Andrei Mozalev
- Thread starter Mariott
- Start date
Popular trend from team Tutberidze
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Backstage
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Now, my dear friends, Andrei’s vacation has begun and will last until June 7, which means the 2025–2026 season is officially over. It was a very up-and-down season; there were quite a few low points, but there were also many high points. Overall, it ends on a high note, and we look to the future with cautious optimism. The most important thing for me is that Andrei is still with us, that he enjoys what he does, and that he believes in himself. These are very positive trends.
While the athletes are on vacation and things are quiet here, I remembered my traditional annual tradition and decided to entertain you. I’ve compiled my ranking of Andrei’s programs for the season and a ranking of his costumes for on-ice performances. Thank goodness, we have plenty of material this year for both rankings, especially for the costume ranking, which will feature a nearly full top 10.
Remember, this is just for fun, don’t be upset if my opinion happens to differ from yours. The main thing is that we’re both thinking about the same thing, right? And we’ve had a good time fighting off boredom, which is also very important during this period of deep silence.
Let’s start with the program rankings, because, of course, that’s more important than the costumes. The rule is the same: we start at the bottom of the list and work our way up; I’ll reveal one slot per day, sometimes two if I’m really torn between two nominees. We’ll finish on Sunday, take a little break, and start a new activity! I think everyone will be happy. So, let’s go!
Andrei Mozalev’s program rankings for the 2025–2026 season
Out of the rankings #7 #6 #5
#4 
#3 
#2 
#1
While the athletes are on vacation and things are quiet here, I remembered my traditional annual tradition and decided to entertain you. I’ve compiled my ranking of Andrei’s programs for the season and a ranking of his costumes for on-ice performances. Thank goodness, we have plenty of material this year for both rankings, especially for the costume ranking, which will feature a nearly full top 10.
Remember, this is just for fun, don’t be upset if my opinion happens to differ from yours. The main thing is that we’re both thinking about the same thing, right? And we’ve had a good time fighting off boredom, which is also very important during this period of deep silence.
Let’s start with the program rankings, because, of course, that’s more important than the costumes. The rule is the same: we start at the bottom of the list and work our way up; I’ll reveal one slot per day, sometimes two if I’m really torn between two nominees. We’ll finish on Sunday, take a little break, and start a new activity! I think everyone will be happy. So, let’s go!
Andrei Mozalev’s program rankings for the 2025–2026 season
Out of the rankings #7 #6 #5
#4 #3 #2 #1
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Out of the rankings. All these performances with lots of participating people
This season Andrei was very active on the show, which means he took part in all of these group performances. As I’ve said before, I don’t rate these kinds of acts because I can’t accurately determine how to evaluate each participant’s contribution, their skill, or their role in creating the overall impression. Yes, they moved beautifully together and didn’t even get in each other’s way, but that’s all I can say. It doesn’t matter whether Andrei was the main character, the host of the ball in a fairy-tale land, or a supporting character, the showman’s assistant, handing him a top hat and a cane. Overall, his role consisted precisely of this: gracefully skating within the space allotted to him, without knocking other skaters off their feet or dropping props. He didn’t even have a chance to have some fun and perform a Michael Jackson-style zombie dance to show off his moves, so I see no reason to include these group numbers in my program rating.
But it was vibrant and fun, so I’ll mention it anyway, and of course, I’ll definitely rate the costumes.
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
I’ve noticed a pattern: while in previous years the programs at the bottom of the rankings were objectively not very good (they were put together in a hurry, and the choreographers didn’t go out of their way to develop the characters or create complex choreography) —this season, just like last season, the bottom spots in the rankings are also occupied by very good and unusual programs that made me look at Andrei in a new light. That’s how fierce the competition among the performances has been in recent years—literally a battle between the good and the best. For example, the last spot went to an interesting dance that, in less competitive years, would have been in the middle of the rankings or even near the top 4. But this is a good performance, and I’m not kidding, you’ve never seen Andrei like this before.
#7 Ballet Spanish Dance
Presented in Ilya Averbukh’s show “The Nutcracker” (5 performances in December 2025 – January 2026).
