https://youtu.be/YWstnwLYMy8
https://youtu.be/rPpea_m7kE0
New exhibitions by Anna and Sasha! I have to admit, I don‘t get Anna‘s ex at all... I mean, it‘s nice and all that she‘s trying to do something more fierce and she herself certainly isn‘t bad at it but the choreo and music... Not my taste and it made me wish for Dreamcatcher all the way through. Since she‘ll likely use this next year too, I‘ll have to get used to it.
Sasha’s exhibition on the other hand, I like. The costume is absolutely ridiculous of course (I know, I know, the music video and all) but she has fun doing it and the theme suits her. Unstoppable? Indeed, Sasha, indeed. It seems like a fun exhibition and it‘s certainly better than “I don‘t pop my kork for every guy I see“ Big Spender...
I liked that move she did into one of her jumps - 3F? Overall, it‘s fun, it‘s energetic and has her trademark tricks (cantilever, jumps). Quite a good vehicle for her. A mature program it is not but it doesn‘t have to be, it‘s an exhibition after all and it‘s main purpose is to be entertaining. Which it certainly is. I only hope she‘ll get a costume that isn‘t AS juniorish for her senior debut.
Ya, it definitely won’t be an easy task for Sofia and Zhenya to hold onto 3 spots but it’s far from impossible as they do have some momentum. But I think it’s better to lower our expectations a bit. I mean, the highly anticipated Russian sweep at last year’s and this year’s JWC didn’t happen. I wish Russian Fed had chosen to send Liza. Then there would be less of this doubt for spots.
As far as I know Alina is still alive. I don‘t want to make any predictions but if Alina and Zhenya have any undeniable advantage over the other Russian ladies, it‘s their reputation. They will almost certainly get high PCS, even if they bomb. Especially Alina, look at Euros and the PCS for the FS. Early in the season Zhenya’s PCS dropped a bit (not something major but still visible) due to her lack of transitions and fairly empty programs. Now with Tosca, which is a very good and fitting vehicle for her and a more complete Tango (that still isn’t a Tango but at least a full program), I have no doubt her PCS will be on par with many of the top ladies, if not Alina. So, I‘d say unless all three of the Russians bomb, they should be fine to keep the three spots. What do they need? 5+8 at the very least, right? Well, last year Alina fell three times and still got 5th. The field is stronger this year but still. Sofia should manage a solid 8th place with her consistency. She can be beaten by the 3 Japanese, Lim, Bradie, Alina, Zhenya and Lil‘Bet and she‘ll still be eigth. One of Zhenya or Alina will make the top 5 then, more likely Alina. Of course, nothing is set in stone but I think it‘s more likely for Russia to keep the spots rather than lose them. But of course, everything‘s possible as we‘ve just seen Japan lose their third spot at JWC. I just really hope this doesn‘t happen.
And we never know with Alina. She could bomb but she could also show skates like at the beginning of the season and if she does that, she‘ll almost certainly be on the podium, battling for gold. I‘d have sent Liza too, probably but her illness cost her some momentum.
About this year‘s JWC: Alena was injured. Had she been there I have no doubt she‘d have landed on the podium.
In my imagination, I always see Zagitovova somehow managing to snatch 5th with Medvedeva or Samodurova squeaking through with 8th. Maybe even 7th. 
