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shallowness) wrote2024-12-08 07:47 am
shallowness) wrote2024-12-08 07:47 am
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Strictly Week 12/Semi-finals
Moody VT of the remaining celebs, with the unfortunate lyric ‘who will rise and fall’, because there are some dances where you really don’t want rise and fall. We were welcomed by a sparkly TessnClaud, Motsi going for matte green, Shirley a sparkly red, Craig in maroon and Anton a chevron pattern.
The running order was…interesting. Tasha (overwhelmed by the ‘perm’, and asymmetry of her fringe dress) would be dancing first, but before that, she and Aljiaz had a confab with the judges, where Craig explained why he’d given them a 10 that one time.
It was an exuberant routine, but very much a disco salsa, and she looked like a pro from another discipline of dance. I could have done with a smidge more body action. Big lifts, little stumble out of the last one. The judges mentioned issues with the transitions and suggested Aljiaz had gone for too high of a tariff. One less from all the judges than usual, putting some pressure on her waltz, although you’d expect that to be better.
JB was dancing the paso and THAT was his best dance of the series for me. The shaping! The arrogance/characterisation! The drama! The teamwork over the cape! Loved the variety in the routine, and he did it all so well. There was also an extra something because he hasn’t done a serious dance before. Nice of them to have Amy help to bring on his birthday cake in the Clauditorium. Inevitable, but deserved, 39.
Chris got to throw Craig’s phrase of ‘messy Charleston’ to his face in the VT. I did hoot ‘But he can’t see’ during the messing abaht at the start of their Charleston, but when it started properly I started smiling and continued doing so throughout. The timing was good, the highlights were nice, and I liked the nod to Morecome and Wise. When Craig started critiquing, I had to admit Dianne had given it more energy, but I wasn’t outraged at the 9s from Shirley and Anton.
Sarah’s tango was very strong, and the staccato bits were good. The split skirt and underskirt came into their own. Of course Vito put in a mega spin for her and a reeeeach for Motsi. I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten someone I shouldn’t, but I think that was the best tango from a lady celeb all season. The judges all went ‘But the shoulders.’ Claudia dropped the reveal that it was the first competitive tango that Vito’s done, despite having got so far in all his series. 9s from all the judges, putting her just above Tasha.
Shirley got herself in the same tangle that she had on ITT, trying to say that Pete mustn’t do a mistake this week. (What, like last week when the public vote saved him regardless?)
He was doing a foxtrot in tails with Jowita and a cane. I thought he was stiff in hold, and weirdly sometimes miming. He briefly smiled after catching the cane. We all know his fans are going to vote for him anyway. The judges’ comments left me bitterly wondering if the producers have dropped a hint that he’s coming first with the public. I was a bit outraged by Shirley and Anton’s 9s for him, giving Pete his best ballroom score, but still putting him at the bottom of the leaderboard.
The second VTs would involve visits to the training room from family and friends, and the celebs getting tired and emotional.
Tasha looked lovely (and the richer dark pink made her look more sophisticated) and, as expected, her waltz was lovely, danced beautifully with control and class, a gorgeous extended spin to close before a curtsy. Motsi wished to be able to give a little something extra for a dance that good – to which the obvious rejoinder, made every year, is to restrain yourselves on the 10s, as Craig does, so that it’s meaningful when you raise that paddle. Craig’s ‘Sick’ got a stunned reaction. Claudia asked Aljiaz, as she would every pro, why his partner deserved to be in the final. He asked why not? (She’s too good.) Deserved second 10 from Craig, giving them their second full house, and a boost up the leaderboard.
Next up, dancing the salsa, JB. First of all the staging was finals worthy. Lauren looked amazing in her fringed red, and JB didn’t look half bad either. But more importantly, he TURNED UP this week. He’s the best Latin dancer left, and he managed the lifts well. I wanted more of the Latin, if I’m honest, but he got a handshake, hugs and a high five from the judges. Nice nod to Amy in the Clauditorium, who’d called him doing well at the salsa. Did he ever – 10 from Craig, second 40 of the night, and cementing JB’s place at the top of the leaderboard (and through to the final, surely.)
Chris was famously bringing orchestral Metallica to Strictly for a moody and emotive Viennese Waltz. (I loved the touch of red around Dianne’s waist.) Didn’t quite pull me in, and I thought he was a bit skippy, but Dianne was emotional, setting Chris off, Craig admitted he’d put his pen down as he watched, and they all gave Chris a 9, meaning this was his best ballroom score. Very emotional in the Clauditorium (which had mainly been about passing around whatever Carlos had been wearing on his arms.) Dianne gave a comprehensive idea of what Chris’s blindness means for how they’ve done things, and he made a gesture giving due credit to her for how well they’ve done. They really have had a special bond.
