I was expecting a fierce, attitude infused Short or Free... but Britney? I'm anticipating Mariah to be jumping with glee since she loves to do fun, poppy programs. Also, it'll market her really well after all that's occurred because the choreography and music should hopefully highlight Mariah's bubbly/cheeky nature, not the monster she was made out to be. An unorthodox and interesting choice that, fingers-crossed, will become the season's unexpected highlight.
Now for her Free... I'm thinking lyrical, lyrical, lyrical with huge emphasis on emotion and heart, something Mariah can sell to the 3000th row and back. Mariah's programs last season were simply exquisite and heading into the new season, she should capitalize off of her success as an emoter. Of course, I understand that Mariah wants to branch out and showcase her diversity, but if something works for the judges/and her... one should not tweak it too much. Plus, she wants to go to Beijing and unless she has a revelatory 3A or quad in her arsenal, Mariah will need to build her brand off of being a PCS skater if she intends to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving field.
Between Mariah and Bradie, I'm most excited to see what the latter comes up with. The music for Bradie's new program is stunning and if her desire is to continue to develop her artistry, it is the quintessential vehicle. However, much like last season, an artsy, out of the norm approach may hinder her ability to concentrate solely on the jumps which is when the under-rotation calls come in. Judging from the high point at which her season ended, I'm expecting Bradie to pull all the stops and really gun down her technical and performance components. She has the potential to score in the 150s now and if everything goes as planned, she should come swinging out of the gates as the number one US lady once more.
Ting's programs are nice, but not shocking since she's a very balletic and light skater. Ting needs to work on her artistry as well, especially on connecting with the audience and music. However, as she gains more experience, I'm certain that it will come to her. I'm also very ecstatic about Hanna broadening her repertoire and challenging herself with more classical/lyrical pieces and I cannot wait to see what Misha has concocted for her. Two very promising and bright young ladies that will certainly be ones to watch. Alysa and Lori... kind of saw that coming, but I'm hopeful that Lori will provide Alysa with all the necessary tools to become an even more well rounded skater. Cannot wait.