1) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
Music:
Tonight by Bernie Taupin & Elton John
- If they can get over what plagued them in the short dance, this could bring home a huge score
- Beautiful rotational lift
- I love the colors of the costumes, very serene
- Gorgeous twizzle sequence
- This team is so elegant and it's a pity they couldn't show it in the short
- This circular step sequence doesn't have the speed of the top teams, but they have a gorgeous, well-matached leg line
- They've been called Virtue/Moir 2.0 and I can see it
- They have good variety in the lifts
- She looks like a bird floating in that dance spin
- There is always a pause when the couples shift spinning directions and I appreciate that she took the time to make a gesture with her arm to fill the space
- Their entries/exits to the lifts are flawless
- They have a very expressive quality about them, without pulling their faces
- They were born to do lyrical free skates, don't expect anything jazzy from them anytime soon
- He makes her look as light as a feather and shows her off well while still drawing attention to himself which I appreciate
- Gorgeous skate!
FD Score: 40.21 (TES) + 34.99 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 74.20
Total Score: 37.50 (SD) + 74.20 (FD) = 111.70
2) Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA)
Music:
Les Miserables
- Fast paced opening to this program
- She loses the 1st twizzle and the 3rd for that matter
- This is an odd selection of pieces from Les Miserables
- They look like they aren't over their legs for some reason
- That curve lift was a nice position
- They're carrying great speed in this program
- I'm not as big a fan of their programs this season
- And her lipstick is too pink
FD Score: 38.36 (TES) + 34.81 (PCS) = 73.17
Total Score: 42.05 (SD) + 73.17 (FD) = 115.22
3) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)
Music:
I Put a Spell on You by Joe Cocker
- This is a great Free Dance, I like it now and it has growing potential as well
- They are a very well matched team
- They are similar in height and they kind of put me in mind of Lang & Tschernyshev
- This is a very solid program, it's seamless and you don't see the elements
- The twizzles are great, I love that they take a risk with the a la seconde position
- Their holds are very close and they have a great connection to one another
- I'm so glad that Madison is not skating with her brother anymore
- That final moment was just so great
- They are so happy, Zachary is just thrilled with that
FD Score: 43.11 (TES) + 39.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 81.33
Total Score: 49.71 (SD) + 81.33 (FD) = 131.04
4) Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)
Music:
Let's Twist Again, Only You, Tutti Frutti
- I love that Isabella Tobias trained at SAB
- They are so cute together!
- Love this program!
- Those music transitions are kind of awkward
- This music is great because it has a recognizable beat
- They have great lifts in signature Zoueva & Shpilband
- They need to carry more speed with this fast-paced music
- That was such a cute program!
FD Score: 41.99 (TES) + 38.76 (PCS) = 80.75
Total Score: 51.83 (SD) + 80.75 (FD) = 132.85
5) Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)
Music:
Le Cosa Pequena, El Chulio
- They never have professional looking costumes
- I love watching Asher, but Kharis is a little clunky
- He is so much more expressive than she is and has much nicer body lines
- That was a gorgeous rotational lift that had great speed
- Interesting low spin position with her handing off of his leg
- They are running out of gas about halfway through and lack the speed of top teams
- Their leg lines do not match very well, he has much better extension
- That ending pose was very cool
FD Score: 40.22 (TES) + 38.39 (PCS) = 78.61
Total Score: 52.68 (SD) + 78.61 (FD) =131.29
6) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
Music:
Romeo & Juliet
- This is a beautiful program at times and painfully awkward at other times
- I hate that heartbeat undertone, but it was added after O Nepela when they received a music violation for not having a clear dance beat
- That "did they kiss or didn't they" life moment is awkward
- The upside down lift is lovely but the exit is strange
- This music transitions is awkward and they seem to be flailing, like they don't have their feet under them
- They normally have very nice lines, but today they seem off
- This is a very odd program for me
- I could also see another music violation in that the free skates are supposed to be uplifting in nature, but I don't see that at all when she stabs herself with his hand at the end and dies
FD Score: 37.43 (TES) + 38.53 (PCS) = 75.95
Total Score: 55.66 (SD) + 75.95 (FD) = 131.61
7) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
Music:
Passion, In the Garden of Souls, Le Retour de Punt, Alf Wayla Wa Layla
- That opening lift was a stunner!
- I hate the costumes, but I get how they work for the program
- I hope Fabian can make it, he is really sick
- He is a pharaoh and she is the mummy of his deceased wife coming back fro one last dance
- Very cool twizzle sequence, a bit of unison lost in the 3rd set
- They are keeping the theme of the piece even in the lifts, which is not always the case
- I love this jazzy section in the middle!
- I can't tell if I love it or hate it
- The ending pose was pretty cool
FD Score: 46.42 (TES) + 50.80 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 96.22
Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + 96.22 (FD) = 156.29
8) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
Music:
Die Fledermaus by Strauss
- I am loving this classical program on them, they really look World Class
- This is what happens when you stay together for 13 years kids, you dance as one
- Dance spins must be the hardest place to get creative
- They are very good at waltz
- Meryl's arms were a little bent in that rotational lift and the exit was slightly abrupt
- Spot on twizzles today, the crowd loved it!
- I love the whimsical quality of this piece, they have two very light programs this season, both very watchable
- A little ragged and wild at the very end, but lovely and solid overall
- That piece fits them perfectly
FD Score: 51.21 (TES) + 56.53 (PCS) = 107.74
Total Score: 70.33 (SD) + 107.74 (FD) = 178.07
