Just watched the top 3 ladies... want to see how Li Zijun did. Sad to see she got no home bonus even in Cup of China :sarcasm:, especially compare with Kaetlyn at Skate Canada (Maybe the judges were careful to avoid another mass complaints like SC, but poor ZiJun paid the price). She only received 25.42 for her PCS - 5th in the rankings... ouch! When her TES was 33.79, 2nd overall, and above Mao (31.83) and Mirai (31.04). I think it is suffice to say China rank among the no power federation.
Watching the top ladies 3 videos in sequence leaves me with funny and weird feeling.
It appears the senior ladies Mao and Mirai are competing back in a junior competition with their Juniorish programs, and Julia is cramming 2 programs into the same space of time (just because she can) and it became a bit absurd half way through with the amount she is doing, she made the other 2 senior ladies look ridiculous like they are taking lazy strolls in comparison.
Mao: First half I was waiting patiently thinking, 'So.... where's the rhythm, where's the music??' Then all suddenly step sequence comes on, Bammm...there it is? Is that all? It was Bucks Fizz (Complete with artificial colours and flavourings, oh the florescent costume and pony tail. It is the disco 80s baby!) without gas on the first half, then suddenly all the air gurgled out intermittently at last minute, and it was good while it flows. I am not sure if it works as a whole, but I guess Mao fans will probably love the more cute and lighter Mao that seems to be her public persona, and matches the one back her junior days. Even with the Juniorish technical content. No 3A, No 3/3s, is this really worthy of a 2 times world champion program? This is not an exhibition. I wonder if she is taking the Carolina Kostner approach to the worlds.
Mirai: I thought she looks great and more comfortable on ice than she have been in ages!!! Love the dark eyes make up, costume. I miss this Mirai, who attacked her program, who loves to perform, who cares about projection to the audience and embraced her program. Mirai looks to be in great shape, and hopefully will deliver tomorrow. I really want to see her on the podium badly!!! Go Mirai!!!!
Julia: Deserved winner. She did so much and dressed up like a Ninja Assassin. I can easily see her as the ladies Terminator, no emotions, just alot of kick ###### movements that made you go 'uh-oh'!
I hate the choreography, and have said her style and flexibility seems to have been widely abused by her choreographer who want to give her so much to do without thought or tact - just because she can do it. The thing is I do think Julia has musicality but weren't allowed any space to display them, which is bit of a shame, because these key basics need to be harnessed, developed and polished at a young age before the style is set. The team need to realise 'more is NOT more', and sometimes 'less is more'. The way they continue like this, will she last beyond age 18? She definitely need to calm down and be more introspective about her programs to refine these movements with purpose and meaning. For the moment she is a killer machine without much emotion or personality on ice.
For the moment, she is like the all you can eat buffet: extra salty, extra fatty, extra meaty, garlicky, complete with ketchup and processed cheese on top. You can't taste any of the organic vegetables because everything is all mingled up, unrefined and over powered. I swear there's a Filet Mignon there somewhere, just need to be cooked with care with less seasoning, otherwise everything is ruined. (OK it is lunch time in the UK... hence all the food comparisons heh! )
! Her flexibility and speed of her spin are just incredible. It's great that she tried difficult jumps, but they look somewhat tiny, and she has no flow out of the jumps at all. Anyway it was brilliant performance, I think she was underscored a little.