Like Chris, Sarah had called in on her friends (and due respect to both of them for protecting their progeny’s privacy. No shade on JB, though, his daughter clearly LOVED her visit to the training room, etc.) And we learned the reason she’d been wearing those amazing fringed trousers in rehearsals was because she’d be wearing white ones on the night.
Their jive was joyous, I thought there were nice details and there was a spirit of ‘Look at me and what I can do now’ from her. Vito was pooped afterward. Craig was less picky than Anton, but they all went and gave her a 9, the highest jive of the series, so she was consistent all night (will be interesting to see which they’ve plumped for tomorrow. I hope she won’t need it, but she’s in the middle and hasn’t had a highlight as Tasha had.) Vito gave a very Vito ramble about how Sarah was fragile and strong or something.
Pete was closing the show with an Argentine tango, and it was surprisingly not terrible. They leaned into the sexiness, obviously, and his main job was to be a moving climbing frame for Jowita, which he did without a mistake. It was a tough version of the song to dance to, I’ll grant you. As soon as Craig said it, I realised there hadn’t been any ouchos from Pete, but he’s not really responsible for the choreography, and Shirley pointed out that he hadn’t made any mistakes. For all the attempted narrative that this was his best dance yet,the judges gave him the same scores as they had for the foxtrot. (Though I’d be surprised if they don’t stay dressed for this dance in the results show.) he only got one extra point for this.
Anton said something about how he couldn’t imagine how the semis could have gone better. I can! Montell could have been there!
Look, I think the top 4 on the leaderboard should go through (because Chris is a non-dancer who hasn’t watched the show, but unlike Pete, he has a disability, and despite it, has danced cleaner, more technically difficult ballroom.) I voted once for JB, because his paso, which I loved more than the salsa, was brilliant. I still refuse to vote for Tasha, and Chris hasn’t got to me as he did with his You’ll Never Walk Alone waltz. I REALLY hope that it isn’t Tasha vs. Sarah in the dance-off. One, because ugh, the misogyny of supporting less talented men, two, because I personally want Sarah in the final. I voted for her twice (and a few extra via the phone.) JB is surely safe (and has stepped up another gear since partnering with Lauren and yet another gear the tougher it’s got) so one couple who’s never been in the dance-off should be. Pete should be under the red light, but 2024 has reminded me that people vote for crazy things. (Oh well, worst case, I can get my kicks from tactical voting.)
The running order was…interesting. Tasha (overwhelmed by the ‘perm’, and asymmetry of her fringe dress) would be dancing first, but before that, she and Aljiaz had a confab with the judges, where Craig explained why he’d given them a 10 that one time.
It was an exuberant routine, but very much a disco salsa, and she looked like a pro from another discipline of dance. I could have done with a smidge more body action. Big lifts, little stumble out of the last one. The judges mentioned issues with the transitions and suggested Aljiaz had gone for too high of a tariff. One less from all the judges than usual, putting some pressure on her waltz, although you’d expect that to be better.
JB was dancing the paso and THAT was his best dance of the series for me. The shaping! The arrogance/characterisation! The drama! The teamwork over the cape! Loved the variety in the routine, and he did it all so well. There was also an extra something because he hasn’t done a serious dance before. Nice of them to have Amy help to bring on his birthday cake in the Clauditorium. Inevitable, but deserved, 39.
Chris got to throw Craig’s phrase of ‘messy Charleston’ to his face in the VT. I did hoot ‘But he can’t see’ during the messing abaht at the start of their Charleston, but when it started properly I started smiling and continued doing so throughout. The timing was good, the highlights were nice, and I liked the nod to Morecome and Wise. When Craig started critiquing, I had to admit Dianne had given it more energy, but I wasn’t outraged at the 9s from Shirley and Anton.
Sarah’s tango was very strong, and the staccato bits were good. The split skirt and underskirt came into their own. Of course Vito put in a mega spin for her and a reeeeach for Motsi. I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten someone I shouldn’t, but I think that was the best tango from a lady celeb all season. The judges all went ‘But the shoulders.’ Claudia dropped the reveal that it was the first competitive tango that Vito’s done, despite having got so far in all his series. 9s from all the judges, putting her just above Tasha.
Shirley got herself in the same tangle that she had on ITT, trying to say that Pete mustn’t do a mistake this week. (What, like last week when the public vote saved him regardless?)
