Strictly 2017 final!

[shallowness]

Nice gold and black look for the opening number. It felt like one routine too many for the finalists, bar Alexandra who went for it on her big intro.

A red trouser suit for Tess that didn’t quite fit or work, and a black (or navy) droopy top with a sheer skirt for Claudia. Whenever they stood together, one wondered why those outfits were the pick for the final. Especially when the judges all showed them up with ease, Darcey in A Ballgown, Bruno in the shiniest jacket, Craig going classic and Shirley with massive silver decorations.

Enter the finalists again in their judges’ choices clothes, only Alexandra was now dressed in red – for Mary Poppins/Eliza Doolittle disambiguation or to remind us of the salsa. They never explained the order of the dancers (or if they did, I missed it.)

Anyway, Alexandra did dance more expansively, it was more expressive in terms of choreography and execution. I noticed that even for an American Smooth, not much of it was in hold. No vegetables were involved, which is for the best. Afterwards, Alexandra was overexuberant in the Clauditorium, which was back to full capacity. Craig had to give her a 10 after what he’d said (I admit that I squeaked every time he got that paddle out.)

Debbie’s salsa went better, and between Giovanni spelling her name out and THAT lift-spin (eyebrows lifted as Darcey explained it), I was reminded that it was a crowd pleaser. I felt it did have a higher risk tariff than all the other judges’ choices.

Gemma’s paso had also improved, even if it felt a little forced, and I kept thinking throughout that I’d love to have seen all the other finalists’ pasos again. As throughout this year, Aljiaz was clearly enjoying himself, we got the glitter clap and very nice judges comments about her attitude and improvement.

Again, Joe improved, although I found the bits where he lunged for Katya and the dramah of it all a bit much.

Craig gave the round to Alexandra (because Shirley might as well have been Len on the scoring front, if not the comments, thank goodness). Still sulking about the choices – even if I can rationalise there was room for improvement and all dances were earlyish and mid thirties – I only voted for Debbie because of the danger factor. (Well, and also I’d decided she was my favourite, because even if Alexandra possibly gave me more joy overall this year, she was never going to win.)

Round two: the show-dance, but before that, Claudia’s comedy bit, which included a cut to her flailing about on the crash mat. Hurrah. In the VTs Claudia and Tess paid their annual visits to the finalists and were the easiest possible watchers, with Tess pretending she knows stuff and Claudia reacting to the lifts and tossing off gems like ‘the judges will weep.’

Alex and Gorka did an entertaining run through of their high points with a showbizzy remix, I loved her golden gown, but thought the routine could have had a little more flow as a whole (it was no surprise that they picked the jive, as it was this year’s The Jive, and has probably been unfairly overlooked because of public anti-Alexandra sentiment.)

Debbie’s showdance gave me all the feels. Breathtaking. I loved the dancing (apart from the strain going down into the splits) and the lifts and the transitions in and out of it. Shirley spoke truth about the emotionality of it. Just exquisite and it opened the floodgates on my voting for Debbie. It took a while to occur to me that Giovanni had brought back their Memories lift, so he was doing a stealth reprise of all her dances too.

I approved of their choice of Argentine Tango, because I was mildly worried they’d go for the tango, which might have got a 40, but hadn’t translated as well on the screen.

Gemma’s showdance went about as well as you’d expect – better than it would have been a few weeks ago, a little more ragged than the previous two, and possibly Aljiaz had to explain it too much. They were always going to go for the American Smooth at their choice.

I thought Joe’s showdance was sprightly, but it felt like it was more about Katya-as-Cinders’s story, and wardrobe, than showing him off? I know the dynamics are different with a male celeb, but I think Jo did better by Ore last year, tbh. Good call on their Charleston – in all the clips of their journey, I was reminded that this was the one I’d warmed to the most.

So, I’d give that round to Debbie, but the judges gave it to Alexandra and Joe.

Alexandra’s jive was SO GOOD that I voted once for her, even though it was totally pointless.

But Debbie and Giovanni’s AT was enthralling too. And given all the show’s forcing of AJ/Mollie on us when these two had this chemistry in spades? Pfft. It was all about her legs, his partnering, and some passionate, intense intimacy. I kept on voting for them (I didn’t hit double figures, but I lost count.)

Gemma’s American Smooth was lovely, again. She was definitely the weakest dancer left, who you wanted to enjoy just being there, so it was a shame that the judges got even more hysterical when giving her her comments.

It was great to see the toy soldier Charleston again, and I thought it was even more polished and assured (although was there one bit where his leg went the wrong way?) Well done on the 40 – perhaps Craig had reconciled himself to the idea that it was going to be one of the top three and that Joe and Katya’s choreography had never been in the bottom two.

Why cut your hair now, Jonny Peacock? Why not earlier???

We had a fun romp through this series’ iconic moments and any half-decent lift. It was a different dynamic because Aston got booted so early, giving us all cause to wonder what the final would have been like if he had stayed in/had a better choreographer of a partner, although I think it would have been at Aljiaz and Gemma’s expense.

Ed Sheeran hustled for his Christmas no. 1, and I liked the black and white thing they’d done with the lights. After I’d given up on there being dancing, Karen and Pasha turned up to have some barefoot contemporaryish twirling.

I do hope Shirley has signed up for next year. I mean, I also fear we’ll have to suffer through Eamonn Holmes, but whatever.

And then the results, and I’m a bit deflated because I wanted Debbie to win, but Joe did have something approximating a journey (even though I think Gemma started from less). It’s the second year in a row my pick hasn’t made it. Having said that, I think they all danced their hearts out in the show and commend them for it.