Medalist Season 2
Synopsis
Ever since the novice coach Tsukasa Akeuraji took Inori Yuitsuka under his mentorship, she has improved her figure skating at a fast pace. After passing a qualifying badge test, she earns a spot to compete in the upcoming Chubu Block Tournament, where only five of the 15 competitors can move forward to the next stage—the prestigious All-Japan Novice Tournament. However, earning a slot will not be easy for Inori: most of her rivals have already experienced trying their luck in the competition. The stakes are high as the competition begins, and one by one, each of the competitors strive to perform their very best in front of the big crowd. Moreover, the current figure skating generation's prodigy, Hikaru Kamisaki, is not competing in this block, which raises everyone's determination to qualify. That includes Inori, who must beat the odds if she wants to keep her promise to reach Hikaru and represent Japan in the Olympics with Tsukasa. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The second season of Medalist is generally well-received, particularly for its character development and animation quality. However, some viewers feel that the season is rushed and serves primarily as a setup for the upcoming movie. While the core elements are praised, there are criticisms regarding pacing, limited character development for supporting characters, and occasional inconsistencies in visual quality, leading to mild disagreement.
Strengths
- Strong character development, especially for Inori and Tsukasa
- High-quality animation, particularly the blending of CGI with 2D drawings in skating sequences
- Engaging story with a focus on internal struggles and personal growth
- Effective portrayal of the coach-skater relationship
- Detailed and comprehensible explanations of figure skating techniques and strategies
Weaknesses
- Rushed pacing due to the short 9-episode season
- Limited development for new and returning supporting characters
- Over-reliance on familiar narrative formula, lacking innovation
- Inconsistent visual quality, with occasional awkward compositing and CG assets
- Transitional season focused on setting up the movie, leading to a lack of a satisfying finale