#lol how much better would skaters do if only they didn't have to focus on the jumps :') i hate it here

[witchwhaat]

men sp🫡

[eight-edges]

Beijing 2022 Women's SP Top and Bottom 5 Dresses (in my opinion)

A bit of a side note: I'm not including any of the Russian girls on this. They would have been Rather Low on the ranking, but I don't want to direct any more negativity towards them. In a brief summary, I liked Kamila's dress the most of the three and Anna's the least. Okay, moving on.

Opinions below the cut:

Top 5:

1) Favorite: Wakaba Higuchi

So, the weird thing is, I don't think this would have been my favorite dress any other year. It's not even my favorite Wakaba dress, least of all my favorite dress this season (that honor would go to Mai Mihara but she's not here :\). However, from the dresses at this competition, it's the most subtle, the most elegant, and the most detailed without becoming overworked or messy.

I'll talk about this more later down the ranking, but the mock-iridescent coloring works amazingly here, much better than with Ryabova. The colors never muddy or blend together too harshly, and the whole thing is just bright enough that you can see the different colors without it being overwhelming. Also, hands down the best use of lace I have seen this season! None of the little white vines look haphazardly placed or arbitrary; they all work together to influence the shape of the bodice, accentuated by the more vibrant, dark blue stones lightly scattered throughout. The shape is not original by any means, but it's executed so well that I don't even care! Beautiful, stunning, exceptional, and it's everything that I loved about this program as a whole!

2) Kaori Sakamoto

The only reason this isn't number one for me is because I liked her first 'Gladiator' dress better, sorry. If I didn't have that one to compare it to, it would absolutely have the edge over Wakaba's dress. (It's definitely the most memorable of the bunch, by a long shot.)

However, I think this is a spectacular dress. While there are a lot of very large rhinestones (which can easily look tacky), the colors of them make them more of accents than anything. On the topic of colors, the brown-to-gold gradient is beautiful! I really like how the brown turns more red on the bust rather than going straight to yellow. And, for a Gladiator dress, I'm glad it stayed away from the realm of Costume. Even with the little arm-wrap details, it doesn't look like someone was directly copying a costume from the movie. It hits the mark of "suggestion" rather than "interpretation" in the best way possible, which is ridiculously difficult to do! It's classy, it's attentive to detail, and it accents her program beautifully!

3) Zhu Yi

Just gorgeous. The dark purple looks beautiful on her! I'm also a huge fan of the two-piece (or mimicked two-piece) dresses that have become more popular lately. The cut of the neckline is perfect. I love the subtlety of the black airbrushing contrasted to the large rhinestones, and while I'm often iffy about sleeves that go all the way to the fingers, I think it accentuated her body lines really beautifully in this case. You can't tell with an image, but the skirt with the two thigh-splits moves very nicely while she skates. It's one of those dresses that made me excited to watch her program!

4) Alysa Liu

Honestly, I might only like this dress as much as I do because of the way Alysa kicked butt with her performance (one of the only programs I bothered rewatching lol). The vibrancy of the colors matched her visible glee while she skated, and made her short program feel like a complete package. And honestly, isn't that what a costume is for? It's not the focus of the routine- it shouldn't be- but it should definitely accentuate every strength of the skater's performance! On a technical edge, I love the spiraling, wild rhinestones and the subtle airbrushing along the seams of the red and the illusion fabric. Blue was a fantastic choice for an accent color, too! I liked the look better when she wore it with bangs, but that's a nitpick at worst. The cut is nothing new, but what is done with that basic silhouette is just gorgeous!

5) Lindsay van Zundert

Less can be a lot more, guys! Not everything is about sparkles and rhinestones! Sometimes, what makes a great dress is simple attention to detail and I think this dress really exemplifies that. I do love a good black strappy dress, though, so take that as you will ;) I LOVE the use of sheer on the bodice so much; the scalloping along the deep-v neckline is actually pretty unique, and gives the whole look a very nice shape. The long, dark sleeves emphasized her body lines against the harsh white of the ice (which, again should be the purpose of a dress: to emphasize your assets!). I think the shape of the skirt is really cool, too! You can't see it from this picture, but the front comes down to two points in the middle, and has more nice detail work. Even though there's nothing in the way of color or shine, that attention was applied to creating a unique shape for a one-of-a-kind look, and, for me, it works!

Honorable Mentions: Natasha McKay (loved the colors and cut), Anastasiia Shabotova (beautiful, matched the music), Young You (very pretty and intricate), and Yelim Kim (nice shape with lovely details).

