Go big or go home?
Nov. 18th, 2019 07:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessStrictly Blackpool
I cackled at the roller-coaster end to ‘Strictly Goes to Blackpool’.
Kevin got all the spotlight as a conductor in the jazz band group number, which was most interesting for seeing celebs dancing with each other and with different pros. I noticed that Alex was giving it a lot more welly than Saffron in their bit with Karim.
Live: I realised Tess’s drooping strap was going to bother me all show (it did), Claudia had turned up in sparkly pyjamas, but the judges had put in the effort. I liked the changing colour effect at the bottom of Shirley’s gown and for once, Bruno’s jacket. They lost Motsi at some point.
Because my finger is not on the cultural pulse and I’ve not seen much ITT, I did wonder what they had put Chris, Michelle, Giovanni and Alex in. Also, Kelvin’s quiff seemed excessive.
Chris opened with the salsa, although I didn’t see much salsa, and he hesitated before all his lift. His hands were either purposeless or masterful, but it was a fun routine. HOWEVER, where were Shirley and Bruno going to go after giving him 9s? Blackpool inflation, much?
I don’t know what to say about the Sooty Ts and Cs stuff.
Emma was getting to do an American Smooth foxtrot with the King of Ballroom. I admit to some excitement. I loved the giant music notes and it started off well as she was passed from partner to partner, until I noticed she had a rictus grin on her face. I didn’t get the narrative. The second lift was gorgeous and the pivots (?) section at the end was great, but she was wobbling in the last lift, and the whole thing was a bit of a mixed bag for me. (I’ve never been entirely convinced by this partnership.)
Still, her reaction to the 10s was so genuine and lovely, and I couldn’t even be curmudgeonly about Anton getting his first 10s.
I learned Alex was being Beyonce. I loved her attitude for the paso – she was very queenly. I liked her flexibility, though I thought she lacked shaping (especially in comparison with the pro ladies) but that was a Blackpool paso, and Blackpool wouldn’t be the same without one.
We had some more filler – you could tell from the extended interviews that they’re down one since Will left.
Kelvin’s gran is a star.
Kelvin’s jive was also pretty stellar. I loved how stylish it was, how in control he seemed. I thought t was pretty flawless and loved what Craig called the flying push ups. Totally agree that that was the jive of the series so far.
Saffron’s quickstep was probably my favourite routine by them – I do love how AJ brings in the waltzers style turns in his quicksteps. Yes, there were one or two moments where she was off that I’d spotted too, but I loved the use of the other dancers just as accents and enjoyed the choreography, even if perhaps is was too challenging for her. (I preferred it to Emma’s American Smooth.)
Even without mentioning the dance-off, Michelle had an emosh VT and then did a commercial Couples Choice to Vogue. She owned it and was so graceful withal, although it seemed like Giovanni did more (and what will tell against her is that all the other celebs clearly used their leg muscles more and had to worry about footwork more).
As with his quickstep, Karim’s silly VT led into the dance, and he got the Big Blackpool entrance…for the Charleston, which was so his dance. (There was one second where I saw Amy giving more.) He was the showman extraordinaire ad it was joyous.
(I’d still have given it to Kelvin, but was unable to vote.)
I daresay Craig spent the time between shows explaining to Motsi that that’s why you with-hold the 10 paddle, although her trying to cover up his 9 was pretty funny. And Shirley and Bruno’s scoring was madder this week.
Strictly (still in Blackpool) results
Storywise, I thought the opening of the big routine was daft and ending with a wedding was daft - what about the rest of their lives together? - but the dancing was lovely. Nadiya may not have made much impression with her celebs, but she’s a delight to watch, and the interplay between camera and choreography was very nice.
Claudia had gone for a metallic zebra print gown, Tess was wearing something short, Shirley something too understated colourwise, so Motsi stole it in sparkly red.
The recap was very positive about everyone, though I was pretty sure Michelle would be in the dance-off. Simply because I’d have voted for them, I was glad Kelvin was safe, but ESPECIALLY when Saffron was not safe, Chris’s support is gnawing at me. Yes, he’s a nice guy, he’s entertaining, he’s trying and he’s improved, but he’s the weakest dancer left, and Saffron was very young in her response. Fun to see a glimpse of coach!Shirley and to hear the full story of Kelvin bringing Oti’s mother here early.
Westlife have abandoner their stools and are now giving all of them bits to sing. It took me a while to recognise their latest song. Eventually we got some dancing – yay!
Craig had to explain his refusal to bring out the 10 paddle – I wonder if he’ll stick it until the finals.
Aaand Michelle was in the bottom two. I thought Saffron was still rattled, but couldn’t spot any mistakes, and even though Michelle is a lovely dancer, the level required by the quickstep, and produced, was much higher. I hope Michelle finds a way to keep dancing, and what she and Giovanni said to and about each other was lovely.
