I used to watch Yuri on Ice weekly when it first releases when I was 15. Sure, I enjoyed watching it and getting excited over each new episode along with tumblr peeps
But now, 10 years later, I watched it with a new perspective. And by watching it consecutively for the past three days, what Yuuri achieve in final episode makes tears ran down my eyes. It was so rewarding after we see his growth over the past few episodes
He was so lost at the beginning of the story. He flunked his first debut at Grand Prix Final and it doesn't do well to his self esteem that the flunked all his competitions afterwards and considering retirement at the age of 24
Seeing Yuuri manage to get to the next season's Grand Prix Final, excecuting a flawless Free Skate routine and consequently breaking Victor's world record makes everyone who's seen Yuuri's struggles cries (Minako, Mari, Yuko, Nishigori, the triplets, heck even Mickey cried - and also me)
He really overcame his self doubts and anxiety - excecuting a perfect performance. We've seen him being all confident during his SP during the Japan National, China, and Russia Championship. But he always made mistakes during his FS
In Japan National and China Championship, it was his anxiety that pulled him back. During Russia Championship, it was the absent of Victor. But in the last episode, we finally see a program that was created for Yuuri himself (from the song choice to the choreography) executed perfectly with him being relaxed. It was such a beautiful moment
Yuuri on Ice may be considered as a sports anime, but it touched more on the emotional aspect rather than the technicality or the journey of the MC learning said sports to become number one. Yuuri here already mastered the basic. In the beginning of this series, Yuuri already mastered quad toe loop and is well known for his step sequence. But the thing holding him back to become a champion was his own anxiety and self-doubt
That's where Victor came in. He and Victor meets perfectly in the middle. Yes, they were not in the same frequency at the beginning. Victor, still has the image of drunk Yuuri in the last year banquet, acted all flirty with Yuuri. While Yuuri, on the other hand, saw Victor as his idol. When they finally discarded their ideal image towards each others, they came to understand each others and experienced life and love - the two things Victor had ignored for more than 20 years and supposedly, Yuuri as well
This show is also about love. It was shown that each characters has their own love which encourage them to skate and in return, they showed it by skating. Yurio by his grandpa, Otabek and Phichit by their respectful country, JJ by his family and fans. Most importantly, Yuuri by Victor, his family and friends. But his FS especially is where he showed his overwhelming love for Victor
10 years later after rewatching Yuri on Ice, I can confidently say this is a good show. A good show that touches the subject on love, on how a person overcome his struggle and manage to beat the things holding him back. It deserves all the love from the fans
And do you know what it deserves more? A second season or a movie. Mappa please consider making a continuation. An OVA perhaps?
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