He was doing a foxtrot in tails with Jowita and a cane. I thought he was stiff in hold, and weirdly sometimes miming. He briefly smiled after catching the cane. We all know his fans are going to vote for him anyway. The judges’ comments left me bitterly wondering if the producers have dropped a hint that he’s coming first with the public. I was a bit outraged by Shirley and Anton’s 9s for him, giving Pete his best ballroom score, but still putting him at the bottom of the leaderboard.
The second VTs would involve visits to the training room from family and friends, and the celebs getting tired and emotional.
Tasha looked lovely (and the richer dark pink made her look more sophisticated) and, as expected, her waltz was lovely, danced beautifully with control and class, a gorgeous extended spin to close before a curtsy. Motsi wished to be able to give a little something extra for a dance that good – to which the obvious rejoinder, made every year, is to restrain yourselves on the 10s, as Craig does, so that it’s meaningful when you raise that paddle. Craig’s ‘Sick’ got a stunned reaction. Claudia asked Aljiaz, as she would every pro, why his partner deserved to be in the final. He asked why not? (She’s too good.) Deserved second 10 from Craig, giving them their second full house, and a boost up the leaderboard.
Next up, dancing the salsa, JB. First of all the staging was finals worthy. Lauren looked amazing in her fringed red, and JB didn’t look half bad either. But more importantly, he TURNED UP this week. He’s the best Latin dancer left, and he managed the lifts well. I wanted more of the Latin, if I’m honest, but he got a handshake, hugs and a high five from the judges. Nice nod to Amy in the Clauditorium, who’d called him doing well at the salsa. Did he ever – 10 from Craig, second 40 of the night, and cementing JB’s place at the top of the leaderboard (and through to the final, surely.)
Chris was famously bringing orchestral Metallica to Strictly for a moody and emotive Viennese Waltz. (I loved the touch of red around Dianne’s waist.) Didn’t quite pull me in, and I thought he was a bit skippy, but Dianne was emotional, setting Chris off, Craig admitted he’d put his pen down as he watched, and they all gave Chris a 9, meaning this was his best ballroom score. Very emotional in the Clauditorium (which had mainly been about passing around whatever Carlos had been wearing on his arms.) Dianne gave a comprehensive idea of what Chris’s blindness means for how they’ve done things, and he made a gesture giving due credit to her for how well they’ve done. They really have had a special bond.
Like Chris, Sarah had called in on her friends (and due respect to both of them for protecting their progeny’s privacy. No shade on JB, though, his daughter clearly LOVED her visit to the training room, etc.) And we learned the reason she’d been wearing those amazing fringed trousers in rehearsals was because she’d be wearing white ones on the night.
Their jive was joyous, I thought there were nice details and there was a spirit of ‘Look at me and what I can do now’ from her. Vito was pooped afterward. Craig was less picky than Anton, but they all went and gave her a 9, the highest jive of the series, so she was consistent all night (will be interesting to see which they’ve plumped for tomorrow. I hope she won’t need it, but she’s in the middle and hasn’t had a highlight as Tasha had.) Vito gave a very Vito ramble about how Sarah was fragile and strong or something.
Pete was closing the show with an Argentine tango, and it was surprisingly not terrible. They leaned into the sexiness, obviously, and his main job was to be a moving climbing frame for Jowita, which he did without a mistake. It was a tough version of the song to dance to, I’ll grant you. As soon as Craig said it, I realised there hadn’t been any ouchos from Pete, but he’s not really responsible for the choreography, and Shirley pointed out that he hadn’t made any mistakes. For all the attempted narrative that this was his best dance yet,
Anton said something about how he couldn’t imagine how the semis could have gone better. I can! Montell could have been there!
Look, I think the top 4 on the leaderboard should go through (because Chris is a non-dancer who hasn’t watched the show, but unlike Pete, he has a disability, and despite it, has danced cleaner, more technically difficult ballroom.) I voted once for JB, because his paso, which I loved more than the salsa, was brilliant. I still refuse to vote for Tasha, and Chris hasn’t got to me as he did with his You’ll Never Walk Alone waltz. I REALLY hope that it isn’t Tasha vs. Sarah in the dance-off. One, because ugh, the misogyny of supporting less talented men, two, because I personally want Sarah in the final. I voted for her twice (and a few extra via the phone.) JB is surely safe (and has stepped up another gear since partnering with Lauren and yet another gear the tougher it’s got) so one couple who’s never been in the dance-off should be. Pete should be under the red light, but 2024 has reminded me that people vote for crazy things. (Oh well, worst case, I can get my kicks from tactical voting.)