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shallownessStrictly
Was informed on Friday’s ITT that Motsi is off for a couple of weeks (they didn’t say why, but Google informed me she had to go back to Germany because of a burglary and then had to quarantine) and so – proving Strictly probably has contingencies for contingencies – Anton would be judging. My thoughts: well, that’s solved the problem of dead air caused by Katya and Nicola’s withdrawal, we can all laugh when he judges Latin dances, right? and who knows what his scoring will be like.
The Saturday night show
Enter our presenters in dark dresses and slits. I particularly liked Dianne’s green gown. Claudia’s anxious question about whether there were any other updates was answered in the neative, the audience sighed in relief.
Opening dance for HRV, the VT being all about how the salsa was a family dance for Janette. No pressure, lad. And then it was really good. The lifts went well after all the worry from HRV, and, I think, as ever, he pulled off A Performance on the night. I had clocked some stillness, so Craig’s comment about losing fluidity in the transitions made sense to me. First of three 10s from Shirley, while Anton had a touch of Len in his comments, but marked generously. Not Donnie Osmond generous but someone who’s seen the under five paddles too often generous. Which meant they were back to the top of the leaderboard for most of the show.
Still in Cuba for the next routine – I didn’t know there was a Cuban-flavoured cha cha, but why not? Usual Giovanni breaking down the dance for Ranvir and her soaking it in, although everyone jumped on the body issues aspect of the VT. (In hindsight, Giovnni’s advice to sell it were a warning.) I thought there were good bits, and when Crai marked it five I was furious, and pretty determined to vote for them from that point on.
One continued to hope Max’s nerves wouldn’t get in the way of his dancing and I don’t think they did, though he was…contained, for me. There for Dianne, yes,but the movement wasn’t flowing through him. I didn’t catch the swearing, but Claudia’s apology was one of her more classic Claudia moments of the night.
They continued to big up JJ’s journey with all the stuff about the uniform and Megan Markle’s husband turning up. My main thought was how clever Amy’s choreography for JJ’s jive was. The judges were not impressed though, and gave him plenty of notes for improvement.
I did not entirely get the dolls concept for Maisie’s cha cha, or rather I didn’t see why they did it. It seemed like begging for snark. What impressed me the most was Maisie’s leg speed, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good cha cha or not. The judges’ answer was ‘not really’ although Anton’s hatred of the cha cha was funny.
Dance I was most looking forward to next: Bill’s anything goes streetish dance. Aparently Tess’s favouite song. Who knew? I think Ori beat Karen in the dressing like my partner stakes (and okay, she outdanced Bill, but never mind). It was as epic as I’d hoped. There was this light-footed pendulum move towards the beginning that took my breath away, and all the details were immaculate. Shirley’s lurve for Bill continues, understandably, and another 10. This was my favourite dance of the night, .
And then Bill got overexcited, a nation howled ‘2 metres’ and Claudia scuttled away and presented Claudiaishly <3.
Next came the waltz and Caroline, which seemed like a perfect match, and it kind of was. The jewelled colours of their outfits looked better in the sympathetic lighting. Lovely, but couldn’t share in their delight at the improvement in scores because that was Anton inflation. She went all actressy and it looked like she forgot the 2 metres in response to Anton’s ‘excuse me’ quip. Tess didn’t react and scuttle, either because it’s not in the Tessbot’s programming and she was grimly determined to stick to the mark, or because Caroine actually didn’t get within 2 metres of her as they were on the dancefloor proper and the camera shot was deceptive.
The two amigos did the samba next, and the outfits came off as gimmicky, but the routine won one over. Jamie was absolutely going for it and there was some bounce, thouh I too was surprised by how gushing the judges’ comments were. Jamie was funny over the bounce, Karen got overexcited over the glitterball and forgot social distancing and not touching stuff unnecessarily.
I’d predicted from quite early on that Clara would et the final spot for her Charleston, and it was fairly glorious, suiting her far more than anything she’s done before. Less technique, although Shirley’s detailed praise was fair enough. All Josephine Baker lightness and unflagging energy. I had a problem with the end of the song (the audience of the team/other competitors were understandably puzzled about when it was) and in the routine – because how could you choreograph that ending. So I was more with Craig than the 10 bestowers, but Clara deserved to be the top lady, certainly.
And quarantined!Motsi turned up, celebrated Clara and did a better live link than Bruno.