Bottom 5:

1) Least Favorite: Nicole Schott

I want to emphasize the mad respect I have for Nicole. She has been a semi-successful senior (always on the GP circuit) for as long as I've been following the sport, and she has never failed to entertain me even when the tech elements aren't there. At 25, Nicole, Mariah Bell (25) and Josefin Taljegård (26) were the oldest women in the competition! However, this dress just is not it for me. I can get behind simple, don't get me wrong, but I cannot with that cut-out. I just kept thinking about how naked I would feel wearing that in a freezing arena lol (but if she feels empowered in it, then good on her!). Aside from that, the red collar bit makes the top half (above the cut-out) look like one of those training dresses that tiny girls wear to their basic 8 classes (if you skate you know what I mean). I like the asymmetry in the skirt, though.

2) Ekaterina Ryabova

This is just a LOT. I think I like the design they were going for with the mock-iridescent colors, but in execution it's sooo busy and overworked. Straight up, too many rhinestones. Either they should have used one less color or toned down the gold rhinestones because having them all of them is wayyy too much. The colors look muddied and dull from a distance, which I think is just a consequence of having that many of them and making them so dark. The length of the sleeves is awkward, especially with the weird stripes of rhinestones on them; make them longer or take them off. The triangles of sheer, sparkly fabric along the neckline gives it evil clown vibes. I like how the skirt moves, though, it's very flowy and pretty.

3) Anastasiia Gubanova

I cannot stand straight necklines. They never look good, unless they continue into off-the-shoulder sleeves. Otherwise, just give that neckline a shape for gods sake! The cut of the skirt didn't have any flow, either, so the whole look ended up being pretty stiff. This is just a circumstance of the sport, but being surrounded by bright white ice really drowned out the detail in the bodice, too. Also not a huge fan of the tulle-like fabric lining the top or the "nude" gloves since they are darker than her skin tone and they pulled my attention away once or twice (but I always give a pass to mismatched illusion fabric since its all but impossible to find a match to your specific complexion). Again, I liked her program despite my feelings for the dress. I'm glad she did well!

4) Eva-Lotta Kiibus

(I'm sorry Eva-Lotta every still image of you looks super awkward I'm so sorry.) I know a lot of people liked this dress, and that's totally valid, but as someone who had to suffer through high-school art history classes, I cannot describe to you the immediate pavlovian rage response I had upon seeing this weird, modern-art-ish sequin thing. I'll come out and say it: I don't like sequins. Rhinestones are fine, but sequins just... never look good to me? I know people are really sticky about all skating costumes needing sparkles (I disagree), but I cannot recall a skating dress made of sequins that has ever worked imo. The colors are nice, though, and I thought her program was great! My combined sequin and modern art vitriol just got in the way of me appreciating the dress.

5) Mariah Bell

*sigh* It's just... boring? Velvet is a beautiful fabric, and I have seen many a wonderful skating outfit across disciplines (see: my second favorite Shoma outfit ever) made from velvet but there has to be something else to it! The cut of the dress is uninspired, the skirt is painfully average, and the little strand of rhinestones is accentuating nothing. Maybe she could have worked in some mesh panels or something? Had an interesting neckline? Beading? Just... something? Normally her dresses are some of my favorites! Her designer is Lisa McKinnon, and I highly recommend you check out her stuff! I almost don't want to believe that Lisa had a hand in designing this because I know she has made so much better. I can't say it's the worst though; it's too boring for me to feel that strongly about it.

Dishonorable Mention: Olga Mikutina (don't know if I love or despise it honestly, kinda kitschy).

[silverscribblesuniverse]

MORE ADHD VIKTOR HEADCANNONS!

Hey Friends! So one of the most beautiful parts of Yuri on Ice is how Yuuri’s anxiety is depicted, right? It’s a really interesting detail, which makes him a much more complex, 3-dimensional character – which in turn gives the story more emotional stakes, and makes the viewers want to root for him.

Another lovely thing about it, is that lot of viewers who have Anxiety in real life found a character that they could relate to – a strong, wonderful, precious character who achieves great things, despite his mental health issues.

SO, keeping that in mind, I’d like to share a long-held head cannon of mine (though I certainly wasn't the first to think of it) about another beloved YOI Character.  

Since October is ADHD Awareness Month, I present for your consideration: ADHD Viktor! 

(Based on my personal, real-life knowledge and experiences managing my own ADHD)

ENJOY! (it’s a VERY long post, sorry not sorry, lol) 

- Viktor has Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive Type ADHD.

