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shallowness) wrote2023-11-06 07:55 am
shallowness) wrote2023-11-06 07:55 am
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Strictly week 7
It Takes Two - I wanted Kevin to dress up as Nurse!Joker myself, but given the results show group dance, the Wednesday outfit was inevitable. He looked deeply uncomfortable, though, and it kind of got in the way of his comments, which were quite insightful, if lacking his sister’s analogies.
Contemporaryish but in hold seems like a good way to go for Annabel’s couples choice, and the way she talked so honestly about grief cut through. ITT tends to force a pattern or narrative in all the interviews with couples – partly because, bless ‘em, Janette and Fleur aren’t as good at this presenting malarkey as Rylan, Zoe and Claudia, which involves surfing the wave sometimes. It’s most obvious when they try to stop couples talking too soon about this week, which is on their minds, because we have to have the allotted questions about last week – particularly grating when it comes to the end of the week.
I thought Anton was perfectly entertaining when he came on, although my eyebrows went up a bit as he pretended to be a strict judge and slammed everyone’s ballroom frame and head positioning. (He has something of a point when he says that it’s normally the footwork that’s a bigger problem than the upper half.) If they’re so terrible why give out 8s and 9s? And then they had Motsi in to talk about the remaining couples and the dances and her comments were chockful of content (she got a bit lost with the couples choice, wittering on about street and hip hop when Janette had clearly mentioned Krishnan and Annabel would be dancing other styles.) She was bang on about Bobby losing performance value when he’s doing serious dances.
Week 7
It’s officially halfway! So…everyone bar Motsi (metallic purple) was in black.
Layton and Nikita opened with a jive. Their VT was all about how hard it was because of his feet and dancing in front of the mirror, but that basically looked like two pros dancing (because it is, and I was just comparing body types.) Anton joined Craig in the picky camp and gave them 8s, while the others gave them 10s. In the competition as is, that left room for an exceptional dance at the top of the leaderboard. In my mind, it was all ‘Let the competition begin.’
Angela R and Kai were waltzing, and her skirt was lovely. The whole thing felt a bit sedate (the song didn’t help with that) and I saw her making a lot of minute adjustments. I’m presuming something has happened to Anton since the start of last week (before his visit on ITT) because he was picky again, but indeed all the judges were critical of her bottom half. Either that was below par or they may possibly have been overmarking her in the past.
Inconsistent!Nigel and genius choreographer Katya would be doing a tango. I was left begging the judges would say he hadn’t gone wrong because that was DRAMATIC but confident. I think it could have been more cohesive between in hold and out of, and I think maybe that he could have danced through it a little more, but I’m basically so relieved that he did a clean ballroom.
Angela S and Carlos would be sambaing after a VT mocking Carlos. I found the whole Spanish vibe weird, and it’s tough that her first proper Latin (isn’t it?) was a samba. She was clearly trying, but it looked a little fussy. Shirley best explained the weight thing spoiling the dance from being as grounded as it needed to be.
I hoped Annabel ignored the VT to her lyrical couples choice with Johannes, but I don’t think she did, however, it didn’t spoil the dancing. So graceful. She hit all the accents (well, possibly there was a pause at the end, because everything that came after that came after the music) and I don’t think she could have danced like that a few weeks ago. Everyone was in bits, she was overwhelmed and I was struck by how much this situation has demanded of Johannes. Deservedly, her highest score.
Bobby, apparently the baby of the group (I thought that was Ellie) and Dianne performed an Argentine Tango. I wasn’t sure if I’d buy sizzle from these two. Anyway, it started off showy but was a very creditable AT, if not top drawer. The judges stumbled around trying to explain why not, although it was good that Shirley picked Bobby right up because it was far from terrible. Harsh 6 (from Craig, obviously) 8s from everyone else.
