shallowness (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shallowness) wrote2023-12-17 08:21 am
shallowness) wrote2023-12-17 08:21 am
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Strictly week 13
I liked the slow reveal of the judges’ choices on It Takes Two, and approved of them giving Bobby and Dianne the samba, Ellie and Vito the paso and Layton and Nikita the quickstep (well, if it has to be ballroom, not a bad choice for it to be the liveliest.) We learned that B&D’s showdance would be to a La La Land medley, E&V’s to a JLo medley, and L&N’s to Aladdin’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend in Me’. The Friday episode had a recap of each couple’s journey, and it was striking how Ellie and Vito’s paso felt like a turning point after her ropiest routine (the samba) followed by a strong salsa and that the American smooth came after those three Latin dances and reiterated she was capable of getting high scores in ballroom too. What was striking with Bobby was how early his samba had been, but then Layton’s quickstep had been even earlier.
So, the final and it was clear the studio audience were up for it even over the titles. Typical, stripped down ‘sincere’ talky celeb VT that got more interesting when they each joined their pro partner on the dance floor to sort of dance a little.
Delightful to see a wigless Amy join in the obligatory pro dance (I presume she can jump on her foot, then) to introduce the celebs. Shockingly, Layton had the tamest coloured outfit in lilac, Bobby in bright pink, while Ellie looked fierce (although I wasn’t sure about the fit of her dress) in flame. (This must have been a pre-record.)
Tess, wearing a silver dress, was escorted by Johannes, and Claudia, wearing a gold jumpsuit, by Karen. Anton put in some effort in a gold jacket, Shirley in white, Motsi in teal sparkles, and Craig’s jacket was black and sparkled too. On he Charlestoned and twirled, but the disco bit didn’t quite work because Motsi and Anton had a disagreement about directions. Five more minutes’ rehearsal, you guys.
Enter the finalists dressed in their judges choice outfits, and I was worried about Dianne’s energy management already.
So, Ellie and Vito must have been drawn first, and so we went through the nonsense of three judges suggesting different dances and Anton not having an opinion (as if knowing the couples’ choice and contrast weren’t considerations and the producers had no say) in the VT. Anton went to tell Ellie and Vito and as it wasn’t a ballroom dance, had no tips, just encouragement. I loved their paso the first time around, and she noticeably owned her space more this time around, but had great control. Craig remained Craig and gave it a 9, the rest gave it a 10. Yeah, it’s only for guidance, but Craig’s paddle it the one that matters in the finals.
Although Anton didn’t suggest a dance in the next VT either, it was Craig who went to tell Bobby and Dianne they’d be dancing the samba. And it was good to see one of the best sambas of the series again. Great party spirit, but Bobby didn’t go too wild (I thought there were one or two hesitations, maybe) but he’d improved from 32 to 39 (Craig, again, was the holdout.)
Anton did have an opinion about which dance Layton and Nikita should reprise, but it was Shirley who went to see them. I thought Layton showed more flexibility than Nikita in the opening of this quickstep. There was even more spring in their jumps, and Layton’s topline has improved a lot. Craig gave it a 10, giving them the first round, but I think everyone expected Layton to get the highest score.
First Ts and Cs of the night. The Beeb reviving Gladiators is so weird for me as someone who remembers it watching it on a Saturday night the first time around (wasn’t that even before ITV was ITV?) So. Weird.
Showdance and some AR pink architectural wizardry while the Beeb still has the money for if a white-clad Ellie and Vito, and oh wow. Nearly all the way through, that was a staggering actual showdance and she was pulling off all these difficult lift sequences in a way few celebs have managed, as well as showing off bits from past dances, until, of course, the last one was beyond her. She apologised, the judges acknowledged that she’d gone for it and oh so nearly did it. (Was Craig actually emotional there?) But it was 9s all round.
Bobby and Dianne’s showdance opened with some ‘messing abaht’ (always Len’s voice in my head) and I was a bit distracted by how weird Dianne’s hair looked with that red scarf in it. Unusual songs off La La Land and…it was charmingly and well danced, and a ‘celebration’ of what they’d danced, but compared with the proper showdance we’d just seen, it lacked ambition, with only the one lift. Motsi gave it away by calling it a quickstep. It got 39 because Craig is Craig, and I wasn’t booing him.
Layton and Nikita’s showdance featured props, very little hold, but lots of tricks (Nikita kinda rescued it with his hat right at the end, but like Craig, I spotted they weren’t always in sync, and I was more impressed by their Charleston, if I’m honest.) And…I admit I probably change my mind depending on who my favourite couple is every year, but having seen a couple attempt what a showdance is meant to be in the professional sphere and oh so nearly getting it, I junked my usual approach of ‘anything goes, play to your strengths and remember that time Kelly Bright did the lindyhop?’ After all, they’ve had the freedom of the couples choice already. I felt that it was all very well Layton getting another 39, but Ellie’s showdance impressed me more.
