I watched the last two groups live. Enjoyed it, but overall the competition paled in comparison to Boston 2014, which I also attended.
- Honorable mention: Starr Andrews absolutely sparkled and gave an emotional, committed performance. I could tell that she really connected with her music. I think she's a talented singer and I think skating to her own version was gutsy and savvy -- but I have to say that in the arena, it sometimes sounded like a karaoke version.It was a bit strange when it switched to the Whitney Houston version. She got a huge standing ovation -- good for her for her clean performance.
- Mariah Bell - solid skate and I loved her guts, but her FS just wasn't the right vehicle. Really silly mistake on the 2A that ultimately didn't make a big difference.
- Ashley Wagner - I think the program has potential but there were a few moments where I found myself wondering if Ashley had forgotten or was ignoring her choreography. She appeared focused on her jumps and she did pay some attention to the performance, but overall, I wasn't greatly impressed by the technical or performance aspect. I don't agree with her placing higher in the FS than Karen Chen. She didn't have a meltdown and the audience was super happy about that, but I don't think she was wuzrubbed at all.
- Mirai Nagasu - had surprisingly good speed. Good for her for landing all her jumps. That 3A was very impressive live and she did land it perfectly in the warm-up. She didn't give up on the rest of the program even after the initial 3A wasn't perfect. Unfortunately, I did not care for the program at all. I found the choreography to be minimal and what was there barely reflected the music. The audience was really, really, really pulling for her -- but Mirai won't have that support in Korea. It was a great accomplishment for Mirai personally and I'm glad for her, but in terms of performance and program, I was left wanting much, much more.
- Angela Wang - she checked all the boxes for me in terms of musicality and interpretation...but something was still missing? Something intangible. Angela has a tough time connecting with audiences -- she doesn't project quite enough? Her mostly clean performance didn't get the reaction that I thought it should have.
- Karen Chen - she was committed to her choreography, performed to the music, projected to the audience, and gave a great performance overall. It wasn't perfect but her ceiling is higher than anyone else's. Nice edges and speed, and I'd have her first in PCS over all of the other ladies. Her lutzes are huge! Her spins were slower than usual and this performance wasn't her personal best, but she absolutely deserved to be on the podium, top 3, and she had better be going to Pyeongchang. For me, there is no question that Karen deserved to be ahead of Ashley Wagner and it shouldn't even have been that close.
- Bradie Tennell - nice jumps and it was refreshing to have a US lady who could nail all their jumps but I don't agree with her GOE and her PCS was absurd -- the choreography was awkwardly executed -- and some moments were just jarring, like the besti squat. :noshake: This performance doesn't compare to Gracie Gold's at 2014 US Nationals AT ALL (yes, even with Gracie's fall -- I stood for Gracie and it was an amazing performance) and I'd rank it behind Polina Edmund's 2014 performance there as well. She got a big standing O but the reaction to her score was not as unanimous -- I think some expected Mirai to win.
