Medalist Season 2 - Episode 1 discussion
*Medalist Season 2*, episode 1
**Reminder:** Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.
---
**Streams**
*None*
**Show information**
* [MyAnimeList](https://myanimelist.net/anime/61335/)
* [AniList](https://anilist.co/anime/189275)
* [AniDB](https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=19260)
* [Kitsu](https://kitsu.app/anime/49767)
* [Official Website](https://medalist-pr.com/)
---
**All discussions**
Episode|Link
:-:|:-:
1|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qlscu3)
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*This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments.*
*The original source code can be found on [GitHub](https://github.com/r-anime/holo).*
**Reminder:** Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.
---
**Streams**
*None*
**Show information**
* [MyAnimeList](https://myanimelist.net/anime/61335/)
* [AniList](https://anilist.co/anime/189275)
* [AniDB](https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=19260)
* [Kitsu](https://kitsu.app/anime/49767)
* [Official Website](https://medalist-pr.com/)
---
**All discussions**
Episode|Link
:-:|:-:
1|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qlscu3)
---
*This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments.*
*The original source code can be found on [GitHub](https://github.com/r-anime/holo).*
Commentaires
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Was really looking forward to this after two weekend of assuming "Oh boy Medalist is back" only to realize it came out a lot later than other new seasons for whatever reason.
It's nice to have Medalist back. I liked the visuals for the OP a lot. And we're heading straight for the qualifiers for the nationals!
That Hikaru scene ate all the budget, and I couldn't be happier with that decision.
Oh and the opening is *lovely.*
But the more serious notes were interesting as well. They definitely set up the importance of the event and I am excited to see if Inori can win or if that will be the first real set back (there was a smaller one in S1, but nothing major yet).
Also, poor girl having to be first. Must be really hard to begin the whole thing. And it seems she is cursed with luck in that aspect. Not just from her comment, but even in the ending, she got order number 1.
Inori’s got her work cut out for her if she wants to make it to the big leagues. I’m looking forward to seeing her compete against these other girls this season.
All the same it is not a _complete_ lie, as this is very much the same girl that said to the strongest: "Nah I'd win"
"Oh, I don't recognize the character design, but he's obviously Inori's dad."
**blazing fire**
"I love how Tsukasa sensei is acting like an embarrassed teenager in front of his spiritual-dad."
With this much comedy to lube my heart, it will zip at MACH 4 speed across the cathartic drama slide and burst into a soft paste upon impacting against a wall.
My fragile body is ready for Medalist season 2!
Inori acted like a stereotypical shonen protagonist in front of her fellow novice competitors. They were all weirded out as if saying. "*This isn't a shonen series*". Tsukasa's attitude seemed to have rubbed on her a bit too much.
Looks like she's under quite the pressure to secure a spot. Hikaru already trusted her, and it'd be a total betrayal to not live up to it.
Something like that doesn't happen too often to me so I cherish when it does. K-ON did it, and considering that's my favourite anime ever that's damn high praise
[Inori's reactions](https://imgchest.com/p/dl7p5kw9jyo) today were just as great as they were in the first season; [they're hilarious](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/bb065b04c4a1.png). The scene where [Inori decided to act like Tsukasa](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/eb18dc844f51.png) in front of [the other skaters in her group](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/8da6ddb2ad23.png), or [when she was drawing lots](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/4abd139e48c9.png) to choose when she would perform, made me laugh out loud xD
[Lots](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/f2d118fdb7c7.png) of [interesting](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/6723959662ce.png) [new characters](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/6723959662ce.png) in this new season. I love their designs; they're very colorful and fun, and I'm definitely looking forward to their performances.
Pretty good [OP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hPpXrlgncE) and [ED](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o076YrFjZsA), although they definitely didn't top the previous ones. It's a shame Kenshi Yonezu didn't return with another song for the series.
Here my screenshot albums from the episode:
* [Inori](https://imgchest.com/p/dl7p5kw9jyo)
* [Group scenes](https://imgchest.com/p/md7o5e3xl4p)
* [Other skaters](https://imgchest.com/p/na7k5dgz378)
* [Hikaru](https://imgchest.com/p/6eyr5xb2l7p)
* [Others](https://imgchest.com/p/m9yxdmbv64q)
*EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.*
Like the color palette even changes when it happens.
