Is Yuri on Ice actually gay or queerbait?
Most likely queerbait
33.1%
732
Probably turn out gay
66.9%
1,481
2,213 votes
Lyrel said: Victor comes from russia they are generally really touchy with anyone their consider their friends, in the first episode he also kissed yakov on the cheek but nobody ships that... This is frankly ignorant of Russian habits, thinking Victor is an example when you have many Russian characters in the same show who are certainly not stripping naked in a restaurant or hugging and showing open affection. Yakov doesn't, since you bring him up. Contact between two members of the same gender in Russia, specially men, is limited to loose hugs and the occasional cheek kiss. Victor would pass as a gay man in Russia, in the real world. Victor's expressive but only to a man who he considered a father and Yuuri. He hasn't show this attention to anyone else if you noticed. And no, kiss cheek isn't a romantic gesture and wasn't framed like that, but the body language he uses with Yuuri is framed like that, and it's not even subtext to wink toward the audience when people around them are assuming they have something going on. |
| I'm not a fan of these types of series but Yuri On Ice is fantastic. |
| I was expecting it to be no more homoerotic than any other sports series, but they really keep upping the subtext levels. However I think an ambiguous ending is the best you can hope for in terms of confirmation. |
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| Probably queerbaiting since it's Japan. |
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| This series makes Kuroko and Free look like perpendicular lines, I swear. Still enjoying the hell out of it, though. |
  behind these hills i'm reaching for the heights  |
minamis said: My vote is on queerbait. I'll eat all my socks if it goes actually gay. Do I have to eat my socks now |
minamis said: minamis said: My vote is on queerbait. I'll eat all my socks if it goes actually gay. Do I have to eat my socks now At least you didn't specify if it had to be clean or dirty |
| I was right! It's actually gay! No more queerbaiting. |
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| I hate to be this person, but it looked more like a hug to me? Even though I still think YOI is actually gay and have will probs some kind of 'canon' ending, I still think this is up for interpretation. Honestly, the way they're messing with the viewer, kind of reminds me of No.6 (even tho they had an explicit kiss, I think it was in episode 7 as well). Which is probably why I guess Victor and Yuuri will end up together. Don't get me wrong, the scene made me rlly happy and I want to believe they actually kissed, but as for now, it's still up for interpretation imo |
| I think the show only uses gay fanservice. Yuri looks up to Viktor as an ice skater. Anyone would panic if the person they've idolized all their lives suddenly showed up in front of their house and became their coach. The naked bath scenes, some 'love' hints, and Yuri's dance for Viktor as a seductress in the third episode are a bit too much for a straight atmosphere, but I don't think they are gay. P.S. Only watched 4 episodes so far (English dub), now that I had a look at earlier posts, I guess something happened between the two? Oh well, anyway ^_^ |
karineynNov 16, 2016 12:13 PM
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| Well, crap.. I've only watched 3 episodes in, and judging by peoples comments on the latest episode, one of my nightmares came true :C I'm saddened. But then again I will wait until next week to see if its really true, or more bait. |
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| I think it was absolutely a kiss - but I see where you're coming from (Victor's arm is a bit in the way). The frames leading up to it and after it make it much less ambiguous - Victor and Yuuri are blushing face to face right before the kiss with their lips accentuated; afterwards when they fall on the ice Victor literally cushioned Yuuri's head with his hand so he wouldn't get hurt. The look they give each other is so loving that I'm honestly in shock - this is such a great development and healthy relationship??? I will be watching the episode later tonight but apparently Yuuri tells Victor "Stay by my side and never leave me!" moments before they kiss. In the previous episode(s) Yuuri literally named his feelings for Victor "love." If this were a straight couple I don't think there would be any question about it. I believe this is a rare moment for anime. I don't think its queerbaiting anymore. This is a mutual relationship and as a member of the LGBTQ community I'm excited to see where it goes from here (it's not even the season finale!!) as it continues making history |
| Someone please tell me why this show hasn't been labeled as a shounen-ai yet because i've seen shounen-ai that was much less clear than this |
| I will wait with a comment on this matter until I watched the episode myself. |
sunflowersnail said: Someone please tell me why this show hasn't been labeled as a shounen-ai yet because i've seen shounen-ai that was much less clear than this Because it's not? Shounen Ai is a romance show. That's like labelling "romance" to a show about sci fi or sports because main dude hooks up with some girl. It's not romance. It's a sports show which happens to feature a gay relationship. |
sunflowersnail said: Because in shounen-ai shows are romance with a gay couple. This isn't romance and just because it has two guys kissing doesn't make the show a romance show. Just look at No.6. It has two kiss scenes between males but it isn't shounen-ai because that's not the main point of the show.Someone please tell me why this show hasn't been labeled as a shounen-ai yet because i've seen shounen-ai that was much less clear than this |