Ellie and Vito were to dance an American Smooth (woo! Back in ballroom!) She was sophisticated to start off with (actually, she was sophisticated throughout) then it sped up and she kept on it, then she broke out in smiles and the flow of her arms going into the last lift made my heart sing. (I want to see their quickstep, although they’ll surely have to go more modern.) Craig said something I translated as ‘I regret I’m going to have to give you a 9.’ Motsi and Shirley mentioned the final. Predictable 9 from Craig (though the studio audience booed him, which you should only do when he gives a 9 having made no criticisms) 3 10s and an overwhelmed Vito.
I wasn’t sure what would happen with Adam and Luba’s rumba. Would the fact that it was slow help him, or would he fall victim to the malerumba? (All due respect, the original ‘Dancing on my own’ is a banger and it’s a good song, but first dance at a wedding???) The routine was all emosh, and there was great partnering from him, although there were a couple of things I thought that could have been better, and then it felt like the judges all started laying in on him. So, malerumba it was, then. Harsh 6 from Craig, 7s from the rest.
Krishnan and Lauren would be closing with a couples choice about his Journey. It started off with him back at the day job in an oversized jacket, shirt and tie combo. Even if we hadn’t known what was coming, the camera gave it away with a full body shot that showed the pink trousers. Lauren ripped off the top layers and then they danced. Well, she did. He was always where he needed to be, including for lifts. I noted the lack of body movement. Hilariously, the male judges pointed out that the style they’d gone for was ‘a lot of walking.’ Consistent 6 from Craig.
After Ellie and Layton, a lot of movement in the leaderboard. Adam was in trouble because of the scores and last week’s dance-off. Like Angela S, rough timing with the dance he was given. Angela R didn’t have that excuse, and while Krishnan’s love for dance is genuine, you couldn’t say he’d improved.
I used my three online votes and one phone call to vote for my favourite routines of the night: Nigel, Annabel, Ellie and Adam.
Results – 9 become 8
An Afro Latin pro dance, with the guest dancers bringing the African energy, the pros the Latin, and Johannes, on what must have been a big night for him, being the bridge. Choreographer Oti’s experience on the show told.
Enter Tess in a hot pink jacket and suit, while Claudia stuck to black, but in a nice Grecian style. The round-up put the dancers in three groups, Ellie, Layton and Annabel up top, Nigel and Bobby in the middle – they only used the judges’ positive comments – and the rest in the bottom group. This was fair when you looked at the scores. More immediate responses from the couples having come straight out of the doors than usual.
Annabel and the rest of the top 4 were called safe, but Angela R and Kai were under the red light, which meant that one of the bottom two was more popular, and that unless if Bobby was in the dance-off (unlikely) it might be close. Vito called Claudia Tess, everyone (including him) cringed, Claudia said she’d take it and called him Graziano. (Everyone imagined him calling Tess Claudia and…well, I suspect the far more awkward response to that would have been edited out.)
Zara Larsson seemed to be channeling Gabrielle off Xena Warrior Princess, I thought, even before I realised Karen and Nancy were the pro couple. (Is it me, but did Nancy outdance Karen? She had 10% more energy.) And then ZL got involved a little in the choreo, and I was most impressed when I realised she was singing live. Most singers find ‘singing half-decently’ a challenge on the results show.
Judges’ chat, and we got to see Shirley’s weird beige coat as a dress outfit in full and Mosti’s majestic red dress (she’d been in a dressing gown for her comments in the round up.) Anton and Craig had put some effort into their jackets. There was a boys v girls spat over Nigel standing too still, the usual blether, and Claudia had the last word.
The Children in Need advert was sweet. Then it was back to the results. Bobby was called safe first, and then, yeah, turns out the viewers like Angela S and Carlos. But it would be close and Adam had a chance.
I thought Angela R was more nervous this time around myself, but I could see what the judges had meant about the lack of rumba content from Adam (because Luba didn’t trust him enough to do it in the rehearsal time they had?) The judges unanimously saved Angela R for ‘technique’. Adam took it with good grace and made a Good Dad speech.
