2018-2019 Programs By Discipline

[Layback11]

Full videos from THE ICE:

Miyahara SP https://youtu.be/f971sW_PlbY

Marin Honda SP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws6saPTC75A

Sakamoto SP https://youtu.be/hEUEVLhq7H0

Miyahara: I’m really liking this so far. There were parts where I felt like she could have been more emotive, but it’s the VERY beginning of the season so I know that will change with time. The choreography is fantastic and I’ve always thought that Satoko does better with more dynamic music (as in her Space FS or the Miss Saigon program) with a variety of high and low points, so this was a great choice. Love the costume too! I have a feeling this is going to become one of my favorites this season.

Honda: I’m a little conflicted here. I’ve always loved Marin, and there are parts of this program that I really enjoy (the StSq is very well-choreographed and she sells the thing like it’s an infomercial), but I feel like this program could be a bit of a misfire for her. The jazzy, kinda sultry cover doesn’t seem to suit her (she was sort of just smiling through it with a couple of well-placed smoulders) and not much of it besides the StSq really struck me in a way that stood out; it fell a bit flat. I hope that will change, because I do love her skating, but I’m not quite sold this program at this point in the season.

Sakamoto: Kaori has some of my favorite jumps in the field, but (with some exceptions) I’m not often enamored with her programs. I feel like I end up finding a lot of them very bland, and this program continues that trend. I seriously dislike the music, but other than that, it’s...nice. Not stand-out-ish in any way. Just nice. And it’s not at her fault; her choreographers (FS is Benoit Richaud, is this one too?) keep giving her forgettable material. I really do like Kaori, and others might love this program and think I’m insane for not thinking it’s great (understandable - this stuff is subjective), but I’m not at all sold.

Can’t wait to watch the rest of these later!

 

[Danny T]

Just caught up on the men's programs at The Ice.

Shoma: I can be convinced on the SP. He still looks like he's skating to Vivaldi but there are some interesting choreographic choices, and the music is not bad either. For the LP, well, I think it's me, but all Moonlight Sonata programs bore me to death. Not that the piece itself is boring musically but I slept halfway through P/C's MS at Milan this year despite them interpreting it very well (it was also 3 in the morning, but my point stands). So, Shoma is just like any other MS, I can't say much except the cantilever is so out of place. Just get rid of it.

Nathan: I like the SP (this seems a trend). He looks like he's having a blast skating to it, which usually makes me feel good watching. It continues to capitalize on his contemporary style and yet not a repeat of Nemesis. I have no idea what to say about the free though - I just don't get it as it is. He will change it anyway, he's not going to do 7 jumps in a row (or will he RIP)

Boyang: Very weird choreography. He looks like he's skating to hard rock, but the music is totally not banging?? What are you doing Nichol??

Some more on the ladies: I love Satoko's FS. Much more promise than her SP, the music cuts blend well together and include nearly all the tango I like.

 

[icybear]

Boyang: Very weird choreography. He looks like he's skating to hard rock, but the music is totally not banging?? What are you doing Nichol??

Well the music is "While my guitar gently weeps" so I don't think the choreo is weird for a song that's hard rock/blues.

 

[NoNameFace]

Just caught up on the men's programs at The Ice.

Boyang: Very weird choreography. He looks like he's skating to hard rock, but the music is totally not banging?? What are you doing Nichol??

Some more on the ladies: I love Satoko's FS. Much more promise than her SP, the music cuts blend well together and include nearly all the tango I like.

I kind of agree about Boyang - the music has more jazzy, nostalgic feel to it, not a rocking one... I do think though that there is a nice musicality overall in choreography, but his expression/interpretation gets it weirder in reception for me - like someone already wrote there, he tries too much and it kinda looks like Yuzuru's 'Parisian Walkaways' program; this is not the music for such thing, but we will see how develops.

I am also conflicted about Shoma's programs... SP definitely looks better than free in my opinion, however - there should be way more distinct, stronger 'guitar flamenco' feel in his body movement to see it more. And he is capable of that. FS is not what I imagined it to be so far after seeing musical choice - but it could be a work in progress.

