Going out dancing
Dec. 16th, 2018 04:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessStrictly Come Dancing – the final
Before the final started, I thought it was between Faye and Stacey. (In hindsight, I may have underestimated the ‘and partner’ factor and been overly influenced by Faye’s Argentine Tango. I also believed that it was winnable based on the night. Hindsight makes this funny. In my ideal world, it would have been between Ashley and Faye, because I was siding with Craig the most.
A good opening, which was when I found out Joe had coloured his hair. I’ve missed so much It Takes Two this year that this was the point that I realised what all the judges’ choices were. There was the usual ‘remember all these people used to be on the show’ moment. I loved the music choices and thought the lady celebs did better outfitwise than Joe (and Dianne, although she was clearly thrilled to bits about being in the final).
Tess wore a sheet, basically, Claudia did better with a sparkly jacket and trousers, Darcey was relatively dull, while Shirley did the occasion justice.
Ashley was clinging to Pasha at the start. I loved the Dirty Dancing salsa to the point of all caps the first time, so I was glad to see it again. Great crowd – everyone was in the mood to partay, even Craig. I thought both Pasha and Ashley shook a little during The Big Lift (adrenaline) but the final lift sequence was marvellous. I was so sad that she wasn’t in contention for the trophy, but delighted she got a 10 from Craig.
I didn’t love Stacey’s foxtrot the first time around, as I prefer something more trad. They pushed the ‘learning’ narrative, as they would all night, and not just for her. She was glued to him when in hold, and those bits were good. I still don’t care for the look of the skirt, that song for that dance or the storyline with the tantrums and all, but could appreciate her growth. Having described it as ‘perfect’, Darcey did give it a 10 (she doesn’t always) and it became obvious that any ‘judges guidance’ would come from Craig.
Faye’s Viennese Waltz was very strong – I still don’t love the gimmicky multiple Giovannis opening, and it doesn’t work if I’m thinking ‘that probably makes no sense in the studio’ – with lotsa drama. There was gorgeous rotation, especially at the end. I was very amused by Queen Shirley bringing back an old argument about technique. 31 to 40 – fair enouh.
It felt like Joe had improved with his paso; it looked as if he’d grown taller, so he was indeed being more commanding (until that little smile after he did the knee walks right). Still, it felt like he was the weakest dancer in the finals, and I wasn’t sure if Craig would give him a 9, after the Tess build up, as he’d been more critical in his comments than he had with Stacey.
In fact, I’d have put Ashley and Faye in the lead (at this point, I voted for both, deciding to go for whoever I’d enjoyed the most each round), Stacey second and Joe third, instead of joint second.
Claudia then brought back the running Dave Arch showmance gag and made me choke in amusement.
Having Tess and Claudia see the showdance rehearsals in the studio was a nice step up. I don’t know if it was decided based on logistics or whatever, but it worked, apart from making the dancers come up the stairs immediately after.
I thought Ashley deserved a 50 for one of the best showdances we’ve seen in many a year (I presume they drew for the running order, and in some ways, that was a tough draw for everyone else). It was perpetual movement, almost, and pure dancing, not just lifts, with the added difficulty of the rotating stage. Some moments left me breathless, and Pasha was clearly enjoying dancing it. Right toe, schmight toe.
Stacey gave a confident performance in her showdance. It must have been weird to watch in the studio and how did the judges see her at the beginning? But it was way less challenging in terms of dance content than we’d just seen. It might be a crowd-pleaser, because Kevin obviously had an eye to drawing the TV audience in and reminding them of her journey, but I agreed with Craig on this (and was personally disappointed we wouldn’t be seeing her gorgeous commercial next).
I was one of the people who lit up when I heard the music for Faye’s showdance was ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ but it was such a classy, well-put-together routine. She looked like Ginger Rogers, but I saw more of Cyd Cherisse in her dancing. Their joy at dancing was infectious, and there was just a frisson of chemistry (more so than with any of the other couples, not that they haven’t built up a ‘good at dancing together’ chemistry. Or maybe it’s just my reaction to Giovanni. Moving on.) Just right amount of lifts. As deserving of a 40 as a showdance as Ashley’s was, although it never made me catch my breath.
Joe and Dianne Went For It with their showdance. A strong opening (stronger than Stacey’s if we’re comparing gimmicks). It was fast, packed with content – and they stopped using Dianne’s body as a guitar just before it got really annoying. In fact, this was a very respectably showdance, better than Stacey’s, and Joe was having a much better final than semi-final.
The showdance is the joker of the night. For all the bigging up, it’s usually a disappointment, with the celebs doing much better at returning to a routine they already know and playing to their strengths. The best you can hope for is usually Joe level, bringing in past styles and putting a new spin on them. Faye and Ashley surpassed that. Kevin misjudged it choreographically. I thought the finals were Faye’s from this point on, because I was basing it on this night (and not factoring in the fact that Kevin had choreographed so many memorable routines for Stacey throughout the series.) Also, there was very little Latin from Faye on the night.
I voted for Faye and twice for Ashley. Pointlessly.
