Fresh Strictly
Oct. 27th, 2019 08:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessStrictly Halloween
The theme of the opening gubbins seemed to be making the most of Mike while he was still on the show.
A cartoony group number – fossils of Britain + Anton = a chuckle – yay! Walk Like an Egyptian, although I could have done with more of the ‘Egyptian’ men in those skirts. I’d even have sacrificed Kelvin the caveman.
Slightly themed outfits from Claudia and Tess, but despite Motsi’s hair and Craig’s eyes, Shirley went for the theme the most.
I popped out to the kitchen at the intros, which would turn out to be significant.
Emma (the commoner) opened up. Great concept, look and music, but for me she wasn’t steady enough in the first half of the routine, though she had a better second half. (The returning Bruno didn’t talk about the dancing at all.)
Chaotic Ts and Cs from Anna Maxwell-Martin.
This was when I learned Will had been injured (of all the competitors. Wince. But if he doesn’t get better enough to compete, can Dev come back?)
Again, a great concept for Emma (the posho)’s Charleston. I thought she made for a very stylish flapper. It could have been more dynamic, but the lifts were pretty impressive (until the second lot decelerated.) I was happier with her 8s, although clearly Craig was in grumpy form.
Chris’s samba was a whole world of ‘oh dear’ with little of what we’d seen him working on in the VT seeming to translate to the dancefloor. The post-dance wig business couldn’t detract from that.
Referring to the ‘jinxed jive’ seemed crass after Will’s injury. So, Saffron was modern!Sabrina (I find myself desperately wishing they’d gone oldschool so that AJ could have been Salem the cat). This may have cheered Craig up, but I saw lots of non-jive bits, didn’t get the ‘magic’ bits in the routine – the cutaway to Craig seemed weirdly placed and distracting. Overall, I thought the speed beat Saffron. (Bruno snubbed Northern Ireland and AJ put his foot in his mouth.)
It took me ages to block out Mike’s bunny ears and – worse – his furry gloves (why costume people, why?), but despite some stiffness and stompiness and me being over him, it wasn’t a bad tango. Weird ending that the studio audience didn’t know what to do with.
Obviously, I am one of the people Karim needed to explain Stranger Things to, because I could have done without the Leo Sayers wig, even if I know it must be one of the characters’ mops. But it just made me think it was a shame he’s not two inches taller. Loved the song. The leaps and flamenco stuff was good, but I take the judges’ comments about a lack of light and shade, which Amy rightly took as being addressed at her.
And then I learned that Neil had got injured (no footage as to when or how) and Kevin (snerk at the line about the finale) was stepping in. EEK.
An upgrade on the generic Strictly Halloween zombie couple, but Catherine looked to me like she was doing that prim thing celebs do when they haven’t cracked the cha cha, and my eyes were drawn to Johannes. Apparently there were mistakes and that’s not a good score.
It was actually nice to see Tess up in the Clauditorium with everyone. Michelle owned her VT.
Forget the comedy bits, everything in hold was FAB-U-LOUS in Michelle’s foxtrot. No wonder Giovanni celebrated, and after leaving me grumbling about his in hold/out of hold ratios for two series at least, he nailed it. First 10, and Michelle rightly got 3. (Up till this point, my favourite routine had still been Emma and Aljiaz’s Charleston.)
Never mind Kelvin’s terrible false teeth. No, let’s start again.
Never mind Oti tying Kelvin up, he was the master in that tango. That was quality (even if I’m not sure if he was leading). The flying was cool, but the bit Oti nicked from Katya took me out of the moment. But this was so moody and better than I was expecting from his ballroom, and if he hadn’t made that mistake, I think he’d have given Michelle a run for her score.
Obviously, they pushed Alex to last to give her and Kevin as much time as possible (not much) to rehearse. And yeah, she did so well – clearly she was the most confident performer of that routine. With synchro and lifts, it’s such a shame we couldn’t have seen her do it with Neil as they’d rehearsed all week, but what she did, she did well, and the ending of her lifting Kevin was nicely symbolic. (Better than the ladies getting the win in Emma and Kelvin’s tangos.) I can’t get mad with the judges overscoring what we actually saw because she kind of deserved high marks for how she responded to the situation.