Choreographer: Ilya Averbukh
Music: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op.71, TH.14 / Act 2 - No. 12a Chocolate (Spanish Dance)
Character: a dancing Spanish toy – toreador
Ilya Averbukh’s Christmas show “The Nutcracker” has been running for about 10 years (I clearly remember mentions of it from 2016; it may have started even earlier). The secret to the show’s enduring popularity lies in its rotating cast, the constant invitation of young stars, and the classic model of a fairy-tale show for children and adults, proven over decades. It is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s traditional Christmas fairy tale and the classic ballet set to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Ilya Averbukh has carefully carried over even the comedic numbers from the ballet, where toys from different countries dance. Not out of meticulousness or deep respect for the original source, but because it’s an excellent way to give a guest star — whether a single figure skater or a pair — a chance to perform in the show. Essentially, this is a solo performance, though the music, choreography, character, and costume are all predetermined; nevertheless, the skater has some freedom of self-expression.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What would Mozalev look like if he performed all those golden opera and ballet classics—José, Escamillo, and so on—on the ice?” you absolutely have to watch this. The answer: he would look great. Mozalev’s toreador is a light, airy, almost weightless, joyful young man who seems to flit across the ice. He demonstrates excellent choreography and superb control of both his body and his skate. Of course, from a ballet perspective, one could nitpick and demand more precise arm positioning and a firmer posture, especially where he portrays flamenco movements. If he were portraying a real bullfighter, he would need to show more fire and passion, which is not really his style. But this is a comedic dance, and these toreador is just a toy —it’s supposed to be lighthearted and cheerful, so in this case, everything feels natural.
So why is it last on the list? Well, over the past ten years, just about anyone has danced this piece, Averbukh himself was the first.
The choreography itself is by no means new, which is why I’m placing it at the bottom of my ranking. But it was a new experience for Andrei, and he definitely pulled it off.
Presented in Ilya Averbukh’s show “The Nutcracker” (5 performances in December 2025 – January 2026).
Choreographer: Ilya Averbukh
Music: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op.71, TH.14 / Act 2 - No. 12a Chocolate (Spanish Dance)
Character: a dancing Spanish toy – toreador
Ilya Averbukh’s Christmas show “The Nutcracker” has been running for about 10 years (I clearly remember mentions of it from 2016; it may have started even earlier). The secret to the show’s enduring popularity lies in its rotating cast, the constant invitation of young stars, and the classic model of a fairy-tale show for children and adults, proven over decades. It is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s traditional Christmas fairy tale and the classic ballet set to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Ilya Averbukh has carefully carried over even the comedic numbers from the ballet, where toys from different countries dance. Not out of meticulousness or deep respect for the original source, but because it’s an excellent way to give a guest star — whether a single figure skater or a pair — a chance to perform in the show. Essentially, this is a solo performance, though the music, choreography, character, and costume are all predetermined; nevertheless, the skater has some freedom of self-expression.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What would Mozalev look like if he performed all those golden opera and ballet classics—José, Escamillo, and so on—on the ice?” you absolutely have to watch this. The answer: he would look great. Mozalev’s toreador is a light, airy, almost weightless, joyful young man who seems to flit across the ice. He demonstrates excellent choreography and superb control of both his body and his skate. Of course, from a ballet perspective, one could nitpick and demand more precise arm positioning and a firmer posture, especially where he portrays flamenco movements. If he were portraying a real bullfighter, he would need to show more fire and passion, which is not really his style. But this is a comedic dance, and these toreador is just a toy —it’s supposed to be lighthearted and cheerful, so in this case, everything feels natural.
So why is it last on the list? Well, over the past ten years, just about anyone has danced this piece, Averbukh himself was the first.
The choreography itself is by no means new, which is why I’m placing it at the bottom of my ranking. But it was a new experience for Andrei, and he definitely pulled it off.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
For now, I’m sharing some photos that aren’t quite summery yet) I’m currently spending my first few days of vacation in St. Petersburg—surrounded by family and friends, and enjoying the familiar atmosphere of my hometown!
And I’m waiting for my new passport. I hope everything will be ready very soon, and I’ll finally be able to fly off to the beach
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Let’s continue our ranking. Today we have two nominees here; it’s very difficult to choose between them, so in my ranking they share the two spots. And now you’ll see why.
That’s why both of these show programs are in the middle of my ranking. I can’t decide which one deserves a higher spot and which one should be lower, so they both occupy positions 5–6. They could have been higher, but this season we have more worthy contenders for the top 4 — original, vibrant, elegant and stylish programs. Which ones exactly? Patience, you’ll find out soon. See you tomorrow!