Thess said: sunflowersnail said: Someone please tell me why this show hasn't been labeled as a shounen-ai yet because i've seen shounen-ai that was much less clear than this Because it's not? Shounen Ai is a romance show. That's like labelling "romance" to a show about sci fi or sports because main dude hooks up with some girl. It's not romance. It's a sports show which happens to feature a gay relationship. I wasn't arguing for the original "sports" label to be removed - of course its a sports anime. However, shows can be listed under various different genres. I think it's important to be listed under both because it can be difficult to find shounen-ai/ depictions of positive possibly queer relationships without searching for it under that tag (For example, it was hard to find out about No.6 since its not under that tag). In addition, its rare to find a show with shounen-ai elements that doesn't rely on unhealthy tropes (like sexual assault and transphobia/homophobia) so this one really stands out. It also stands out because it IS a sports show which happens to feature a gay relationship, like you said. Other sci fi and sports anime where main characters are together may also be labeled as romance, it just depends on how prominent it is in the story itself. I just looked up the tags for popular sports/scifi anime and it seems less common than I thought I thought it was... but it is definitely more common when the anime is shorter. |
| see episode 7 and you'll know ;) |
Raina- said: sunflowersnail said: Because in shounen-ai shows are romance with a gay couple. This isn't romance and just because it has two guys kissing doesn't make the show a romance show. Just look at No.6. It has two kiss scenes between males but it isn't shounen-ai because that's not the main point of the show.Someone please tell me why this show hasn't been labeled as a shounen-ai yet because i've seen shounen-ai that was much less clear than this I may be wrong on this but I don't think something has to be "just" shounen-ai for it to have that label. "Romance" genre anime with straight characters doesnt have to be just about those characters falling in love - it doesnt have to be the whole point of the show. Rurouni Kenshin, a show about history and swords and betrayal etc has barely any romance but its still tagged as such because it involves Kenshin, the main character. Shounen-ai encompasses anime that have a theme of a relationship (or strong affection, not usually sexual) between two boys or men. They don't have to self identify as gay, nor do they have to be in a firm relationship. It doesnt have to be just about the relationship. Romance or romantic tendency is strongly hinted at or clearly shown, but usually nothing more than that (sexual themes are usually just present in yaoi) No.6 is not labeled as shounen-ai but its not just "two kiss scenes between males" - its two kisses with the protagonists of the show where the protagonists themselves have a clear and canon interest in each other (in the books, manga, and anime). It is important (and I think it should be tagged as one) but its not the whole story. And that's completely okay. If this was two side characters in Yuri on Ice kissing I would not be saying this - but even without the kiss the bond between Victor and Yuuri is strong enough and the attraction present enough (in my opinion) to be considered a main theme to the show. Victor and Yuuri learn from each other and grow together - without their interactions, all we would have is ice skating. And Yuri on Ice is not just about ice skating (compare to shows that Are mainly about the sport like Prince of Tennis). I wouldn't just put any close male characters into the shounen ai category. I wouldnt even put two close male main characters into the shounen ai category just for the sake of doing so. But I would say Victor and Yuuri's closeness has broken expectations of heterosexuality, and their reactions to each other cannot be explained away as "just friendship" (Victor/Yuuri dont treat anyone else in the show the same way). We will see if their relationship becomes clearer as the show progresses. |
| Japan is pretty homophobic, and they don't think that homosexual relationships are sustainable or even a real thing. As far as most Japanese think, it's literally just substance to get women wet, and nothing more than that. But I'm hiping it'll take a similar direction to Lyrical Nanoha, with Fate and Nanoha having a lot of gayness between them, but it never being openly stated. It's obvious they're a lesbian couple, but the anime never states it so it doesn't get homophobes into a knot. A relationship doesn't need a clear cut out statement, unless you're appealing a extreme minority of disabled people. People are still extraordinarily homophobic about fiction. Gay ships are always dismissed, and so such. |
 [/url]Seven-Coloured Puppeteer. |
| I don't know if I'm being too hard on myself for not accepting it but I still think it's just queerbait?????? I mean, the "I COULD ONLY THINK ABOUT THIS TO SURPRISE YOU MORE"........ and stuff............. I mean. There's hugs. And teasing. And kisses. And is doki doki BUT.................. I'M STILL CONFUSED. Maybe I'm just scared to admit it's and get disappointed at the end? HELP ME. |
