I know a lot of people are trying to dissect Viktor and Yuuri and the dynamics of their coaching relationship. (It’s really hard though since there are literally no boundaries between them as student/coach, fiancés/lovers.)
But anyways: let’s talk about the single most underrated teacher/student relationship in the series.
The easy route to go with these characters is to parallel them with Yurio/Lilia. Both Lilia and Minako are celebrated dancers (they probably knew each other or of each other), both are extraordinarily influential in their students’ skating styles. Agape isn’t possible without Lilia’s ballet-boot-camp. We joke about how Yuuri’s dance mastery is all because of Minako?
What sets him apart as a skater?
His ridiculously high PCS scores? That’s Minako’s lasting influence—she trained Yuuri as a dancer, probably made sure he was as skilled in it as he possibly could be, and as a skater he made up the score gap with his artistry.
But let’s go to the Scene that Keeps on Giving
1) We get Viktor and Minako in a room together. Please people, keep imagining them talking with each other. They are in many ways, very, very similar and very, very much in awe of Yuuri. If Viktor is an unending source of romantic love, Minako is basically his second mother, and an unending source of familial love. They both are prodigies in their given fields. They are both Yuuri’s eccentric teachers.
(Hell: if Minako is in her 50s, she was most probably, in-universe, The First Asian Woman to Win All her Prizes. She was probably, in-universe, The First Asian Woman to Dance Principle in X, Y, Z Ballet Company Abroad.
I know homophobia is handwaved in the Yuri on Ice universe, and to a lesser extent, racism. But Phichit and Otabek are always pointed out as trailblazers. When you see them crying or proud because they’ve done something for their country that no one else has? Minako’s been there, done that, and still hasn’t aged.
Goddamn.)
Just think of the tension, Minako is all “Take advantage Yuuri” to Yuuri’s face but remains somewhat leery of Viktor. Because she’s heard the stories. If Yuuri’s idol-worship is keeping him from realizing how creepy Viktor’s arrival is… I’m imagining the good people of Hasetsu are all… “So this Viktor guy just shows up naked, unannounced, and he says he’s teaching Yuuri.”
?????????????
(”Skating?”
“Yup.”
“Really?”
“Hand me another drink ji-san. He kept staring at my boy’s ass for all two hours of our ballet class.”)
Minako would probably be the first person to cut Viktor if he doesn’t make good on his coaching Yuuri promise.
2) Scene is quick, it’s used to establish that Yuuri is a genius of hard work.
but: The Most Enlightening Scene Ever
To unpack this:
Minako is low-key telling Viktor: “Yes, Yuuri gets anxious. It’s not just a competition thing. He’s been anxious his entire life. This is his coping mechanism.”
And then: *bam* “I usually go along with him.”
Can we just?
Imagine baby Yuuri, who probably has used up all his spoons for the day, and then there’s his teacher Minako, who notices and goes all “Okay, what do you need? You need to skate? Ok. Let’s tell your parents, I’ll go with you, and I’ll stay with you.”
No questions asked, she’s just there.
Like—she’s either dancing with him or just watching him ice skate for however long it’ll take the anxiety attack to go away.
The fuck.
For the entirety of his childhood, Yuuri has had this one woman support system of “You need to skate/dance right now? Kay, let me just find my coat, off we go Yuuri!” Can you imagine? How many hours? How many times a week? And she’d just go with him.
Bonus Points: She wasn’t at the GPF where Yuuri failed. She didn’t fly into Russia for the Rostelecom Cup where he was alone for the second half. If you want a pre-Viktor coping mechanism: it’s Minako.
Minako is the ideal teacher: She saw what Yuuri needed and gave it to him.
So, do I get this right? In Episode 12 will be: – a victuuri heart to heart talk – six performances of ice skating – a Gala with two or three more ice skating performances and other stuff that will probably happen
How in the name of the katsudon will this fit in one Episode? Even without the Opening and Ending…there can’t be enough time for all of this!
honestly i’m on Team “Don’t Show Us The Free Skates We’ve Already Seen (except for Yuuri’s, Obviously) Because We NEED That Heart-To-Heart”
I got the lyrics from here. They aren’t mine, but the breakdown for which singer is singing what parts is. 🙂
Blue = male singer, Pink = female singer, Purple = both
And now we can all collectively cry about how this song is basically Yuuri and Victor making love through skating.
