ok, serious talk for a second, yuri on ice means SO much to me as a queer person. anime is a form of media that i constantly see fetishizing and tokenizing same-sex relationships, relying on queerbaiting to hook audiences and leaving them with morsels of canon same-sex romance at best. of course, this isn’t uncommon in western media either – shiro (voltron) and destiel being two prominent examples of that. also, it’s not to say that there aren’t any anime that portray healthy, loving same-sex couples! however, i haven’t seen ANY that have felt as genuine and real as the relationship between katsuki yuri and victor nikiforov.
when i started watching yuri on ice yesterday evening, i already had spoilers for the vast majority of the romantic plot. i knew about the kiss, i knew about the rings (though not fully), and i knew about the drunk-yuri incident from a tumblr post i stumbled upon a few months ago. however, i was not prepared for how casually in love yuri and victor are?!?!??!!
they are constantly showing each other romantic affection in public, and are very touchy – from putting their hands around each other’s waists, holding each other in tight embraces, and whispering softly into each other’s ears, they are obviously (and, most importantly) OPENLY in love with each other. there are just…so many little moments between them that no one talks about??? from yuri dedicating his free skate to victor, to the little looks they give each other, to the smiles, and GOD, the HUGS, SO MANY HUGS!!!
some people have complained because of the lack of realistic response to their relationship (in terms of homophobia) but to be honest, as a queer person, it is breathtaking to get a view into a world where two men can embrace each other passionately and romantically and not be scorned or rebuked. they are just TWO DUDES! in LOVE!!! also, their friends and family are so supportive?!?! phichit’s first reaction when he sees their rings isn’t to question them but immediately congratulate them on getting married, and i swear, him getting the entire restaurant to clap for them was one of the sweetest moments of anime i have ever seen. being able to see this kind of reality, where love truly is just that – love – regardless of gender is overwhelmingly cathartic to me, and makes me want to sob in the best way possible.
honestly…the best part of it all is the EXCELLENT usage of show-not-tell in yuri and victor’s relationship. some people have complained about its “ambiguity,” and while i can agree that it’s sad the kiss was partially censored, the subtlety of the relationship is what makes it so special. they don’t NEED to say “he’s my boyfriend,” or “we’re in love,” for the viewer to know that (though the fanbase would probably die of happiness if it did happen). show-not-tell is a cornerstone of good writing, and by portraying such an in-depth, realistic, and heartfelt queer relationship in such a quiet, personal manner, the writers of yoi perfectly encapsulate what it means to feel love with every bone of your body.
in the end, THAT’S what yuri on ice is about. not a veteran ice skater returning to glory after a devastating loss. not even victor and yuri’s relationship, though that is a key part of the message it is trying to convey. it is about love, and all types of it – familial, platonic, romantic, you name it. more specifically, yuri on ice is about how love CHANGES people. yuri and victor are both lost at the beginning of the series, in very different ways – yuri as a dejected skater who believes that he is alone despite being surrounded by love from everyone in his life, and victor as a world-class skater who has convinced himself that the only way he can succeed is to be alone. through the love of each other, and through opening each other up to the love of those around them, they both grow as people, and become stronger, healthier individuals.
love is centric to EVERYTHING yuri on ice is – from the main pair to the multitude of charming side characters, who all love each other in unique (and, as far as the show is concerned, equally valid) ways. just like yuri’s free skate, yuri on ice strives to represent the multi-faceted relationships and bonds that yuri has fostered over the years, and how the arrival of victor finally frees him from his doubts and allows him to realize the love of others – and maybe even learn to love himself..
yeahhhh this kind of got off the rails from analyzing the queer relationship but i could care less lmao anyway enjoy reading
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