#5-6
“Ya molus za tebya” (I pray for you)
Presented in Ilya Averbukh’s “Champions on Ice” show in August-September 2025 (6 show).
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: NЮ (this is the pseudonym of a Russian singer-songwriter) – “Ya molus za tebya” (I pray for you)
Image: someone who prays for you. Someone to whom you are very important.
And
“Batareyka” (Battery)
Performed at the April`s show of Eteri Tutberidze’s team (11 shows) in April-May 2026.
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: Zhuki (retro Russian band) – Batareyka (Battery)
Image: Andreika, whose love for someone has gradually faded.
Is it really appropriate to add last year’s show program to my list? Well, since Andrei performed it at Averbukh’s show in September 2025, when the 2025–2026 season officially began, I can consider it a program from this season. And compare it to this year’s show program.
Well, where should I start… The first thing to understand: these are two completely different show programs! It sounds ironic, because I’m the one who put them side by side, but it’s really true: they’re different. It doesn’t matter that Andrei has very similar costumes (I’ll joke about this in the costume ranking), or that both programs are set to sad music in a lyrical spirit. Of course, I relied heavily on the song lyrics, and it’s probably hard to form an opinion without knowing Russian, but I hope that even without understanding the lyrics, by focusing on body language, you could tell what emotions Andrei was conveying.
“Prayer” is the story of a person in love, worrying about someone they love, asking the heavens to protect the object of their affection. “The Battery” is the story of a person whose love for someone has faded under the influence of life’s circumstances. Strangely enough, this performance is both more tragic and more optimistic, since the song about the battery is familiar to all the audience members from childhood; they sing along out loud and feel a warm sense of nostalgia.
Andrei is truly excellent at telling these stories on the ice; he is sincere and strives to convey the hero’s emotional state as accurately as possible through body language, facial expressions, postures, and gestures. These are very beautiful and enjoyable shows. However, Andrei doesn’t step outside the bounds of his usual lyrical persona; there’s nothing here that I’d call a breakthrough, nothing fundamentally new.
“Ya molus za tebya” (I pray for you)
Presented in Ilya Averbukh’s “Champions on Ice” show in August-September 2025 (6 show).
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: NЮ (this is the pseudonym of a Russian singer-songwriter) – “Ya molus za tebya” (I pray for you)
Image: someone who prays for you. Someone to whom you are very important.
And
“Batareyka” (Battery)
Performed at the April`s show of Eteri Tutberidze’s team (11 shows) in April-May 2026.
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: Zhuki (retro Russian band) – Batareyka (Battery)
Image: Andreika, whose love for someone has gradually faded.
Is it really appropriate to add last year’s show program to my list? Well, since Andrei performed it at Averbukh’s show in September 2025, when the 2025–2026 season officially began, I can consider it a program from this season. And compare it to this year’s show program.
Well, where should I start… The first thing to understand: these are two completely different show programs! It sounds ironic, because I’m the one who put them side by side, but it’s really true: they’re different. It doesn’t matter that Andrei has very similar costumes (I’ll joke about this in the costume ranking), or that both programs are set to sad music in a lyrical spirit. Of course, I relied heavily on the song lyrics, and it’s probably hard to form an opinion without knowing Russian, but I hope that even without understanding the lyrics, by focusing on body language, you could tell what emotions Andrei was conveying.
“Prayer” is the story of a person in love, worrying about someone they love, asking the heavens to protect the object of their affection. “The Battery” is the story of a person whose love for someone has faded under the influence of life’s circumstances. Strangely enough, this performance is both more tragic and more optimistic, since the song about the battery is familiar to all the audience members from childhood; they sing along out loud and feel a warm sense of nostalgia.
Andrei is truly excellent at telling these stories on the ice; he is sincere and strives to convey the hero’s emotional state as accurately as possible through body language, facial expressions, postures, and gestures. These are very beautiful and enjoyable shows. However, Andrei doesn’t step outside the bounds of his usual lyrical persona; there’s nothing here that I’d call a breakthrough, nothing fundamentally new.
That’s why both of these show programs are in the middle of my ranking. I can’t decide which one deserves a higher spot and which one should be lower, so they both occupy positions 5–6. They could have been higher, but this season we have more worthy contenders for the top 4 — original, vibrant, elegant and stylish programs. Which ones exactly? Patience, you’ll find out soon. See you tomorrow!
