Gabby does sell that program really well. I'm not sold on the program as a whole yet (of course it's so early and last year their programs grew on me a lot).
You're right, it's early in the season but one can see how well Gabriella and Guillaume prepared the SD together with Chris Dean as choreographer. At this point (let's see Maia & Alex, Madi & Evans, Anna & Luca SD programs), I think the best top3 short dances (no order) are Gabriella & Guillaume, Tessa & Scott and ... Piper & Paul!
You mentioning of Guillaume's dancing off ice reminds me of that awesome video of him and Tessa dancing hip hop together ("When Tessa put her swag on", as he said). Probably the two best dancers in ice dance (not that their partners aren't great too). When it gets all tense with the fans of the two teams, I like to go back and watch some of the cute moments between them, like that video. There's Scott and Gabby goofing off before the GPF SD warm-up, Tessa cuddling with Guillaume at one of the Gala practices, and Tessa and Scott checking on Guillaume when he showed up to the Worlds SD after cutting his hand.
I was not surprised to see Tessa and Guillaume having so much fun dancing together... I did not ask Guillaume but I would bet they did it several times. BTW, thanks for all these great videos links :agree:
Whatever competition results are, there's no point to bash the ice dancers. It doesn't make sense at all. It's actually completely stupid. Tessa, Scott, Gaby, Guillaume, and all the other skaters work like hell to prepare their programs and be at their best levels. The rest is not up to them, they are not the ones awarding levels or GOEs!
What I can say about Gabby and Guillaume is that they are certainly not the kind of people to create tensions with the others. Both are so easy going persons.
Obviously, I know less Tessa & Scott. Now, I met them by coincidence while they were walking next to the harbour in Marseille (GPF). I had a very good time talking to them about the competition, their come back and their expectations. Both were really nice.
Anyways, my dream podium would be Tessa and Scott for gold, then Gabby and Guillaume, then Madi and Zach (or Kaitlyn and Andrew). H/D and W/P are my favourites of the teams in the mix for bronze. I'm really liking what I've seen from Madi and Zach so far this year in terms of programs. I felt like Weapo's were more unfinished at their CS event, so I don't have a full impression yet.
I'm also really liking that the top teams (excluding the Shibs, C/L, and C/B since we haven't seen them yet) seem to have pretty different FD's so far.
Also my biggest request for this ice dance season is for Charlie White to interview people again. His Worlds interview with Tessa and Scott was so great: https://youtu.be/BIuZopENeDE
On my side, it's too early to come up with a podium. I need to watch the programs of Maia & Alex (in a week, at Rostelekom GP), Madison & Evans, and Anna & Luca. In addition, some known programs are promising though still under construction (Weapo FD for example).
As for Charlie White interviewing people again, yes! Definitely yes!