Strictly Halloween Results
Excellent opening routine, loved the arrangement of Toxic, loved the fighting between Dianne and Giovanni, and loved the camera getting well in there.
TessnClaud were in black, Craig and Bruno kept up the Halloween cozzie vibe, did not like what Motsi changed to, so, even though it was pared back from the first show, it goes to Shirley.
Phew, it seemed like no-one had been injured in the meantime. In the recap, we got to learn a little more about what had happened with Neil’s injury and Kevin and Alex.
Rightly, she was called safe first. Shockingly (and to be fair, they were as shocked as anyone) so were Chris and Karen. Because of the lack of Will, we got to learn that Catherine and Johannes were not safe.
After the low bar set by all the previous live singers, Adam Lambert nailed it with no need for Strictly pros, thank you very much. (By this point, maybe theyy should stick with performers who came through the X-Factor Idol route.) Will this be the song that makes an impression unlike all of his other ones? Dunno, but it was very Prince-influenced.
Very tense second lot of contestants, although I wasn’t worried for Kelvin. Karim? A little. The evil producers played on the Emma and A—thing, and made me feel guilty for not voting for my third favourite dance by letting the only couples who’d been in the dance-off suffer. I’m glad it was Mike over Emma, but, in the event, I feel that Chris deserved to be there more.
We had two judges weighing in on Karim because Claudia hadn’t understood their metaphors, when the problem was what Amy had given him, not how he was doing it
Close dance-off. Overall, Catherine is the better dancer, but I reflected on how up and down she’s been. In the dance-off, I thought Mike was more well-drilled, while Catherine’s problems with the cha cha remained, and it was clearly a tough enough call to split the judges, but if it is based on the dance, I’m glad Shirley saved him. (And Katya’s relief that they’ve got a Charleston next week was palpable.)
Tears on the dancefloor ensured, but as Johannes had blossomed this season and they aired the standing ovation for his thanks to the show, I’m sure we’ll see him back.
The theme of the opening gubbins seemed to be making the most of Mike while he was still on the show.
A cartoony group number – fossils of Britain + Anton = a chuckle – yay! Walk Like an Egyptian, although I could have done with more of the ‘Egyptian’ men in those skirts. I’d even have sacrificed Kelvin the caveman.
Slightly themed outfits from Claudia and Tess, but despite Motsi’s hair and Craig’s eyes, Shirley went for the theme the most.
I popped out to the kitchen at the intros, which would turn out to be significant.
Emma (the commoner) opened up. Great concept, look and music, but for me she wasn’t steady enough in the first half of the routine, though she had a better second half. (The returning Bruno didn’t talk about the dancing at all.)
Chaotic Ts and Cs from Anna Maxwell-Martin.
This was when I learned Will had been injured (of all the competitors. Wince. But if he doesn’t get better enough to compete, can Dev come back?)
Again, a great concept for Emma (the posho)’s Charleston. I thought she made for a very stylish flapper. It could have been more dynamic, but the lifts were pretty impressive (until the second lot decelerated.) I was happier with her 8s, although clearly Craig was in grumpy form.
Chris’s samba was a whole world of ‘oh dear’ with little of what we’d seen him working on in the VT seeming to translate to the dancefloor. The post-dance wig business couldn’t detract from that.
Referring to the ‘jinxed jive’ seemed crass after Will’s injury. So, Saffron was modern!Sabrina (I find myself desperately wishing they’d gone oldschool so that AJ could have been Salem the cat). This may have cheered Craig up, but I saw lots of non-jive bits, didn’t get the ‘magic’ bits in the routine – the cutaway to Craig seemed weirdly placed and distracting. Overall, I thought the speed beat Saffron. (Bruno snubbed Northern Ireland and AJ put his foot in his mouth.)
It took me ages to block out Mike’s bunny ears and – worse – his furry gloves (why costume people, why?), but despite some stiffness and stompiness and me being over him, it wasn’t a bad tango. Weird ending that the studio audience didn’t know what to do with.