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Lypse said: I hate to be this person, but it looked more like a hug to me? Even though I still think YOI is actually gay and have will probs some kind of 'canon' ending, I still think this is up for interpretation. Honestly, the way they're messing with the viewer, kind of reminds me of No.6 (even tho they had an explicit kiss, I think it was in episode 7 as well). Which is probably why I guess Victor and Yuuri will end up together. Don't get me wrong, the scene made me rlly happy and I want to believe they actually kissed, but as for now, it's still up for interpretation imo They kissed. Well, they didn't show it, but the fact that Victor said it was the only think he could think of to surprise Yuri... A hug wouldn't do this, y'know? Plus the focus on the lips after the kiss Plus KJRWWF09RIWFDSC-PF it was a kiss for sure |
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| fuck it. FUCK IT. THIS IS GAY. THE WAY YURI IS WONDERING WHAT VICTOR IS THINKING THE WAY THEY RUN TO EACH OTHER THE WAY THEY KISS/HUG THE WAY THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER....................... THIS IS GAY I TREAT NO FRIEND LIKE THAT OMG JAPAN. OMG. OGMOIEGV899RWEUDF0SCXI-´PÇRWF~DCX i'm not okay |
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PinkSheep said: Idk he actually didn't act like he disliked it It felt pretty gay to me It just feels like it should be canon if they're going to go this far I think I need them to actually say I LOVE YOU to each other and kiss and get married so I can actually believe it. Maybe even if it happen I'm still gonna be like "But... But... Is it for real?" This episode was really emotional though. Loved their moments together and Yuri's performance. |
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| At this point they don't even have to express it physically so it could count as being gay. They are emotionally bound as fuck to each other. |
 if this isn't gay then i don't know what anymore this has to be the healthiest relationship i've ever seen. where can i find one. how to achieve mutual relationship goals please. who can look at me the way victuuri looks at each other. the world may never know. in the end, if it's all queerbait, i'll be really sad actually just because lgbtq relationships shouldn't always be a joke and masked (or more like excused for) in the "comedy" genre. |
cottonpieNov 16, 2016 3:24 PM
Saffron_entity said: Japan is pretty homophobic, and they don't think that homosexual relationships are sustainable or even a real thing. As far as most Japanese think, it's literally just substance to get women wet, and nothing more than that. But I'm hiping it'll take a similar direction to Lyrical Nanoha, with Fate and Nanoha having a lot of gayness between them, but it never being openly stated. It's obvious they're a lesbian couple, but the anime never states it so it doesn't get homophobes into a knot. A relationship doesn't need a clear cut out statement, unless you're appealing a extreme minority of disabled people. People are still extraordinarily homophobic about fiction. Gay ships are always dismissed, and so such. I see what you mean and I hope you're wrong, but so far that's exactly what we've got : it's always more "obviously" gay (no bait) but not officially stated. There are still 5 episodes to prove you wrong though. Will the final tone of this show be the hypocritical one, the same denial as society? We'll see. I'm looking forward. |
| I think it's funny how some people are denying the mutual affection between Victor and Yuuri even after episode 7. Look, they kissed. The contact was probably obscured because the scene wouldn't have been approved for broadcast otherwise, given Japan's conservative culture. If you consider the progression of their relationship so far, you can see that why it's not so surprising for them to have developed romantic feelings. Physically, they've become much more intimate and now regularly display affection for each other, even in public. Emotionally, they've affirmed each other in tough times, gained confidence from each other, called each other out on their slip-ups, and allowed themselves to open up and be vulnerable around each other. This kind of character development is rare, and it's what distinguishes Yuri on Ice from shows that rely completely on fanservice. |
 ... Clearly, duh. |
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sunflowersnail said: In addition, its rare to find a show with shounen-ai elements that doesn't rely on unhealthy tropes (like sexual assault and transphobia/homophobia) so this one really stands out. It also stands out because it IS a sports show which happens to feature a gay relationship, like you said. Other sci fi and sports anime where main characters are together may also be labeled as romance, it just depends on how prominent it is in the story itself. I just looked up the tags for popular sports/scifi anime and it seems less common than I thought I thought it was... but it is definitely more common when the anime is shorter. I'm not sure if it can be labeled on the typical romance angle, because I saw their relationship as integral of Yuuri becoming a 'man' sort of thing in a coming of age narrative for his career. His skating is tied with his failure of success of his life, specially his intimacy and romantic life as he opts with seduction and erotic themes. Viktor was established as the most desirable person in his world (the ice skating one). Men and women are showed fainting because of his appeal and there's the theme of people jealous between Yuuri took Viktor away. He was desired in all aspects, or he wouldn't have been declared as the world most sought bachelor. This is why LOL IT'S JUST BROMANCE doesn't work. Show has been pointing out Yuuri's failure was his inability to have a lover, not his inability to have friends or a coach. He already had those. |