Nonetheless, the for guidance leaderboard had them third, Bobby and Dianne second and, no surprises, Layton and Nikita top.
Couples pick, and I hoped Ellie truly had put the disappointment behind her, and I think she mostly did for their American Smooth. I loved it the first time, and it remined sophisticated, proof that she could do Latin and ballroom, and you could see that she’s improved as a dancer, although I think something wasn’t perfect with one head movement and possibly one lift could have gone better. Anyway, all the judges recognised it was their last dance and Craig was probably a bit soft in giving her a 10 for a not entirely flawless dance, but I am so glad he did. Their first 40! (They were not having the best final, but maybe Vito could remember that he and Fleur probably were the best dancers in the final last year, and Hamza messed up his showdance but still won…) Claudia asked Ellie, as she’d ask all the other celebs what it would mean to win, and then cut Ellie and Vito off before they got into a squabble about whether it would be down to Vito or Ellie.
Good to see one of the two outstanding emotive couples choices of the season again. I thought Bobby’s improvement as a dancer was clear (although I noticed his focus wavering for a few seconds in the middle.) The judges were in bits, (Gorka was crying on the balcony) although Shirley was fairly cogent and Craig was pithy in a good way. 39 (fair from Craig, and it was a recognition of Bobby’s improvement.) Bobby spoke very touchingly about having once been an anxious child (helps that he hasn’t banged on about this narrative like Ellie’s ‘girl to woman’ story or Layton and his fans using ‘authentic’ and ‘representation’ almost as much as ‘journey’.)
The purple Argentine Tango to close, and Layton definitely improved, it was a tighter routine, so as soon as Craig said ‘better’, that was translatable to 40. Again.
No change to the leaderboard. Some more Ts & Cs (I have no idea how many times I voted, but I blew through my six online votes before anyone had danced a second time and if I care to I’ll be able to see how many times I called when I get my next phone bill) and Ollie Alexander announced he’ll be doing Eurovision – one the one hand ooh, a proper pop star who is enthused about it, on the other, he does know it’s not always about the music, right? Also, Annabel making her way through the golden fringe was darling.
The mighty Cher sang her Christmas single (but surely the Christmas no. 1 will be ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ this year) with some interaction with the pros, and obviously they were great, but I found some of the choices about where to place them and the tease that Kai was going to dance WITH Cher bemusing.
The cast of ’23 (with one blatant exception) talked about their experiences, and I was glad to hear Annabel mention her couples choice so positively and loved Angela S admitting she watches her Argentine Tango back when she needs a boost.
Joyous reunion group number. I was pleased and surprised they found a way to get Nigel in, loved everyone’s highlights, especially the way everyone built up to La Rippon’s leg lift, although Les was in the middle of the screen for far too long at one point.
Then a VT with members of the public and the first mention of Amanda. I’m still trying to make the ‘Tess and Claudia = Morecambe and Wise’ line make sense, and…nope, but then there were adults who seemed to think Nikita K was good and that Zara should have stayed longer.
To the dance floor for the results, and I could but imagine that someone (a floor manager? Claudia?) was waving frantically to stop the clapping audience during the big pause so that Tess could announce that the winners were…Ellie and Vito. To their absolute shock, as I think they believed the guff that the showdance makes or breaks the winners. It doesn’t. Yeah, the showdance had the biggest mistake, and possibly the judges were being generous about the American smooth reprise, but I’ve usually made my mind up who I want to win weeks before the final, and this year was no exception, and I don’t think I’m alone. Although Bobby’s couples choice moved me and he made for a worthy finalist, while Layton is an exceptional dancer, I think I voted for the best pro-am couple (and however much it’s implied that Ellie had some more dance training than, say, Bobby, she grew up on a soap, not on a musical theatre stage) over the whole series. Clearly – as Ellie and Vito always had public support, although they were usually near the top of the leaderboard – I wasn’t alone.
Vito got to ramble. There was a reprise of this ‘this is for you, no, you’ squabble. They both seemed to start to believe they’d won it when they got to hold it and got lifted.
So, the final and it was clear the studio audience were up for it even over the titles. Typical, stripped down ‘sincere’ talky celeb VT that got more interesting when they each joined their pro partner on the dance floor to sort of dance a little.
Delightful to see a wigless Amy join in the obligatory pro dance (I presume she can jump on her foot, then) to introduce the celebs. Shockingly, Layton had the tamest coloured outfit in lilac, Bobby in bright pink, while Ellie looked fierce (although I wasn’t sure about the fit of her dress) in flame. (This must have been a pre-record.)