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Another evening—and I’m opening a new spot on the list and getting closer to the top 3. To be honest, I hesitated for a long time before making this decision, before deciding for myself which of my nominees would make the top three and which would remain in 4th place. Let me remind you that, following American custom, I also award a medal to the participant who takes 4th place, but this is still not the same as making it into the top 3; it’s a sort of consolation medal for those who stopped just one step away from the podium. And, just like in professional sports, medals aren’t duplicated in my rankings—there can’t be two bronze medals or two silver medals. Someone is bound to perform slightly better, and someone slightly worse. This year, as I’ve mentioned, all programs are good. It’s just that some were better, which is why this program only took 4th place in the rankings.
Tomorrow evening we’ll start handing out the big medals and assigning spots on the podium. Come on by, it’ll be fun!
And this is a very rare case where a competitive program ends up outside the top 3 in my ranking. It hasn’t happened in several years.
#4 Bond, Andrei Bond
Free Skate Program for the 2025–2026 Season.
Performed at all competitions this season (except for the Channel One Cup, where only the short program was presented). The best performance, in my opinion, was at the GP (R) event in Krasnoyarsk. It was an excellent skate with a great vibe and only one major mistake.
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: No Time to Die (Billie Eilish cover), James Bond theme
Image: a character from books and films, a legendary British spy, an irresistible gentleman, and a bit of a playful boy.
Perhaps the most fitting word for this program was found by the Channel One commentator. It was the word “elegance.” That is truly what comes to mind when you think about this image and Andrei’s program. For four minutes, he truly transformed into a refined Briton in the service of Her Majesty. The image of James Bond can be interpreted in different ways, and the image of a reserved, calm, and self-assured Englishman, like Daniel Craig, suited Andrei very well with his modest and understated beauty. And I really love those few minutes of lighthearted madness at the end, when this reserved gentleman adjusts his tie and suddenly turns into a mischievous boy who does a cartwheel on the ice, shoots with his fingers folded like a pistol, performs flashy wide splits, and shows off in other ways. This transition from adult restraint to boyish fun and mischief simply charms me.
It’s a very enjoyable program that suits Andrei perfectly; it has style, elegance, and humor. All of his signature elements are skillfully woven into it, and at the same time, there is something new and unfamiliar about it. It is an attempt to move away from his usual lyrical role and try to make Andrei a hero, while also showcasing his childlike nature and youthful enthusiasm, awakening his inner child. Unfortunately, it has the same problem as all of Andrei Mozalev’s free programs: he makes mistakes on the jump elements—and this detracts from the program’s impact, dampening the overall impression. Overall, it’s good, stylish, and elegant, but it pales slightly in comparison to other interesting programs this year, which is why I placed it in 4th place. This doesn’t mean it’s inferior in any way to the top three nominees. It simply didn’t make as vivid an impression.
#4 Bond, Andrei BondFree Skate Program for the 2025–2026 Season.
Performed at all competitions this season (except for the Channel One Cup, where only the short program was presented). The best performance, in my opinion, was at the GP (R) event in Krasnoyarsk. It was an excellent skate with a great vibe and only one major mistake.
Choreographers: Eteri Tutberidze, Daniil Gleikhengauz
Music: No Time to Die (Billie Eilish cover), James Bond theme
Image: a character from books and films, a legendary British spy, an irresistible gentleman, and a bit of a playful boy.
Perhaps the most fitting word for this program was found by the Channel One commentator. It was the word “elegance.” That is truly what comes to mind when you think about this image and Andrei’s program. For four minutes, he truly transformed into a refined Briton in the service of Her Majesty. The image of James Bond can be interpreted in different ways, and the image of a reserved, calm, and self-assured Englishman, like Daniel Craig, suited Andrei very well with his modest and understated beauty. And I really love those few minutes of lighthearted madness at the end, when this reserved gentleman adjusts his tie and suddenly turns into a mischievous boy who does a cartwheel on the ice, shoots with his fingers folded like a pistol, performs flashy wide splits, and shows off in other ways. This transition from adult restraint to boyish fun and mischief simply charms me.
