shallowness

Strictly It Takes Two take-outs: I don’t know if it was Rylan being confused or an official line, but he was talking about ’couples choice’ being anything goes, as if others had complained that that street commercial was a bit contemporary. I’m also wondering whether they’ll pre-record the group pro dances regardless in future as it sounded easier for costumes and make-up. But then, this week, we had one downside of that, in that the pre-recorded stuff didn’t, couldn’t mention Sean Connery’s death, although I thought the presenters explained it clearly enough that nobody could be upset.

As for the routine itself, I loved the fight choreography, the acrobatics, and I didn’t mind our three ‘Bonds’ being objectified. I was also amused that they’re all about as British as Prince Phillip.

So, movie night and week 3:

Tess wore colour! But Shirley’s blue was the best. And then I gawped at the costumes.

I don’t know that Nicola’s big entrance on the motorcycle added much to the routine except more stuff for her to worry about. I actually thought she sharpened up towards the middle of the jive. She can move, but I still think one is more likely to compare her with Katya and she’ll always come up short.

I was looking forward to seeing Maisie’s American Smooth, mainly because of the sliver of skating-referencing choreography I’d seen on ITT. Gorka’s choreography was a win. It was a mini-drama. The wig (quite the night for wigs) made her look Elsaesque, and though I wasn’t looking at the footwork, I will take the judges’ comments as explaining why the dance wasn’t quite as it should be, which I sensed (bad news for Maisie on what Motsi dubbed the night of foxtrots?)

Next came Caroline, and between making Maisie cry over her mum and Caroline dedicating the dance to theatre, which is having an utterly sucky time of it, I thought this was going to be a very emosh night of Strictly. Silly me. As for the routine, I sort of agreed with Craig’s comments, although I’d have put it less harshly. Though her American accent was suspect, the character she performed at the top and the beautiful dancing that followed didn’t quite meld. She’s got to find a way to bring in acting to the routine, and Johannes has to bring light and shade into the choreography for her.

Usual disclaimer about the order of dances.

I was never going to care about a Star Wars-themed paso. I thought the lightsabers did nothing for it. So it happened and I reminded myself I’d see a proper paso when Bill did his. Jason is looking – deservedly – in trouble before the results show. Luba hasn’t found a way to bring out the potential I thought I saw.

I can’t say I felt JJ’s foxtrot as much as the judges did, and the bits out of hold didn’t help, though there was little gapping, but marked improvement in the scores, and here’s someone who can do ballroom.

And then HRV’s cha cha as a gnome. I thought there were stylish bits, but it didn’t quite work. (Outfitwise, his top half looked absurd, but he should totally wear boots again. The boy thinks he’s cool when he’s actually charming.) The judges came down hard on the lack of content, which Janette half-responded to, but it didn’t seem as if he’d done that well. It was only when we saw the full leaderboard that it became clear how low he’d been brought. Worrying signs.

Ranvir owned the beginning – I shouldn’t be so surprised, she is a performer to some degree and she did it in the paso. But then they came together and it was scrummy. Lovely frame, glorious contact. Yes, we’ve seen better, but Gio and foxtrots = good stuff. First nine from Craig!!! Three nines all round!!! Dance of the night. Hope this makes up for her exhausting life at the moment.

Follow that? How’s about the Hercules Charleston that we were all looking forward to? The cloak was always funny to me. The look was a camp as Flash Gordon, but it was actually funny on purpose, and I laughed (if not as much as Tess, who was a broken woman.) The non-choreographed dismounts looked like they were endangering Karen, and I might not have given it an 8, because I think Craig was right that Jamie’s movements were too compact, but…it was entertaining. As is Jamie.

Clara did not make the most of her grand entrance either, though I loved the red drapes spilling over the floor. I’m glad the judges saw signs of improvement in her disco tango, and I’m sure she will prefer Latin, but I despair of seeing a soft dance from her, though she and Aljiaz continue to be hugely likeable.

And then the intriguing street commercial take on the Simpsons theme. And it was really good. Max had to and seemed to set his nerves aside to get through it, which is great as we can see his dancing. It must have been such a hard piece to choreograph to, but the changes of speed were effective, and presumably demanding. Good on him. (Was calling it a street Charleston further proof that anything goes in couples choice now?)

In fact, so good, why dd they not end with that, one wondered. Because Bill Bailey. Fabulous VT, in which he gave 100% and you can tell Oti is having a whale of a time, and then, yeah, an actual paso with very good shaping and intent. I did not love bringing in the guitar, although in fairness, he never dropped the intensity, and I liked how they pulled it into the final movement. This showed the surprising quickstep was no accident.

Bill and Oti then broke Claudia when she declared the lines were open. (I kind of think keeping a distance makes Tess a better presenter, but diminishes Claudia’s schtick. Oh, also, the crew as audience? At first it sounded like they were all miked up. But a sterling effort to offer byplay with the judges, for example.)

I voted for Caroline after a squizz on the leaderboard. Ranvir’s foxtrot was my favourite, but I didn’t think she needed anyone’s help, and I was really narked at Craig for giving Caroline a six, and more narked at Janette than Johannes, so I didn’t vote for HRV’s boots, although I could see the boy might b in trouble.

Results: I approve of outdoor dancing in the golden hour, and I was slow to realise they were actually at the white cliffs of Dover. The clips of Vera Lynn were probably the most affecting, thouh I hope they gave al the pros a cop of that ‘picture’ – did Giovanni get inspiration from this as much as the film?

Anyway, HUGE reaction from Jamie and Karen to being called safe. I’d only just realised that Nicola was second from bottom, though seven points above Jason, and I thought Craig offered good advice (subtext being, you’ll be against Jason and you’ll be fine.)

BILL AND OTI’S SONG FOR COUPLES CHOICE. As if next wek wasn’t appointment viewing anyway.

Gorgeous dancing from Grazziano and Nadiya to the Kanye-Masons (sp?) (I should know how to spell their names after the watching the Imagine documentary, which is lovely if you enjoyed their playing.)

Bruno is still weirdly disconnected for the judges’ bit. It actually did what Claudia claims it does when she made Craig expand on his three syllables, one word. Shirley futilely tried to explain a technical bit to Claudia. The judges got to witness the ‘the vote is open’ shenanigans.

They decided not to torture Clara, but certainly Maisie, HRV (on you JANETTE) and Caroline. Decent advice for Jason, but we all knew he was doomed.

I was glad Craig and Motsi observed that both couples danced better, because I thought so too. But I still thought the lightsabers were no capes and Nicola was the better dancer. And the final words and dance exemplified Jason and Luba’s problems as a partnership, although fair play to her for trying to encapsulate how special Strictly is. So, the public have stuck with the judges’ ranking so far, but then, I don’t think we’ve had much of a reason not to.