Tess, wearing a silver dress, was escorted by Johannes, and Claudia, wearing a gold jumpsuit, by Karen. Anton put in some effort in a gold jacket, Shirley in white, Motsi in teal sparkles, and Craig’s jacket was black and sparkled too. On he Charlestoned and twirled, but the disco bit didn’t quite work because Motsi and Anton had a disagreement about directions. Five more minutes’ rehearsal, you guys.
Enter the finalists dressed in their judges choice outfits, and I was worried about Dianne’s energy management already.
So, Ellie and Vito must have been drawn first, and so we went through the nonsense of three judges suggesting different dances and Anton not having an opinion (as if knowing the couples’ choice and contrast weren’t considerations and the producers had no say) in the VT. Anton went to tell Ellie and Vito and as it wasn’t a ballroom dance, had no tips, just encouragement. I loved their paso the first time around, and she noticeably owned her space more this time around, but had great control. Craig remained Craig and gave it a 9, the rest gave it a 10. Yeah, it’s only for guidance, but Craig’s paddle it the one that matters in the finals.
Although Anton didn’t suggest a dance in the next VT either, it was Craig who went to tell Bobby and Dianne they’d be dancing the samba. And it was good to see one of the best sambas of the series again. Great party spirit, but Bobby didn’t go too wild (I thought there were one or two hesitations, maybe) but he’d improved from 32 to 39 (Craig, again, was the holdout.)
Anton did have an opinion about which dance Layton and Nikita should reprise, but it was Shirley who went to see them. I thought Layton showed more flexibility than Nikita in the opening of this quickstep. There was even more spring in their jumps, and Layton’s topline has improved a lot. Craig gave it a 10, giving them the first round, but I think everyone expected Layton to get the highest score.
First Ts and Cs of the night. The Beeb reviving Gladiators is so weird for me as someone who remembers it watching it on a Saturday night the first time around (wasn’t that even before ITV was ITV?) So. Weird.
Showdance and some AR pink architectural wizardry while the Beeb still has the money for if a white-clad Ellie and Vito, and oh wow. Nearly all the way through, that was a staggering actual showdance and she was pulling off all these difficult lift sequences in a way few celebs have managed, as well as showing off bits from past dances, until, of course, the last one was beyond her. She apologised, the judges acknowledged that she’d gone for it and oh so nearly did it. (Was Craig actually emotional there?) But it was 9s all round.
Bobby and Dianne’s showdance opened with some ‘messing abaht’ (always Len’s voice in my head) and I was a bit distracted by how weird Dianne’s hair looked with that red scarf in it. Unusual songs off La La Land and…it was charmingly and well danced, and a ‘celebration’ of what they’d danced, but compared with the proper showdance we’d just seen, it lacked ambition, with only the one lift. Motsi gave it away by calling it a quickstep. It got 39 because Craig is Craig, and I wasn’t booing him.
Layton and Nikita’s showdance featured props, very little hold, but lots of tricks (Nikita kinda rescued it with his hat right at the end, but like Craig, I spotted they weren’t always in sync, and I was more impressed by their Charleston, if I’m honest.) And…I admit I probably change my mind depending on who my favourite couple is every year, but having seen a couple attempt what a showdance is meant to be in the professional sphere and oh so nearly getting it, I junked my usual approach of ‘anything goes, play to your strengths and remember that time Kelly Bright did the lindyhop?’ After all, they’ve had the freedom of the couples choice already. I felt that it was all very well Layton getting another 39, but Ellie’s showdance impressed me more.
Nonetheless, the for guidance leaderboard had them third, Bobby and Dianne second and, no surprises, Layton and Nikita top.
Couples pick, and I hoped Ellie truly had put the disappointment behind her, and I think she mostly did for their American Smooth. I loved it the first time, and it remined sophisticated, proof that she could do Latin and ballroom, and you could see that she’s improved as a dancer, although I think something wasn’t perfect with one head movement and possibly one lift could have gone better. Anyway, all the judges recognised it was their last dance and Craig was probably a bit soft in giving her a 10 for a not entirely flawless dance, but I am so glad he did. Their first 40! (They were not having the best final, but maybe Vito could remember that he and Fleur probably were the best dancers in the final last year, and Hamza messed up his showdance but still won…) Claudia asked Ellie, as she’d ask all the other celebs what it would mean to win, and then cut Ellie and Vito off before they got into a squabble about whether it would be down to Vito or Ellie.
Good to see one of the two outstanding emotive couples choices of the season again. I thought Bobby’s improvement as a dancer was clear (although I noticed his focus wavering for a few seconds in the middle.) The judges were in bits, (Gorka was crying on the balcony) although Shirley was fairly cogent and Craig was pithy in a good way. 39 (fair from Craig, and it was a recognition of Bobby’s improvement.) Bobby spoke very touchingly about having once been an anxious child (helps that he hasn’t banged on about this narrative like Ellie’s ‘girl to woman’ story or Layton and his fans using ‘authentic’ and ‘representation’ almost as much as ‘journey’.)
