Ok, but one of the things I’m absolutely in love with when it comes to Yuri!!! on Ice is that it’s really beautifully emphasizing how much your presence can impact another person and their life, even when you don’t realize it.
Sure, we have the obvious things like becoming a role model or idol to others in your field. We have Yuuri being inspired by Viktor’s skating and Minami being inspired by Yuuri’s skating. But what was particularly lovely to me about Minami idolizing Yuuri was that Yuuri didn’t view his skating career as anything special, anything worth inspiring another, but he was wrong. It’s that moment of realization where even if you’re not living up to the standards you have set for yourself, even if you’ve disappointed yourself, your work/talent/effort/etc. are appreciated by someone, even if you don’t realize it.
Then, though, we have these smaller moments of influence. We have Yurio leaving a mark on Otabek. We have ultra-drunk Yuuri leaving a mark on Viktor. Yurio and Yuuri weren’t even aware of their past interactions with Otabek and Viktor, respectively, but both left an impression - Otabek describes seeing Yurio’s strength, Viktor enjoys dancing with drunk Yuuri. It’s emphasizing that the interaction you have with someone, even when you don’t remember it, can impact that other person in a remarkable way, can change that person’s view of life or even their course in life.
I’m sorry, I’m feeling mushy, but it really is just hammering home that no matter how insignificant you may feel, you matter. Your very existence shapes the lives around you, in ways you can’t imagine.


















