Now, this post isn’t to argue for or against homosexuality. It’s to explain a culture that many may not understand.
I watched Yuri on Ice not for the pretty boys, but because it reminded me of my days as a competitive acrobat. My sport was called acrobatic gymnastics. Acro for short. Watching Yuri during competitions reminded me so much of myself before I competed. Like Yuri, I was nervous and doubted myself. I cried a lot. But I learned a lot, and like over the season of a television show, I grew as a person over each competitive season.
I made a lot of amazing relationships. Acrobat to acrobat relationships, and coach to athlete relationships. I had a couple coaches over the years, but none of them affected me so much as my coach Christina. Yes, she yelled a lot, but she loved gymnastics with her whole heart. She coached and competed at the same time which is pretty amazing. I even choose my pen name after her. Teresa was my Sensei, Christina was my acro coach. My relationship with Christina is a lot like Yuri’s relationship with Victor. Think of the exchanging of rings between Yuri and Victor like me taking on Christina’s name for my pen name.
I started competing in the fifth grade. I was a young girl. My coach was a college student, so of course I idolized her! She was talented, beautiful, and well, older! I wanted to be just like her. Yuri idolized Victor and longed to be like him. Don’t mistake this longing for desire. This coach athlete relationship was manipulated by the show to make it seam like the kind of love an athlete has for his/her coach is desire, not admiration.
The culture of competition in sports that are more elegant then other sports is… a lot more, how do I say this… sexual. I’m a girl, but being a middle scholar in a gym with other sweaty middle school students taught me a lot about, the kinds of things that we save for marriage. In the gymnastics culture, being a little more loose with your body is more acceptable then let’s say, in the Christian culture. In acro, you are basically throwing your body on top of other bodies and trusting they’ll hold you. I’m not surprised at all that Yuri and Victor did “couples” skating at the end of the season. They got to dance together!
What I loved about acro was that I got to dance with my closest friends. I got to be close emotionally and physically to those most important to me. In the performance culture, everything is a performance, Everyone is always watching, judging you. So everything you do is to show off. So of course you get a bit flamboyant.
Yuri on ice manipulated a culture that is a bit more feminine and made it seam like everyone in the show is a homosexual. I’m sure there are a lot of homosexuals in that world, but not everyone is gay just because they like to shake their bodies a bit.
Can you tell I’m frustrated?
Sex is not something to be afraid of, but it’s not ok to make fun of sex by making characters that put a foot in that direction but never take a step. It is especially not ok to use a culture to prove a point that does not exist. Victor and Yuri were never into each other like that. They wanted you to think that, but if you look at it objectively, you can see that everything Victor and Yuri did with each other was totally normal for the culture they live in.
Yuri on ice took the performance culture out of context. They lied about the types of relationships that exist in that world. I did enjoy the show because it brought back good memories, but I was frustrated with how they tampered with the beauty of the coach athlete relationship.
What do you think? Are they gay or not? How did you like the show?
Otaku in My Veins 
This is my major problem with sports anime in general. It’s so obvious that not everyone would be gay but for fanservice reasons they make everyone seem that way and it’s always so frustrating when you just want to watch a show.
That being said, I agree with you. I really enjoyed Victor and Yuri’s relationship early on in the series, when they didn’t have all of the homosexual overtones. But when they went in the Yuri loves Victor, and vice versa direction I was just like hrmm…ok, they had no signs of being more than really close friends. I hate when two men can’t be close and not been seen as gay, though, that’s a major pet peeve of mine.
So yeah, totally agree with you. I love the show, but the “romantic” direction it went in the second half was bothersome. Great post.
It was a great show, but it also drove me crazy! XD They’re just friends people, calm down!
Just friends? They literally kissed in episode 7.
Many people tend to suspect man whom are close friends are gay. I don’t know about two girls who are close friends. Are they also been called lesbians by majority also?
Good point!
That isn’t what’s happening here.
What are you talking about? There are 12 episodes, and by the second one Victor is tenderly feeling Yuris face in a loose robe and leaning in super close. Imagine if a person of the opposite sex did that to you. Would you really assume they just wanted to be close friends?
What would be proof of a gay romance? What would two men acting as a couple look like to you?
Also what do you mean they read as close friends? Yuri meets victor in the end of episode 1, meaning they were practically strangers to one another in early parts of the show. They weren’t even friends in the first place, let alone really close friends.
Also two men CAN be close friends and not be seen as gay. If a man and a woman walk down the street together as friends, they’ll probably be mistaken for a couple at some point. If they’re having a meal together they’ll be assumed to be on a date. Two men walking down the street will never be assumed a couple even unless they’re doing something to make it unambiguous they are, like holding hands or wearing a couple shirt. And if you assume two men are on a date with no evidence, you’re seen as the weird one.