Satoko really stood out for me - the programs already are looking super refined, ready and sophisticated. There is something to be said about her always having greatly constructed music cuts and choreography highlighting her strongest features: body movement, musicality, flow. And she somehow looks more mature than before in both SP and Tango medley FS - mature, not old which unfortunately is the word I would use to describe Alina's SP. As usual, love placement of spins and her step sequences, truly work of art, captivating audience.

 

[Danny T]

Well the music is "While my guitar gently weeps" so I don't think the choreo is weird for a song that's hard rock/blues.

Is it classified as hard rock? It sure doesn't sound like hard rock to me. It sounds more blues, while Boyang looks like he's jamming choreo to hard rock - the whole thing's very incongruous. I low-key dissociated during it lol

 

[icybear]

Is it classified as hard rock? It sure doesn't sound like hard rock to me. It sounds more blues, while Boyang looks like he's jamming choreo to hard rock - the whole thing's very incongruous to me. I low-key dissociated during it lol

Well Wikipedia says it's both hard rock and blues so I guess Lori Nicol must have gone for only one of the two genre

 

[Layback11]

Zagitova's SP full video (The Ice) https://youtu.be/GsZDzNiAoH0

To put it simply: mixed feelings.
On the positive side, I really like the footwork, and some of the cuts - esp. the abrupt cut to Music of the Night with the 3F - are effective. It’s got some nice moments (like the Ina Bauer), and I love her packaging. Lovely dress, and whoa, she looks five years older! But as many others have already pointed out, choppy and all-too-frequent cuts make it look just a tad incoherent. Some of them work, as I said before, but the frequency of the cuts makes it harder to get invested as just as you’re starting to get into one piece, the next begins. I doubt they’ll change it, but it comes off as messy. It has potential choreography-wise, and Alina can definitely deliver it, but musically and conceptually it seems a bit of a mess.

 

[Layback11]

Nathan Chen FS full video (The Ice) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BavtKk8ZdZA

I’ll be the first to say that I do not get this program at all. It’s one of those abstract programs I usually hate, but I don’t even care. He starts off so fluid it’s like watching rain fall and then once he’s into the StSq he SELLS that thing like an expensive handbag at a
90% discount during a liquidation sale. I love it!

 

[chopinskate]

I kind of agree about Boyang - the music has more jazzy, nostalgic feel to it, not a rocking one... I do think though that there is a nice musicality overall in choreography, but his expression/interpretation gets it weirder in reception for me - like someone already wrote there, he tries too much and it kinda looks like Yuzuru's 'Parisian Walkaways' program; this is not the music for such thing, but we will see how develops.

Boyang: Very weird choreography. He looks like he's skating to hard rock, but the music is totally not banging?? What are you doing Nichol??

As someone who doesn't know/care much about musical genres: Boyang's SP (currently) suffers from two setbacks.

1. His personal interpretation and performance.
2. The gimmicks Nichol has placed into the choreography.

1. will improve -- it's the first performance, and at an ice show at that. However, it seems 2. is what is creating a dissonance for some.

The program has a nice musicality apart from those gimmicks, and I hope he will grow into it the performance/expression aspect of it. I suspect there hasn't been the most work put into it yet. But simultaneously I hope the instructions to him aren't to play the singer who performed the piece, because that's what he seemed to be doing in the step sequence (and some the gimmicks suggest that too -- not sure how those moves would portray melancholy). The best thing would be to discard the gimmicks, because there seems to be enough stuff through the program before the step sequence where the more melancholic interpretation can come to life (and to work with him to portray the song instead of the singer, if that's indeed what has happened for the step sequence).

 

[oly2018]

As someone who doesn't know/care much about musical genres: Boyang's SP (currently) suffers from two setbacks.

1. His personal interpretation and performance.
2. The gimmicks Nichol has placed into the choreography.

1. will improve -- it's the first performance, and at an ice show at that. However, it seems 2. is what is creating a dissonance for some.

