The process is purposefully methodic, but it never becomes easier for anyone, especially the fallen service members’ families.

At one Ukrainian artillery position on Friday, several Russian shells had just sailed overhead, landing in a field with methodic thuds, when the gun’s crew was told to get ready to fire.

With “Bolero” playing in the background, the methodic march that legendary skaters have used to showcase swaggerific bravado felt like a cruel choice as we watched a 15-year-old wilt before our eyes.

Analysts expected this competition to be a simple coronation for Valieva, complete with a program set to Ravel’s “Bolero,” a methodic piece of music associated with the iconic ice dance of Britain’s Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean — the only time Olympic judges have unanimously deemed a performance artistically perfect.

And when the Seattle defense was victimized by long, methodic drives, the Seahawks not only fell out of rhythm on offense but found themselves playing catchup.