Urghh totally missed the ladies due to Xmas parties. Got another one this evening so wont able to watch GPF live

Oh well thank goodness for youtubing to catch up with the festivities...
The first thing I look at these days before watching the competition is the make up of judging panel. Heh... I know...how sad right! This one is at least fairer than last 2 world championships with 100% European judges even when both events took place in Asia. This one just got 4.5 ish out of 8 European judges (.5 ish being Israel...) LOL at all the Japanese sponsored boards/flags (over 80%?), is this really Spain? I won't comment on the score other than it was overall SOOooooo inflated (Evgenia's 9.5s PCS from Russian judge sticks out like a desperate plea for Xmas Rubles bonus balshoye spasiiba) ... anyway the following are just my initial impressions based on gut reaction.
Oh
Ashley, totally owning her program, not holding back. I really enjoy this program and she sold it like some legendary absolutely fabulous character trampled/pushed/hip hip chin chined every single one of those baby ballerina skaters out of the way, those who typically hogs around European judges table eager for their PCS cookies. Ignoring her tech issues aside, it was a fab seasoned performance. I wondered if Ashley had she dialed down her performance attention down a bit, she might be able to focus more on the tech delivery ala Kostner, but sooo glad she didn't. I'd argue her PE and IE should be higher. She was totally in the moment, in tuned with the audience and felt the music as the best samba dancer requires to do, spirited, fun, being fab (jump issues aside, it was gutsy to tag the 3T in the 2nd half). She performed and interpreted the material better than I have seen her all season.
Elena, Je T'aime. Her 100% commitment always overwhelms my cynicism with her infectious enthusiasm. Evolved from last season, maturing still this season. How many inches did she grow? Baby girl has grown up into a soon to be elegant young lady - only if her sophistication (taste, nuanced subtlety and eloquence) can catches up, she will be an fab Russian diva. As for everything else, if juniors are faking it, she must be the best faker ever. She made me want to believe what she is selling.. That just maybe... Leonardo is the greatest actor/singer this sport has ever seen, there's such thing as a good honest judge, the possibility of a good looking straight man, diet pills that works, creams that will make people younger. Oh YES... I will buy it all! Sell it to me Elena! Well done!
Satoko. Microscopic hops. Pasted on expressions. Preppy studious type who over studies too hard and readily exploit exam system with arsenals of tricks/shortcuts (pre rotations). Never a spontaneous moment when I watch her, not what River dance should feel like. Sorry, but I just can't... Move on. The audience are clearly better sport than me, cheering her on with all those Japanese flags.
Mao... the reason for all those Japan sponsors, flags, how ISU is still in the black. Surprised at her placement to be honest and how far she is from Evegenia, especially usually after a great 3A, the rest of her performance will usually go great, so will her score! The 1lz obviously hurt her (surprise she still insist on going for the 3flutz, stubborn, and too honourable to abandon it?) Typical Mao program though, guarded jump drill to start with, then emote comes in at fab step sequence, then 1lz, oops better be a bit cautious, then spin segment finish on a high.. AND not integrated cohesively as a whole as it should. I am not a fan of this music, find it a bit juniorish choice, but it is nice to see her trying something outside her comfort zone and if it bring her joy... why not! It will be interesting to see how the rising of Hanyu may affect her status within JSF and ISU. 69 for this?! (Yuna had 69 for KoVat WC13 urgh.. sorry... I just can't fathom...) Looking at Evgenia 74.58 score, I wonder what would be the monster score if Mao had landed on everything. Well the judges sure tried....
Evgenia. This year's Julia, 16yrs prodigy with one of the best cliched generic ladies packages around. Her program is very clever at disguising 2nd half heavy tech content. This is truly one of the most COP optimised ladies program I have ever seen, and thus it justifies the TES score. The program does nothing for me, but it will be interesting to see how she grow from here (survive puberty and Eteri techniques first). It is just a clever routine for now with not much to say, and artistically still to be matured, seasoned and developed. One of the young talented stars of this sport that can be someone special in the future when she develop her own voice and interpret with genuine feeling, personality and understanding of 'interpretation' vs. someone's instructions. The score is too high, but consider the overall inflation these days post Sochi in both GOEs and PCS, it deserve the lead at this competition but not by that much. And um... is it me, or are the Eurosport boys more drunk than usual these days!?
Gracie... ohh nightmare Gracie. Arghh frustrating Gracie. You could have it all!!! Were you threw off by the incredible 74.58? Okay just for you I will light up another Bonfire... and create a séance for your flip. You need it! So close to the board again. Umm not the fan of the hair. Anyway... pfa pfa pfa papapapthis SP, concentrate on the FS now and be fabulous again!! Hope your Pheonix rises... (bit lucky with the score there.. but you should be theoretically this year's gold contender, come on WC is in US!!! Bring it home honey!)