the SP used to be his Ex number so it's normal too, that they would choose to work on that because Patrick knows it inside out. I agree that there's some work to do on the LP but I don't think it will change much. I think that Wilson's choreography is just right this year. It was perhaps a bit too much and ambitious in the Chopin, yet Patrick delivered... but here, it suits the music.
I have to say I am pleasantly surprised
(however, sorry Eric... music is okay when listening but totally not memorable and I have listened to it 3 times already)
I have written a detailed post of my impressions in the finlandia thread... if you want to read it... i just don't want to cross post too much..
Mango I think that we will have some surprises with the layout...
1) the 4t-3t is probably the first jumping pass... Patrick had a rough landing, couldn't tag the 3t... REFOCUSED (which was great to see) and nailed the 3A beautifully...
2) of course, we all expect the 3S to be a placeholder for the 4S... which will have some consequences in the layout later one.
3) I wasn't surprised to see Patrick fall on the 4T... but a bit disappointed it was UR....however, I think it's because he was perhaps thinking too much about having to tag a combo to it...
4) REFOCUSED and landed another super 3A... His 3As for me, was the highlight of his program so early in the season.. May the 3A prevail all year!
Loop... fine...
LUTZ... i am sure that this is supposed to be his last combo jump...
Once again, I think Patrick lost focus thinking too much... he had the opportunity to do 3Lz-3T this time... (or even 3Lz-3T-2tor2l)
but of course, the landing with the touch down meant no combo.
In the ideal world Patrick by then will have landed 4T-3T, 4S, 3A-2t...
His options will then be
3Lz-2t-2l like last season OR 3Lz-1/2L-3S like in the Olympic season.
Finally, since he messed the combo on the 3Lz, this time around he probably thought about tagging it onto the 3F but then lost focus obviously and perhaps was tired...
I really don't expect him to have a 3 jump combo right at the end like this...
Comparing Patrick to his main competitors...
We haven't seen Javi yet but I would think that Javi will have a 3 quad layout. If he does 4 quads, he will have to take out a 3A... which is not a great option in terms of risk and reward.
Yuzu is presenting a 4quad 2 3A program. In terms of base value, he is pretty much doing the same layout as Patrick EXCEPT that the 3Loop is for Yuzu, a 4 Loop. This gives him about 7-8 points advantage. However, some of the levels for other elements could close the gap. In the end, Patrick is closing the gap this year if both go clean, compared to last year.
So, the LP is not the main issue. I would say that it's the SP that could be deciding since Patrick doesn't have two quads in it, and his competitors do.
Final words : Patrick's skating in this new LP is unique. It's introverted yet deep with emotion. It's gorgeously flowing across the ice. It has many nice steps that go with the music perfectly. It's as if Patrick had been skating on the ice, and Eric had matched his music to his skating, music being written AFTER the choreography. I think we need to see this program skated cleanly and I beg the skating gods to give us at least ONE during the season.. with or without 4S ... I couldn't care less... I just need to have a program to go to, like I do with the 4cc Chopin, or the TEB vivaldi
My impression was that Patrick did not have as much of the fresh vibe as yesterday.
Despite the new jump layout, despite how much I enjoyed his skate, and despite the beauty of his skating, something said to me that Marina hasn't had the opportunity to recraft this program with Patrick as extensively as the SP.
Given the limited time they've had to work together, it makes sense to have chosen the SP for a more radical reworking. Maybe it's just me, but I get the feeling that there is something "meh" about the FS for them as yet.
So, there could be a great deal of successive changes throughout the season. Or, if they think it's enough to hit their goals for this year, they may well let it be and focus on consistency with a view to something more spectacular for Olympic year.
hwell:
)
Love flying Patrick! 
