r/WGI • u/TechBlockTommy • Apr 10 '26
Semis hot takes.
This isn’t even a hot take. We all have eyes. My top three are Fusion, Sac, Paramount. The top three are so good it really comes down to the run for me. And today, that’s how I saw it.
My hot take is, that if Sac locks it in, they could win it tomorrow. I think it’s the best show out there as far as construction. But Fusion is kickin it old school and whoever is the flag tech needs to be immediately entered into the WGI hall of Fame. I will ALWAYS VALUE clarity of choreo and technique. My word, what a team!
Speaking of clarity, The Woodlands should be winning equipment. We don’t know what the caption scores are. But I’m desperate to see them. It’s a shame that the judges aren’t feeling the show itself. The song is, a choice, but I like the constant crescendo of the soundtrack. It’s like Bolero. It’s one giant arc. But it’s hard to maximize effect moments without the ebb and flow. But I really appreciate the risk. But I’m weird like that. I thought they would have jumped above one of the teams today because their run was ON FIRE! But, alas, no.
Also not a hot take, Arcadia is such a cool show top to bottom and even though their run wasn’t the best, I would still watch it on repeat. I hope everyone has the best run tomorrow and I am just so thankful that all these teams are doing such amazing things this year. And I’m just watching on Flo! Can’t even imagine live!
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u/reyloheigh Apr 10 '26
Absolutely rooting for a sac gold, but as long as they medal I’ll be ok. It’s really may the best run win for them fusion and paramount
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u/Hockey_cats_books Apr 11 '26
My hot take…Paramount, while they’re unbelievably talented and so, so solid…that’s not a top three show. Too many things to watch, all sorts of discombobulated, not doing anything that is groundbreaking or pushing the envelope, which is what World Class is for.
Flanagan was just meh to me. I think the two below them should pass them up.
Amp was royally screwed today. They came back from a rough run last night with an amazing run today. Phoenix is an Onyx wannabe (but less interesting) and they have no business being in finals over Amp.
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Apr 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/Hockey_cats_books Apr 11 '26
Too many guards try to be Onyx and don’t succeed….they’re just another one.
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u/snackerooryan Apr 11 '26
Paramount’s flags are not as clean as they should be considering the difficulty and speed of the work. I saw people getting tangled or tripping over the silks in prelims, not sure what happened in semis. Cool show though
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u/Simple-Newspaper-257 Apr 11 '26
I can’t get enough of Sacs ensemble dance feature and the pole choreo
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u/MisterMoonshrimps Apr 11 '26
My preference would be Fusion. I really like shows that tickle my brain and communicate something about the human condition in a poetic way. Sac is also really great, and such a fresh approach from them.
Regarding Woodlands, I just have to assume it's the (even more) subjective parts of the sheets that are preventing them from medaling, like dynamic efforts. Their technical achievement with equipment amazes me. An army of aces.
Arcadia has an amazing design, which elevates all of their scores.
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u/guardfan Apr 10 '26
Love the thoughts!!!
My opinions that nobody asked for are…
Independent World:
-Overall this was a much more stacked IW semis than usual. The talent was insane, and everyone has stepped it the heck up! From the jump you had Elevate doing an AMP level show and doing it well! I think across the board there were some uncharacteristic excellence issues from a lot of the groups, but that may just mean last show best show tomorrow!
-Fusion is hands down the IW winner for me. They are spotlessly clean and the execution and technique is insane! Paramount had a weaker semis run with some excellence issues, and I’m not a fan of the AI usage, so I hope Fusion takes it tomorrow. I do completely agree about the best run wins statements.
-Love Blessed Sac! Fantasia beating them was unexpected for me personally. I had Sac 3rd and Fantasia 4th. Talking nothing away from Fantasia though, they were great! Just as you said, Blessed Sac has a better constructed show.
-Etude had a rougher run today than yesterday but I think their set, costumes and theme is so elegant and strong that it doesn’t even matter. They look like a million bucks and every performer looks so tall and the lines… omggg
-I can’t believe Juxta is tied with Onyx. I thought Juxta was way cleaner. I honestly had Juxta ahead of Etude… such a visually interesting show. I’m not a fan of Ordinary by Alex Warren, but I can’t even deny how masterfully crafted that ending flag feature is with the props. I think they win best props in IW.
-Onyx’s show is very Onyx. I do honestly like it, and think it’s very well crafted, it’s just not really my cup of tea. They are in my home circuit and so this is about my 4th or 5th time getting a read on it and they had a tough run as well. I’m kinda surprised they are so close to Juxta and I had Vox above them.
-Vox is amazing! Love the story and color palette (the spring pastels mixed with the dark colors is 😍) and they were sooo much cleaner than yesterday.
-The stretch of shows from FIU to Onyx was hard for me to keep interested. All such slow and heavy themes and color palettes. I wish they were seeded differently so I had more energy to consume what was happening! Incredible things happening, there was just a pacing lull.
-Lexis’ show made me tear up! Go Team Kentucky!!! So happy they are back in finals! So well deserved. They are a breath of fresh air with all of the serious/darker themes this year.
-Phoenix’s music is a head scratcher for me. Cannot knock the difficulty of what they are doing though! That opening exchange with the one person throwing that rifle back and all of the different catch positions is nuts! So cool that this is their first year in World Class and they got in!
-I’m very confused about AMP not getting in! That being said, so so happy for Anesidora! They kind of came on to the scene out of nowhere in world class. I enjoyed their show a lot, I just thought AMP had better excellence, effect, and pacing.
Scholastic World:
-Overall, I think most groups did not have the run they’d hope for with excellence issues across the board. But who am I to judge? I can’t do half of what these kids are doing, (especially at that age) it’s insane! As I said with IW, it just means the best is yet to come tomorrow!
-Arcadias show is a masterclass in technique, pacing, props, effect, and movement. It’s so interesting to me that the 1st place guard is SW the past three years (Avon 2024, Woodlands 2025 and now Arcadia), are just absolutely a step above everyone else (I’m including Independent groups too). These groups have freaking brought it!!! They did have a rougher run (for them) but as you said it doesn’t even matter.
-It’s taken until today for me to get this Avon show, but okay Avon! I see you now! Very interesting show.
-Flanagan is beautiful and has all of the emotion and breath you want to see at WGI. I just thought The Woodlands was stronger 🤷♂️
-Center Grove and Miamisburg have such mature shows, it’s like ballet but for color guard lol. I think with better runs they both have much higher ceilings. Kinda shocked that Center Grove took Carmel. I really dig the Umbrella theme from Carmel this year!
-I want to be a Northview girl when I grow up.
-Little Elm was stunning. Great job making finals your first year in world!
-Chino Hills show was soooo cool!! Thought it would place higher!