shallowness (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shallowness) wrote2016-12-20 08:08 am
shallowness) wrote2016-12-20 08:08 am
Entry tags:
Strictly finals
Yes, they were Saturday night, but I've been super busy and I just want to hibernate soon now, please.
I hope they concur and rearrange things for next year, but, thanks to Will, having the three finalists perform three times with no break worked really well – especially in allowing the show to say farewell to Len through the medium of dance.
I should probably start off by saying that what happened on the final didn’t matter in terms of who I was going to vote for – in fact, I don’t think it ever has. Basically I voted enough for Danny that I was doing it from memory at the end, and I did so based on the whole season (and Darcey irritating me into it once and possibly anti-Clifton feeling). So that influences what follows.
A nice opening routine, even if it wasn’t all that memorable beyond hoping the finalists were secure. I noticed that Ore and Kevin were really pumped and Danny was maybe nervous. Claudia wore silver (sure that’s a colour) – actually it was a nice fitted shape and Tess’s hair, which shouldn’t work but it did, was the most noticeable part.
Who was responsible for the order of the dancing? Was it determined by names out of a hat or intentional?
They’d kept the judges’ choice a secret until…we saw the finalists’ outfits. Maybe they should have the couples wear cloaks and whip them off next year. I’d called Ore doing the American Smooth, it felt inevitable, and I smiled throughout. He danced it well, although I thought he came off as cocky once he’d finished. But it was lovely that Mrs Kelly was there after she’d connected so much with the dance.
Was it at this point that Judge Rinder gave Claudia F a lift in the Clauditorium? Aww, Claudia F, I felt for her.
I would have expected Louise to be doing the Hey Big Spender (was it an American Smooth? Whatever it was, it was a ‘musicals week’ version) routine as the most impactful dance, but the judges harking back to her winning the cha-cha-challenge made sense, even if most of us would rather forget the whole thing. I wouldn’t have picked this dance, myself, and I did think that next to Kevin, her legwork looked languid, so I was fine with it getting less than Ore.
I suppose they couldn’t give Danny the Charleston because of the pro dancers and it taking too much to adapt. For similar reasons, I suspected I wasn’t going to get to see the Foxtrot that went wrong done right, which I would have loved to. Given what happened, it is worth noting that this was a week 4 dance and the others’ were week 3s, which meant they had roughly the same amount of time since last dancing the routine. Anyway, I too was excited to see Danny do a ballroom, and the quickstep which had been so great and believed he could lift it some more, but I saw the things Craig alluded to. Ack. I think these were the only 9s Len and Bruno gave out.
I absolutely agree that Ore won this round (but he did so with one of the iconic dances of the season).
What followed was the best showdance round I’ve seen in a Strictly final (but please feel free to remind me of other ones).
Ore and Jo’s ‘I Got Rhythm’ was a chance to do showier ballroom than what had just happened. With the jumping around the ‘drums’, it was high risk, and it was blended with really well-judged high points and wow moments from all his routines. Great choreography from Jo. Looked like being a good night for Ore.
I think TessandClaud went to see Kevin and Louise last of the couples from their demeanour in the training room. Anyway, this may be one of the few dances where I felt an emotional connection with Louise (maybe it’s because I’m not a mother?). She danced it beautifully and the way she was BEAMING was irresistible.
So I wish Darcey had explained what was lacking with it. I have no problem with Craig giving a 9 – he explained himself, whether it was entirely fair or not, you could always tell, even if the studio audience/mob couldn’t, whether he’d give a 9 or 10. Was it the developpé? I mean, I did maybe find the opening a bit meh, but once it got going, the routine really got going.
Anyway, here was me hoping that Danny had got over the nerves and the mistake/mistakes? He was blethering on about letting TessnClaud into his safe space, but when Tess’s analysis boils down to ‘I like lifts, me’ and Claudia is oohing and ahhing, you can’t get gentler.
I think I had forgotten that Oti’s choreography has been one of the reasons why Danny has done so well all season. That was A DANCE, well back to usual standards, and offering different styles to his other routines, with a story and such drama in the lifts and the use of the mirror. Really excellent. I liked, no, loved them all, but accepted the judges putting Louise below the others.
No surprises in anyone’s favourite dances, and a good thing for Ore’s body, surely, that The Jive was last. Am I imagining it, or did Jo alter what she did slightly to show him off more? Anyway, he’d improved since the last time – absolutely deserving of the full house.