Another shake-up of the leaderboard, and as Nicola and Katya were in the dance-off last week and Jamie did well with a difficult dance, a lot of new couples are in danger. I think we’ve now reached a point where (possibly consistent Caroline aside) it depends on the dance. Ballroomers don’t want Latin, and well, nobody wants the cha cha – I wonder what the highest scoring one will end up being this year. Anyway, I voted for Ranvir and Giovanni.
Results
We opened with a Strictly tribute to the supermarket, no masks, just pastels and trolleyography. Nice that Anton had a starring role, given everything.
Tess’s legs and Claudia IN COLOUR entered. Loved the colour of Shirley’s gown, even if the asymmetry was fussy. Nice that they pulled Motsi into the round-up, even if I wasn’t always clear who she was referring to.
Amy somehow did not deafen JJ with her celebrations. Although Ranvir and Max were the obvious suspects, when Maisie and Gorka were called out, it wasn’t such a big surprise: their cha cha was gimmicky and didn’t give enough people enough reason to vote for them (JJ and Amy, for instance, are a more likeable couple as well as having a better story. And Gorka talking over Maisie didn’t come over well.)
In Claudia’s Chatterpillar (I can live with that), Caroline learned that she’s got the cha cha OF DOOM next.
I ddn’t know the Vamps had written that song, although I only realised it was that song when the chorus kicked in – I was too fixated on the pink candy floss themed piano. Neil and Nancy, also featured in the group routine, still mostly working the pastels came on and their dancing was slightly upstaged by Nancy’s hair.
Fairly instructive dance debrief, though we inevitably saw a replay of Karen stopping Jamie as spotted by Shirley. Bruno and Craig got ther claws out like they were on the same continent.
More big reactions from Jamie and Karen, which was fair enough, and the two couples in the second from bottom spot had to wait longest, which is also fair enough. As I voted for Ranvir and Giovanni, I’m pleased rather than not. Ooh, American tango. No, the Giovanni thank you is not necessary. Tess trampled over all the encouraging comments to Max.
Those playing the Backpool drinking game needn’t give it up next week, then.
I thought Maisie would edge it because of the scores more than because of what I saw them do, but ooh, it was close, apparently. At least Max and Dianne’s last dance suggested that they had got on. (The group hug covered a lot of awkwardness.)
Was informed on Friday’s ITT that Motsi is off for a couple of weeks (they didn’t say why, but Google informed me she had to go back to Germany because of a burglary and then had to quarantine) and so – proving Strictly probably has contingencies for contingencies – Anton would be judging. My thoughts: well, that’s solved the problem of dead air caused by Katya and Nicola’s withdrawal, we can all laugh when he judges Latin dances, right? and who knows what his scoring will be like.
The Saturday night show
Enter our presenters in dark dresses and slits. I particularly liked Dianne’s green gown. Claudia’s anxious question about whether there were any other updates was answered in the neative, the audience sighed in relief.
Opening dance for HRV, the VT being all about how the salsa was a family dance for Janette. No pressure, lad. And then it was really good. The lifts went well after all the worry from HRV, and, I think, as ever, he pulled off A Performance on the night. I had clocked some stillness, so Craig’s comment about losing fluidity in the transitions made sense to me. First of three 10s from Shirley, while Anton had a touch of Len in his comments, but marked generously. Not Donnie Osmond generous but someone who’s seen the under five paddles too often generous. Which meant they were back to the top of the leaderboard for most of the show.
Still in Cuba for the next routine – I didn’t know there was a Cuban-flavoured cha cha, but why not? Usual Giovanni breaking down the dance for Ranvir and her soaking it in, although everyone jumped on the body issues aspect of the VT. (In hindsight, Giovnni’s advice to sell it were a warning.) I thought there were good bits, and when Crai marked it five I was furious, and pretty determined to vote for them from that point on.
One continued to hope Max’s nerves wouldn’t get in the way of his dancing and I don’t think they did, though he was…contained, for me. There for Dianne, yes,but the movement wasn’t flowing through him. I didn’t catch the swearing, but Claudia’s apology was one of her more classic Claudia moments of the night.
They continued to big up JJ’s journey with all the stuff about the uniform and Megan Markle’s husband turning up. My main thought was how clever Amy’s choreography for JJ’s jive was. The judges were not impressed though, and gave him plenty of notes for improvement.
I did not entirely get the dolls concept for Maisie’s cha cha, or rather I didn’t see why they did it. It seemed like begging for snark. What impressed me the most was Maisie’s leg speed, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good cha cha or not. The judges’ answer was ‘not really’ although Anton’s hatred of the cha cha was funny.
