First of all, I’d like to congratulate Yuzuru for regaining his country’s FS championship in emphatic fashion despite adverse circumstances.
I think there is something so Yuzuru in both of his new programs: the charismatic rock star and total entertainer Kurt Browning had described him to be in the SP; his innate etherealness and nobility (one of the earliest descriptions of him that I have read is that he possesses the aura of a prince) portraying the God of War in his FS. I won't mistake his FS for “Seimei,” as the GS article on his winning this year’s Japanese Nationals did. Yuzuru’s take on the character he is portraying in his FS is a God of War who is all too keenly aware of the heavy price of war.
As always, my wish and prayer for him is to remain healthy so he can continue to develop his programs.
In Seimei he's portraying the onmyouji Abe no Seimei (something like a magician-priest, from a historical fantasy movie) while in Heaven and Earth he's protraying the daimyou Nagao Kagetora/Uesugi Kenshin (a feudal lord/general who employs samurai, from an epic historical drama TV series). Kenshin wasn't the God of War but was sort of mythologised as such by his followers, similar to China's Guan Yu. But I agree, it is wrong to lump the two together just because they're 'ye olde Japanese/Oriental programmes' - it's like mixing up La Strada and the Barber of Seville because they're both European. They're separated by about 600 years (Heian period vs Tokugawa Shogunate) and are distinctly different genres (magic vs armed conflict).
Amazed, but not amazed, at the totally differing views on his long program.
I disliked Hope and Legacy. This, however, was a subtle that I loved. I was mesmerized. But, for his entire career he's had people who either love his skating or have no idea what is so special about him. Some people think his arms and upper body are awful and uncontrolled, others see freedom of movement etc... some people love his costumes, others hate them... everyone sees something different. It wouldn't be figure skating if everyone was unanimous with their opinions.
As for the Lambiel hug... I think in any other year nobody would care or notice. Now we all notice if someone's mask is below their nose or if someone comes too close. It's just the year we're having.
I share your views (not a fan of H&L but love this programme). However throughout his career, I've never unconditionally liked his skating, it all depended on his performance and the programme. At his best he is the best, at other times he isn't. Same goes for his costumes. He is both guilty of the faults that others list (noodly arms and wild legs), and at the same time deserving of the praise (charisma, flow and butter-smooth knees).
I liked Hanyu up to 2015-16, but many of his later programmes weren't really my taste even if I appreciated the quads. Parisian Walkways, Seimei, Chopin and Heaven & Earth are a yes, but not so much H&L, Nijinsky or Otonal. Prince is a question mark. His injury/stamina issues sometimes tipped innate freedom of movement into 'uncontrolled' territory, but not always. Some styles (like rock) give him a greater margin for being 'free'.
It seemed to me like he got increasingly conscious of his massive fandom (some of whom don't follow FS apart from him) and was trying to fit a sort of pop culture 'idol' image after 2015. Switching around between recycled programmes, besides having functional reasons, might have been a sort of identity crisis. This year's programmes seem to go back to his roots in a way.
Costumes are no biggie to me. If I can ignore Vera Wang abominations, I can ignore those flappy shoulder handkerchiefs. Thankfully Yuzu and my other favourites have made reasonable sartorial choices so far this season (Jackets! Tunics! Yay!)
Then I guess it's not that typical.
But I will speak only of the gesture, and not these times.
). I wasn't fixating on the actual gesture as a hug so much as I cannot imagine Raf running over to shake Yuzu's hand with praise if he scores higher than Nathan and beats Nathan. It's not a criticism, it's an observation. That is what I meant by Stephane's conduct as unusual. 