ANALYSIS TIME GUYS!
So, looking at these lyrics more closely they’re actually SO INCREDIBLY RELEVANT.
We start off with just the male singer, who I am going to associate with Victor. He is alone, feeling abandoned, and sees an equally upset individual (the one he is singing the song to/with, who I am going to say is Yuuri). “I hear a voice crying far away” “Have you been abandoned as well?” The first time Victor notices Yuuri (and commits him to memory) is after the medal ceremony at the GPF. He sees Yuuri obviously upset. It’s easy to see how he could have made a connection to himself in him.
“Come now, let’s empty this glass of wine soon” can easily be a reference to the banquet. Equally as important for setting a timeline are the next two lines.
“I’ll start getting ready” “Now be silent.” There was a 3 month space after the GPF banquet in which Victor was mulling over the prospect of moving to be with Yuuri (whether that’s in the capacity of a coach or otherwise isn’t important). The second line can easily be Victor just asking for the space to think through his decision.
Then we get the main lines. It’s very important to note that these lines are sung TOGETHER. “Stay close to me” “Don’t go” “I’m afraid of losing you”. All of these lines apply to both of them. Also, they both skated to the song who’s name is both the title and the first line of this section, Stay Close to Me. This is what brought them together.
The next lines are interesting. “Your hands” and “My hands” are sung by Victor while “your legs” and “my legs” are sung by Yuuri. Why is it that way when they could have assigned each person to 1 viewpoint? I believe it’s because of the coach/skater dynamic they have. Victor uses his hands to mould Yuuri (coach him) and Yuuri uses his feet to communicate back (his skating).
The next 2 lines are sung together. “The heartbeats” “Are fusing together”. Victor and Yuuri are becoming one in their desires, from all levels; their careers, their relationship, their roles. They really are fusing their hearts together.
Then the last section. “Let’s leave together” is sung by Yuuri. Yuuri is asking Victor to be with him, he is taking the lead, holding out his hand like at the end of his free skate, and showing Victor the way. And Victor responds with “I’m ready”. Together they leave “Now”.
To add a couple last notes to this analysis, it’s been shown throughout the series that piano is Yuuri’s instrument and violin is Victor’s. The first time we heard Aria it was a large mixture of instruments, mostly strings. Very much Victor’s song. But this time it’s ONLY piano and violin. It’s definitely playing towards their musical motifs.
And last tiny comment: does the first note of the duet sound familiar? It’s the second last note from the ep 9 airport reunion scene. Do with that what you will.
I’ve already written meta about why I think Victor and Yuuri are canonical endgame. I wrote that post after Episode 9 aired, and it predicts what’s probably going to happen in Episode 12. In summary: Yuuri is going to let Victor go out of love, and Victor is going to stay with him out of love. I’m not stressed about that. Those boys love each other.
Victor and Yuuri are not what upset me about Episode 11.
This is what broke my heart.
Like I am really upset because…
Yuuri has already been through this.
Yuuri has already sat in the kiss and cry in this defeated pose.
And now we have…
The same defeat is written all over him. (With Celestino standing there, no less.)
And all he did was touch the ice once.
I still believe Yuuri will win that gold medal. Because remember, at the Cup of China, Phichit was in 4th place after his SP but won gold after the FS.
But if Yuuri doesn’t win? I don’t know. I’m going to be very disappointed.
I understand there’s still a good story that can be told there if he doesn’t win. That’s more of a “real life” story. But this entire anime has been rife with fairy tale symbolism.
Why shouldn’t Yuuri get the picture perfect happy ending he deserves? Why can’t he win both love and first place? Why can’t he fulfill his own personal goals and dreams and also validate Victor’s decision to become his coach at the same time?
If he doesn’t win gold, my heart is going to break for him.
Nothing but My Aching Soul 