Omg, finally made it home, and I have just watched the following three programs: Adam Rippon, Evgeni Plushenko, and Julia Sebestian.
Here are my thoughts after one viewing (will try to watch everybody else later on):
1.) Evgeni Plushenko is simply the best....words are inconsequential.....he's simply the best. I honestly got chills, like I did last year at almost the same time when I saw him skate at COR for the first time since the 2006 Olympics, and lol I almost cried as well, but they were tears of awe. Just to watch him skate, especially like that, is almost too good to be true. That program imho is his signature piece, defines him, shows off all his superb qualites, everything that is great about him, like watching the ending scene in the Billy Elliott movie. He represents
every generation of great male skaters, from Gillis Grafstrom's time to now, and he knows it. His very confidence is part of his overall appeal; to have that kind of confidence is something I would kill for. To live in the era of the great Evgeni Plushenko, and to be able to see him skate
now, like that, is a gift from God. I seriously want to buy a poster of this program alone, it's his greatest masterpiece to date.
2.) Adam I watched first because of all the talk on the boards. And he didn't disappoint, he was exquisite, exquisite. Totally reminiscent of the great 1976 Olympic Champion John Curry, but with his own uniqueness, like the beautiful & gorgeous Rippon Lutz. He's so young, and already this brilliant, it will be a joy to watch him develop further over the years. If he keeps it up, the stars the limit!
3.) What can I say, Julia Sebestian is simply wonderful, especially those 3Lutzes. For those alone I would give her +5 GOE on each one, and that's the truth. She shows the young ones how it is done, and
correctly at that! Bravo, Julia, Bravo! *clapping*
Btw, I did watch Mao & Miki also, but their programs didn't really stick with me, except I have to say I love Mao's choice of music this season ~ Liebestraum ~ and Miki's 3L and 2A/3T were both lovely. I hope to see them & their individual programs grow as the season progresses. However, for Mao I realize she's working on her technique, which will take at least a year or two, so I don't expect much in the way of jumps this year, which is alright, there is no progress without sacrifice.