ThessNov 16, 2016 4:10 PM
| I'm REALLY GLAD I was wrong lmao |
| Well, there was also Ookiku Furikabutte, and that show managed to include a lot of shounen ai, without really disproving it. Hell, it seemed to even support it. Than again, the writer was a BL fan, and seemed to have a fair grasp on reality. There was also Lyrical Nanoha... Revolutionary Girl Utena included homosexual representation, while also showing its more sexual side too. In general, I feel like Lesbians get fairer representation than gay men. Gay men just feel like (and almost exclusively are) sexual fantasies for women. I really doubt many women, even outside of Japan, view or accept gay men as anything more than sexual objects. I've met an alarming amount of women who actually thought men on men rape was genuinely romantic and fine. I wouldn't be surprised that only the western world is asking for this to be only queerbaiting. Ever notice how official gay couples are rarely popular in Japan? What most Japanese yaoi fans want are fanfic material, not an official couple. Yuri on Ice, is unfortunately following that to a T here. |
| [/url] Seven-Coloured Puppeteer. |
cottonpie said: if this isn't gay then i don't know what anymore this has to be the healthiest relationship i've ever seen. where can i find one. how to achieve mutual relationship goals please. who can look at me the way victuuri looks at each other. the world may never know. in the end, if it's all queerbait, i'll be really sad actually just because lgbtq relationships shouldn't always be a joke and masked (or more like excused for) in the "comedy" genre. I really really really really hope that's the case. Like, seriously. I didn't want to watch YoI because I thought it would be just another queerbait, but as some people said here, their relationship is so healthy and true. Like, they are just getting closer and closer to each other... And Yuri can be himself when he's with Victor and and and ;;. I want more stuff like that. Like, actual romance. Like, LGBT couples exist and they love each other and it's not for comedy/fetish purpose. They just exist. We just exist. |
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| Oho, it's definitely not queerbait now. Episode 7 proved it damn well. |
| wow episode 7 I'm alive |
MaahHeim said: I really really really really hope that's the case. Like, seriously. I didn't want to watch YoI because I thought it would be just another queerbait, but as some people said here, their relationship is so healthy and true. Like, they are just getting closer and closer to each other... And Yuri can be himself when he's with Victor and and and ;;. I want more stuff like that. Like, actual romance. Like, LGBT couples exist and they love each other and it's not for comedy/fetish purpose. They just exist. We just exist. Just my impression is that the story about a kissless virgin skater who chokes and fails in finals, and has an issue with growing intimacy with people in general or reinvent himself. And a super-star skater who has decided to be a coach who is 'missing' something in his performance (which this episode foreshadowed was love, romantic love) who is obviously shameless and casual with his 'charms' and affection but has no idea how to comfort people emotionally. They are in their 20s, so it helps. |
| Yup, it's actually gay. And not the good kind of gay. Also, I love how surprised the fandom was about the kiss between the two main characters happened. Woah, totally didn't see that coming! |
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| i still stand on my statement that this is actually featuring a gay relationship between Yuri and Viktor. i like how they're making it completely normal and how it's slowly progressing for both of them, just like any other relationship. i don't think the director would make it queerbait, she's pretty decent and i trust her. |
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MaahHeim said: cottonpie said: in the end, if it's all queerbait, i'll be really sad actually just because lgbtq relationships shouldn't always be a joke and masked (or more like excused for) in the "comedy" genre. I really really really really hope that's the case. Like, seriously. I didn't want to watch YoI because I thought it would be just another queerbait, but as some people said here, their relationship is so healthy and true. Like, they are just getting closer and closer to each other... And Yuri can be himself when he's with Victor and and and ;;. I want more stuff like that. Like, actual romance. Like, LGBT couples exist and they love each other and it's not for comedy/fetish purpose. They just exist. We just exist. You and I are just boarded on the same train of thought. It's one thing to joke about LGBTQ+ individuals but that cycle of ridiculing and taking on the burden of the comedy effect and fanservice has to stop somewhere. Otherwise, stereotypes such as being flamboyant and ready to come on to everyone and anyone become recycled. Y!!OI has very, very, strong potential to break the ice (pun intended) and normalize the fact that LGBTQ+ are human and capable of preserving honest relationships just as much as the next straight person. \_(ツ)_/ it's that simple. |
| THEY KISSED. This is prob. going to be a Shounen-ai. I'm just waiting for MAL to add the genre. At this point, it's way more than just queer bait. |
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