Contemporaryish but in hold seems like a good way to go for Annabel’s couples choice, and the way she talked so honestly about grief cut through. ITT tends to force a pattern or narrative in all the interviews with couples – partly because, bless ‘em, Janette and Fleur aren’t as good at this presenting malarkey as Rylan, Zoe and Claudia, which involves surfing the wave sometimes. It’s most obvious when they try to stop couples talking too soon about this week, which is on their minds, because we have to have the allotted questions about last week – particularly grating when it comes to the end of the week.
I thought Anton was perfectly entertaining when he came on, although my eyebrows went up a bit as he pretended to be a strict judge and slammed everyone’s ballroom frame and head positioning. (He has something of a point when he says that it’s normally the footwork that’s a bigger problem than the upper half.) If they’re so terrible why give out 8s and 9s? And then they had Motsi in to talk about the remaining couples and the dances and her comments were chockful of content (she got a bit lost with the couples choice, wittering on about street and hip hop when Janette had clearly mentioned Krishnan and Annabel would be dancing other styles.) She was bang on about Bobby losing performance value when he’s doing serious dances.
Week 7
It’s officially halfway! So…everyone bar Motsi (metallic purple) was in black.
Layton and Nikita opened with a jive. Their VT was all about how hard it was because of his feet and dancing in front of the mirror, but that basically looked like two pros dancing (because it is, and I was just comparing body types.) Anton joined Craig in the picky camp and gave them 8s, while the others gave them 10s. In the competition as is, that left room for an exceptional dance at the top of the leaderboard. In my mind, it was all ‘Let the competition begin.’
Angela R and Kai were waltzing, and her skirt was lovely. The whole thing felt a bit sedate (the song didn’t help with that) and I saw her making a lot of minute adjustments. I’m presuming something has happened to Anton since the start of last week (before his visit on ITT) because he was picky again, but indeed all the judges were critical of her bottom half. Either that was below par or they may possibly have been overmarking her in the past.
Inconsistent!Nigel and genius choreographer Katya would be doing a tango. I was left begging the judges would say he hadn’t gone wrong because that was DRAMATIC but confident. I think it could have been more cohesive between in hold and out of, and I think maybe that he could have danced through it a little more, but I’m basically so relieved that he did a clean ballroom.
Angela S and Carlos would be sambaing after a VT mocking Carlos. I found the whole Spanish vibe weird, and it’s tough that her first proper Latin (isn’t it?) was a samba. She was clearly trying, but it looked a little fussy. Shirley best explained the weight thing spoiling the dance from being as grounded as it needed to be.
I hoped Annabel ignored the VT to her lyrical couples choice with Johannes, but I don’t think she did, however, it didn’t spoil the dancing. So graceful. She hit all the accents (well, possibly there was a pause at the end, because everything that came after that came after the music) and I don’t think she could have danced like that a few weeks ago. Everyone was in bits, she was overwhelmed and I was struck by how much this situation has demanded of Johannes. Deservedly, her highest score.
Bobby, apparently the baby of the group (I thought that was Ellie) and Dianne performed an Argentine Tango. I wasn’t sure if I’d buy sizzle from these two. Anyway, it started off showy but was a very creditable AT, if not top drawer. The judges stumbled around trying to explain why not, although it was good that Shirley picked Bobby right up because it was far from terrible. Harsh 6 (from Craig, obviously) 8s from everyone else.
Ellie and Vito were to dance an American Smooth (woo! Back in ballroom!) She was sophisticated to start off with (actually, she was sophisticated throughout) then it sped up and she kept on it, then she broke out in smiles and the flow of her arms going into the last lift made my heart sing. (I want to see their quickstep, although they’ll surely have to go more modern.) Craig said something I translated as ‘I regret I’m going to have to give you a 9.’ Motsi and Shirley mentioned the final. Predictable 9 from Craig (though the studio audience booed him, which you should only do when he gives a 9 having made no criticisms) 3 10s and an overwhelmed Vito.
