Strictly goes to Blackpool.
Nov. 18th, 2018 09:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessA suitably big opening number, I mean, Gloria Estefan was only in okay voice, but her interaction with the pros (the ladies’ showgirl outfits!) worked. The showdancers they brought in left more of an impression than the celebs.
Tess and Claudia finally raised their outfit came, with metallic gold and red gowns. Darcey went black, but at least she had a magnificently swishy skirt, Shirley went boring (although she was clearly having a whale of a time all night), and I doubt if Bruno and Craig had meant to have matching jackets. The show opened with a bit of a panto feel, worryingly.
Stacey probably wouldn’t have believed she’d be wearing that outfit when she started the show. I suppose the big entrance is why she was up first. Speaking of rock, the opening bit was very rocky from her, but she steadied, although there were ragged moments. I was hugely impressed by the lifts, in that she had to work with dancers she wouldn’t have had much time with (although this would be true of most of the lady celebs). The choreography was a bit pop video version of a salsa, although I supposed that was dictated by having extra dancers and the space.
Lauren’s AT was pretty good, considering her level. The routine played to her strengths, and predictably, AJ put in all the lifts, so I would imagine for most of the dance her feet didn’t touch the ground, which did emphasise the trust between them and that he’s got to know what works for her. But, it was also predictable that the judges would talk about the feel of the dance, and I think Shirley made a point about it always being at one level. Loved the dress on her, though. But the opening stuff was a bit ‘this song talks about a river, we’re in Blackpool, will this do?’ and nothing to do with the whole of it.
In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised that Graeme and Oti’s couples choice (theatre jazz) was to ‘The Trolley Song’ because of Oti’s hair. Based on his Charleston, I was expecting this to play to his strengths, and I found it delightful. I did feel that he wasn’t the star of the show, but in hindsight it would be third on my list of dances I connected with most on the night.
The VTs were mostly Blackpool-themed levels of dire, and thus a chance for kitchen runs, but Faye’s made the valid point that there have been show-stopping pasos here in the past. Her paso was good and SO DRAMATIC. She kept the shaping while being fierce. The more generous Shirley and Bruno gave it a 10, which is fine. My problem was the choreography, which kept me from connecting with it. I didn’t understand the role that the extra dancers were playing after the bit with the fire, or what their interaction with Faye was meant to signify. I think Giovanni’s choreography is an issue, looking ahead.
My main focus during Kate’s American Smooth was her stiff neck. Her brief was to look joyous, which she managed. It was in no way A Moment like Gemma’s was (that’s where Aljiaz got his Blackpool accent from). Can you tell I’m over Kate, even if she and Claudia shared a moment of motherliness?
I didn’t expect samba to be Charles’s friend. For me, he started off confidently, I liked his traveling and bits of it, but I thought having him do proper samba choreography next to the pros did him no favours. However, it clearly played differently and better in the room. This was where I was the most distanced from the judges – 10? Really? Given everything they’ve been through, Karen is allowed that reaction (and it was a night of tears everywhere.)
I restrain myself from listing all the terrible things Tess does (and all the funny things Claudia does) but DON’T HAVE HER INTERACT WITH HUMANS. Or definitely not hard-of-hearing civilians. Celebs can pony up a fake smile as awkwardness inevitably ensues.
Canny choreography from Dianne – the first impression of Joe was of a showman, and he led from then on it, and the bits in hold were top notch. I just wanted him to smile more, and think Craig was right about the bits out of hold, so I’d have probably given him a 9, but at this point, this was my favourite routine.
But then came Ashley’s jive, and suddenly the canonical jives of legend have grown to five, as far as I’m concerned. That was amazing, I loved the styling, the owning of it, the complexity. Natalie Lowe’s reaction in the audience said it all. It was better than I’d hoped. I adored the ‘go on, Craig’ from the audience, and his understated 10 score was, as always, more precious than the others’ OTTness.
