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shallownessStrictly Come Dancing week 3 – Movie Night
Learned on Friday that Nick has got injured (again, this time it was his knee in rehearsals. Give Luba a ringer next year, show!) He gets a bye.
I started watching this late, so I fastforwarded through the VT about stealing the glitterball (also the Ts and Cs). Kai!Gru and the pros as minions in the opening pro routine were, if I’m honest, outshone by the guest artist doing all the tricks, and as they were showing this routine in the trailers, I presume it was a pre-record, which is fair enough given the yellow make-up.
TessnClaud had both decided on glittery jumpsuits. Of the judges, my favourite costume was Anton’s Derek Zoolander look – I got increasingly annoyed by Motsi’s fake mike as Rachel from The Bodyguard. I was worried something had gone wrong with Shirley, but no, she was getting a big entrance as Mary Poppins. (Craig was Captain Jack Sparrow.)
Montell was opening with a Dreamgirls tango, and just about produced the sassy, confident diva required, although it felt a touch too staccato in the wrong places for me. The judges’ comments could be summarised as ‘You’re going to be good at ballroom, but we have notes for now.’
I liked the concept of Little Mermaid Ursula!Toyah’s samba. She was in and out, and suddenly really got into character after about a third. Craig had a bit of an argument with her husband about the er quality of the dancing.
Wayne’s World jive from Chris, so we had the weirdness of headbanging in a jive. He had enough energy for a bit after the routine (clearly, he LOVES the movie). While the viewers (me, at least) were impressed with his handling of props, the judges were impressed by his musicality and footwork.
Barbie!Tasha rumba, and they made a big deal of how the song was tough for her with her hearing impairment as it was just piano and voice, no beat, and rumba counting. But for me, that seemed like an explanation for why she didn’t seem to be living it. Or if she was, it didn’t project as it had with their Viennese waltz. I mean, it was very accomplished, beautifully danced and my initial reaction was I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the best rumba we’ll see all season…Shirley said Tasha’d danced better than actual Latin dancers she’d been judging recently (SHADE!), reminding us she’s a ringer. Actually, as she only (only! In week 3) got 34, it may not be the highest scoring rumba.
Paul was doing a Magnificent 7 cha cha, so there would be no lifts, but there were giant prop horses. I thought there were some nice choreographic touches from cowgirl Karen. Some judges saw some improvement and effort, and he got his highest score yet. Paul would like to be remembered for his football, thanks.
They decided to play Sarah’s Viennese Waltz to Harry Potter as ‘a magical tribute’ to Maggie Smith, and I think this was my favourite dance of the night. I am warming to the idea that all Viennese waltzes should be to instrumental music. The costumes (and Vito’s cloak) really worked well. Sarah’s dress was beautiful, if in Slytherin colours. There was so much spinning, and I thought it was beautiful considering the speed.
I laughed my head off through Pete’s George of the Jungle samba. I think that the fact that it was so silly helped liberate him, (although I still saw too much of the concentration face) and if in doubt he was just putting in forward thrusts. Proper respect to him for going barefoot while Jowita was in heels. Pete’s response to Craig’s 6 was priceless, and he’d get 7s from Shirley and Anton.
I am sure Tess said ‘Wooly Wonka.’ JB was doing a Wonka American Smooth (and because it was ‘the new film’, all memories of Ore’s routine should be BANISHED. Er, I just watched it back, and okay, it was later, because it was in musicals week, but it was better.) I did like the injections of joy and of speed, and I can see that he is good at ballroom, and as, was said, a sincere dancer (although wasn’t Anton’s 9 a tad generous?) but I’m still not feeling it.
Sam was doing a Tomb Raider paso doble, and she was strong, making good efforts at the shaping, and I loved the balancing moment. She got to hear ‘improvement’ and ‘best yet’ from the judges, which she needed.
Shaune was doing an Elvis Viennese waltz, and I liked it less than the other VW, but that’s mainly taste. I thought he was good. In fact, for all the talk about JB being a ‘ballroom boy’, I think Shayne is one too. The judges were very positive.
I’ve never seen Mrs Doubtfire (but I’ve never seen George and the Jungle either) and for me, the characterisation was overdone, but I thought Wynne’s legs were really good in this cha cha. The judges praised the footwork and Katya’s choreography, but also what she was throwing at Wynne.
Punam was doing a Bollywood couple’s choice and leaning into the representation big time (surely someone who isn’t Gorka choreographed this, though. They deserved to be namechecked) and it was absolutely joyous. You could tell who the pro in the partnership was, but Punam’s hand shaping and lifts had such intent and clarity. The judges were right about trying to translate all that she showed into other dances, although I think that Anton wasn’t quite recognising that they are a very different idiom. She added 15 points to get her best score.
Jamie was closing, returning to the quickstep as the Rocketman. I hated the feathers on his shoulders, and the judges mostly agreed that they did him no favours. Given the song and character, it was somewhat inevitable that he went for it, but it was a bit hyperactive. The judges were encouraging (perhaps too much so with their mention of the glitterball) even if he’s not there yet.
I waited to look at the leaderboard before voting. Although I thought Punam’s dance was a joy, Shayne showed his tango wasn’t a fluke, Tasha is obviously a wonderful dancer, and there was generally improvement, I voted for Sarah and Vito, because that was my favourite dance; Montell and Johannes, because they were one of my favourites around the middle of the leaderboard, and going first didn’t help Tom last week, although I admit she wasn’t one of the improvers; and Pete and Jowita for entertainment value.
The owl and drag were themes of the night, while the celebs generally seemed to have been having a tricky time until Thursday. For me, Paul and Toyah should be in the dance-off.
