Some thoughts on the show:
Kurt is in amazing shape. The jumps are looking light and easy still. What a brilliant career and I’m happy I was able to see this farewell. There were a couple of instances of him doing figures in the show and I loved that.
Also happy that the powers that be seen to have listened to complaints in previous years and filled the cast with truly glorious skaters. This is not to say that the cast last year wasn’t good, it’s just that this year was a pretty substantial step up both in terms of technical content AND exceptional talents with respect to basic skating.
I do worry a bit about the future of the tour with no true Canadian stars on the horizon. There is still Elvis to bring in a casual fan, but realistically he’s not going to continue much longer either. The audience LOVED Jason, Alexa/Brandon after they skated, but the applause when they first skated out was a bit tepid because I sensed the audience didn’t know who they were.
It’s the problem is having great skaters that a crowd will love once they are there, but no one to lure in a casual fan off the street with name recognition that extends to people who aren’t hardcore skating fans.
Madeline Schizas has found her look with the bangs and a high bun. She looked great. And also rocking a dress
in the finale that is older than she is
At around 11:40 in this clip you’ll see some familiar costumes. I kinda love when they do this and pull items out of the tickle trunk years later.
https://youtu.be/avxXRWyCB5w
I get Chock and Bates much more having seen them in person. They are very easy to watch because of the clean lines. Sure there’s technical things to pick it, but the overall picture is very smooth and clean and I get why it’s appealing to judges. Her dress in the David Bowie number is spectacular. Truly tv does not do it justice.
I’m very impressed with Jason doing triples with sun glasses on. Please bring him back forever and always.
Also keep Keegan around as long as he wants to keep doing it. Loena too. Beautiful triple lutz from her and charisma for days.
Alissa’s one solo spot was a beautiful program highlighting everything that’s great in her skating. I’d tell her to not even bother trying those pesky jumps, she doesn’t need it.
Alexa is in her queen era and it’s great. I really loved their Shallow program. Would have made a good competitive piece for them honestly.
The group numbers were all really strong, except perhaps the finale which was pretty short and standard. But specifically the act 1 finale and act 2 openers were great, with well thought out, intentional choreography. Not just a slapped together “let’s skate in formation” style thing that sometimes we’ve seen.
All in all a great show and a great cast. There was real excitement in the arena and I think the rest of the audience loved it as well.
""): 
) The next day my sister-in-law took her friend to the airport as she was traveling to Toronto -many of the cast were there to go on the same flight, so my sister-in-law got pictures of her friend with Elvis, Kurt, and Keegan.
