I said it depends, and I really mean that. First of all, I have to like the program. I don't mean that I'll automatically criticize a skater if they repeat a program I don't like because sometimes there are good reasons that I totally get, but of course it's more enjoyable if you really like the program. And of course, I'm human, so how much I like a skater may have an effect.
I think missing time do to injury is a very legitimate reason to repeat a program, and I also get making a switch when something isn't working, especially in an Olympic season, when the stakes are so high. And of course some skaters have issues with funding, which is a fair reason for a repeat.
Some of my feelings on the program repeats this year:
Hanyu - I support repeating Seimei, especially after hearing him talk about how important it was to show his culture. I would have preferred he not use Chopin. Three times is a lot worse than two for me, and I also really don't like both programs being repeats. It was lovely though, and it worked out well with the injury.
Fernandez - I barely consider the Chaplin a repeat, since it was different music cuts, a different program and several years later. I actually think going back to something you did several years ago can be interesting artistically, although it doesn't always turn out that way.
Uno - Didn't love the repeat here, and I do think the first version was more effective. But I don't really connect to his skating, so it didn't actually bother me because I hadn't gone and rewatched it at all.
Rippon - I was fine with it, even with it being both of them because of the injury last year. Of course it helps that I liked the SP and loved the FS. I'm really glad he kept the FS. I would have slightly preferred a new SP, but I wasn't upset about it. The FS actually made me a fan this season.
Nadeau - I was honestly thrilled when he showed up at a summer comp in the Elvis costume. I just love the program so much, and he did miss some of last season with an ankle injury. If he repeated it again, I wouldn't be happy because now I want to see something new.
Zagitova - I had mixed feelings about this one. I liked it better than her SP and I get why she kept it, but it way a bit too much in the way of tutus for me. But I think it was a fair decision when trying to win Olympic gold right after moving up from juniors. But I didn't watch it that much in juniors, so it wasn't boring for me in that way.
Osmond - I was happy she switched. She tried a new program in the summer and I liked it, but the Edith Piaf was a really special program. I don't think Summertime would have had the same magic at the Olympics. And for me at least, it never lost it's sparkle, so it wasn't boring. Looking forward to something new next season, though.
Daleman - I don't have a problem with skaters switching back to old programs midseason if the new one really isn't working, like I said before, which was the case here. I think it was a good call, even though the Olympics didn't go well in the individual. I definitely enjoyed watching it more than that Gladiator mess.
Chen - I wasn't a fan of the constant program switches with her. The Golden Pond SP is pretty, even though she's dressed as the wrong bird, but the FS is meh. I think she would have done better just sticking with something earlier.
Wagner - Like I said with Hanyu, three is way too much for me, as is two repeated programs. And both had really lost their sparkle. I was happy to watch La La Land rather than MR again at Nationals. I honestly think she would have been better off with two new programs because HHCC was even staler than MR.
S/M - I liked the SP repeat. I really got into them, and it's such a fun program. And it worked better for them than their first one. And it was also fresher because they only went back to it part way through the season. And that Olympic dress was just stunning.
D/R - I understood why the went back to Muse, given their struggles and Eric's injury, but it didn't feel that fresh. I was completely fine with the Adele repeat though. Like with S/M, it was fairly fresh because they only did it a couple of times this season. And it was a really lovely performance at the Olympics and the meaning felt right for the Games. A nice song to end their career on.
SK/K - the repeats didn't bother me, but I didn't really feel that the programs were special enough to warrant repeats.
H/B - I would have slightly preferred a new program, but it was lovely and I think it helped them have a really strong season. I'm looking forward to something new though.
that she would try to use Moulin Rouge a third season (loved the program though) and it turned out her new program would have worked better anyway!
. I still want see to Mao try new choreographers.