So, it's okay to vote from Blackpool on, right? I voted for Joe, because he was my favourite from the joint second spot, and Ashley, because the jive was so amazing.
Tess and Claudia finally raised their outfit came, with metallic gold and red gowns. Darcey went black, but at least she had a magnificently swishy skirt, Shirley went boring (although she was clearly having a whale of a time all night), and I doubt if Bruno and Craig had meant to have matching jackets. The show opened with a bit of a panto feel, worryingly.
Stacey probably wouldn’t have believed she’d be wearing that outfit when she started the show. I suppose the big entrance is why she was up first. Speaking of rock, the opening bit was very rocky from her, but she steadied, although there were ragged moments. I was hugely impressed by the lifts, in that she had to work with dancers she wouldn’t have had much time with (although this would be true of most of the lady celebs). The choreography was a bit pop video version of a salsa, although I supposed that was dictated by having extra dancers and the space.
Lauren’s AT was pretty good, considering her level. The routine played to her strengths, and predictably, AJ put in all the lifts, so I would imagine for most of the dance her feet didn’t touch the ground, which did emphasise the trust between them and that he’s got to know what works for her. But, it was also predictable that the judges would talk about the feel of the dance, and I think Shirley made a point about it always being at one level. Loved the dress on her, though. But the opening stuff was a bit ‘this song talks about a river, we’re in Blackpool, will this do?’ and nothing to do with the whole of it.
In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised that Graeme and Oti’s couples choice (theatre jazz) was to ‘The Trolley Song’ because of Oti’s hair. Based on his Charleston, I was expecting this to play to his strengths, and I found it delightful. I did feel that he wasn’t the star of the show, but in hindsight it would be third on my list of dances I connected with most on the night.
The VTs were mostly Blackpool-themed levels of dire, and thus a chance for kitchen runs, but Faye’s made the valid point that there have been show-stopping pasos here in the past. Her paso was good and SO DRAMATIC. She kept the shaping while being fierce. The more generous Shirley and Bruno gave it a 10, which is fine. My problem was the choreography, which kept me from connecting with it. I didn’t understand the role that the extra dancers were playing after the bit with the fire, or what their interaction with Faye was meant to signify. I think Giovanni’s choreography is an issue, looking ahead.
My main focus during Kate’s American Smooth was her stiff neck. Her brief was to look joyous, which she managed. It was in no way A Moment like Gemma’s was (that’s where Aljiaz got his Blackpool accent from). Can you tell I’m over Kate, even if she and Claudia shared a moment of motherliness?
I didn’t expect samba to be Charles’s friend. For me, he started off confidently, I liked his traveling and bits of it, but I thought having him do proper samba choreography next to the pros did him no favours. However, it clearly played differently and better in the room. This was where I was the most distanced from the judges – 10? Really? Given everything they’ve been through, Karen is allowed that reaction (and it was a night of tears everywhere.)
I restrain myself from listing all the terrible things Tess does (and all the funny things Claudia does) but DON’T HAVE HER INTERACT WITH HUMANS. Or definitely not hard-of-hearing civilians. Celebs can pony up a fake smile as awkwardness inevitably ensues.
Canny choreography from Dianne – the first impression of Joe was of a showman, and he led from then on it, and the bits in hold were top notch. I just wanted him to smile more, and think Craig was right about the bits out of hold, so I’d have probably given him a 9, but at this point, this was my favourite routine.
But then came Ashley’s jive, and suddenly the canonical jives of legend have grown to five, as far as I’m concerned. That was amazing, I loved the styling, the owning of it, the complexity. Natalie Lowe’s reaction in the audience said it all. It was better than I’d hoped. I adored the ‘go on, Craig’ from the audience, and his understated 10 score was, as always, more precious than the others’ OTTness.
So, it's okay to vote from Blackpool on, right? I voted for Joe, because he was my favourite from the joint second spot, and Ashley, because the jive was so amazing.
