LFB/GC already mentioned they just want to focus on the individual event.
Good point. Evita might have given them more momentum, because it's more memorable, and you're going to get the crowd behind you, particularly casual fan. That's where the British have really knocked out of the park this year. Even I've been drawn into the dance on a number of occasions, despite its glaring superficiality compared to Piper and Paul. I absolutely agree that the Canadians are superior dancers, and have come up with some real gems, but I also think that they have had some real Duds over the years, and rarely can I think of a year when they had two strong programs. Really, only the year they are knocked back due to Piper's illness. They were ready to take gold that year, but in most years before and since, they had one noticeably weaker program, typically the Rhythm dance.
I used to be a die-hard BK fan back in the day, and was among those who was constantly criticizing the judges for not recognizing its brilliance.
I don't think the British team has a good dance, so to speak, but they definitely have a dance that is a masterpiece in playing to the strengths and hiding their weaknesses. That may, unfortunately be enough to get them the bronze medal. As much as I love their Vincent program, particularly in its first iteration, I think one particularly bad reason to go back to it, is the fact that it only got them seventh place in the free dance at the world championship. In other words, it was a beatable free dance. So, in a year when other teams are pulling out all the stops, and you have the return and reinvention of one of the best male skaters of all time, it is a very questionable decision to go back to a free skate that, while nostalgic, never placed them very high against the top teams! I feel that The Nostalgia of Vincent would have been best showcased in a show program. While I love so many of their programs, I think this was a case of bad judgment, something that, unfortunately, I have come to expect from Carol Lane- she seems, unfortunately to come up with some of their worst material in the years that matter their Rhythm dance at the last olympics, for example, was an absolute abomination.
Agree pretty much entirely, although I am really not convinced that the Canadian pair has what it takes unless the stars align perfectly.
I am always cautious when it comes to evaluating speed, especially for ice dance. You gotta be at the rink to really experience it. So yeah, 25 years later, it's a bit hard to achieve
It could happen in 4 out of 5 cause I don't see a pair medal happening.
Haha - you got meI am always cautious when it comes to evaluating speed, especially for ice dance. You gotta be at the rink to really experience it. So yeah, 25 years later, it's a bit hard to achieve
good point!Canada got 4/5 in 2018.
I kind of think you have to be kidding - because that's the best news I have heard in a long time! Mark is, bar none, my favorite commentator, and I think he ranks among the best ever. Hearing what he has to say about a domestic competition like Canadian Nationals will be fascinating! I can't believe they are making this happen...
Uggh. I was surprised they came up with Vincent second time in Olympic season. I know some people love it but for me it was boring. I think Vincent is more for them as a retiring team? Pp have been difficult to fathom at times with the material. I loved their earlier material. I loved the Hitchcock one and the Saude one that was avant- guard. It will be difficult to medal i think. Something fresh would have been better
For sure, I agree. Vincent is a very good program, and perhaps highly sentimental for Piper & Paul, for their own personal reasons. Yet, it has not come across as well in this current chaotic and unpredictable ice dance environment. The program's unique subtleties and nuances were appreciated more during its original 2018 - 2019 debut. As I already mentioned a few times, I would have picked a different program from their amazing repertoire to bring back, particularly in this current ice dance environment.
Over time, such a set of circumstances has surely got to be exhausting and detrimental to any team's confidence.
This
I would not call the FD that Fear/Gibson have "a masterpiece in flame to their strengths..." I'm not sure what 'masterpiece in flame,' actually means.
I do have a better sense of what a masterpiece is, in the sense of performance art, and I still would not place F/G's FD in this category. It's not a tour de force either, albeit when performed with brio and confidence in front of an adoring audience, it might well reach that 'descriptive' adjective in the minds of those carried away by the fun energy of the material, plus the dance's thematic resonance with Lewis' Scottish heritage. That heritage aspect is given punch and further impact with their plaid costuming. I find their FD to be fun & creative in a mundane sorta way. It's also a bit gimmicky, like a number of their programs, such as Rocky, etc. But it has tended to work for them, as they are sincere, determined, and genuine in giving their all to the concepts they put together. Their competitive consistency and hard work are always mentioned by commentators, even when they have had so-so output, like last season.I agree with pretty much everything you saidI would not call the FD that Fear/Gibson have "a masterpiece in flame to their strengths..." I'm not sure what 'masterpiece in flame,' actually means.
There were a lot of average, less than memorable programs put out last year in ice dance. The only memorable ones for me are: Olivia/Tim's Dune; Flores/ Desyatov's Poor Things; Turkkila/ Versluis' Scali-choreog'd tango; and Car/Pom's dramatic FD to Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. I also liked Green/ Parson's Dance Me to the End of Love FD.
Back to F/G, I agree that I.AM's hallmark is observing team's abilities and bringing out what they are best at, in a way that camouflages their weaknesses. Obviously, sometimes material doesn't work, but re-working and making adjustments are the norm, and something notably utilized by the former Hubbell/Donahue very effectively. Chock/Bates try to follow that example. But they are quite different than Hub/Don. Both Madisons are powerful, but in very different ways. I liked Hubbell/ Donahue the best. H/D complemented each other's strengths so well, yet were never fully rewarded due to all the talent at the top. Chock/ Bates benefited by a number of retirements post-2022 Olympics. But C/B have reigned during a less than scintillating transitional period, with not a lot of top rivals, aside from Piper/ Paul, especially with Hawayek/ Baker retiring, and with the split of F-B/S.
Now, though, the scene is sizzling with the impact of Cizeron and F-B's unexpected return together. With their different styles and equally bravura ice dance talent, F-B/C have managed to create something captivating and full of promise.
I truly wish PiPa had brought back a revamped Evita or Wuthering Hts, or created something entirely new in their final farewell. Absent having done that this season, I hope PiPa might feel able to give it one more try, one more year post-Olympics, and enliven us with something special, unlike the quiet (some term it boring) return to poignant sentimentality, that is Vincent.
it was a typo and should have said " a masterpiece in playing to their strengths". Yes, absolutely gimmicky; and I agree that while I loved vincent (possibly because I've always loved both the artist and the original song by Don Mclean) one of the other pieces would have been a better idea - and something fresh and new possibly even a better idea.
