Strictly Come Dancing
Oct. 12th, 2014 03:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessMovie Night isn't something I automatically get excited by, because they always do it too early and you have, as you did this week, the problem of props and songs and themes overwhelming the dance and the celebs. Although when routines work, they work.
I enjoyed the opening number eventually. It was a great set-up for Donnie Osmond, because I was clamouring for someone who could sing by the time he turned up (well done Darcy for keeping her dignity on that).
Yeah, Donnie Osmond and his random scoring ways. I spent the opening half hour grumbling that he’d scored Steve so low and then just gave up on him as a total outlier, enthusiastic like an American judge would strereotypically be one sec, not feeling it the next, although he too belives in the 5-10 scoring system. And really, I didn’t keep track of scores and had to check the leaderboard just now - I don't strongly disagree with the placings.
I was getting grumbly for a good dance by the time Caroline and Pasha turned up, I have to say. Steve’s quickstep went better than I thought it would be (although hasn’t Ola done a dance to this number before? Did she cannibalise it?) Simon’s rumba had nice moments, but I understood why the judges were so busy offering him contructive criticism – although I don’t think it’ll help Mr Overthinks It. Um, MARY CHERRY (or her doppelganger) was in the house as, I think, Duncan James’s date. Did I know they were together? Are they?
I couldn’t watch Jennifer’s dance. I literally walked away and puttered in the kitchen after a bit. The routine demanded a much better dancer to carry off the stylisation. She just looked bad. I knew they’d hate the miming, and couldn’t disgaree with Craig’s takedown, brutal as it was.
So, Caroline's good and intense rumba was a relief and I agreed with the judges. I just wish she’d get a prime slot towards the end of the show soon. And then back to the bad dancers, although this was Scott’s best and most enjoyable performance yet, so it made me smile, although it wasn’t good.
Switch to the other Clifton, and the ghost of last year’s paso was laid to rest (although it was never going to be as good three weeks in). I too loved the melding of the West Side Story feel with the paso, and Frankie was supreme throughout, although for me, maybe overpowered by Kevin at times. But, again, it's week three.
I don’t remember if I’m following the order they appeared now, but Jake’s waltz was so stylish. When I realised what the combo of music and dance would be, I was worried about how they’d pull it off, but as a performance it wowed me. I think he’ll be relieved that ‘the other foot has dropped’ and he got less this time, but it was scarcely a massive drop off in quality. OF COURSE, after the massive barney about swing and sway versus following the tone between the judges, they all gave him the same score.
Costume Fail from Trent – I’d been hoping for knee length socks and crazy hair etc. He looked a bit ridiculous next to Pixie all costumed up, like Lumiere was locked up in some cupboard and she had to make do with the understudy. He needs to go full bore (or actual boar) in the Halloween show to make up for it. But their dance was a delight with all those little touches (which are her previous dance training telling).
And then I was ‘huh, all the best dancers have been’, but Sunetra upped her game. I think maybe Brendan has choreographed to her strengths more, and he’s canny enough to do that. She’s also more comfortable performing now (as you’d expect from an actress) and sells it. I loved the classiness of the routine, and again, thought she had one of the top outfits (although it’s not fair to compare as a lot of the ladies were wearing Strictilifed costumes) but also she looks like a woman with curves that girlish Pixie and Frankie and Caroline don’t have (PS if Judy stays, show off her amazing shoulders and arms next week clothes departments).
Thom really did improve and I enjoyed watching him be Gene Kelly.
And then we closed with Mark getting to play out his childhood fantasy via dance and it was absolutely bonkers. No wonder they put it on last. (I caught the clip on It Takes Two where he was showing off how he'd been Superman as a boy to Karen and just ran and ran across a field and swung around a goalpost. It was joyous.)
Finally, the popcorn girl. Why do they persist in having someone at the bottom of the stairs on themed nights? The dancers are all verklempt after their performance/the comments, trying to get their breath back and rush up to Claudia, so asking them to remember to play along with that business is unfair. It's also embarassing for the person hired to stand there. Although, when the celebs did remember they were supposed to take some popcorn, it revealed some interesting details – Pixie is a polite girl and Thom is desperately trying to impress Iveta.
I hope whoever in the production office who signed off on the popcorn thing had to clean up the floor. But, of course, the main popcorn incident of the night involved Claudia and Tess and was delightful in a ‘What did you think might happen?’ way. I will be scouring the internets for a vid of Claudia's best bits at the end of the series.