The purple Argentine Tango to close, and Layton definitely improved, it was a tighter routine, so as soon as Craig said ‘better’, that was translatable to 40. Again.
No change to the leaderboard. Some more Ts & Cs (I have no idea how many times I voted, but I blew through my six online votes before anyone had danced a second time and if I care to I’ll be able to see how many times I called when I get my next phone bill) and Ollie Alexander announced he’ll be doing Eurovision – one the one hand ooh, a proper pop star who is enthused about it, on the other, he does know it’s not always about the music, right? Also, Annabel making her way through the golden fringe was darling.
The mighty Cher sang her Christmas single (but surely the Christmas no. 1 will be ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ this year) with some interaction with the pros, and obviously they were great, but I found some of the choices about where to place them and the tease that Kai was going to dance WITH Cher bemusing.
The cast of ’23 (with one blatant exception) talked about their experiences, and I was glad to hear Annabel mention her couples choice so positively and loved Angela S admitting she watches her Argentine Tango back when she needs a boost.
Joyous reunion group number. I was pleased and surprised they found a way to get Nigel in, loved everyone’s highlights, especially the way everyone built up to La Rippon’s leg lift, although Les was in the middle of the screen for far too long at one point.
Then a VT with members of the public and the first mention of Amanda. I’m still trying to make the ‘Tess and Claudia = Morecambe and Wise’ line make sense, and…nope, but then there were adults who seemed to think Nikita K was good and that Zara should have stayed longer.
To the dance floor for the results, and I could but imagine that someone (a floor manager? Claudia?) was waving frantically to stop the clapping audience during the big pause so that Tess could announce that the winners were…Ellie and Vito. To their absolute shock, as I think they believed the guff that the showdance makes or breaks the winners. It doesn’t. Yeah, the showdance had the biggest mistake, and possibly the judges were being generous about the American smooth reprise, but I’ve usually made my mind up who I want to win weeks before the final, and this year was no exception, and I don’t think I’m alone. Although Bobby’s couples choice moved me and he made for a worthy finalist, while Layton is an exceptional dancer, I think I voted for the best pro-am couple (and however much it’s implied that Ellie had some more dance training than, say, Bobby, she grew up on a soap, not on a musical theatre stage) over the whole series. Clearly – as Ellie and Vito always had public support, although they were usually near the top of the leaderboard – I wasn’t alone.
Vito got to ramble. There was a reprise of this ‘this is for you, no, you’ squabble. They both seemed to start to believe they’d won it when they got to hold it and got lifted.
no subject
Yes, it was obvious what dances they were going to do before we saw the video of the judges choosing wasn't it. So that was slightly annoying.
However, a really enjoyable final! And I was unsurprised who won, I think they were a dead cert from pretty early on.
I've enjoyed your episode summaries, thanks 😘 I wonder what next Strictly season will bring!
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Yes! I think I glossed over it because they always do it and I'd found out via It Takes Two, but if you'd missed that and were about to find out on the show, I can see it would be annoying, as they could have done the walk down the stairs in the opening outfits, but I suppose the producers wanted to keep as much of the show live as possible and stick to the familiar order for the finalists, for the momentum as much as anything.
It was an enjoyable final. I got caught up enough that I wasn't very reasonable about who would win as it happened.
Thank you for commenting so enthusiastically, it's been good to hear your perspective! I think some of the pros have earned stronger dancers (Luba, Kai and Lauren), but Vito can expect a no-hoper. I do hope Amy will be well and able to play a fuller role.
Last night and tonight were a bit weird without the results show or It Takes Two.
no subject
I just love to see the contestants, the costumes, the relationships of course. I am so interested in the different types of relationships in life, that's my obsession. I write fics and I think people expect drama, angst, big events...but I'm just interested in the relationships.
I'm relieved you like my enthusiasm, a lot of people get put off by it and tell me to calm down/ shut up. But maybe I should be more like Vito and just be enthusiastic and not care what people say.
Talking of Vito, I agree with you. He's had two amazing partners with Fleur and Ellie and now surely he is due a weaker one. Same with Carlos- he had Molly then Angela S. He is now due a weaker dancer.
Luba has definitely earned a better celebrity dancer. She's been around for sooo long and either been a backing dancer or left very early on. I think Adam was her best celeb so far!
Lauren is so sweet, she also deserves a good celeb. Kai had AJ in 2021 I think? But she was severely injured and couldn't be in the final, so Kai has sort of had a good celeb dancer already. But he should get another chance.
Oh yes, I really hope Amy gets better and can join in soon.
It was weird wasn't it, without the results show and It Takes Two. I wish they'd have a show with the couples after they'd relaxed a bit to see how they feel now. What they did next and how dancing affected their lives.
no subject
no subject
We'll see who Luba gets next year, it'll be here before we know it!💃🕺