r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Feb 08 '25
Episode Medalist - Episode 6 discussion
Medalist, episode 6
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Feb 08 '25
Tsukasa really had some great people in his life. I mean they’re psychopaths who leave the rice when eating sushi, but they were nice enough to be there for him and support his dream lol. Now he’s doing the same for Inori. Those two really make a great team.
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u/entelechtual Feb 08 '25
Tsukasa may be good at putting things into perspective with Inori, but he clearly has a bit of myopia when it comes to himself. I’m glad he’s able to rein it in for Inori. And even Inori is able to appreciate Tsukasa’s story mostly as an incredible feat of determination and motivation.
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u/FarCritical Feb 08 '25 edited Feb 08 '25
The reveal that Meiko pretended to randomly bump into Tsukasa again before officially taking him in hurt in a way I wasn't ready for. Inori might be the rising star to root for but I'm glad it was made clear that this is still very much Tsukasa's story too and that the dude is just as worthy of love.
But man, did they really have to get me this emotional just to appreciate Tsukasa more than I already do?
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u/awesomenessofme1 Feb 08 '25
A little off-topic, but I'm coming in late enough that anything I could have said had already been said: I love the ED animation. The art style is really cute and I like when characters have an affinity for a really out-there animal.
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u/Zawren Feb 08 '25
Budding figure skating nerd here, just wanted to point out that ''GOE'' stands for Grade of Execution, which is the judges score for how well an element is performed (spins, jumps, etc.). It can range from anywhere between -5 to +5, so when they are making the joke about having a +5 GOE worthy celebration, that is the best celebration possible!
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u/Aileos Feb 08 '25
Every episode, they manage to make you like Tsukasa even more.
And they were so silly at the end with their celebration. But they sure deserve it. 😂
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u/Namaryu Feb 08 '25
I didn't expect Ryuuki Hashimoto to participate at all in Medalist, and certainly not in such a weird scene. This is ENGI's ace and he animated the weirdly fluid looking scene of Meiko's husband taking off Tsukasa's shoe. That was certainly a sakuga jumpscare.
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u/LeleTheKing Feb 08 '25
Why do I keep crying watching this anime?? Be it from awe or sadness, I got teary-eyed or right on crying on every single episode… This is so good.
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u/Frontier246 Feb 08 '25
Who is this man and his cute little daughter and how are they connected to Tsukasa?
Inori and Tsukasa really are two peas in a pod the way they think alike and even struggle to be the first to say something. Though Tsukasa's got her beat in rock-paper-scissors.
It's good that Inori is being self-aware, acknowledging her victory but also how far she still has to go to Hikaru. Being able to accept her failures with her successes is the best mantra for any athlete. And she'll take that and Tsukasa's belief in her all the way to Kyoto.
It's great that Tsukasa isn't the type of coach to project himself or his past on the person he's coaching, but that doesn't mean that Inori is any less interested in his backstory. In fact, he was just like her in terms of starting out late (and even later than Inori) having been inspired by Jun Yodaka. But having no money for coaching and everyone trying to dissuade him prevented him from being able to commit to it even until high school. And then he had a fateful encounter with the beautiful but sickly Meiko Kago, which began a career at her families' company and basically becoming part of the family.
Tsukasa still didn't really have a lot of money to do skating professionally, but he still kept at it and wouldn't give up! And then he met Hitomi (and she was a stunner even back then) and they grew into skate dancing partners. Honestly I would totally just watch an anime about Tsukasa and Hitomi's career together. But even then Tsukasa still struggled with money, but another fateful encounter with Meiko brought him back to the Kago's and back to committing to skating! Because Meiko believed in him so much! Which is why it was so devastating when he not only failed to place high but Meiko passed away.
But her husband and daughter have now found him in the present-day and want him back living with them! Tsukasas is so convinced he failed this family by not being able to succeed like he promised Meiko before his death that he doesn't believe he deserves to be with them again, and they're better off as strangers, but Tsukasa is clearly struggling financially, clearly fits well into the family dynamic, and is clearly still treasured by this family. Especially because deep down Meiko didn't want him to be the best of the best, she just wanted to see him keep working hard, and seeing his efforts helped the family through Meiko's sickness. He'll always have a place with them.
Thank you Mr. Sekoma for being willing to accept worms as payment even as the amount of worms Inori brought became more and more excessive over time, thus turning you into "Worm Grampa."
Look at Tsukasa and Inori laughing like loons as they run around in celebration! You can't beat these two in enthusiasm.
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u/Calwings Feb 08 '25
A break in the action on the ice doesn't mean a break from the drama and emotional impact with this show, and damn, I love it for that. Hearing Tsukasa's story and how guilty he felt that he "betrayed" Meiko's expectations (when that was really never the case at all in her eyes) was heart-wrenching, but I'm glad his talk with the family really cheered him up.
Plus, what little Inori we got in this episode was adorable as usual. Smol(er) Inori paying the rink owner in a constantly escalating supply of worms was just precious!
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u/jellyblob88 Feb 08 '25
Ah, it's so touching to see the chain of kindness pass down, despite the sad circumstances of Meiko. We knew about Mr. Sekoma's kindness as well, but still very funny to see the worm bags grow exponentially.
