20 of the Best Skating Programs from the Fall of 2016

9. Alena Leonova (RUS): Short Program

Even back when she was at the top, Alena Leonova was arguably at her best, and certainly at her most entertaining, when she went against the traditional. When she started to fall and had less to lose, she just upped the ante. Last year, she famously skated a long program where the music had a literal record scratch in it-with perfect choreography. That was one program where one can say, “Only Leonova.” Her short this year, choreographed by Valentin Molotov, might just be another one.

Needless to say, this is one skater who isn’t going to bother with any classical music trappings when portraying a comic book-turned-movie character like Harley Quinn. But while this is clearly the new movie version of Harley Quinn, she doesn’t even bother using any music from the actual film. But since Suicide Squad was a bad movie anyway, and a lot more people were exposed to the character solely through trailers and similar, she doesn’t have to. Instead, she can use Bjork’s “It’s Oh So Quiet,” which is crazy enough it actually works. She can accompany her mugging with appropriate choreography, and bring this bad girl delightfully to life. Her young countrywomen can do a lot of things Leonova can’t, but none of them could do this program.

It even makes one sorry her season has likely ended with Russian Nationals, and who knows if she’ll come back next year. Unless she has a sudden urge to portray BB-8.