Also, would you ever feel possessed to say all this about people assuming a man and a woman are a couple?
I’ve recently seen Prince of Stride: Alternative, and I agree that these kind of coach-athlete relationships are being mistaken for homosexuality. I’ve not personally experienced the same things you had with Christina, but I was able to look from an outside perspective and see how the characters were nothing more than close teammates. I’m glad that you were able to see the same thing for Yuri On Ice and I might give it a watch sometime!
I loved and hated Yuri. It was a weird situation.
… I don’t recall homo moments in PrinStride, what? O.o
No homosexual moments, but times where it could be interpreted that way. Obviously not as bad as Yuri On Ice, but somewhat if you assumed.
anime likes to play that game… to be gay or not to be gay?
I didn’t give your blogger name a whole lot of thought until now. It’s cool to recall a teacher that you liked so much that they inspired you even now.
Thanks! I put a lot of thought into my pen name 🙂
As someone who never saw Yuuri and Victor as a couple, I was also pretty disappointed that they never fleshed out the Student-Coach relationship. I thought they did a good job starting off, but then made it all about the romance due to pandering. And that’s when the series became dull to me. Nice to know about your experiences with the subject.
They had a wonderful opportunity but they threw it away. Maybe next season will be better 🙂
The series has one season of 12 episodes. Everything that happened in the show so far was planned before the show aired.
The character of Victor is literally introduced butt-naked and winking at the hero. This show was always supposed to be gay, it’s not pandering.
I like your post!Well, besides the Victuuri screen time, I believe they did a good job portraying the relationship between Victor and his old coach.
I agree that there is a lot of influence placed by a coach, I can remember my cheerleading (not the pom pom kind but the toss in the air and pray they catch you kind) coaches and they had a massive influence on all of us. Some had a closer relationship with them than others. So I fully understand what you are saying. However I think Yuri and Victor’s relationship was more than student and coach but less than lovers, if you get what I mean? It seemed as if it could develop into more of a romantic relationship or remain as really close friends as well as coach and student. Although the fan base does taint the relationship more than the actual show itself does.
Your right. There are a ton of ways you can interpret their relationship. Their situation is flexible enough to fit into anyones preference, which makes the anime community happy 😛
I dedicated much of the effort of my Sola Scirptura Christian Liberty blog to explaining that Homosexuality isn’t a sin.
Yuri on Ice is obviously about a Gay Romance, but like much Yaoi and Yuri it wants to cling to plausible deniability and that was part of the point of them using a sport like this, so people can cling to that. But it still remains obvious to me that they are gay, just as there was obviously something between David and Johnathon.
I think it’s all about interpretation. Everyone is free to have their opinion, and I’m glad you felt safe enough to post yours on my blog! I believe that the bible is very clear on homosexuality, in both the old Testament and the New. But don’t listen to what I have to say, read the verses for yourself.
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.” Leviticus 18:22
If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves. Lev 20:13
“That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.” Romans 1:26-27
What makes you think David and Jonathan were gay? I don’t think there is any solid evidence they were, but I’d love to hear your point of view.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I hope to see you around! 🙂
“As with a Woman” is a Qualifying statement. It is applicable to Anal Sex at the most.
Romans 1:18 to the end is a rant Paul is giving Rhetorical, laying out the views he spends the rest of the Epistle refuting. Regardless of that what is alluded to there is the same as the Leviticus verses.
I don’t know if Yuri or Victor are gay or not, but I do like to believe that they have more than a mentor-athlete relationship. Sure, the anime doesn’t expressly say that they’re romantically involved but the generous fan service can be interpreted in this way. The only hints pointing to this direction that fans can hope is to look out for breadcrumbs Kubo-sensei throws on her Twitter and interviews. She said that Victor and Yuri don’t want to be apart and that they’re soul mates. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they’re lovers. They can just be the most closest friends, but of course, as fans hoping for romance between them, we like to believe that they’re romantically involved. Whether they’re gay or not, I don’t really care personally. It’s not really an issue for me. What I like to see is the strong passion and the love between two human beings. Good post, even if I don’t 100% agree with it. Keep it up. Cheers!
Thanks for the comment. It is very obvious that they are true friends. And that is wonderful to see! I would love to see a season two!
They kissed each other. Everything about the scene was made to make it clear they kissed without showing it, and the writer confirmed it to be a kiss later.
