Yuri on Ice – Series Review & Episode Guide

📖 How is the story?

Great story

Yuri on Ice is a simple but lovely story about an athlete training to become the best in his field. I'm personally not knowledgeable about figure skating, but the story is super easy to get into. It relies on universal themes that everybody can relate to, such as chasing after your dreams and persevering through hardships.

Yuri on Ice is full of charm. You will want to root for the two main characters, who are both immensely likable. Yuri is humble and down-to-earth, while Victor is so empathetic and supportive. They go through an emotional journey of highs and lows, the same as all professional athletes do. You’ll cheer at their achievements, feel bad about their struggles, and admire their ability to recuperate from a loss just to work even harder.

💕 How is the romance?

Implied romance

Although it is never explicitly stated, Yuri and Victor are almost universally regarded as a couple. The entire anime is about the two of them becoming closer, on both a physical and emotional level. I wish we got to see more physical affection between them. It sucks that the closest thing to a Yuri x Victor kiss is so ambiguous that it must be analyzed with arrows and a slow-mo camera. Still, there's no denying that Yuri and Victor share an intimate bond, and viewers can fill in the rest of the gaps with their imaginations.

🎨 How is the art?

Great visuals

Super impressive. I don't envy the jobs of the animation team who must do every frame of every intricate skating performance. I also love the artwork style and character designs. Everything about Yuri on Ice looks modern, polished, and sophisticated.

😎 Who's the best character?

Yuri

Victor is a very close second, but I'm gonna answer Yuri Katsuki. Just because I'm just such a sucker for the underdog and he's the epitome of that archetype. His journey of perseverance was inspiring to watch. I was rooting for him to succeed, regaining his confidence and winning the grand prize. In the finale, I'm oddly at peace with Yuri not achieving all his goals, just because it gives him something to work towards.

🍆 Is there any fanservice?

Victor's butt

Victor loves showing off his butt in the hot springs. 🍑 Every time we get a hot springs scene or a locker room scene, you can expect varying degrees of fanservice. Sometimes, the figure skaters with the more colourful personalities also love to flaunt their bodies.

🎯 Are there any triggers?

Yuri Plisetsky

The entire existence of Yuri Plisetsky is a trigger to me. I just can't warm to this disrespectful little twerp no matter how much character development he supposedly has. With that said, I understand his role in the story, and he serves as an effective counterpart to the other Yuri, so I tolerate him.

⭐ What's the best part?

International competitions

I enjoyed seeing Yuri travel around the world to compete in various skating competitions. It's fun being introduced to the other skaters (most of whom are based on real-life athletes) with their unique quirks and distinctive styles. Yuri on Ice does its best to emulate the format of a realistic skating competition. Each episode feels like we're following along an actual sports event with the same level of excitement and adrenaline.

📝 What would you change?

New content

The only thing I'd change is how long it takes them to release Yuri on Ice Season 2. I know quality takes time, but c'mon now…it has been 84 years. *taps fingers*