It’s a very enjoyable program that suits Andrei perfectly; it has style, elegance, and humor. All of his signature elements are skillfully woven into it, and at the same time, there is something new and unfamiliar about it. It is an attempt to move away from his usual lyrical role and try to make Andrei a hero, while also showcasing his childlike nature and youthful enthusiasm, awakening his inner child. Unfortunately, it has the same problem as all of Andrei Mozalev’s free programs: he makes mistakes on the jump elements—and this detracts from the program’s impact, dampening the overall impression. Overall, it’s good, stylish, and elegant, but it pales slightly in comparison to other interesting programs this year, which is why I placed it in 4th place. This doesn’t mean it’s inferior in any way to the top three nominees. It simply didn’t make as vivid an impression.
Tomorrow evening we’ll start handing out the big medals and assigning spots on the podium. Come on by, it’ll be fun!
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Next season I hope Andrei gets more shows and variety programs. I want a full-fledged top 10. I’ve only just gotten into it, and my rating is already coming to the end! All that’s left is to award the winners. Tonight I’m handing out the bronze, and the one who gets it, having edged out the previous contestant (who was also really cool)—is… Wait, first I need to grab something from my purse, just in case you don’t agree with me and want to leave (evil laugh).
#3 Horrible date with a young witch. "I Put a Spell on You"
Performed once on the show “Russian Challenge 2026” in April 2026.
Choreographers: Albena Denkova, Maxim Staviski
Music: Screaming Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell on You.
Image: A free-spirited young man whom his girlfriend turned into a puppet using magic.
Andrei continues to figure out, through trial and error, how many partners he needs for a successful stage performance. Seven dancers in a frame-up? None at all? Just one teammate? Until he finds the perfect formula, the experiments continue.
As I mentioned earlier, I was torn inside; for a long time, I couldn’t decide which of these two programs to place on the bottom step of the podium and which would have to settle for the bronze medal. “The Terrible Date” ultimately won out because this season I decided to evaluate all the nominees in terms of novelty. What did this program bring to Andrei, what new experience did he gain, and were we able to see new facets of his talent? In this regard, the show number turned out to be even cooler than the competitive program.
First and foremost, it was the experience of working with new choreographers who have a fresh perspective on what a program should look like and assess Andrei’s capabilities on the ice differently. Albena and Maxim truly pushed Andrei to do things he had never done before. And he was, without exaggeration, magnificent, inimitable! Just how well he controls his body, how he can hold it in the most complex and beautiful poses, just how fluid and beautiful his glide is, and those wide, beautiful steps in the split on the ice! After this performance, many wrote that Andrei absolutely needs a program set to blues music, because he skates it so well. You probably remember that Andrei already had a program set to Led Zeppelin blues in the 2022–2023 season, but back then, in the opinion of many, he looked somewhat stiff while performing the choreographed movements. But in this performance, he was completely at ease! This is significant progress compared to past seasons.
Second, there’s the experience of interacting with another skater on the ice. I’ll admit, I expected more from Andrei and Alisa’s duet, remembering how harmonious they looked, how synchronized their movements were, and how they mirrored each other during the jump competition. I consider it a major oversight on the part of the choreographers that they didn’t utilize this very strength of their duo at all; I would have loved to see their synchronized skating in the show—a dance by such dissimilar yet perfectly mirroring partners on the ice. But, alas, the choreographers had their own vision of this story and Alice’s role in it. Nevertheless, it was a new experience for both the male and female skaters, and they both handled their roles excellently, demonstrating their acting talent.
I must cite the “sagging” of the plot in the second half of the program as the second obvious flaw in the production. This story, with its dynamic plot, for some reason cuts off at the most interesting point, and for several dozen seconds, absolutely nothing happens there; as a result, both the climax and the ending feel severely diluted. In my opinion, the action should have built up gradually; the enchanted young man should have been subjected to more and more humiliations after his domineering sorceress girlfriend literally forced him to kiss her. Perhaps they could have moved on to more steamy interactions; for example, a light striptease would have been quite appropriate in this comedic act, but apparently the directors took into account the age of the partner, who is not yet 18, feared accusations of corrupting minors, and hit the “stop” button. It makes sense, but because of this, the storyline ended up feeling a bit disjointed. Those who were expecting something steamy on the ice were particularly disappointed—their imaginations had been fueled by rumors of a possible very close relationship between the two skaters.
Nevertheless, this is currently Andrei’s “hottest” image on the ice; he was even able to reveal his—dare I say it!—dark side and openly display the masculine sexuality he had kept hidden until now. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for from a skater who is maturing year after year. I’d love to see what other inner demons he can unleash while performing on the ice—naturally, for the sake of fully realizing his artistic vision and achieving his artistic goals. I’ll be eagerly awaiting new experiments in this area!
