Yuri on Ice!!!: 10 Questions Fans Still Need Answers To

Originally airing in 2016, it’s been a long five years for fans of Yuri!!! on Ice. Considering the anime’s popularity and unresolved plotlines, the fandom was optimistic that a second season would soon follow (or at least be announced). The season finale’s end card even seemed to hint that the “next level” would be right around the corner, that the veritable question marks and interrobangs that sprung up over the heads of viewers would be addressed soon.

Although season two still hasn’t been officially confirmed (though the internet is rife with speculation), a prequel film, Ice Adolescence, seems to be nearing release. Due to its place chronology, however, there’s no guarantee the movie will provide the resolution fans have been anxiously awaiting.

10 Are Yuri Katsuki And Victor Nikiforov Engaged?

If Yuri’s request that Victor remains his coach until he retires—a moment Victor likens to a marriage proposal—elevated the two men’s relationship in the eyes of fans, the matching good-luck-charm rings Yuri purchased for the duo practically cemented it with the solemnity of a vow.

Phichit Chulanont, Yuri’s friend and friendly rival from Thailand, acts as a surrogate for the viewer when, upon seeing the matching rings, exclaims an excited congratulations. Victor, in typical fashion, plays to the crowd’s reaction, but Yuri bashfully insists this is a misunderstanding, though it’s reasonable to believe that season two will clarify the two’s relationship in a more overt fashion.

9 Will Yuri Win A Gold Medal?

There are myriad story beats throughout Yuri!!! on Ice‘s narrative that suggests Yuri will, eventually, win a gold medal. While many fans hoped to see his hard work come to fruition with a championship victory, Yuri’s growth was made evident with his improved self-confidence, free skate world record, and the silver medal he earned in the Grand Prix Final.

That being said, there is still progress for Yuri to be made—romantically and competitively—and it’s unlikely that any fan has forgotten Victor declaring the two would be wed once Yuri wins gold (silver medals don’t get kissed, after all).

8 Will Victor Struggle To Return To Competitive Skating?

Victor is shown as a legendary force in the world of skating from the anime’s start—even before the OP plays for the first time, Yuri is shown growing up idolizing the Russian champion. While Victor-the-coach isn’t always certain or effective in his method of communicating with Yuri, there is never a moment when his abilities as a skater are portrayed as anything less than deific.

Considering his age, taking time off, and the fact that the competition has eclipsed his previous records, a second season might introduce a Victor that would surprise everyone: a Victor who struggles to skate at the same caliber everyone has come to expect.

7 Will Aging Affect Yuri “Yurio” Plisetsky’s Abilities?

Age is a doubled-edge sword in most competitive sports: the young are fresh with potential but lack experience; the veterans have wisdom and poise but perhaps not as much ability. This dichotomy is addressed throughout Yuri!!! on Ice, but it’s a major theme in Yurio’s arc where he matures on and off the ice.

A second season might explore how Yurio will struggle and (hopefully) adapt to being older, especially since he is the reigning Grand Prix champion.

6 Can Victor Reclaim His World Records?

As a coach and choreographer, Victor must have felt joy and validation when Yurio and Yuri broke his world records in the short skate and free skate, respectively; however, as a champion and competitor, witnessing a sort of usurpation must have been painful and bittersweet.

Although his return to the competitive spotlight might be more difficult due to his age and time away, a second season would allow Victor a chance to reclaim the titles and records he lost. Watching Victor skate again will certainly inspire new drama and motivation within the main cast of characters, whether he easily returns to form or struggles as an underdog.

5 Will Yuri And Victor’s Relationship Be Altered By Competition?

Although they’ve skated as competitors in the past, Yuri never felt confident enough in his abilities to approach Victor. By the end of the first season, Yuri’s confidence in himself is at an all-time high and he has built a meaningful relationship with Victor. With his coach (and potentially his fiancé) returning to competitive skating, the duo’s dynamic will surely be altered to some degree—the degree to which that happens is yet to be seen.

Although conjecture, it’s not unbelievable that Yuri’s past difficulties interacting with the man he idolizes and Victor’s dedication to winning may create dramatic friction between the couple.

4 Will Victor’s Family Life Be Revealed?

Yuri receives immense support from his family and hometown friends throughout the anime, but there is practically no representation of Victor’s (aside from his beloved poodle, Makkachin). This is particularly strange since a portion Yuri!!! on Ice takes place in Victor’s hometown, St. Petersberg.

If Yuri and Victor’s relationship continues to progress, some information regarding Victor’s background will probably come to light, perhaps even illuminating aspects of Victor’s personality and skating career. Considering Ice Adolescence seems to follow Victor during his teenage years, fans might learn sooner rather than later in this case.

3 Will Christophe Giacometti And Jean-Jacques Leroy Finally Defeat Victor?

As two of the fiercest competitors in the show, Christophe “Chris” Giacometti and Jean-Jacques “JJ” Leroy were frustrated upon learning Victor planned to take a year off to coach; both men, constantly pushing themselves to one day defeat Victor, felt a lack of challenge and motivation.

Chris’s coach made remarks about his passivity in practice since Victor was out of the picture, and JJ claimed to have developed his choreography with the specific intention of supplanting Victor and making himself the new king of skating. Although both men ended the season having made their best effort to win gold, Victor’s return might elevate their preparation and skill to new heights as they try to score a victory over the Russian legend.

2 Will Yuri’s Home Town Prosper Or Decline?

Hasetsu, Yuri’s hometown in Japan, serves as a home base and safe space throughout the anime. It’s revealed early on that the town’s population is on the decline and many businesses are suffering or closing completely; Yuri’s family’s onsen is the only one that has remained open, the dance studio has fewer and fewer students, and the ice rink is rarely full.

After Victor causes a media storm to descend upon the town, and the Ice Castle becomes the HQ for Team Yuri, the publicity injects new business into the town. As the home of so many of Yuri’s loved ones, a second season might address the economic climate in Hasetsu.

1 Is Victor As Unshakable As It Seems?

Although the anime makes exploring the mental health of professional skaters a thematic focus, this is often explored through the perspective of Yuri or the brief inner-monologues of supporting characters.

Due to his status as a legend and his perceived distance from his competitors in terms of skill, Victor isn’t humanized in the way the rest of the cast is; even the loud and boisterous Jean-Jacques is revealed to struggle with performance anxiety and self-doubt, which he combats with his patented “JJ Style.” A second season following Victor’s return to skating would certainly reveal more of Victor’s inner life to fans, specifically whether he’s as indestructible as it appears.

About The Author

Christian Chapman
(30 Articles Published)

Christian Chapman is a writer residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. While earning his Masters of Arts in the Midwest, he primarily explored American Literature set within the 1950s-60s (specifically the Beat Generation). Christian, who has taught rhetoric at the university level and worked in-person and online as a writing tutor, is excited to bring his passion and experience to Screen Rant as a List Writer. When he isn’t working, Christian enjoys video games, running, reading, exploring note-taking systems, and, of course, watching anime.

More From Christian Chapman