>I don't want to be Cindarella. I want to cast the magic
goes so hard! We know she can actually deliver on it, otherwise this would be the most Chuuni thing ever (and it's 2 years to early for her Chuuni phase)
We're back to the intense, brutal, and flashy world of young ladies' figure skating, as narrated by Inori! So many girls trying their best and trying to catch up to the beast that is Hikaru, especially Inori.
The new OP isn't a Kenshi Yonezu banger, but it IS on-brand for the show as it feels perfect and inspiring for a show about girls doing their best and skating their heart out and as beautifully as possible. Inori/Tsukasa going head-to-head with Hikaru/Jun. The sequence with Inori doing a full ice dance performance with her fellow skaters was also perfect!
Tsukasa as intense as ever in making sure he checks and reviews everything about Inori's rivals to make sure he puts together the perfect plan for her. He'll see her to success no matter what.
Oh hey, it's Hitomi! Inori's mom! And...Inori's dad, who finally gets screentime and desperately wants his daughter to win and be okay. Though watching Inori tell her dad not to embarrass her in front of Tsukasa was priceless.
Welcome to the Chubu Block Tournament Inori! Your next step in earning a spot in Novices to make it to the bigger competitions! How will she handle her nerves and greet all her rivals and fellow skaters? Why by emulating Tsukasa and being as hyper, extra, and complimentary as possible. It definitely leaves a strong impression!
And this isn't just filled with all the young contenders, but also the older girls too...like Riina Kojoh the blonde fanged girl who made it to the Olympics, Iruka the cool raven-haired beauty who is kind of confrontational, and Marika Kurione who is very sweet and almost maternal with her Ai Kayano voice.
I'm not surprised Inori would ask Riina for advice on getting the gold, especially when she's got an Olympian in front of her. Iruka may not care for such a question, but Riina is happy to give advice...even if it amounts to, if you have an opportunity, seize and capitalize on it!
Where is Hikaru? In none other than Russia where she's seemingly boosting her skills by learning to master ballet (?) in addition to her exceptional skating skills. We also learn that she was an orphan taken in by the Kamisaki family who had Jun come in and train her...and even he was transfixed by how she had so much feral and untapped energy, enough to be like him.
It's nice to see Mr. Kago be there for Tsukasa and meet Inori, and show off all his natural dad vibes. The loss of his wife still hangs over both him and Tsukasa, but he's there to support and watch Tsukasa succeed with Inori in her place.
The ED is really cute and fun, seeing all the skaters in their daily lives when they're not skating. I love that visual of Hikaru enjoying all her fancy dresses.
**blazing eyes**
...
It's not fair! I'm so jealous of more popular shows!
That said, the anime adaptation being good is more than we could ask for!
[](#shock "I need 2 cours, dammit!")
Inori channeling her inner Tsukasa to introduce herself to the other girls was hilarious.
Medalist and Torture Princess were my most anticipated series this season, so I'm happy both of them are finally here!
Still it's 3/4ths of a full season, so it's not that bad, plus we've got a guaranteed contiunation coming a year later, so it's not that bad.
Kuh!
Nooooooooo! Don't leave me!
The moment the subs had "lock in" in them I groaned.
The subtitles are outright different at times, but this is thankfully not an issue for me since I actually picked up rudimentary vocabulary from watching **so much anime**.
I can tell whenever they are different and even make out what the characters are actually saying (since the dialogue is so trivial). e.g. "She's gonna have an aneurysm." (Dakara Muki muki-tte nani?) is most likely "like I said, what do you mean by muki-muki (muscle-muscle)?
And I appreciate the dubtitles, since they feel like T/L (translator's notes) at this point. I can understand the original dialogue and even read the localizer's quips.
But don't fret, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to grokk enough vocabulary eventually.
I can't follow big words though.
Hulu version like last time I guess
Man, we've just started the season and Koichi's excitement to see Tsukasa's passion and dreams through Inori already has me feeling things.
I'm glad the animation seems to have majorly improved, it's not mind-blowing quality, but it's genuinely good now. I can't wait to see the rest, and it makes me even more excited for the movie. ENGI redemption arc is real and it's beautiful.