Not enthused about the upcoming Bruno singing.
I cackled at the roller-coaster end to ‘Strictly Goes to Blackpool’.
Kevin got all the spotlight as a conductor in the jazz band group number, which was most interesting for seeing celebs dancing with each other and with different pros. I noticed that Alex was giving it a lot more welly than Saffron in their bit with Karim.
Live: I realised Tess’s drooping strap was going to bother me all show (it did), Claudia had turned up in sparkly pyjamas, but the judges had put in the effort. I liked the changing colour effect at the bottom of Shirley’s gown and for once, Bruno’s jacket. They lost Motsi at some point.
Because my finger is not on the cultural pulse and I’ve not seen much ITT, I did wonder what they had put Chris, Michelle, Giovanni and Alex in. Also, Kelvin’s quiff seemed excessive.
Chris opened with the salsa, although I didn’t see much salsa, and he hesitated before all his lift. His hands were either purposeless or masterful, but it was a fun routine. HOWEVER, where were Shirley and Bruno going to go after giving him 9s? Blackpool inflation, much?
I don’t know what to say about the Sooty Ts and Cs stuff.
Emma was getting to do an American Smooth foxtrot with the King of Ballroom. I admit to some excitement. I loved the giant music notes and it started off well as she was passed from partner to partner, until I noticed she had a rictus grin on her face. I didn’t get the narrative. The second lift was gorgeous and the pivots (?) section at the end was great, but she was wobbling in the last lift, and the whole thing was a bit of a mixed bag for me. (I’ve never been entirely convinced by this partnership.)
Still, her reaction to the 10s was so genuine and lovely, and I couldn’t even be curmudgeonly about Anton getting his first 10s.
I learned Alex was being Beyonce. I loved her attitude for the paso – she was very queenly. I liked her flexibility, though I thought she lacked shaping (especially in comparison with the pro ladies) but that was a Blackpool paso, and Blackpool wouldn’t be the same without one.
We had some more filler – you could tell from the extended interviews that they’re down one since Will left.
Kelvin’s gran is a star.
Kelvin’s jive was also pretty stellar. I loved how stylish it was, how in control he seemed. I thought t was pretty flawless and loved what Craig called the flying push ups. Totally agree that that was the jive of the series so far.
Saffron’s quickstep was probably my favourite routine by them – I do love how AJ brings in the waltzers style turns in his quicksteps. Yes, there were one or two moments where she was off that I’d spotted too, but I loved the use of the other dancers just as accents and enjoyed the choreography, even if perhaps is was too challenging for her. (I preferred it to Emma’s American Smooth.)
Even without mentioning the dance-off, Michelle had an emosh VT and then did a commercial Couples Choice to Vogue. She owned it and was so graceful withal, although it seemed like Giovanni did more (and what will tell against her is that all the other celebs clearly used their leg muscles more and had to worry about footwork more).
As with his quickstep, Karim’s silly VT led into the dance, and he got the Big Blackpool entrance…for the Charleston, which was so his dance. (There was one second where I saw Amy giving more.) He was the showman extraordinaire ad it was joyous.
(I’d still have given it to Kelvin, but was unable to vote.)
I daresay Craig spent the time between shows explaining to Motsi that that’s why you with-hold the 10 paddle, although her trying to cover up his 9 was pretty funny. And Shirley and Bruno’s scoring was madder this week.
Strictly (still in Blackpool) results
Storywise, I thought the opening of the big routine was daft and ending with a wedding was daft - what about the rest of their lives together? - but the dancing was lovely. Nadiya may not have made much impression with her celebs, but she’s a delight to watch, and the interplay between camera and choreography was very nice.
Claudia had gone for a metallic zebra print gown, Tess was wearing something short, Shirley something too understated colourwise, so Motsi stole it in sparkly red.
The recap was very positive about everyone, though I was pretty sure Michelle would be in the dance-off. Simply because I’d have voted for them, I was glad Kelvin was safe, but ESPECIALLY when Saffron was not safe, Chris’s support is gnawing at me. Yes, he’s a nice guy, he’s entertaining, he’s trying and he’s improved, but he’s the weakest dancer left, and Saffron was very young in her response. Fun to see a glimpse of coach!Shirley and to hear the full story of Kelvin bringing Oti’s mother here early.
Westlife have abandoner their stools and are now giving all of them bits to sing. It took me a while to recognise their latest song. Eventually we got some dancing – yay!
Craig had to explain his refusal to bring out the 10 paddle – I wonder if he’ll stick it until the finals.
Aaand Michelle was in the bottom two. I thought Saffron was still rattled, but couldn’t spot any mistakes, and even though Michelle is a lovely dancer, the level required by the quickstep, and produced, was much higher. I hope Michelle finds a way to keep dancing, and what she and Giovanni said to and about each other was lovely.
Not enthused about the upcoming Bruno singing.