Dance I was most looking forward to next: Bill’s anything goes streetish dance. Aparently Tess’s favouite song. Who knew? I think Ori beat Karen in the dressing like my partner stakes (and okay, she outdanced Bill, but never mind). It was as epic as I’d hoped. There was this light-footed pendulum move towards the beginning that took my breath away, and all the details were immaculate. Shirley’s lurve for Bill continues, understandably, and another 10. This was my favourite dance of the night, .
And then Bill got overexcited, a nation howled ‘2 metres’ and Claudia scuttled away and presented Claudiaishly <3.
Next came the waltz and Caroline, which seemed like a perfect match, and it kind of was. The jewelled colours of their outfits looked better in the sympathetic lighting. Lovely, but couldn’t share in their delight at the improvement in scores because that was Anton inflation. She went all actressy and it looked like she forgot the 2 metres in response to Anton’s ‘excuse me’ quip. Tess didn’t react and scuttle, either because it’s not in the Tessbot’s programming and she was grimly determined to stick to the mark, or because Caroine actually didn’t get within 2 metres of her as they were on the dancefloor proper and the camera shot was deceptive.
The two amigos did the samba next, and the outfits came off as gimmicky, but the routine won one over. Jamie was absolutely going for it and there was some bounce, thouh I too was surprised by how gushing the judges’ comments were. Jamie was funny over the bounce, Karen got overexcited over the glitterball and forgot social distancing and not touching stuff unnecessarily.
I’d predicted from quite early on that Clara would et the final spot for her Charleston, and it was fairly glorious, suiting her far more than anything she’s done before. Less technique, although Shirley’s detailed praise was fair enough. All Josephine Baker lightness and unflagging energy. I had a problem with the end of the song (the audience of the team/other competitors were understandably puzzled about when it was) and in the routine – because how could you choreograph that ending. So I was more with Craig than the 10 bestowers, but Clara deserved to be the top lady, certainly.
And quarantined!Motsi turned up, celebrated Clara and did a better live link than Bruno.
Another shake-up of the leaderboard, and as Nicola and Katya were in the dance-off last week and Jamie did well with a difficult dance, a lot of new couples are in danger. I think we’ve now reached a point where (possibly consistent Caroline aside) it depends on the dance. Ballroomers don’t want Latin, and well, nobody wants the cha cha – I wonder what the highest scoring one will end up being this year. Anyway, I voted for Ranvir and Giovanni.
Results
We opened with a Strictly tribute to the supermarket, no masks, just pastels and trolleyography. Nice that Anton had a starring role, given everything.
Tess’s legs and Claudia IN COLOUR entered. Loved the colour of Shirley’s gown, even if the asymmetry was fussy. Nice that they pulled Motsi into the round-up, even if I wasn’t always clear who she was referring to.
Amy somehow did not deafen JJ with her celebrations. Although Ranvir and Max were the obvious suspects, when Maisie and Gorka were called out, it wasn’t such a big surprise: their cha cha was gimmicky and didn’t give enough people enough reason to vote for them (JJ and Amy, for instance, are a more likeable couple as well as having a better story. And Gorka talking over Maisie didn’t come over well.)
In Claudia’s Chatterpillar (I can live with that), Caroline learned that she’s got the cha cha OF DOOM next.
I ddn’t know the Vamps had written that song, although I only realised it was that song when the chorus kicked in – I was too fixated on the pink candy floss themed piano. Neil and Nancy, also featured in the group routine, still mostly working the pastels came on and their dancing was slightly upstaged by Nancy’s hair.
Fairly instructive dance debrief, though we inevitably saw a replay of Karen stopping Jamie as spotted by Shirley. Bruno and Craig got ther claws out like they were on the same continent.
More big reactions from Jamie and Karen, which was fair enough, and the two couples in the second from bottom spot had to wait longest, which is also fair enough. As I voted for Ranvir and Giovanni, I’m pleased rather than not. Ooh, American tango. No, the Giovanni thank you is not necessary. Tess trampled over all the encouraging comments to Max.
Those playing the Backpool drinking game needn’t give it up next week, then.
I thought Maisie would edge it because of the scores more than because of what I saw them do, but ooh, it was close, apparently. At least Max and Dianne’s last dance suggested that they had got on. (The group hug covered a lot of awkwardness.)