[According to the DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, *which is the most recent edition, published in 2013) ADHD is broken down into three sub-types: Hyperactive Type, Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive Type and *Inattentive Type (*Previously referred to as “ADD” – or Attention Deficit Disorder without Hyperactivity).]

- He’s never been FORMALLY diagnosed though, because OBVIOUSLY talented/“gifted”/successful people can’t POSSIBLY have an Executive Functioning Disorder/Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

[*SARCASM*]

- When he was a little kid (like 4 or 5) he had SO MUCH ENERGY. TOO MUCH ENERGY. ALL THE ENERGY ALL THE TIME. He was ALWAYS talking too much and “getting into trouble” – his constant outbursts were nearly impossible for the adults in his life to handle. So, his parents/guardians enrolled him in various sports, hoping to channel some of that energy into something “more productive”.

[Hello, Hyperactive Symptoms!]

- That’s when he FELL IN LOVE with skating – it was all he ever wanted to do, all he ever wanted to think about, all he ever wanted to talk about, all he ever cared about.

[Ahh, yes, there’s that typical ADHD fixation/obsession]

- And he was good – INCREDIBLY GOOD. So he kept going; He kept getting better and better, and eventually got into Jr. Competitions, where he started winning. And then . . . he kept winning. Suddenly, everyone (especially adults) started praising him for his “dedication” and “focus” – he wasn't constantly being reprimanded for his behaviour anymore; he wasn't being told to “sit still” and “stop fidgeting” anymore.

[People with ADHD often tend to develop a very low self-esteem, because, as children, they are constantly being scolded for their behaviour (Behaviour which they cannot control, because their brains are literally wired differently).]

- But, the praise and attention was only a tiny piece of the puzzle. What REALLY mattered to Viktor was that he had found something he loved, and he was GOOD at it. He finally felt like he belonged somewhere; completely at home on the ice.

[Subconsciously, skating may have given Viktor an incredible creative outlet (People with ADHD tend to be “creative types”), while the exercise during practice may have given him an awesome boost of serotonin, endorphins and DOPAMINE (The leading theory is that ADHD is linked to/caused by an imbalance/lack of dopamine – that’s why stimulant medications can sometimes help. Exercise is also a highly encouraged lifestyle management tool for those with ADHD).]

- So, Viktor kept skating because he loved it, because he excelled at it, and soon he was the Junior World Champion. Things still weren't perfect though – Yakov always yelled at him for spacing out during practice, getting distracted during interviews, forgetting things all over the place, constantly being late (or outright forgetting commitments altogether) and just generally showing a lack of interest/care in anything that didn't involve him physically skating.

[There you are, Inattentive Symptoms; welcome to the party!]

- But like . . . it isn't Viktor’s fault that interviews are so boring. And, besides, Yakov always took care of the scheduling and stuff – if something important came up, Yakov would just remind him!

[People with undiagnosed ADHD tend to subconsciously develop their own “coping” mechanisms to counteract their symptoms – like perfectionism, avoidance, excessive procrastination, or dependency on others.]

- As an adult, Viktor made a name for himself as a figure skating LEGEND. So . . . If he was late sometimes, or distracted, or overly-emotional, it’s totally FINE – LEGENDS like himself are ALLOWED to be ECCENTRIC.

[ADHD can often go unrecognised/undiagnosed/misdiagnosed well into adulthood – especially in “gifted” individuals. ADHD symptoms are also often overlooked, as it can present comorbid with other conditions such as Depression, Anxiety, OCD, ASD (Including Aspergers Syndrome), Tourette’s, Dyslexia, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder (just to name a few).]  

- But now, Viktor’s reaching the end of his career – he’s a 5 time World Champion and . . . nothing is as easy as it once was. He has no more inspiration. He can’t surprise the audience anymore. He’s still winning . . . but it isn't fun anymore. It doesn't make him happy anymore.

[Maybe it’s because no one is good enough to challenge him, so competitions aren't interesting anymore. Or maybe it’s because he’s lonely, with no time for Life or Love . . . but part of the boredom/malaise could ALSO be the lack of DOPAMINE taking its toll. DOPAMINE is responsible for regulating the “reward centre” of the brain – people with ADHD might not feel the same “rush” as others when they achieve things – like getting good grades, being promoted or receiving an award].

- AND THEN comes the infamous banquet – where Viktor meets Katsuki Yuuri, HIS FUTURE HUSBAND AND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. Now, Viktor LOVES skating . . . but he can’t remember EVER being happier than when he was dancing with Yuuri. And sure, he’s had lovers before, but NOTHING ever felt like THIS. He is 100%, absolutely, irrevocably, unquestionably IN LOVE. IT’S ALL SO NEW AND EXCITING AND SCARY AND WONDERFUL AND YUURI IS PERFECT AND VIKTOR IS FEELING ALL THE THINGS!!!