There were a couple of Blackpool dances (Ashley’s jive, Joe’s quickstep) that the couples probably didn’t go for because they’d be too much hassle to transfer. But I was chuffed Ashley and Pasha went for their Charleston, because it was fun and she wasn’t going to win anyway so why not go for something joyous? I liked them very much for the call, and obviously enjoyed the performance. Queen Shirley kind of addressed the audience’s desertion of them in the first of some very nice valedictory comments to all the finalists.
Although renaming it the ‘paso Dooley’ is one of the few annoying things likeable Stacey has done, their past is a great routine. She gave it swagger and shape, the choreography is still a clever delight (and it was way better than Joe’s paso). Strictly has clearly been a positive experience for her and the affection between her and Kevin was palpable. I’d thought Craig might eke out a 10, but Stacey’s riposte to the 9 covered over Kevin’s bad loserdom.
Who would have thought so much focus would fall on a pair of sunglasses next? But that is what happened, and Faye nailed their use in her theatre jazz number. It was a little tighter, vindicating the ‘confidence’ narrative. I also think it worked better because they looked like themselves and didn’t have their faces made up. Deserved 40, putting her in the joint lead with Ashley, with both of them getting there on their own terms.
Joe had perfectly valid reasons for choosing his Charleston, but the problem was that Ashley had also chosen to do hers, and it was always going to be better, with more content. ‘Cotton-Eyed’ Joe was still fun, and showed improvement, especially the legs and footwork and his confidence.
I suspect some of those clips with the public were very prompted, or people have a better memory than me, but I eyed that whole section askance, because it didn’t begin with a true reflection of everyone’s ‘Who are most of these people?’ reaction to the cast of 2018 in the late summer.
Michael Bublé then had a relatively dodgy time with the mike – at times it picked up his clapping better than his singing because he wasn’t holding it in the right place, which seems oddly unprofessional. I mean, he got away with it because he’s Bublé. I liked that he stepped off the stage when Aljiaz and Janette were doing their fabulous thing.
The producers got good material from Susannah and Kate, reminiscing, and then we had a really nice tribute to the highpoints of the season. I was pleasantly surprised that Danny turned up.
And then…yeah, Stacey finally helped Kevin from Grimsby over the line and vice-versa. Like I’ve said, they didn’t win the night – Faye and Ashley were a class apart, and for me Ashley edged it on the showdance. But Stacey was the best of the absolute beginners and continued Susan’s sterling work last year in making him less annoying. (He should have asked for his sister’s help on the showdance, though.)
Overall, an entertaining show with the right finalists – I wouldn’t brag about finals inflation meaning it was raining 10s - although it feels like too long since the person I really wanted to win won. At least it was a woman?
Before the final started, I thought it was between Faye and Stacey. (In hindsight, I may have underestimated the ‘and partner’ factor and been overly influenced by Faye’s Argentine Tango. I also believed that it was winnable based on the night. Hindsight makes this funny. In my ideal world, it would have been between Ashley and Faye, because I was siding with Craig the most.
A good opening, which was when I found out Joe had coloured his hair. I’ve missed so much It Takes Two this year that this was the point that I realised what all the judges’ choices were. There was the usual ‘remember all these people used to be on the show’ moment. I loved the music choices and thought the lady celebs did better outfitwise than Joe (and Dianne, although she was clearly thrilled to bits about being in the final).
Tess wore a sheet, basically, Claudia did better with a sparkly jacket and trousers, Darcey was relatively dull, while Shirley did the occasion justice.
Ashley was clinging to Pasha at the start. I loved the Dirty Dancing salsa to the point of all caps the first time, so I was glad to see it again. Great crowd – everyone was in the mood to partay, even Craig. I thought both Pasha and Ashley shook a little during The Big Lift (adrenaline) but the final lift sequence was marvellous. I was so sad that she wasn’t in contention for the trophy, but delighted she got a 10 from Craig.
I didn’t love Stacey’s foxtrot the first time around, as I prefer something more trad. They pushed the ‘learning’ narrative, as they would all night, and not just for her. She was glued to him when in hold, and those bits were good. I still don’t care for the look of the skirt, that song for that dance or the storyline with the tantrums and all, but could appreciate her growth. Having described it as ‘perfect’, Darcey did give it a 10 (she doesn’t always) and it became obvious that any ‘judges guidance’ would come from Craig.
Faye’s Viennese Waltz was very strong – I still don’t love the gimmicky multiple Giovannis opening, and it doesn’t work if I’m thinking ‘that probably makes no sense in the studio’ – with lotsa drama. There was gorgeous rotation, especially at the end. I was very amused by Queen Shirley bringing back an old argument about technique. 31 to 40 – fair enouh.
It felt like Joe had improved with his paso; it looked as if he’d grown taller, so he was indeed being more commanding (until that little smile after he did the knee walks right). Still, it felt like he was the weakest dancer in the finals, and I wasn’t sure if Craig would give him a 9, after the Tess build up, as he’d been more critical in his comments than he had with Stacey.
In fact, I’d have put Ashley and Faye in the lead (at this point, I voted for both, deciding to go for whoever I’d enjoyed the most each round), Stacey second and Joe third, instead of joint second.
