I've read a few of your analyses of the characters and scenes and I find them so interesting! Anyway, I was rewatching the last episode and was wondering what you thought about the scene after Yuuri's FS when Victor informs Yakov that he's coming back and then hugs Yuri. (Your thoughts on the hug specifically). Thank you!
Aw, thank you! I certainly try.
And I’ve always found moments between Victor and Yuri to be a bit difficult to understand. They seem to talk partially in words and partially through looks and actions. That makes interpreting it far more complicated, but I love an analyses challenge.
I think the hug was partially Victor trying to hide how truly upset he was with Yuuri’s possible retirement. I say this because just before the hug, Victor moves his face so to us, his eyes are covered. He’s hiding something, or trying to hide.
That smile looks sort of rueful to me as well, you know? A bit sad and bitter. Victor’s still angry that Yuuri wouldn’t listen to him or his desires; Yuuri kind of ignored how Victor truly felt and rushed off with half-truths and false interpretations. I would be frustrated, too.
Also, the only face we can see during the hug is Yuri’s. We can use his expression to figure out what Victor is communicating to him.
(That’s Otabek narrating, but we’ll get to that in a sec)
This is the first–and only–time in the series that Victor hugs Yuri. Clearly, this is serious. I think Yuri’s face during this sequence goes from angered desperation
I think Victor is communicating to Yuri here, completely non-verbally, that he’s their last chance to keep Yuuri on the ice. As Victor said in ep10, he is not the only one to get his “L words” from Yuuri. Yuuri is their motivator, their inspiration, the person who makes them strive to skate better. Yuri understands that he can’t lose that.
Don’t forget what it is you want. Yuri wants to win, of course, but he wants to do it with Yuuri beside him. Yuri considers Yuuri to be his rival, and if there’s no one specifically to strive to beat, what’s the point? Victor experienced this himself, and look where it took him emotionally. They need Yuuri, on the ice and off it.
Yuri goes on to skate his FS with two goals in mind: win gold, and keep Yuuri on the ice.
I think he succeeds, yes?
So, to wrap up, Victor understood that he couldn’t verbally convince Yuuri to stay skating; it would take skating itself to make him stay. Victor couldn’t perform at the moment, so he went to Yuri, told him what was going on, and communicated how serious it was. Both Yuri and Victor knew that Yuuri wouldn’t stay if he won, so Yuri performed a routine beyond his capabilities to make Yuuri stay. And it sure as hell got to Yuuri.
This can be interpreted as kinda manipulative on Victor’s part; to essentially conspire to make his student lose, even if it wasn’t sabotage. But that’s what happened. Or, at least, what I think happened.