The program has a nice musicality apart from those gimmicks, and I hope he will grow into it the performance/expression aspect of it. I suspect there hasn't been the most work put into it yet. But simultaneously I hope the instructions to him aren't to play the singer who performed the piece, because that's what he seemed to be doing in the step sequence (and some the gimmicks suggest that too -- not sure how those moves would portray melancholy). The best thing would be to discard the gimmicks, because there seems to be enough stuff through the program before the step sequence where the more melancholic interpretation can come to life (and to work with him to portray the song instead of the singer, if that's indeed what has happened for the step sequence).

It kind of reminds me of the Spiderman program, but I actually think that program was a better fit for him. His short program last year hid some of his weaknesses, but I think trying to hide them with the gimmicks, makes them more obvious. The air guitar moment made me cringe. You can tell that he is really trying to sell it, but it seems inauthentic. I think with the Spiderman program, at least you could tell that he really felt it when he was selling it. Boyang has a huge personality and I wish Lori would help me channel that into a program that suits him. I do think he could grow into the program, but it needs to be tweaked.

 

[chopinskate]

It kind of reminds me of the Spiderman program, but I actually think that program was a better fit for him. His short program last year hid some of his weaknesses, but I think trying to hide them with the gimmicks, makes them more obvious. The air guitar moment made me cringe. You can tell that he is really trying to sell it, but it seems inauthentic. I think with the Spiderman program, at least you could tell that he really felt it when he was selling it. Boyang has a huge personality and I wish Lori would help me channel that into a program that suits him. I do think he could grow into the program, but it needs to be tweaked.

Interesting -- the short program last year to me was the only one of his programs from Lori thus far that had zero (or very few) gimmicks, and didn't hide much of anything from him, which made it seem authentic. Spiderman was gimmicky, but it clicked with his personality immediately -- that hid a lot. I don't think Nichol is exactly trying to hide his weaknesses here -- the choreo has gimmicks during the step sequence, but seems to want some sort of an actual melancholic performance before it. I think she just asked him to portray a rockstar instead of making him skate to the music. I think it can be salvaged even during the step sequence, except for 1) the rock symbols he makes at the beginning 2) the air guitar 3) the way he ends (he should probably end on a forward lunge with a laid back). Even just removing the air guitar would work -- 1) and 3) aren't 100% dissonant to me. They did tweak quite a bit of his SP last season, so not passing final judgment here, yet, though. Let's see.

However, the good thing is she's probably run out of gimmicks for this season (seems like it's one gimmicky program per season), so his LP might be better! SP just needs some tweaking since there's promise there.

 

[chopinskate]

Chen's SP has some interesting movement choreographed in it. I love some of the ideas involved there. He and Bourne seem to click. Not sure how he'll develop with it right now, though.

His LP hasn't yet shaped up to be anything, really.

Uno's SP is good... but we already knew he could pull this off from Loco.

His LP interpretation is very superficial right now.

 

[Ophelia]

Here is Eunsoo Lim’s SP from Asian Open.
https://youtu.be/8DvCBK9ldVw
I have to say, this program looks stunning. I’m really excited to see it keep building throughout the season and it may very well become one of my favourites. 31 PCS for a senior debut is pretty great too!

Eun Soo is a BEAUTIFUL skater.

She needs to go one shade darker on the BB cream though.

 

[chopinskate]

BTW, some of the skaters in The Ice might have to tune their spins -- a "difficult" variation now needs skaters to make a blood sacrifice at exactly the 89th degree of their second revolution in it, while sticking their tongues out and shouting "I'm Emperor/Empress <insert skater's name here>, the Horrible, of MarshamalLava Earth, and this ice shall be mine!" in order to get that feature for their spin.

 

[SnowWhite]

Just caught up on the men's programs at The Ice.

Shoma: I can be convinced on the SP. He still looks like he's skating to Vivaldi but there are some interesting choreographic choices, and the music is not bad either. For the LP, well, I think it's me, but all Moonlight Sonata programs bore me to death. Not that the piece itself is boring musically but I slept halfway through P/C's MS at Milan this year despite them interpreting it very well (it was also 3 in the morning, but my point stands). So, Shoma is just like any other MS, I can't say much except the cantilever is so out of place. Just get rid of it.

