You talk about the skating fans as though we DONT know the shortcomings for Jason and Jeremy. Jeremy has been inconsistent but he has supreme upside, and Jason is SUCH an entertainer and his charisma and talent is maybe the highest we have seen in DECADES. However, Max was a supremely good sport with his result and he knows what he has to work on. LISTEN, he doesn't have to be like Jeremy or Jason, he can chart his own path of "masculine artistry." I may not prefer it, but it is it true to who he is, and if he skates it with conviction, I WILL ENJOY IT. Max is still learning who he is in this sport. This isn't hockey, though he can still skate fast and strong and to strong music and win it, he just needs to find himself.
FYI: There is a reason that I got into skating, and it was because of the woman who I will revere above even my mother (and it is HER mother, my grandmother.) She loved Elvis Stojko (before she passed away) and his masculine, yet powerful way of skating. Max NEEDS to find that. He's on his way, but he needs to delve a bit more. However, he needs to be reminded of Brian Joubert, and to NOT fall into that trap. you can be both Masculine AND an artist, and he needs to find the way that he sees is the best for him. He IS powerful, and he needs to use powerful music (LIKE Carmen) to his advantage. He is just not there yet, and I find his skating disingenuous (the artistic side.)
EDIT: That is not to say that last years win is null. He WAS the best skater in the field, but not so with this year and these skates. I hope he takes to heart what the judges scored him and the past champions (Evan being the most similar to him stylistically) and that he knows that he can still be a champion.
There is so much in this post that I appreciate, agree with or identify with, and like! It feels wierd to say this, but I think Sandra B made a good point about skating being a kind of big tent for different kinds of styles and approaches. I love that about figure skating. The skating that most grabs me is that combination of artistry and technical - so I loved Buttle and Lambiel, for instance, but also Yags and Plushy (differently), and Elvis too (and similarl, Honda). Anyway, it's nice to appreciate the variety and the strengths of each; and to that end, I want to give a huge shout out for Max. He skated great! And to think he scored higher (even considering relative differences across competitons) this year than last. He adds a great dimension to men's skating and I truly hope he has a great worlds (can't wait to see him)!