I enjoyed the opening number eventually. It was a great set-up for Donnie Osmond, because I was clamouring for someone who could sing by the time he turned up (well done Darcy for keeping her dignity on that).
Yeah, Donnie Osmond and his random scoring ways. I spent the opening half hour grumbling that he’d scored Steve so low and then just gave up on him as a total outlier, enthusiastic like an American judge would strereotypically be one sec, not feeling it the next, although he too belives in the 5-10 scoring system. And really, I didn’t keep track of scores and had to check the leaderboard just now - I don't strongly disagree with the placings.
I was getting grumbly for a good dance by the time Caroline and Pasha turned up, I have to say. Steve’s quickstep went better than I thought it would be (although hasn’t Ola done a dance to this number before? Did she cannibalise it?) Simon’s rumba had nice moments, but I understood why the judges were so busy offering him contructive criticism – although I don’t think it’ll help Mr Overthinks It. Um, MARY CHERRY (or her doppelganger) was in the house as, I think, Duncan James’s date. Did I know they were together? Are they?
I couldn’t watch Jennifer’s dance. I literally walked away and puttered in the kitchen after a bit. The routine demanded a much better dancer to carry off the stylisation. She just looked bad. I knew they’d hate the miming, and couldn’t disgaree with Craig’s takedown, brutal as it was.
So, Caroline's good and intense rumba was a relief and I agreed with the judges. I just wish she’d get a prime slot towards the end of the show soon. And then back to the bad dancers, although this was Scott’s best and most enjoyable performance yet, so it made me smile, although it wasn’t good.
Switch to the other Clifton, and the ghost of last year’s paso was laid to rest (although it was never going to be as good three weeks in). I too loved the melding of the West Side Story feel with the paso, and Frankie was supreme throughout, although for me, maybe overpowered by Kevin at times. But, again, it's week three.
I don’t remember if I’m following the order they appeared now, but Jake’s waltz was so stylish. When I realised what the combo of music and dance would be, I was worried about how they’d pull it off, but as a performance it wowed me. I think he’ll be relieved that ‘the other foot has dropped’ and he got less this time, but it was scarcely a massive drop off in quality. OF COURSE, after the massive barney about swing and sway versus following the tone between the judges, they all gave him the same score.
Costume Fail from Trent – I’d been hoping for knee length socks and crazy hair etc. He looked a bit ridiculous next to Pixie all costumed up, like Lumiere was locked up in some cupboard and she had to make do with the understudy. He needs to go full bore (or actual boar) in the Halloween show to make up for it. But their dance was a delight with all those little touches (which are her previous dance training telling).
And then I was ‘huh, all the best dancers have been’, but Sunetra upped her game. I think maybe Brendan has choreographed to her strengths more, and he’s canny enough to do that. She’s also more comfortable performing now (as you’d expect from an actress) and sells it. I loved the classiness of the routine, and again, thought she had one of the top outfits (although it’s not fair to compare as a lot of the ladies were wearing Strictilifed costumes) but also she looks like a woman with curves that girlish Pixie and Frankie and Caroline don’t have (PS if Judy stays, show off her amazing shoulders and arms next week clothes departments).
Thom really did improve and I enjoyed watching him be Gene Kelly.
And then we closed with Mark getting to play out his childhood fantasy via dance and it was absolutely bonkers. No wonder they put it on last. (I caught the clip on It Takes Two where he was showing off how he'd been Superman as a boy to Karen and just ran and ran across a field and swung around a goalpost. It was joyous.)
Finally, the popcorn girl. Why do they persist in having someone at the bottom of the stairs on themed nights? The dancers are all verklempt after their performance/the comments, trying to get their breath back and rush up to Claudia, so asking them to remember to play along with that business is unfair. It's also embarassing for the person hired to stand there. Although, when the celebs did remember they were supposed to take some popcorn, it revealed some interesting details – Pixie is a polite girl and Thom is desperately trying to impress Iveta.
I hope whoever in the production office who signed off on the popcorn thing had to clean up the floor. But, of course, the main popcorn incident of the night involved Claudia and Tess and was delightful in a ‘What did you think might happen?’ way. I will be scouring the internets for a vid of Claudia's best bits at the end of the series.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-13 07:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-14 06:54 am (UTC)I think that the show could trust a little bit more in the viewers being into watching people simply dance.
By the time Mark came on, I was so worked up that my response was hysterical laughter, which probably buoyed me from the cringe.