[Another symptom of ADHD (and many other psychiatric conditions) is “Emotional Dysregulation” – people with ADHD can find it hard to control their emotions, often have rapidly shifting emotions, feel their emotions INCREDIBLY INTENSELY, and then tend to act on them impulsively. They often view problems/life in “black and white”; It’s pretty much “all or nothing” feelings-wise.]

- One thing leads to another, and suddenly Viktor has dropped EVERYTHING to fly to JAPAN to be Yuuri’s coach on a WHIM because he is overjoyed and excited and in love – AND THERE’S NO WAY THIS COULD POSSIBLY BACKFIRE! THIS IS THE BEST DECISION HE’S EVER MADE EVER.

[There’s that classic ADHD impulsivity/recklessness/risk-taking.]

- He expects Yuuri to be overjoyed to see him – they’re going to skate and talk and have “slumber parties” and fall in love! But . . . that doesn't happen. Not right away, in any case. Instead, Viktor shows up and Yuuri runs away – he doesn't want to have slumber parties and he starts avoiding him and he acts like he doesn't even REMEMBER the banquet! It’s like Yuuri isn't happy to see him at all. So, Viktor may have been a bit teary-eyed, as he went to sleep ALONE (apart from Makkachin) that first night in Hasetsu.

[Some people with ADHD also experience something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) – an extreme emotional sensitivity to PERCEIVED rejection/criticism].

- Viktor and Yuuri slowly become closer over time; working on their relationships (both personal and coach/student) and figuring out how to communicate . . . even though Viktor has a tendency to be too blunt/push too hard/be too clingy at times.

[EPISODE 2]

VIKTOR: So, do you have feelings for Minako? Do you have a lover now? What about ex-lovers?

YUURI: I’d rather not talk about it . . .

VIKTOR: Then let’s talk about me! Let’s see, my first –

[EPISODE 3]

VIKTOR: The truth is, you’re actually both FAR MORE mediocre than you think. You need to be more self-aware.

[EPISODE 4]

VIKTOR: Yuuri! Why don’t we get some food?

               Yuuri! Want to soak in the springs together? 

               Yuuri! How about a slumber party?

[EPISODE 5]

VIKTOR: It’s amazing you got such a high score after running your face into a wall, but thanks for proving me right about your ability to get a solid PCS! And don’t worry about letting me down, I know you’ll do better next time!”

[EPISODE 7]

VIKTOR: I'm not very good with people crying

              Skater’s hearts are as fragile as glass – let’s try shattering his into                     pieces . . . 

[People with ADHD tend to have communication issues. They might not easily pick up on the emotions of others, interrupt often or otherwise steam-roll conversations. They commonly tend to talk too much, talk too loudly, speak before they think, or say incredibly blunt/hurtful things (all without even realizing what they are doing), which can make them come across as callous, self-centred or tactless. Impatience can also be a HUGE problem – they may tend to dive into new things head-first and don’t always take the time to properly assess situations/build relationships. People with ADHD are often described as being “intense”/“overbearing” or having “BIG PERSONALITIES”; opposingly, they might also be perceived as “flaky”/“aloof”/“uncaring”(depending on ADHD Type and Symptoms Exhibited).]

- Eventually, things start heading in the right direction. Viktor is a fully-fledged coach, and Yuuri just keeps getting better; constantly growing and surprising him. Coaching is exciting for Viktor, because it’s new and novel and he gets to be with Yuuri – but it’s also exhausting, because now it’s HIS job to take care of all the scheduling/organizing/memorizing/time management – things that Yakov used to do. Things that definitely DON’T play to his own strengths.

[EPISODE 2]

VIKTOR: Uh, oh, that’s not a happy face. Let me guess, I forgot to do something I said I would do?

[EPISODE 2]

VIKTOR: Ha, ha, ha, yea, I remember now, it totally slipped my mind! I'm sorry, but you know how I forget stuff sometimes . . . 

[EPISODE 5]

YUURI: I must have told you a million times – but in last year’s nationals I BOMBED EVERYTHING . . .

[EPISODE 5]

YUURI: Do you have any idea where Viktor is? It’s about to start and I can’t find him!

VIKTOR: Sorry, were you waiting?

[EPISODE 6]

YUURI: Come on, Viktor! We’ll miss the flight if we don’t get moving!

[EPISODE 6]

VIKTOR: I'm hungry and this is boring, can we go get hot pot now?

