I'm coming out of hibernation to say I also feel conflicted. MLD has moments of staggering beauty and other moments where it felt like Lori tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. It felt to me (again I don't *know* the people involved, this is just my 'read') like Lori had this perfect music cut just so waiting in mothballs for years, and this perfect choreography in mind for this music, and she's been waiting for the right skater to bring her vision to life. Who could be more perfect than Nathan, with his ballet training, wonderful movements and immigrant parents? She hit the jackpot.
Remember how we read that Nathan first hesitated because it was... 'too political'? He's telling the truth, it is political-- my friend knows many in the Chinese community who reviled Nathan and his family for the MLD program. But I also know that when I don't want something, I come up with reasons later for why it's entirely rational that I shouldn't do it, even though what happened was I had a gut instinct, non-rational reaction to the fit, a sense that it's not right for me.
It's a tribute to Nathan's immense gifts as a skater and dancer that he could bring so much of Lori's vision to fruition and make his Mom and many others cry with the beauty of MLD, considering that it never entirely fit him. Lori's vision was gorgeous, but IMHO there were moments that should have been adjusted for the way Nathan moves in that moment, when he's not doing ballet several times a week. I've never been able to entirely love even the most perfect renditions of MLD--not even that jump-less run-through from CoR. Not even the more 'pure' version he debuted at Salt Lake Challenger event. He dedicated the Olympic season to his family--family coaching council (Raf's term) loved it, and Nathan put his own reservations aside like a good son.
I have watched LoA far more often than MLD, because those moments that are jarringly wrong for Nathan bother me as much as the worst moments of his camel spin. Even though the best moments of MLD >>>>>> LoA, the lows are just off-putting at times.
I won't dig out the exact moments I found jarring, because once my skating friend has pointed out something unaesthetic, not only can I not un-see it, I also spot 20 more instances of it in places I'd never noticed it before. I'm not going to claim more advanced knowledge of dance than shine and justvaliant and oatmella and the other experts here, I'm just saying, in a way it all makes sense, because he really gave it all for his family that season and did his best with this program that didn't entirely fit him.
If he's now in charge and doing it his way (cue Frank Sinatra)-- though it sounds like this summer family coaching council will re-convene to discuss Nathan's skating goals, from the soundbites preceding Worlds... then I'll try to limit how often I complain about what he chooses to wear, how a tailor in New Haven could have kept his sleeve from sliding down during Caravan at Worlds, if Vera couldn't be bothered to shorten the sleeves, his camel position... It's his life and I'm along for (some of) the ride. He didn't owe any of us even one more season of skating after Olympics. And he's *so* talented and his way of moving is so unique and appealing that he's made me like 'Next to me' against my will. Making me like a tango, though... I hope he spoke to Shae about jazz (sorry, just valiant XD)
Thanks to sheetz for finding that 'little wings' article and to all of you for your news and discussions. I'm mostly out of commission but I do appreciate the education when I find time to catch up a bit.
This has been a really fun season to follow Nathan! All of his accomplishments, all of his improvements, even coming out of his shell a bit and showing more of his personality-- it's really been a delight to see. I feel honored to be able to follow his career, and see him start to build what I think will end up being an incredible legacy. I've never posted here before but I almost have many times. First, after Nationals, there are no words really. It really feels as if he's truly finding himself as a person, as a skater, as an artist, and to see all of those things fully come alive was incredible. Everything was so on point! Then after Worlds, the same thing! There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said, but I'm really happy to be following him on this journey and it's an honor to watch and I thought I ought to share those feeling, because I'm sure everyone here feels the same way 
