Watched three episodes and couldn't find value in it other than tasteful gay representation and authentic figure skating. Don't fall into the demographic that can watch this for eye candy or cares about figure skating, and the characters didn't make me care about figure skating as Haikyuu does about volleyball, so I soft dropped it. Yuri on Ice is technically a sports anime, but the relationships are the backbone of the show so you can't just watch it for the sports and zone out of everything else as a spectator like you can Kuroko. I didn't find Yuri to be interesting as a person. And the way that Victor comes out of nowhere to coach him sounds like an unfair advantage the likes of which Hinata, Ippo didn't have handed to them on a silver platter.
I don't discount anime based on whether or not they have gay characters. but for selfish reasons they need to have some value beyond just the fact that they are gay. It can speak on a broader social issue, like the consequences of opposing heteronormative ideals in strict environments, be extremely funny in making fun of the situations that the characters find themselves in, have characters who are flawed and personable in some way. Didn't think YOI had any of this in the first few episodes. Wandering Son, Sakura Trick, Given are such examples that did. I think Wandering Son is one of the best anime ever because of the social commentary it provided.
They can also just be about two girls. Lot easier to get into on the surface and easier to accept fanservice of, so long as its not pushed to an extreme (Citrus). Something like Aoi Hana is by every objective measure a worse anime than Yuri on Ice. It is not even a decent adaptation of the source material. But I'd still give it a better score because the set up is easier to watch and it's a fairly straightforward drama with some convincing characters. Also has a great theme song.
Giving YOI a 5, and I accept that it could be a 10 for a lot of others
I don't discount anime based on whether or not they have gay characters. but for selfish reasons they need to have some value beyond just the fact that they are gay. It can speak on a broader social issue, like the consequences of opposing heteronormative ideals in strict environments, be extremely funny in making fun of the situations that the characters find themselves in, have characters who are flawed and personable in some way. Didn't think YOI had any of this in the first few episodes. Wandering Son, Sakura Trick, Given are such examples that did. I think Wandering Son is one of the best anime ever because of the social commentary it provided.
They can also just be about two girls. Lot easier to get into on the surface and easier to accept fanservice of, so long as its not pushed to an extreme (Citrus). Something like Aoi Hana is by every objective measure a worse anime than Yuri on Ice. It is not even a decent adaptation of the source material. But I'd still give it a better score because the set up is easier to watch and it's a fairly straightforward drama with some convincing characters. Also has a great theme song.
Giving YOI a 5, and I accept that it could be a 10 for a lot of others
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