One thing that struck me about Yuri on Ice today when I was rewatching Episode 6 is that everyone,even people who support Yuuri, underestimate him.
Minako and the Nishigori’s and Phichit and Celestino all support Yuuri but they’re also absolutely shocked when he succeeds
Everyone at Onsen on ice commented about how it’s a “Yuuri they’ve never seen before”
Minako and Takeshi don’t understand why Victor tells off Yuuri after the skate at regionals
Phichit and Celestino and Yurio are shocked at his high score for his short in China
Chris thinks “he’s completely different from last year” and is also shocked (and pissed off about it)
But why do I think Victor is different?
If you go back to episode 3 when Victor and Yuuri are talking after his demonstration of Eros he says clearly “You have the skills to win, why can’t you make it happen?”
And that line says a fucking lot.
It’s a line that says Victor looked at Yuuri and saw that potential. He knew Yuuri could break his record if he could just get out of his own head. He’s elated when Yuuri does well but he’s never surprised
That why he criticises him immediately after Onsen on Ice and why he’s so critical at regionals. That’s why he says “I would have thought you’d score in the hundreds” and “don’t get too down because I know you can score higher”
Victor sees him as more than capable of getting the scores he shoots for. In fact he expects it
Which is why Yuuri responds so well to his coaching
I have a feeling every coach before has made Yuuri feel like “this is your ability line firmly in average. If you go above it it’s a freak accident” unintentionally by expressing surprise at Yuuri achieving certain things
Victor treats it as inevitable and even when Yuuri does succeed Victor meets him with either “you can do better” or “I knew you could do it”
god I love this show and all these little details