I might be in the minority. I like Jason's older programs than the ones from this season and last season. His programs now feel more modern, but have also become more generic with less dance moves and transitions. Riverdance was great, but my fav is actually the "Inner Love" LP from the first half of 2017-2018 season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFr7kZQ8W84
The music was specifically made for the program, and the program is more like a demanding ice dance program. I could see it was quite challenging so Jason had to switch to his old LP by US nationals in order to get qualified for the Olympics.
Jason actually switched back to the Piano program just for 4CC. He did Inner Love for nationals. I agree it was a special program, but I think Jason just never really connected with it and with all the other issues happening that season the program’s potential was never realized sadly.
It is funny how Ice Dance-y his older programs are but I actually like the new programs. YMMV, but I feel like the programs better highlight the clarity of movement, strong edges and interpretation that he has. His old programs were great but I feel like sometimes there was so many transitions that it didn’t really give him space to shine or hold anything. I think a criticism he got early in the last quad is that he was more of a choreographed artist. Namely that he was performing lots of choreography but not really expressing himself.
If you read his old interviews he basically states flat out that he just went with whatever Rohene asked him to do and yes he did those transition packed programs well. But I think now he takes more ownership of his program and has given more thought in what he wants to express and I think they are choreographed to allow him to perhaps show more of him and less to say “ta-da! Look at me performing!”
Last edited: