Having been a dancer all through my formative years, yeah, there's a certain unhealthy expectation of 'well, you're just going to have arthritis anyway, so push yourself now because you won't be able to do this for too many years anyway'.
I don't know if the men are actually being any better or not. Certainly Johnny spent a lot more time being a catty ass at them for "leaving points on the table" when guys *didn't* go for the harder jump. e_e BUT I noticed the commentary got less and less over the course of the Games, as if maaaaybe NBC had been fielding too many complaints and ordered them to dial it back a bit, soooo. I suspect Hanyu's situation had more to do with his coach and his being a modern national treasure than anything more general to the sport, though.
I get it that it's difficult because the short programs are SO scripted (must fit x number of jumps, y number of step sequences, z number of spins, all in 2 minutes), but that's also the challenge, dammit, and if there isn't an emotional story, then no, they shouldn't get a huge score just because they were doing harder elements well. Too often it felt like the artistry score was just a set of check marks with no real variance from one program to the next. I also think ice dancers who are supposed to be doing a Latin short sequence and then DON'T use LATIN MUSIC should lose artistry points, even if their music DOES have the right beats per minute cuz COME THE FUCK ON. I mean I could almost give a pass to "Hotel California" but "Sympathy for the Devil"? Really?? e_e
All three commentators were so up Alina's butt that by the time of her long skate, I was praying for her to fall on her ass JUST TO SHUT THEM UP (I know, I'm a horrible person). And was amused that even as they were just finishing saying how all her jumps were timed to the music zomg (um, isn't that the point of the music?) ... she mis-timed a jump. :p I know, I know, I'm terrible. XD
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I don't know if the men are actually being any better or not. Certainly Johnny spent a lot more time being a catty ass at them for "leaving points on the table" when guys *didn't* go for the harder jump. e_e BUT I noticed the commentary got less and less over the course of the Games, as if maaaaybe NBC had been fielding too many complaints and ordered them to dial it back a bit, soooo. I suspect Hanyu's situation had more to do with his coach and his being a modern national treasure than anything more general to the sport, though.
I get it that it's difficult because the short programs are SO scripted (must fit x number of jumps, y number of step sequences, z number of spins, all in 2 minutes), but that's also the challenge, dammit, and if there isn't an emotional story, then no, they shouldn't get a huge score just because they were doing harder elements well. Too often it felt like the artistry score was just a set of check marks with no real variance from one program to the next. I also think ice dancers who are supposed to be doing a Latin short sequence and then DON'T use LATIN MUSIC should lose artistry points, even if their music DOES have the right beats per minute cuz COME THE FUCK ON. I mean I could almost give a pass to "Hotel California" but "Sympathy for the Devil"? Really?? e_e
All three commentators were so up Alina's butt that by the time of her long skate, I was praying for her to fall on her ass JUST TO SHUT THEM UP (I know, I'm a horrible person). And was amused that even as they were just finishing saying how all her jumps were timed to the music zomg (um, isn't that the point of the music?) ... she mis-timed a jump. :p I know, I know, I'm terrible. XD