Medalist Episode 8 Review: Inori Can Not Lose

This episode of Medalist showcased the bond Inori and Tsukasa have cultivated. Let’s see how this episode turned out.

Medalist Episode 7 Recap

Coach Tsukasa’s recent encounter with Jun and the direct challenge he received clearly unsettled him. However, rather than dampening his resolve, it only fuels his determination. He now wishes to turn Inori into an exceptional skater, no matter the cost. It is soon revealed that the upcoming West Japan Championship for elementary schoolers will take place in Kyoto.

Unlike the previous competition, this event will bring together skaters from across Japan, making the challenge far more intense. In addition to preparing for this high-stakes championship, Inori must also focus on her badge test. Despite the pressure, Inori thrives on the challenge. Her enthusiasm is evident when she successfully lands a double jump on her own. She does that without any guidance from Tsukasa.

However, when she attempts to showcase it to her coach, she fails to land it. While this isn’t a major setback, it makes Tsukasa doubt himself. He begins to question whether he is truly suited to be a coach. In his eyes, Inori is an extraordinarily talented skater with a remarkable ability to learn quickly. If he fails to guide her properly, he believes he could end up holding her back. He can hinder her growth.

Medalist Episode 8 Review And Recap

Inori’s situation is pretty bad as she has made a grave mistake in her preparation. She forgot her skates on the bus when she was reaching the venue. When Tsukasa gets to know about this, he doesn’t wait for a single second and informs them that he will run ten stops just to bring Inori her skates. While he is away, Inori also doesn’t stop and prepares for her performance, believing in her coach that he will be successful in coming back in time.

On the skating rink, Sierra delivers a powerful performance, earning a high score. Here, Inori’s thought about not being special is especially captivating because she has the maturity to accept her talents. She understands that she is not a genius or prodigy, but it won’t stop her from trying her best. Inori pays little mind to how her opponents are performing.

One by one, each skater takes their turn, and finally, Inori gets the chance. It seems that everyone in this group is very talented as they got a score above 20, Sierra being at the top. The level of the competitors is clearly very high, however, this is the first time when Inori was not that tense before her performance. This is because she understands what her coach went through to help her achieve her dreams.

Though in this episode, we did not see Inori perform, it becomes apparent that even if she doesn’t win this match, she is already better than she was before. She has finally conquered her fears and is confident about herself. Inori knows her coach will always be there to support her, and she just needs to perform without thinking about anything else.

Verdict

I love today’s episode, but I’m also disappointed that it ended on such a cliffhanger, as I would have really liked to see Inori skate. This is just the beginning for her, so it doesn’t really matter whether she wins or not. However, winning will certainly boost her confidence.

Also Read: Medalist Episode 7 Review: What Makes Someone A Great Teacher?