This is a very good program for a show—fresh, vibrant, enjoyable, romantic, and at the same time full of good humor. I watched it with great pleasure, often rewatch it, and have saved it in my collection of best performances. Yes, it could have been even better, but what we have is also very good. I look at my top three and see that this program belongs right here.
And things are about to get even more interesting! Want to find out who took the silver medal, coming in second only to the winner? See you tomorrow night!
#3 Horrible date with a young witch. "I Put a Spell on You"Performed once on the show “Russian Challenge 2026” in April 2026.
Choreographers: Albena Denkova, Maxim Staviski
Music: Screaming Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell on You.
Image: A free-spirited young man whom his girlfriend turned into a puppet using magic.
Andrei continues to figure out, through trial and error, how many partners he needs for a successful stage performance. Seven dancers in a frame-up? None at all? Just one teammate? Until he finds the perfect formula, the experiments continue.
As I mentioned earlier, I was torn inside; for a long time, I couldn’t decide which of these two programs to place on the bottom step of the podium and which would have to settle for the bronze medal. “The Terrible Date” ultimately won out because this season I decided to evaluate all the nominees in terms of novelty. What did this program bring to Andrei, what new experience did he gain, and were we able to see new facets of his talent? In this regard, the show number turned out to be even cooler than the competitive program.
First and foremost, it was the experience of working with new choreographers who have a fresh perspective on what a program should look like and assess Andrei’s capabilities on the ice differently. Albena and Maxim truly pushed Andrei to do things he had never done before. And he was, without exaggeration, magnificent, inimitable! Just how well he controls his body, how he can hold it in the most complex and beautiful poses, just how fluid and beautiful his glide is, and those wide, beautiful steps in the split on the ice! After this performance, many wrote that Andrei absolutely needs a program set to blues music, because he skates it so well. You probably remember that Andrei already had a program set to Led Zeppelin blues in the 2022–2023 season, but back then, in the opinion of many, he looked somewhat stiff while performing the choreographed movements. But in this performance, he was completely at ease! This is significant progress compared to past seasons.
Second, there’s the experience of interacting with another skater on the ice. I’ll admit, I expected more from Andrei and Alisa’s duet, remembering how harmonious they looked, how synchronized their movements were, and how they mirrored each other during the jump competition. I consider it a major oversight on the part of the choreographers that they didn’t utilize this very strength of their duo at all; I would have loved to see their synchronized skating in the show—a dance by such dissimilar yet perfectly mirroring partners on the ice. But, alas, the choreographers had their own vision of this story and Alice’s role in it. Nevertheless, it was a new experience for both the male and female skaters, and they both handled their roles excellently, demonstrating their acting talent.
I must cite the “sagging” of the plot in the second half of the program as the second obvious flaw in the production. This story, with its dynamic plot, for some reason cuts off at the most interesting point, and for several dozen seconds, absolutely nothing happens there; as a result, both the climax and the ending feel severely diluted. In my opinion, the action should have built up gradually; the enchanted young man should have been subjected to more and more humiliations after his domineering sorceress girlfriend literally forced him to kiss her. Perhaps they could have moved on to more steamy interactions; for example, a light striptease would have been quite appropriate in this comedic act, but apparently the directors took into account the age of the partner, who is not yet 18, feared accusations of corrupting minors, and hit the “stop” button. It makes sense, but because of this, the storyline ended up feeling a bit disjointed. Those who were expecting something steamy on the ice were particularly disappointed—their imaginations had been fueled by rumors of a possible very close relationship between the two skaters.
Nevertheless, this is currently Andrei’s “hottest” image on the ice; he was even able to reveal his—dare I say it!—dark side and openly display the masculine sexuality he had kept hidden until now. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for from a skater who is maturing year after year. I’d love to see what other inner demons he can unleash while performing on the ice—naturally, for the sake of fully realizing his artistic vision and achieving his artistic goals. I’ll be eagerly awaiting new experiments in this area!
This is a very good program for a show—fresh, vibrant, enjoyable, romantic, and at the same time full of good humor. I watched it with great pleasure, often rewatch it, and have saved it in my collection of best performances. Yes, it could have been even better, but what we have is also very good. I look at my top three and see that this program belongs right here.
And things are about to get even more interesting! Want to find out who took the silver medal, coming in second only to the winner? See you tomorrow night!
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