This show is so cheesy that one clearly sees it didn’t come form the mind if a homosexual author because that is not how gay guys are nor how we experience love and sex at all. Eros and agape, that was really ridiculous. Forcing feminine and masculine dynamics is also soemthign we don’t desire to have ina relationship with a man.
I regularly read women claiming how progressive and realistic Yuri on ice is when it comes to homosexuality. As a homosexual guy myself I can tell you this show is far away from being realistic or representative of our nature as men who love men.
The show wasn’t about accurate portrayal, it was basically all fan service, give the customers what they want.
As a gay man, I didn’t see a masculine or feminine dynamic. Is victor the feminine one or Yuri? There is a case for both basically.
Also I haven’t really been in love, in what way is this inaccurate to how gay men fall in love?
UMMMMMM no, they’re definitely a couple! They kissed on the lips live on international television at the China Cup. and the even show that they became a couple they showed them doing a couple skate at the end, which yes I know that not all pairs in couple skating are in a relationship. BUT I think it was pretty obvious that the writers of the show were trying to show a blossoming relationship throughout the season.
Agreed. I dont understand how many people are just as dense. They literally exchange rings and got engaged.
I literally saw this as a romance thing as early as episode 2 when Victor started feeling Yuri’s chin. If Victor was a woman nobody would be doubting it. Especially when they have a sexually suggestive naked dance scene.
I support 100% what you write here. It is not a gay relationship but a close one between coach and student.
They literally kiss. And victor literally asks Yuri to seduce him.
Even if you don’t think they’re a couple, you can’t deny that victor is gay. He’s so obviously horny for Yuri, even whistling suggestively at him during his sexy performance.
You blind? Close friends just dont go exchange gold wedding rings..
Well they do, but they don’t put them on each others fingers intimately in a large empty space and blush about it like Victor and Yuri.
They’re literally canonically gay .I can’t see how people would think that their relationship is only platonic . agape and Eros is meant as a reflection of victor and yuri’s feelings for each other. They kiss on live television. Exchange rings in front of a CHURCH and victor says that they’re engagement rings . There are parallels between victor and a real person who was gay and also in the ice skating world. Victor asked yuri on the beach what he wanted and one of his first assumptions AND things he was willing to give/be was yuri’s boyfriend . It is very subtle but it doesn’t have to be overt to real. Most people don’t have super overt relationships. Many of the male skaters are obviously hinted at being gay and it’s very clear from the start that victor is very comfortable with his sexuality . This is why when they are out all out eating before the comp the people around clapped when one of the friends announced their marriage. Nobody was surprised at them being together they were surprised by them possibly solidifying their relationship that way. To each their own but yuri on ice is so gay that I can’t see how people couldn’t see it . Ambiguity is what stops it from being pulled from television but there are many parallels and obvious hints that suggest a relationship beyond coach and student .
I know I’m late replying to this, but here’s my two cents:
It may be normal to have a close teacher/student relationship, but in what world is it considered “normal” for a coach to caress a student’s lips, hug them from behind, touch foreheads, hold their face, rub their neck, hold their hand, and meet them (in person) by hanging out naked in a hot spring? There is nothing normal about Yuri and Victor’s relationship, at least not in Victor’s eyes.
What if Victor was a woman? Would they still see her as just really close and intimate but not romantic about it?
I understand this is an old post but it really bugs me. Yuri and Victor are meant to be in love and if you couldn’t see that you might’ve watched the show with your eyes closed. I don’t believe close friends just exchange gold rings, kiss, and act in a manor towards each other that Yuri and Victor did. It was also confirmed by the creators of the show that it wasn’t at first planned but as they were making it they decided that Yuri and Victor should be heavily hinted towards being in love with each other because they just have that vibe. They are quite literally confirmed by the creators.
I just have to ask these people what a romantic moment looks like to them. Because there are plenty of explicit romantic subplots that are literally less obvious than Yuri and Victor.
Teen titans has a romance so understated that it felt one sided most of the time. Like, I seriously felt like Robin was just really close friends with Starfire for the first 3 seasons even though I knew they were supposed to be in love. Victor and Yuri felt like a blossoming romance from the very first shipteasing moment.
Like, when will it be obviously a romantic subplot exactly? If it isn’t when a character casually suggests they have a romance and the other is flustered at the idea, and it isn’t when they get as touchy feely as two people dating, and it isn’t when one asks the other to try to seduce him, and it’s not even when the story invokes the idea of them getting married with full seriousness, then when are two characters obviously falling in love then?
It’s sad, because straight romances will be seen as obviously present as soon as the two at each other dramatically and blush, and nobody ever questions that.