I feel like there are a lot of skating related manga out there but this is my first.
Two on Ice
(Elck Itsumo)
September 2023 to April 2024
28 Chapters
What I Liked
- Hayuma is a nice take on the ‘pure’ shonen mc (as in he’s not dumb as bricks)
- The way they acknowledged the differences between the sexes when it comes to skating technique, and the issues that can result from that
- Love the detail in the routines and the layers of meaning
- How they emphasised that you can be pairs and not romantically involved (while also showcasing how being romantically involved can end up awkward 😝)
- The immense trust required fits the shonen mold perfectly
- Very interesting characters with rich backstories
Where I Think Things Went Wrong
- I guess figure skating just doesn’t appeal to the demographic?
- Maybe not enough ‘battle’ for WSJ? I mean there is scoring, but there is no clash between opponents, even the routines are completely separate (unlike say Food Wars where the dishes must follow the same theme)
Conclusion
I end all the ‘missteps’ speculation with question marks because I personally do not see where this missed the mark. The art, characters and the plot structure all felt very polished to me. I felt like if it wasn’t given the axe everything could have been fleshed out wonderfully, but ended up being rushed because of the circumstances. I was also really rooting for KisaHayu and for pairs as a sport.
Essentially I feel like this one didn’t flail about like a lot of other recent series to get the axe. Sad to see it go, will buy the digital tankobons when they are released.
Categories: Simulpub Review
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