User blog comment:Mroddy/Let's Talk: The Cast of Eclipse/@comment-5424252-20180727140612/@comment-3350823-20180803052610

I'll just edit this to be under the Youri comment when you get it posted :p

Before that last Aftermath, I would have said heck yes to Youri. But he did kind of get closure. I will say I was not a Youri fan...but he grew on me a lot and I was actually sad to see the little sneak go right before the merge. He was Unholy Trinity material :p I feel like I may have found something about him slightly offensive at one point, but I can't remember what and think he developed past it.

Youri's goal of trying to become comfortable with being masculine and that complex over feeling like he's weak because he's feminine causing him to target Emmett was compelling. I guess his story now is trying to less prove his masculinity and instead come to terms with his femininity. Emmett and Youri trying to get along after everything that happened and it being akward is great. Youri defintely should aplogize to Emmett.

If Leo happens to return there's room to explore their friendship. A Youri and Vishal friendship could be fun, especially if Youri isn't as eager at first just because Vishal is another masculine jock but ends up getting roped in regardless. I could also see him and Kaleb having interesting interactions, either as enemies or friends.

Youri did interact with a lot of the Sharks (I guess he's an early boot but also like the last team phase boot so not that early :p). So Andre maybe a bit hesistant about him, since Youri did try to manipulate him and Alfie to stay and Andre ended up sending him home. There's the Angel conflict of course, and any of the other Sharks could have a conflict with him (I'm sure Trixie ain't a fan).

I do think the girls and boys theme would have an interesting effect with Youri. I imagine Youri hasn't had a lot of guy friends or felt comfortable around guys, so he's not really excited about the teams. Would he end up isolating himself and making himself an outsider on the team? Or would he try to become friends? Or would he need another guy like Emmett or Vishal to take him under their wing? I could see them doing some kind of guy bonding stuff (I kind of am doing a similar thing in the currently posted Genesis prelude to the crossover).

I'm not as sold as I was on Youri. I think there could be potential, but I admit he's not at the top of my list for must have returnees. So I guess it depends if you think he's got a storyline that would work.