Also better, and she and Kevin were so in sync here, was Louise in her Argentine Tango, and it was a commanding one (and a very good case was made for it being the best AT of the season). Not quibbling with her full house here either.
And again, I think Danny slightly improved The Samba, the mix of control, technique, wildness and their partnership really was stellar.
Counting and verification time entertainment included wondering why Emili Sande is sporting nighties these days. Like, feel free not to do an Ellie Goulding, absolutely, and wear loose fitting clothes, but that was a nightie. About all I have to say about Giovanni and Katya’s dancing is that at one point they did a lift when Sande was blasting out ‘low’ – which was screaming for Katya to descend into the splits.
The little nods to Len throughout were nice, and you got the sense that he was very much enjoying his night. I could have done with a little more pro commentary than random celebs (Scott Mills?), but then the old-fashioned pro dance was lovely and I hope they put in all the steps he loves. I thought they danced it well and it was touching.
I was surprised by how many mentions Will got in the round-up of the series, to be honest. The ‘cast of 2016’ dance was pretty good as these things go. Before it started, I was worried it was going to involve the dances that people got booted off for doing, which is always a terrible idea as they’re usually ones they were bad at. Once it started, I was worried it was going to be all about everyone’s jobs, but Naga danced her signature move and there was more and more dancing, Greg did a leap and Gangnam style got quite a bit of time. This made more sense than all the jive content (or was it foreshadowing?)
And then…Ore and Jo won. Look, he absolutely did win the night and the jive was outstanding and I enjoyed Singin’ in the Rain and the showdance – in as much as that counts. He staged a comeback in the semis and the message that he had no dance training may have made an impact, too, so I’m not as cross as I’d have been if the other Clifton had won, and, again, Kevin’s delight for his sister was sweet. And although they reacted in the same wa they’ve done all series to surprising good news, Ore and Jo came off as genuine. But, you know…over the whole season (and I was totally arguing the reverse last season, so…) Danny was the stronger, although he wobbled in the quickstep. So, I wasn’t elated.
For next year, a lot will depend on who they get in to replace Len – and they needs must have an authoritative ballroom/Latin expert who can entertain, but the fact that the show has survived losing Bruce (by gaining Claudia), and I think Mr Goodman was right to retire now, he’s been less crochety since making the decision.
At least there’s not too long to wait for the Christmas special AKA the one that takes the edge off.
I hope they concur and rearrange things for next year, but, thanks to Will, having the three finalists perform three times with no break worked really well – especially in allowing the show to say farewell to Len through the medium of dance.
I should probably start off by saying that what happened on the final didn’t matter in terms of who I was going to vote for – in fact, I don’t think it ever has. Basically I voted enough for Danny that I was doing it from memory at the end, and I did so based on the whole season (and Darcey irritating me into it once and possibly anti-Clifton feeling). So that influences what follows.
A nice opening routine, even if it wasn’t all that memorable beyond hoping the finalists were secure. I noticed that Ore and Kevin were really pumped and Danny was maybe nervous. Claudia wore silver (sure that’s a colour) – actually it was a nice fitted shape and Tess’s hair, which shouldn’t work but it did, was the most noticeable part.
Who was responsible for the order of the dancing? Was it determined by names out of a hat or intentional?
They’d kept the judges’ choice a secret until…we saw the finalists’ outfits. Maybe they should have the couples wear cloaks and whip them off next year. I’d called Ore doing the American Smooth, it felt inevitable, and I smiled throughout. He danced it well, although I thought he came off as cocky once he’d finished. But it was lovely that Mrs Kelly was there after she’d connected so much with the dance.
Was it at this point that Judge Rinder gave Claudia F a lift in the Clauditorium? Aww, Claudia F, I felt for her.
I would have expected Louise to be doing the Hey Big Spender (was it an American Smooth? Whatever it was, it was a ‘musicals week’ version) routine as the most impactful dance, but the judges harking back to her winning the cha-cha-challenge made sense, even if most of us would rather forget the whole thing. I wouldn’t have picked this dance, myself, and I did think that next to Kevin, her legwork looked languid, so I was fine with it getting less than Ore.
I suppose they couldn’t give Danny the Charleston because of the pro dancers and it taking too much to adapt. For similar reasons, I suspected I wasn’t going to get to see the Foxtrot that went wrong done right, which I would have loved to. Given what happened, it is worth noting that this was a week 4 dance and the others’ were week 3s, which meant they had roughly the same amount of time since last dancing the routine. Anyway, I too was excited to see Danny do a ballroom, and the quickstep which had been so great and believed he could lift it some more, but I saw the things Craig alluded to. Ack. I think these were the only 9s Len and Bruno gave out.