Obviously, I am one of the people Karim needed to explain Stranger Things to, because I could have done without the Leo Sayers wig, even if I know it must be one of the characters’ mops. But it just made me think it was a shame he’s not two inches taller. Loved the song. The leaps and flamenco stuff was good, but I take the judges’ comments about a lack of light and shade, which Amy rightly took as being addressed at her.
And then I learned that Neil had got injured (no footage as to when or how) and Kevin (snerk at the line about the finale) was stepping in. EEK.
An upgrade on the generic Strictly Halloween zombie couple, but Catherine looked to me like she was doing that prim thing celebs do when they haven’t cracked the cha cha, and my eyes were drawn to Johannes. Apparently there were mistakes and that’s not a good score.
It was actually nice to see Tess up in the Clauditorium with everyone. Michelle owned her VT.
Forget the comedy bits, everything in hold was FAB-U-LOUS in Michelle’s foxtrot. No wonder Giovanni celebrated, and after leaving me grumbling about his in hold/out of hold ratios for two series at least, he nailed it. First 10, and Michelle rightly got 3. (Up till this point, my favourite routine had still been Emma and Aljiaz’s Charleston.)
Never mind Kelvin’s terrible false teeth. No, let’s start again.
Never mind Oti tying Kelvin up, he was the master in that tango. That was quality (even if I’m not sure if he was leading). The flying was cool, but the bit Oti nicked from Katya took me out of the moment. But this was so moody and better than I was expecting from his ballroom, and if he hadn’t made that mistake, I think he’d have given Michelle a run for her score.
Obviously, they pushed Alex to last to give her and Kevin as much time as possible (not much) to rehearse. And yeah, she did so well – clearly she was the most confident performer of that routine. With synchro and lifts, it’s such a shame we couldn’t have seen her do it with Neil as they’d rehearsed all week, but what she did, she did well, and the ending of her lifting Kevin was nicely symbolic. (Better than the ladies getting the win in Emma and Kelvin’s tangos.) I can’t get mad with the judges overscoring what we actually saw because she kind of deserved high marks for how she responded to the situation.
Strictly Halloween Results
Excellent opening routine, loved the arrangement of Toxic, loved the fighting between Dianne and Giovanni, and loved the camera getting well in there.
TessnClaud were in black, Craig and Bruno kept up the Halloween cozzie vibe, did not like what Motsi changed to, so, even though it was pared back from the first show, it goes to Shirley.
Phew, it seemed like no-one had been injured in the meantime. In the recap, we got to learn a little more about what had happened with Neil’s injury and Kevin and Alex.
Rightly, she was called safe first. Shockingly (and to be fair, they were as shocked as anyone) so were Chris and Karen. Because of the lack of Will, we got to learn that Catherine and Johannes were not safe.
After the low bar set by all the previous live singers, Adam Lambert nailed it with no need for Strictly pros, thank you very much. (By this point, maybe theyy should stick with performers who came through the X-Factor Idol route.) Will this be the song that makes an impression unlike all of his other ones? Dunno, but it was very Prince-influenced.
Very tense second lot of contestants, although I wasn’t worried for Kelvin. Karim? A little. The evil producers played on the Emma and A—thing, and made me feel guilty for not voting for my third favourite dance by letting the only couples who’d been in the dance-off suffer. I’m glad it was Mike over Emma, but, in the event, I feel that Chris deserved to be there more.
We had two judges weighing in on Karim because Claudia hadn’t understood their metaphors, when the problem was what Amy had given him, not how he was doing it
Close dance-off. Overall, Catherine is the better dancer, but I reflected on how up and down she’s been. In the dance-off, I thought Mike was more well-drilled, while Catherine’s problems with the cha cha remained, and it was clearly a tough enough call to split the judges, but if it is based on the dance, I’m glad Shirley saved him. (And Katya’s relief that they’ve got a Charleston next week was palpable.)
Tears on the dancefloor ensured, but as Johannes had blossomed this season and they aired the standing ovation for his thanks to the show, I’m sure we’ll see him back.
