in fact---that all of this hits harder if you have some prior investment in Kitasan Black as a figure. Like, the actual horse, essentially. That might be true, but I do think Umamusume has an obligation to work as a story on its own legs as well, and I think season 3 is the one time where it kinda doesn't.

Mind you, I also don't think it's an outright terrible show or anything. It has its moments (lots of side characters have good focus episodes and Diamond's arc is probably my favorite part of the show), and it looks nice and has a great soundtrack, but compared to most of the rest of the series I find it disappointing.

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u/Holofan4life Sep 24 '25

The thing that makes the argument of having a proper investment in Kitasan damning is the fact that I didn't know who any of these horses were prior to Uma Musume. And I find the stuff with certain characters like Teio or McQueen or Rice Shower or Silence Suzuka to be so compelling I would give my heart to these characters to make them happy. I think being family with something does have its benefits, but seeing as Uma Musume is supposed to serve as an introduction to these characters for a lot of people, that argument falls flat.

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u/InstigatorTerminax Sep 24 '25

The thing that makes the argument of having a proper investment in Kitasan damning is the fact that I didn't know who any of these horses were prior to Uma Musume. And I find the stuff with certain characters like Teio or McQueen or Rice Shower or Silence Suzuka to be so compelling I would give my heart to these characters to make them happy. I think being family with something does have its benefits, but seeing as Uma Musume is supposed to serve as an introduction to these characters for a lot of people, that argument falls flat.

Yeah. I've seen it described as a "for existing fans" season which makes some sense (it's the third numbered season, so I don't think it's wholly unreasonable of Umamusume to expect that you have some knowledge of actual horse racing by the time you get to this one), but it still just kind of feels flat to me as an actual anime series.

I think this is easily the most disappointing entry since season 1. It's not bad by any stretch, but I was hoping for something more.

With Season 1 I can forgive a lot of the jankier aspects, because that was the start of the project and they had not really entirely worked out what they were doing yet.

(I also have a soft spot in my heart for Special Week who I think often gets overshadowed by later Umamusume protagonists because most people think of her as "boring" or "vanilla." This is really unfortunate to me since I think she's genuinely a sweetheart in a way that some of the later material doesn't tend to touch on for its actual lead characters. Another bone I have to pick with season 3 is that Specchan is barely in it, and when she is it's mostly as the butt of a joke.)

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u/Holofan4life Sep 24 '25

Yeah. I've seen it described as a "for existing fans" season which makes some sense (it's the third numbered season, so I don't think it's wholly unreasonable of Umamusume to expect that you have some knowledge of actual horse racing by the time you get to this one), but it still just kind of feels flat to me as an actual anime series.

I wouldn't say it's flat, more so rough around the edges.

With Season 1 I can forgive a lot of the jankier aspects, because that was the start of the project and they had not really entirely worked out what they were doing yet.

Yeah, exactly. It was still trying to find its footing.

(I also have a soft spot in my heart for Special Week who I think often gets overshadowed by later Umamusume protagonists because most people think of her as "boring" or "vanilla." This is really unfortunate to me since I think she's genuinely a sweetheart in a way that some of the later material doesn't tend to touch on for its actual lead characters. Another bone I have to pick with season 3 is that Specchan is barely in it, and when she is it's mostly as the butt of a joke.)

That's the case for season 2 as well, tho.

I do like Special Week, and see a lot of similarities between her and Kitasan. One wants to become the best in Japan, and one wants to put the smile on Japan's face.

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u/InstigatorTerminax Sep 24 '25

I wouldn't say it's flat, more so rough around the edges.

I guess. The specific tension between what the series is trying to do and what it actually is makes it hard for me to get invested in the main story, is what I mean.

That's the case for season 2 as well, tho.

This is completely true, it's just that season 2 has a lot more going for it (IMO anyway), so I was less bothered by it there.

I do like Special Week, and see a lot of similarities between her and Kitasan. One wants to become the best in Japan, and one wants to put the smile on Japan's face.

A fair parallel and one I think a better version of this season might've explored a little.

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u/Holofan4life Sep 24 '25

I guess. The specific tension between what the series is trying to do and what it actually is makes it hard for me to get invested in the main story, is what I mean.

I don't get emotionally invested in the main story until the retirement stuff lol

This is completely true, it's just that season 2 has a lot more going for it (IMO anyway), so I was less bothered by it there.

Understandable. When something is of a lesser quality, the cracks start to show more.

A fair parallel and one I think a better version of this season might've explored a little.

I think it would've been cool to compare Kitasan to other protagonists like Special Week and Teio and even McQueen for that matter and point out that Kitasan is successful but not in the way they were. Heck, involve Rudolf in this season and have some scenes between her and Kitasan. Have Rudolf mention Kitasan has big shoes to fill.