I wasn’t sure what would happen with Adam and Luba’s rumba. Would the fact that it was slow help him, or would he fall victim to the malerumba? (All due respect, the original ‘Dancing on my own’ is a banger and it’s a good song, but first dance at a wedding???) The routine was all emosh, and there was great partnering from him, although there were a couple of things I thought that could have been better, and then it felt like the judges all started laying in on him. So, malerumba it was, then. Harsh 6 from Craig, 7s from the rest.
Krishnan and Lauren would be closing with a couples choice about his Journey. It started off with him back at the day job in an oversized jacket, shirt and tie combo. Even if we hadn’t known what was coming, the camera gave it away with a full body shot that showed the pink trousers. Lauren ripped off the top layers and then they danced. Well, she did. He was always where he needed to be, including for lifts. I noted the lack of body movement. Hilariously, the male judges pointed out that the style they’d gone for was ‘a lot of walking.’ Consistent 6 from Craig.
After Ellie and Layton, a lot of movement in the leaderboard. Adam was in trouble because of the scores and last week’s dance-off. Like Angela S, rough timing with the dance he was given. Angela R didn’t have that excuse, and while Krishnan’s love for dance is genuine, you couldn’t say he’d improved.
I used my three online votes and one phone call to vote for my favourite routines of the night: Nigel, Annabel, Ellie and Adam.
Results – 9 become 8
An Afro Latin pro dance, with the guest dancers bringing the African energy, the pros the Latin, and Johannes, on what must have been a big night for him, being the bridge. Choreographer Oti’s experience on the show told.
Enter Tess in a hot pink jacket and suit, while Claudia stuck to black, but in a nice Grecian style. The round-up put the dancers in three groups, Ellie, Layton and Annabel up top, Nigel and Bobby in the middle – they only used the judges’ positive comments – and the rest in the bottom group. This was fair when you looked at the scores. More immediate responses from the couples having come straight out of the doors than usual.
Annabel and the rest of the top 4 were called safe, but Angela R and Kai were under the red light, which meant that one of the bottom two was more popular, and that unless if Bobby was in the dance-off (unlikely) it might be close. Vito called Claudia Tess, everyone (including him) cringed, Claudia said she’d take it and called him Graziano. (Everyone imagined him calling Tess Claudia and…well, I suspect the far more awkward response to that would have been edited out.)
Zara Larsson seemed to be channeling Gabrielle off Xena Warrior Princess, I thought, even before I realised Karen and Nancy were the pro couple. (Is it me, but did Nancy outdance Karen? She had 10% more energy.) And then ZL got involved a little in the choreo, and I was most impressed when I realised she was singing live. Most singers find ‘singing half-decently’ a challenge on the results show.
Judges’ chat, and we got to see Shirley’s weird beige coat as a dress outfit in full and Mosti’s majestic red dress (she’d been in a dressing gown for her comments in the round up.) Anton and Craig had put some effort into their jackets. There was a boys v girls spat over Nigel standing too still, the usual blether, and Claudia had the last word.
The Children in Need advert was sweet. Then it was back to the results. Bobby was called safe first, and then, yeah, turns out the viewers like Angela S and Carlos. But it would be close and Adam had a chance.
I thought Angela R was more nervous this time around myself, but I could see what the judges had meant about the lack of rumba content from Adam (because Luba didn’t trust him enough to do it in the rehearsal time they had?) The judges unanimously saved Angela R for ‘technique’. Adam took it with good grace and made a Good Dad speech.
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I am new on Dreamwidth and was looking for some fellow Strictly fans. Nice to meet you. I fear that Annabel might go out this weekend...
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Please witter on to me as much as you like! 😊
I liked Annabel's dance better than I thought I would, she 'let go' a bit didn't she.
I agree, Krishnan wasn't as good but I really liked his dance, he looked great. I'd love to see him samba-ing round the C4 newsroom 😅
Oh it's exciting to see what happens isn't it! So far, one of the bottom 2 dancers has left each week, with no middle dancers leaving in a shock result...