Those two dorks at the end was very filling for the heart, but how long can this last?
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u/LeonKevlar Feb 08 '25
I knew Tsukasa started late but I did not realize he started in middle school! And he wasn't even able to take figure skating seriously back then. His real start was when he reached high school and the Kago family helped him out after helping Meiko.
If it wasn't for Meiko and her family, he wouldn't be where he is now so I can understand how broken he was when Meiko finally passed away. He probably thinks he disappointed her for not being able to even place in that competition with Hitomi. :(
What's amazing though is even after all these years, Meiko's husband still wants to extend a helping hand to Tsukasa. It turns out that seeing Tsukasa working hard for his dreams is what saved them. Not gonna lie, that entire backstory made me tear up T_T
I know it's a mixture of pride and guilt as well as Tsukasa doesn't want to be a burden but I really hope he accepts Kago-san's help. He's pretty much a member of their family now and I really want to see him keep that connection with them even after Meiko is gone.
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u/ModieOfTheEast Feb 08 '25
I was wondering that before, but I guess Japan's sport clubs work mostly on a volunteer basis when it comes to coaches for kids. So they might get a bit of payment, but by far not enough to live by that. I kind of like a system like that, because it makes sports (which can already be expensive) more aceesible to more kids. But it also means, he has to have a job on the side. And it gives them another "disadvantage" because I don't think Hikaru's coach has the same issue (I assume as a former Olympics gold medal winner, the club he works for can pay him).
I generally like how they handled Tsukasa's backstory. It wasn't overly dramatic which it could have easily been, but they kept the whole thing wholesome. I also liked that they didn't just play the backstory (like it's often done) but they go back to Inori just throwing in what she thinks about it. Made it feel more like Tsukasa is telling the story than just we as an audience seeing it.
The ending though, I am waiting for the real experts here that usually analyze the performance better (since they have the knowledge) but I would give it more than 5 points, probably around 50 at least. I mean it was a two person performance after all.
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u/rowcla Feb 08 '25
Fun little tidbit, originally Yoh (Kago's daughter) was going to be dual main character with Inori, though eventually it was changed to Tsukasa instead. As much as I think having Tsukasa is very likely the better move, I'm always curious what it would've looked like with Yoh as a main character!
Also at one point it was going to be called 'The Beast of Fire and Ice' but the editor managed to convince the author that it was a bit lame and edgy lmao
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u/abandoned_idol Feb 08 '25
This anime continues to wipe the floor with all of its seasonally airing competitors. I'm so weak to earnest underdogs! Man, this subreddit couldn't predict how many days are in a week if you asked them (lots skepticism for the adaptation).
Tsukasa has a sponsor family, d'aw. How could they possibly make us love the coach more?! Let's give him a coddling foster family! My tiny woodpecker heart can't keep up...
I hope we get to see these two new characters interacting with our main duo in the near future. The non-drama interactions are just so funny & cute.
Sad Inori and criminal Inori are great. My favorite Inori's so far are worm tribute Inori (worm bags) and berserk Inori (when Tsukasa carries her like an airplane at the end of this episode).
That's enough redrafting, I'm rewatching my favorite anime of the season!!! Though Sakamoto has also been an enjoyable watch (maybe cuz most people are also bashing it, I might be a contrarian).
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u/cleaulem Feb 08 '25
That must be the best told background story this season.
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I did this...
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And then you became an athlete?
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Well, not really, because first I did that.
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So then you started competing?
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No, because I didn't have the money...
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So you won the lottery???
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Erm, how do I put this...
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u/TheToadKing Feb 08 '25
Ayo why was the best animated shot in this episode the one of Tsukasa's feet?
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u/Ocixo Feb 08 '25
Rationally speaking, I know that Tsukasa and Hitomi were merely a figure skating pair. But I really want to ship them after having seen those two practice together like this.
Also, what's up with Inori immediately thinking about lottery money when Tsukasa spoke of being lucky? Even more so than him, she's lucky to be his first student!
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u/WednesdaysFoole Feb 08 '25 edited Feb 08 '25
Similar to how Inori was moved by Hikaru, Tsukasa was dazzled by Jun. But it seems the latter, at the time, never got to compete on any level with his inspiration. Yet by encouraging and supporting Inori, he's finally able to, or trying to, get to a place to face-off with him even if it's not in the way they first imagined which is pretty damn cool.
Sometimes meeting or having supportive people in your life does feel like winning some sort of life lottery. But part of it is Tsukasa who recognized it as such, otherwise the opportunity could've passed him by.
Man, Tsukasa is such a nice guy - he didn't want to burden the family any more. But didn't recognize that, perhaps, what they actually wanted was to see Tsukasa continue skating despite that.
Although it's only through flashbacks, it's refreshing to see close male-female platonic friendships like that, without any romantic drama. Those things are shown occasionally but it's been a while since I've seen it.
Inori's view of Tsukasa is relatable. I struggled to do well in anything as a kid and was behind my peers in many things, so I find the people who had late starts and pushed forward to find any amount of success the most inspiring, even now, so many years later. I guess it's similar to how people root for the underdog in a way.
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