Learned on Friday that Nick has got injured (again, this time it was his knee in rehearsals. Give Luba a ringer next year, show!) He gets a bye.
I started watching this late, so I fastforwarded through the VT about stealing the glitterball (also the Ts and Cs). Kai!Gru and the pros as minions in the opening pro routine were, if I’m honest, outshone by the guest artist doing all the tricks, and as they were showing this routine in the trailers, I presume it was a pre-record, which is fair enough given the yellow make-up.
TessnClaud had both decided on glittery jumpsuits. Of the judges, my favourite costume was Anton’s Derek Zoolander look – I got increasingly annoyed by Motsi’s fake mike as Rachel from The Bodyguard. I was worried something had gone wrong with Shirley, but no, she was getting a big entrance as Mary Poppins. (Craig was Captain Jack Sparrow.)
Montell was opening with a Dreamgirls tango, and just about produced the sassy, confident diva required, although it felt a touch too staccato in the wrong places for me. The judges’ comments could be summarised as ‘You’re going to be good at ballroom, but we have notes for now.’
I liked the concept of Little Mermaid Ursula!Toyah’s samba. She was in and out, and suddenly really got into character after about a third. Craig had a bit of an argument with her husband about the er quality of the dancing.
Wayne’s World jive from Chris, so we had the weirdness of headbanging in a jive. He had enough energy for a bit after the routine (clearly, he LOVES the movie). While the viewers (me, at least) were impressed with his handling of props, the judges were impressed by his musicality and footwork.
Barbie!Tasha rumba, and they made a big deal of how the song was tough for her with her hearing impairment as it was just piano and voice, no beat, and rumba counting. But for me, that seemed like an explanation for why she didn’t seem to be living it. Or if she was, it didn’t project as it had with their Viennese waltz. I mean, it was very accomplished, beautifully danced and my initial reaction was I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the best rumba we’ll see all season…Shirley said Tasha’d danced better than actual Latin dancers she’d been judging recently (SHADE!), reminding us she’s a ringer. Actually, as she only (only! In week 3) got 34, it may not be the highest scoring rumba.
Paul was doing a Magnificent 7 cha cha, so there would be no lifts, but there were giant prop horses. I thought there were some nice choreographic touches from cowgirl Karen. Some judges saw some improvement and effort, and he got his highest score yet. Paul would like to be remembered for his football, thanks.
They decided to play Sarah’s Viennese Waltz to Harry Potter as ‘a magical tribute’ to Maggie Smith, and I think this was my favourite dance of the night. I am warming to the idea that all Viennese waltzes should be to instrumental music. The costumes (and Vito’s cloak) really worked well. Sarah’s dress was beautiful, if in Slytherin colours. There was so much spinning, and I thought it was beautiful considering the speed.
I laughed my head off through Pete’s George of the Jungle samba. I think that the fact that it was so silly helped liberate him, (although I still saw too much of the concentration face) and if in doubt he was just putting in forward thrusts. Proper respect to him for going barefoot while Jowita was in heels. Pete’s response to Craig’s 6 was priceless, and he’d get 7s from Shirley and Anton.
I am sure Tess said ‘Wooly Wonka.’ JB was doing a Wonka American Smooth (and because it was ‘the new film’, all memories of Ore’s routine should be BANISHED. Er, I just watched it back, and okay, it was later, because it was in musicals week, but it was better.) I did like the injections of joy and of speed, and I can see that he is good at ballroom, and as, was said, a sincere dancer (although wasn’t Anton’s 9 a tad generous?) but I’m still not feeling it.
Sam was doing a Tomb Raider paso doble, and she was strong, making good efforts at the shaping, and I loved the balancing moment. She got to hear ‘improvement’ and ‘best yet’ from the judges, which she needed.
Shaune was doing an Elvis Viennese waltz, and I liked it less than the other VW, but that’s mainly taste. I thought he was good. In fact, for all the talk about JB being a ‘ballroom boy’, I think Shayne is one too. The judges were very positive.
I’ve never seen Mrs Doubtfire (but I’ve never seen George and the Jungle either) and for me, the characterisation was overdone, but I thought Wynne’s legs were really good in this cha cha. The judges praised the footwork and Katya’s choreography, but also what she was throwing at Wynne.
Punam was doing a Bollywood couple’s choice and leaning into the representation big time (surely someone who isn’t Gorka choreographed this, though. They deserved to be namechecked) and it was absolutely joyous. You could tell who the pro in the partnership was, but Punam’s hand shaping and lifts had such intent and clarity. The judges were right about trying to translate all that she showed into other dances, although I think that Anton wasn’t quite recognising that they are a very different idiom. She added 15 points to get her best score.
Jamie was closing, returning to the quickstep as the Rocketman. I hated the feathers on his shoulders, and the judges mostly agreed that they did him no favours. Given the song and character, it was somewhat inevitable that he went for it, but it was a bit hyperactive. The judges were encouraging (perhaps too much so with their mention of the glitterball) even if he’s not there yet.
I waited to look at the leaderboard before voting. Although I thought Punam’s dance was a joy, Shayne showed his tango wasn’t a fluke, Tasha is obviously a wonderful dancer, and there was generally improvement, I voted for Sarah and Vito, because that was my favourite dance; Montell and Johannes, because they were one of my favourites around the middle of the leaderboard, and going first didn’t help Tom last week, although I admit she wasn’t one of the improvers; and Pete and Jowita for entertainment value.
The owl and drag were themes of the night, while the celebs generally seemed to have been having a tricky time until Thursday. For me, Paul and Toyah should be in the dance-off.