I absolutely agree that Ore won this round (but he did so with one of the iconic dances of the season).
What followed was the best showdance round I’ve seen in a Strictly final (but please feel free to remind me of other ones).
Ore and Jo’s ‘I Got Rhythm’ was a chance to do showier ballroom than what had just happened. With the jumping around the ‘drums’, it was high risk, and it was blended with really well-judged high points and wow moments from all his routines. Great choreography from Jo. Looked like being a good night for Ore.
I think TessandClaud went to see Kevin and Louise last of the couples from their demeanour in the training room. Anyway, this may be one of the few dances where I felt an emotional connection with Louise (maybe it’s because I’m not a mother?). She danced it beautifully and the way she was BEAMING was irresistible.
So I wish Darcey had explained what was lacking with it. I have no problem with Craig giving a 9 – he explained himself, whether it was entirely fair or not, you could always tell, even if the studio audience/mob couldn’t, whether he’d give a 9 or 10. Was it the developpé? I mean, I did maybe find the opening a bit meh, but once it got going, the routine really got going.
Anyway, here was me hoping that Danny had got over the nerves and the mistake/mistakes? He was blethering on about letting TessnClaud into his safe space, but when Tess’s analysis boils down to ‘I like lifts, me’ and Claudia is oohing and ahhing, you can’t get gentler.
I think I had forgotten that Oti’s choreography has been one of the reasons why Danny has done so well all season. That was A DANCE, well back to usual standards, and offering different styles to his other routines, with a story and such drama in the lifts and the use of the mirror. Really excellent. I liked, no, loved them all, but accepted the judges putting Louise below the others.
No surprises in anyone’s favourite dances, and a good thing for Ore’s body, surely, that The Jive was last. Am I imagining it, or did Jo alter what she did slightly to show him off more? Anyway, he’d improved since the last time – absolutely deserving of the full house.
Also better, and she and Kevin were so in sync here, was Louise in her Argentine Tango, and it was a commanding one (and a very good case was made for it being the best AT of the season). Not quibbling with her full house here either.
And again, I think Danny slightly improved The Samba, the mix of control, technique, wildness and their partnership really was stellar.
Counting and verification time entertainment included wondering why Emili Sande is sporting nighties these days. Like, feel free not to do an Ellie Goulding, absolutely, and wear loose fitting clothes, but that was a nightie. About all I have to say about Giovanni and Katya’s dancing is that at one point they did a lift when Sande was blasting out ‘low’ – which was screaming for Katya to descend into the splits.
The little nods to Len throughout were nice, and you got the sense that he was very much enjoying his night. I could have done with a little more pro commentary than random celebs (Scott Mills?), but then the old-fashioned pro dance was lovely and I hope they put in all the steps he loves. I thought they danced it well and it was touching.
I was surprised by how many mentions Will got in the round-up of the series, to be honest. The ‘cast of 2016’ dance was pretty good as these things go. Before it started, I was worried it was going to involve the dances that people got booted off for doing, which is always a terrible idea as they’re usually ones they were bad at. Once it started, I was worried it was going to be all about everyone’s jobs, but Naga danced her signature move and there was more and more dancing, Greg did a leap and Gangnam style got quite a bit of time. This made more sense than all the jive content (or was it foreshadowing?)
And then…Ore and Jo won. Look, he absolutely did win the night and the jive was outstanding and I enjoyed Singin’ in the Rain and the showdance – in as much as that counts. He staged a comeback in the semis and the message that he had no dance training may have made an impact, too, so I’m not as cross as I’d have been if the other Clifton had won, and, again, Kevin’s delight for his sister was sweet. And although they reacted in the same wa they’ve done all series to surprising good news, Ore and Jo came off as genuine. But, you know…over the whole season (and I was totally arguing the reverse last season, so…) Danny was the stronger, although he wobbled in the quickstep. So, I wasn’t elated.
For next year, a lot will depend on who they get in to replace Len – and they needs must have an authoritative ballroom/Latin expert who can entertain, but the fact that the show has survived losing Bruce (by gaining Claudia), and I think Mr Goodman was right to retire now, he’s been less crochety since making the decision.
At least there’s not too long to wait for the Christmas special AKA the one that takes the edge off.