I don't know how it felt from the TV (I've been seeing a lot of people still hating the ending) but my god that FD was amazing live! The end was so amazing! Gunna be an Olympic moment for the history books!
First of all, I am green from jealousy that You witnessed this whole experience live, but happy at the same time for all of those who were there to see such a send-off
I think that You mentioned an important notion about this 'Olympic moment' creation by the way program is designed and how it works in action. Seeing their work done on this FD throughout the season, I can really appreciate this final effect of the search for the balance between all these factors so important for others and those significant for them personally. This second part now really seems to translate the dramatic/theatrical vibe from Tango part, but into more lyrical ground, building up mainly between them to the big finale than just for the 'public eye'. Also, the final pose kept, although still criticized for this lack of cohesion with re-worked 2nd part, just change its meaning and emotional vibration in context of new choreography and musical arrangement: for me, it's more if a sign of affection and bond shared together, contrasting with opening pose, standing opposite to each other, with no contact, but with same purpose to tell the story on the stage being set. It all makes up to the bigger impact of the FD wholesome, the dance appears more united around them specifically, accentuating their connection and this physicality in expression, strenght and power exuded while being together in holds. At the same time, the transition of music is much better reflected in movement - the dance is looking more continue as a whole, not only in edgy/lyrical part, respectively and it really makes a difference to have uninterrupted focus on the program, yet still feeling surprised by it (also due to great management of 'wow' moments in the program, being both big, bold elements like lifts and smaller, more intimate embelishments highlighthing music, connection like e.g. this spread eagle/spiral sequence after last lift). I liked very much the remake of 2nd step sequence, especially in terms of musicality, reflecting on lyrics, mood of the piece (particular loved delayed twizzles at the end of it so in synchronizacji with the music, very thoughtful).
Rewatching the dance and slo-mos after it, I am also amazed how multi-dimensional the dance became (same goes to the SD) - looking en face and looking from side nagle allows to really see and appreciate the nuance and detail in their movement added.
Generally speaking, I am quite confused about all this hate and cry over perfect score given for the FD... After all, this is National event and inflation is very much a given notion for basically everyone who will pull off their stuff - this is basically the condition they have to fulfill to get this kind of marks. Them doing it in a manner that quite few people did not expected gave them a score that seems to totally overshadowing the fact that they went for it and brought it on the very top of the table this time; reading some comments not even there makes the impression that Tessa and Scott are ones to blame for that score deemed as undeserved, overblown, which makes no sense. Then, it was probably their last Nationals - so why their own country could not give them a generous send-off, especially with that kind of execution and performance quality they presented? Last, but not least - should we blame Canada, of all countries, to give a generous support and boost to Tessa and Scott's program which is not generating universal love and appreciation, where they then should seek this confirmation about the rightfulness of the program and change made in it? They sought in my opinion an approach if the program is impact fulfill and effective enough, not if it is a 'winning' one from default in any surrounding. I mean, for me the score at Nationals should be always put in the perspective of an actual performace put on ice and the goal set for the skaters going forward - there is no way they will get that perfect score at Olympics, that sole fact should calm and comfort people bothered about the score, heck, if the Nationals are deemed that irrelevant, why so much focus on them? Besides, there is no guarantee that they will repeat such execution at Olympics.
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(Before B&A, followed by V&M and D&W, I myself did not pay attention to Ice Dance).