Nathan: I like the SP (this seems a trend). He looks like he's having a blast skating to it, which usually makes me feel good watching. It continues to capitalize on his contemporary style and yet not a repeat of Nemesis. I have no idea what to say about the free though - I just don't get it as it is. He will change it anyway, he's not going to do 7 jumps in a row (or will he RIP)

Boyang: Very weird choreography. He looks like he's skating to hard rock, but the music is totally not banging?? What are you doing Nichol??

Some more on the ladies: I love Satoko's FS. Much more promise than her SP, the music cuts blend well together and include nearly all the tango I like.

I know. I cringed when he was grinning and doing those peace sign / rocker hands right on "while my guitar gently weeps". SO not the vibe of that moment (or really the whole song). It's a rock song, but not a "rock out" song imo.

It kind of reminds me of the Spiderman program, but I actually think that program was a better fit for him. His short program last year hid some of his weaknesses, but I think trying to hide them with the gimmicks, makes them more obvious. The air guitar moment made me cringe. You can tell that he is really trying to sell it, but it seems inauthentic. I think with the Spiderman program, at least you could tell that he really felt it when he was selling it. Boyang has a huge personality and I wish Lori would help me channel that into a program that suits him. I do think he could grow into the program, but it needs to be tweaked.

I even think the gimmicks could work for a different rock song. They'd still be cheesy, but they're so not in with the vibe and meaning of this song it makes it way worse - and less authentic. The performance ends up feeling super disconnected from the music imo. If they at least fit the song, it wouldn't be so bad.

 

[mirai_asada]

I like Marin's SP so far.... but I'd love it more if she drops the sweet smile she has while skating it. (And she has a cute and lovely smile! But given the theme of the song, not super appropriate. You don't have to smile for every program! Theme/interpretation should be considered.)

Same issue with Boyang's SP, which some of y'all have mentioned. I did enjoy both of them, ultimately, but they'd be MUCH improved if they delved deeper into the meaning of their songs.

 

[oly2018]

I want to like Marin's SP, but the sweet smile kills the whole thing. It is already a fairly song to interpret, but with this being a more sultry cover, it makes the giant smile seem out of place. There are a couple of well placed smoulders, but other than that, there is no real face change. She clearly is better suited to happy, effervescent programs, but I do commend her team for trying to broaden her range. I just wonder if that could have been done with a different vehicle. I agree with previous posts that this program screams Ashley, but I think even Mariah would have been a better fit.

 

[theharleyquinn]

Kaori is skating to a sung version of Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1. Ironically I've been thinking over the past few months of how I'd like to see someone skate to one of his pieces, but something feels off with this. The program would work better with the original piano piece since it feels more emotional, but maybe they want to avoid sounding too similar to the FS which she's more compelling in so far. It seems like her team is really trying to sell her maturity this year and that's fine, but I think they missed an opportunity with the SP.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Thanks Doris! Here are the corresponding videos from Asian Open:

RD (fancam): https://twitter.com/fang_minji/status/1025641095571550209
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ94blfckpM

I wasn't too sure before whether Montreal was the right school for them but now I am loving both of their programs. Marie-France and Patrice have given them two excellent vehicles to further push their emotional depth, projection, and range. Great way to build momentum to start the new quad to Beijing with a win

It's rather an odd ending pose in the FD given the lyrics. Then again, I'm not a fan of the music cuts.

 

[WeakAnkles]

BTW, some of the skaters in The Ice might have to tune their spins -- a "difficult" variation now needs skaters to make a blood sacrifice at exactly the 89th degree of their second revolution in it, while sticking their tongues out and shouting "I'm Emperor/Empress <insert skater's name here>, the Horrible, of MarshamalLava Earth, and this ice shall be mine!" in order to get that feature for their spin.

Hmm well you know there's the evolution of the sport and then there are those of us hoping there will be a revolution in the sport. Rise Up Against The Overly Convoluted! Simplicity Is Not A Crime!

:gaah: