Yes a team must have at least one “wow” factor element or they don’t move too muchThe biggest problem in all of pairs is that the Free Program time is shorter. It eliminated one element but more importantly eliminated character development time. Gauthier referred to this in an interview mid season about all teams.
When teams don't have that one huge element as in "wait for their twist" (Russians) or "big throw" (Chinese) or "killer lift" (Moscovitch) they have to develop a two skating as one pair profile and then unison is a feature and choreography is essential. When I say that MTM2 don't have an identity, that is indeed part of it. But then they haven't had an iconic program either. Everything is safe. Honestly I'd say for MTM2 to go for a warhorse. Just beat the judges over the head with it.