YUURI: I'm kinda in the middle of an interview here . . . 

[EPISODE 10]

VIKTOR: Do you want to try my hot wine?

YUURI: No, I don’t like to drink before a competition

VIKTOR: Oh, right, I forgot. 

There are other little quirks of Viktor’s coaching too; but maybe that’s just because it’s all so new to him. He doesn't have the most experience – but he DEFINITELY has the most enthusiasm.

Like, THAT KISS - (you know the one ;) )

[Pretty impulsive, wouldn't you say? (In the BEST WAY, of course :D)]

And whenever Viktor is rink-side, watching Yuuri skate; he’s always SUPER animated – he gets so invested he even does the quad flip along with Yuuri at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona! 

[EXCITEMENT - INTENSE EMOTIONS! HIGH ENERGY/RESTLESSNESS – SOMETIMES IT JUST GETS EXPRESSED AS A QUAD-FLIP!]

Viktor also gets super into the other Skater’s short programs at the Grand Prix Final, and doesn't notice how his words/actions are affecting Yuuri. 

[Perhaps it’s just because he loves skating and misses it so much . . . or could it be attributed, in part, to his ADHD brain fixating without him realizing it?]

[So, to sum up; forgetfulness/memory issues, tardiness/poor time management, easily bored/distractable, impulsive . . . those are all pretty much par for the course with ADHD (and other Executive Functioning Disorders as well).]

- In the end, Yuuri wins silver at the Grand Prix Final; but more importantly, he gives Viktor two very important things: Life and Love. And while the road to the GPF is rough and rocky, (managing both Yuuri’s Anxiety and Viktor’s ADHD); their love only grows, changing them and challenging them . . . and making them BOTH stronger for it.

So, there you have it; my ADHD!Viktor head cannons! :) 

He may be forgetful and flaky and blunt and pushy and impulsive and emotional – but he’s also energetic and outgoing and supportive and talented and creative and brilliant and charming and loving.

I see a lot of myself in Viktor – good things and bad things – so this head cannon has a very special place in my heart. Almost all our ADHD-related stories/characters in pop-culture are inaccurate, disregard the realities of ADHD, or just blatantly depict it COMPLETELY WRONG – so when I saw these traits more accurately mirrored in Viktor, a character that I love with all my heart, I couldn't help but expand on the idea.

Having said that, ADHD is a complex disorder; here are some basics:

- ADHD is an Executive Functioning Disorder/Neurodevelopmental Disorder. 

- The name: “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” is a bit of a misnomer; it’s not a “lack” of attention, so much as it is the brain’s inability to filter out stimuli, and direct “focus” where it needs to be at any given time. 

- According to the DSM-5, there are 3 subtypes of ADHD – Inattentive, Hyperactive and Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive. 

- Not everyone with ADHD will present ALL Symptoms of ADHD, due to the different subtypes. 

[There are also many more common Symptoms/Comorbidities that go along with ADHD, which I did NOT head cannon for Viktor – things like Sensory Perception Issues/Misophpnia, Coordination Issues/Dyspraxia, and Low Frustration Tolerance/Hot Temper, just to name a few]

- ADHD is GENETIC and HERITABLE – and is linked to a lack of Dopamine. 

- ADHD is not a “Childhood Disorder”. It’s not something you “grow out of” or “cure” – it’s something you learn to manage and live with. Medication is one option – but treatment may also include making lifestyle changes (like diet, exercise, and getting proper sleep), working with ADHD coaches, going to Therapy, and investing time in creating an organizational system that works WITH one’s symptoms.

- An ADHD diagnosis does not mean that one is stupid or lazy or out of control – plenty of highly intelligent, “gifted” or otherwise successful individuals have ADHD (and in fact, with the right diagnosis and treatments, many people who struggle or “under-perform” at school/work due to ADHD are able to harness their previously untapped potential, leading to great improvements in their work, and enabling them to start on a path to success). 

- ADHD isn't a “fake illness” or an “excuse”. ADHD is a very REAL disorder, with a very REAL impact on the lives of those that it affects. However, with the proper diagnosis, knowledge, skills and tools, ADHD is also manageable – and you can absolutely learn how to work WITH your ADHD to become your best self.

***

So, if you've stuck with me this long, thanks for reading! I hope you've enjoyed these little head-cannons for one of my most favourite characters of all-time – and maybe learned something new that can help you or a loved one living with ADHD.

Thanks again! This has been my contribution for ADHD Awareness Month and the YOI One-Year Anniversary!

See You Next Level! ;)