[](#watashiworried)
My two most anticipated shows of the season, Frieren and Medalist both got extra-short seasons I guess...I've seen 10, but 9 episodes is a new one. Not complaining as long as the quality is stable but really hope we get an S3 in 2027.
Edit : I forgot there was a movie announced for 2027, so considering I'll probably only get to watch it in 2028 I'll switch my hopes to a sequel after that.
Inori's chaotically exuberant energy made me think I was watching *Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider* for a second.
One thing I really like about this show is how they give many of the characters distinctive designs. Like Riina's diamond eyes and sharp teeth. And how the coaches and skaters sometimes mirror each other (like Hikaru's and Jun Yodaka's eyes, or Inori's and Tsukasa's eyes - which they seem to highlight in the OP).
Highly underrated series but absolutely heartwarming, I'm so glad it's back.
Inori being embarassed to meet the other skaters and then immediately performing a chain of events that makes her stand out the most is the most Inori thing ever. Declaring that you want to go to the Olympics in front of an Olympic athlete is no small feat, her image might even be in the newspaper later lol.
Second, [I was genuinely laughing my ass off at Inori channelling Tsukasa.](https://i.imgur.com/pRTyRyz.jpeg) I do love how the girls just went along with it. xD
[What a declaration from Inori.](https://i.imgur.com/e8IrTtu.jpeg) And in front of those cameras, too! Hopefully, they'll remember this day when Inori eventually competes in the Olympics.
The OP and ED were also great.
Is going on.
With that one girl's *eyes*?
> You're already Cinderella
No way this is totally a Cinderella Gray reference ! 1 ! 1 1
I was gonna say 'showing off Hikaru's wild animal childhood again' but actually is that a thing they showed in season 1 why do I have the impression of her being some sort of animal-like 'Inside me is a wolf' character I don't actually think they did that in season 1? Maybe it was just the impression I always got from her eyes.
I need 20 more episodes NOW
It's peak.... It's so peak.
Hikaru is in Russia? Was this written before 2022? I suppose that makes this a period piece...
There's another attractive female figure skater role-model / teacher / judge introduce with Riina. Shark teeth, multi-colored hair and all. Unfortunate salute though, lets skip that in the future lol...
Not only her, but I feel like the little girl characters had more "anime" character designs as well than what we saw in first season... particularly that one girl with almost demonic black eyes...
Aw... no skating. This was mostly a set up episode, but I guess it is ok to start slow and reintroduce us to the cast. I am happy to have this series back and I anticipate it will be among my top 5, maybe top 3 of the season if it matches the quality of the first season. So far so good. Both the OP and ED were good as well.
I got a little scared when Inori slipped on that ice cube, luckily, Tsukasa's "dad" came in with the clutch save.
Inori needs to be kept away from stairs at all times. I'm sure that if the girl hadn't already spilled her purple drank, Tsukasa's "dad" would've gotten knocked out saving Inori, and Inori would have poured it over his face.
Does Yuna have goat / frog eye pupils? (horizontal slits) I wonder what her spirit animal-theme is.
The entire building and the stairwell is based on the real life [Sportsland Howa](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zNcHxHYR9zAg6JGF7?g_st=ac)
Seems I wasn't the only one who found the subs weird? Apparently it's dubtitles as well? so that might be why some lines felt weird compared to what I heard.
We're so back! Can't wait to see how this all plays out for Inori. Bold of her (and also naive) to make that proclamation, though I'm not liking that older girl who squeezed her face. The other top girl (with sharp/shark teeth) seems like the real deal and can back up her claim to represent Japan again.
Amongst the younger girls, what's with that one girl's eyes? Different art style? Just doesn't seem to mesh well with the rest of the other girls stylistic wise.
When Coach Tsukasa met up with his former friend, I felt emotional too.
How I missed Inori and Tsukasa and their chaotic nervous breakdowns.
Anyhow, Inorin my goat.
Though Tsukasa's parts are always the best, loved seeing his interactions with his caretaker this ep.
Also… I forgot how Inori can be kind of a freak. But props to her trying to socialize on her own. I dig how vocal she is about her lofty goals.
Hopefully we still get to see enough of Hikaru this season. She really has such a commanding presence, and it’s a nice reminder that she’s also trying to climb even higher.
Lot of new characters but based on the ED I’m guessing we’ll get to learn a lot about all of them.