To those people who claim that the ambiguity is what drives the homoerotic tension of the show, I ask you as a gay person. It's pretty sad the show's entire premise is centered on Yuuri finding his sexual maturity and confidence in himself, as well as displaying his "love" of Victor to the world, however, there has NEVER been an explicit declaration of love, only outright denials and public displays of affection are either censored such that there is room of ambiguity for what it is, or veering on intense bromance. The kiss is censored, the rings are dismissed as "Onajimai you" (for good luck), and even if we were to believe that they are "engaged" at some point, the conversation between Victor and Yuuri at episode 11 and 12 was so formal, as though between a coach and his student, that it just isn't the way a fiance would speak to one another! It vacilliates between intense homo fanservice ("So Yuuri, what are you going to do to make me excited?" and outright denial of their relationship, where Yuuri insists that OURRELATIONSHIPISNOTLIKETHAT. The relationship between the two characters was never firmly established as fully canon but there were so many moments between them that comes across as queerbaiting but never realised as a full-fledged canonical couple that is settled beyond a doubt. Horrible ambiguity involved in the main M X M relationship. Now, moving on to the problems (SPOILERS INVOLVED): Common anime tropes of the possessive brother veering into romantic desire of his sister are effectively established and subverted accordingly.Ĭ) Accurate representation of anxiety and its debilitating effects onto one's psyche, projecting insecurity, doubt and unworthiness onto everything around you.ĭ) the soundtrack is well composed and suitably appropriate.Į) effective narrative turn of events in the later episodes that cast light on why certain earlier events transpired the way that they did. There are certain redeeming qualities to the show that I think deserves mention.Ī) Ethnic representation: It isn't often to see America being represented by a Latino, to see prominent cast members from Russia,ī) Proper treatment of women: Women are not objectified with melon boobs without any form of agency at all.
I am going to do my best to be entirely unbiased. So when I was drawn into the hype that YOI offers a compelling storyline which extends beyond cheap queerbaiting and homo-fanservice, I was intrigued to say the least. I write this as a gay adult man who's actually interested in proper M/M romantic representation and as someone who's jaded of queerbaiting and stereotypical heteronormative gay relationships in the shounen-ai genre.
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