Claudia then brought back the running Dave Arch showmance gag and made me choke in amusement.
Having Tess and Claudia see the showdance rehearsals in the studio was a nice step up. I don’t know if it was decided based on logistics or whatever, but it worked, apart from making the dancers come up the stairs immediately after.
I thought Ashley deserved a 50 for one of the best showdances we’ve seen in many a year (I presume they drew for the running order, and in some ways, that was a tough draw for everyone else). It was perpetual movement, almost, and pure dancing, not just lifts, with the added difficulty of the rotating stage. Some moments left me breathless, and Pasha was clearly enjoying dancing it. Right toe, schmight toe.
Stacey gave a confident performance in her showdance. It must have been weird to watch in the studio and how did the judges see her at the beginning? But it was way less challenging in terms of dance content than we’d just seen. It might be a crowd-pleaser, because Kevin obviously had an eye to drawing the TV audience in and reminding them of her journey, but I agreed with Craig on this (and was personally disappointed we wouldn’t be seeing her gorgeous commercial next).
I was one of the people who lit up when I heard the music for Faye’s showdance was ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ but it was such a classy, well-put-together routine. She looked like Ginger Rogers, but I saw more of Cyd Cherisse in her dancing. Their joy at dancing was infectious, and there was just a frisson of chemistry (more so than with any of the other couples, not that they haven’t built up a ‘good at dancing together’ chemistry. Or maybe it’s just my reaction to Giovanni. Moving on.) Just right amount of lifts. As deserving of a 40 as a showdance as Ashley’s was, although it never made me catch my breath.
Joe and Dianne Went For It with their showdance. A strong opening (stronger than Stacey’s if we’re comparing gimmicks). It was fast, packed with content – and they stopped using Dianne’s body as a guitar just before it got really annoying. In fact, this was a very respectably showdance, better than Stacey’s, and Joe was having a much better final than semi-final.
The showdance is the joker of the night. For all the bigging up, it’s usually a disappointment, with the celebs doing much better at returning to a routine they already know and playing to their strengths. The best you can hope for is usually Joe level, bringing in past styles and putting a new spin on them. Faye and Ashley surpassed that. Kevin misjudged it choreographically. I thought the finals were Faye’s from this point on, because I was basing it on this night (and not factoring in the fact that Kevin had choreographed so many memorable routines for Stacey throughout the series.) Also, there was very little Latin from Faye on the night.
I voted for Faye and twice for Ashley. Pointlessly.
There were a couple of Blackpool dances (Ashley’s jive, Joe’s quickstep) that the couples probably didn’t go for because they’d be too much hassle to transfer. But I was chuffed Ashley and Pasha went for their Charleston, because it was fun and she wasn’t going to win anyway so why not go for something joyous? I liked them very much for the call, and obviously enjoyed the performance. Queen Shirley kind of addressed the audience’s desertion of them in the first of some very nice valedictory comments to all the finalists.
Although renaming it the ‘paso Dooley’ is one of the few annoying things likeable Stacey has done, their past is a great routine. She gave it swagger and shape, the choreography is still a clever delight (and it was way better than Joe’s paso). Strictly has clearly been a positive experience for her and the affection between her and Kevin was palpable. I’d thought Craig might eke out a 10, but Stacey’s riposte to the 9 covered over Kevin’s bad loserdom.
Who would have thought so much focus would fall on a pair of sunglasses next? But that is what happened, and Faye nailed their use in her theatre jazz number. It was a little tighter, vindicating the ‘confidence’ narrative. I also think it worked better because they looked like themselves and didn’t have their faces made up. Deserved 40, putting her in the joint lead with Ashley, with both of them getting there on their own terms.
Joe had perfectly valid reasons for choosing his Charleston, but the problem was that Ashley had also chosen to do hers, and it was always going to be better, with more content. ‘Cotton-Eyed’ Joe was still fun, and showed improvement, especially the legs and footwork and his confidence.
I suspect some of those clips with the public were very prompted, or people have a better memory than me, but I eyed that whole section askance, because it didn’t begin with a true reflection of everyone’s ‘Who are most of these people?’ reaction to the cast of 2018 in the late summer.
Michael Bublé then had a relatively dodgy time with the mike – at times it picked up his clapping better than his singing because he wasn’t holding it in the right place, which seems oddly unprofessional. I mean, he got away with it because he’s Bublé. I liked that he stepped off the stage when Aljiaz and Janette were doing their fabulous thing.
The producers got good material from Susannah and Kate, reminiscing, and then we had a really nice tribute to the highpoints of the season. I was pleasantly surprised that Danny turned up.
And then…yeah, Stacey finally helped Kevin from Grimsby over the line and vice-versa. Like I’ve said, they didn’t win the night – Faye and Ashley were a class apart, and for me Ashley edged it on the showdance. But Stacey was the best of the absolute beginners and continued Susan’s sterling work last year in making him less annoying. (He should have asked for his sister’s help on the showdance, though.)
Overall, an entertaining show with the right finalists – I wouldn’t brag about finals inflation meaning it was raining 10s - although it feels like too long since the person I really wanted to win won. At least it was a woman?
