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 Iâve 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 Yuuriâs possible retirement. I say this because just before the hug, Victor moves his face so to us, his eyes are covered. Heâs hiding something, or trying to hide.
That smile looks sort of rueful to me as well, you know? A bit sad and bitter. Victorâs still angry that Yuuri wouldnât 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 Yuriâs. We can use his expression to figure out what Victor is communicating to him.
(Thatâs Otabek narrating, but weâll get to that in a sec)
This is the firstâand onlyâtime in the series that Victor hugs Yuri. Clearly, this is serious. I think Yuriâs face during this sequence goes from angered desperation
I think Victor is communicating to Yuri here, completely non-verbally, that heâs their last chance to keep Yuuri on the ice. As Victor said in ep10, he is not the only one to get his âL wordsâ from Yuuri. Yuuri is their motivator, their inspiration, the person who makes them strive to skate better. Yuri understands that he canât lose that.
Donât 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 thereâs no one specifically to strive to beat, whatâs 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.Â
I think he succeeds, yes?
So, to wrap up, Victor understood that he couldnât verbally convince Yuuri to stay skating; it would take skating itself to make him stay. Victor couldnât 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 wouldnât 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 Victorâs part; to essentially conspire to make his student lose, even if it wasnât sabotage. But thatâs what happened. Or, at least, what I think happened.Â
