Strictly week 4
Oct. 22nd, 2025 08:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessWatched on catch-up:
We were informed that so far there’s been a different couple at the top of the leaderboard every week so far. I was not enthralled at the news that they’re bringing back icons week.
Opening with a quickstep were Karen and Carlos, and she had all the speed you’d expect but more control and finesse. Maybe the dress made her look hunched at times, but she was praised for her recovery from a slip (that I didn’t see) by the judges. Better than her last two dances.
Bare-chested Harry and Karen performed a rumba of the sultry variety. Decent, but it could have done with more fluidity and his strength is both a plus and a minus.
Vicky had a cool, unusual look (fringed trousers that reminded me of Bourne’s Swan Lake) for her samba with Kai. She went for it, although her smiles were in and out, and she’s still ragged by the end of the dance. Her highest score yet.
Stefan and Dianne returned after last week’s bye with a Charleston, which would test his fitness. Cartoonish vibe, and a musical theatre feel, which suited him. He just about kept up and the joint crawl move was striking. No mistakes and his best score (but it’s a Charleston and he’s missed out on the time and experience the others have had.)
Lewis and Katya’s foxtrot referenced Singin’ in the Rain despite the song not having any connection to it (inviting comparisons with Gene Kelly that the judges swerved). Gorgeous dismount for Katya, he was very close to being very good (with the reminder that this is week 4 and he’s a ringer) because he made a good stab at leading, frame and almost having swing and sway, and Katya is now judging the choreo well, because the closing break out worked well.
Jimmy and Lauren had couples choice and would be doing freestyle Caribbean to a mash-up of two songs. You could always tell who the pro was, but this was fun and a refreshingly new style. Switching to a more energetic second half was great. (Craig was the only judge to attempt to offer a critique.)
George and Alexis were dancing a tango to a Coldplay song, so we had a bit refencing the infamous kisscam moment featuring Claudia/Dave Arch. The concept really leaned into the ‘rule the world’ lyric. I thought he opened with too deep a lunge, but was good from then on, he really can move, and I appreciated the floor coverage, but apparently he made a mistake that some of the judges saw.
La Voix/Chris and Aljiaz did a boxing themed cha cha, and (shocker) the concept didn’t help, neither did the outsize wig, but there were some obvious errors, not enough energy till the fake fight and it was a bit of a mess. Actually, the judges concluded that it was a lot of a mess. (Hilariously, Shirley scored it even lower than Craig with a 2 to his 3.)
Balvinder and Julian had a paso, their VT was heavy on the post-dance-off debrief without mentioning that their problem is probably popularity, not the dancing. Anyway, I loved her fierce energy, and she worked that skirt, though I felt I’ve seen pasos with more dance content.
Alex and Johannes would be dancing the second rumba of the night, and it was more emotional. I could have done without the screeching from the audience, because it was really, really good. Not only did it get a standing O from Shirley, but she came on to the dance floor to compliment her. She kind of had to give them a 10 after what she’d said, flooring Jo-Jo.
Chris and Nadiya had to follow that with a salsa. He’s improved, certainly, but from a lower base than most. Nadiya went for crazy impressive lifts, which were mostly well done (and then she dissed the pro gents for being too puny to lift her like that.)
Amber and Nikita followed that with a (too early) Argentine tango. Continuous movement, lots of intricacy, some intensity, gorgeous final move, but she felt like she was too pressured (because even though she’s a ringer, she wasn’t ready for it.)
Closing with a couples choice were Ellie and Vito, and I flinched at her mother recounting how she’d been told that Ellie wouldn’t be able to walk. And here she is doing so very much more than that. So, I guess the dance style was ‘celebration’ and the synchro was okay, she was occasionally too wild, but Vito put in some nice touches in preparation for future dances. By giving her one of the songs of 2025 and the glory spot, the show was clearly going for A Moment, and the 8s were perhaps too generous, but it’s hard to carp too hard.
Alex, Lewis and George danced my favourite routines, but I might have voted for Balvinder had I been able to.
I was spoiled for who would be leaving before catching up on the results show.
Results:
Much hype that Craig would (finally!) get the casting vote, should it be needed. In the first batch called safe were Stefan and Dianne, but also La Voix and Aljiaz, who had every reason to think they’d be dancing again and maybe showing us what the dance was meant to look like. La Voix admitted they were relieved (obvs) as they were too wound up to dance it properly.
Reveals about who the celebs’ called safe’s icons were, except I don’t believe that Harry Styles really is George’s (can’t they give him a break theme and concept and music wise?)
Very dramatic group number with everyone in suits and dancing on tables. (Julian looks good in a suit. Luba’s wetlook hair doesn’t look so good.) The use of the jackets wasn’t quite on time, and then we had some same-sex couples dancing, but the ending, focusing on Luba and Johannes was strong.
Second set of reveals, and Amber and Nikita and Jimmy and Lauren were left hanging, which feels ridiculous. Did we need to know about Vicky’s crush on Anton? No.
Leigh-Anne (formerly of Little Mix) came on and sang a song I found dull, then four of the female dancers came on (which felt a bit like not what someone embarking on a post-girl band career might want), then Gorka and Neil joined two of them the second time around, before Leigh-Anne joined all six off them to strut and shimmy a little (although she lacked the energy in her legs that they had. Future Strictly celeb?)
Under the red lights: Chris and Nadiya, which must have been a relief to the other couples, and, predictably, Balvinder and Julian. (So, we don’t know who are Amber and Jimmy’s icons.) What I saw as hesitations from Balvinder in the dance-off were mistakes, apparently, while Chris delivered a similar level with his salsa to that reached on the live show, so it was a split panel, and Craig’s casting vote went to Balvinder and Julian ‘for quality and technical ability’. Rough, as in it’s too early for her to be in trouble dance-wise, Chris was continuously improving, and La Voix really ought to have been in the dance-off.
On ITT Monday, it was announced that Stefan will be withdrawing because of injury, so does that mean three couples in the final? Stay fit and healthy, everyone else!
We were informed that so far there’s been a different couple at the top of the leaderboard every week so far. I was not enthralled at the news that they’re bringing back icons week.
Opening with a quickstep were Karen and Carlos, and she had all the speed you’d expect but more control and finesse. Maybe the dress made her look hunched at times, but she was praised for her recovery from a slip (that I didn’t see) by the judges. Better than her last two dances.
Bare-chested Harry and Karen performed a rumba of the sultry variety. Decent, but it could have done with more fluidity and his strength is both a plus and a minus.
Vicky had a cool, unusual look (fringed trousers that reminded me of Bourne’s Swan Lake) for her samba with Kai. She went for it, although her smiles were in and out, and she’s still ragged by the end of the dance. Her highest score yet.
Stefan and Dianne returned after last week’s bye with a Charleston, which would test his fitness. Cartoonish vibe, and a musical theatre feel, which suited him. He just about kept up and the joint crawl move was striking. No mistakes and his best score (but it’s a Charleston and he’s missed out on the time and experience the others have had.)
Lewis and Katya’s foxtrot referenced Singin’ in the Rain despite the song not having any connection to it (inviting comparisons with Gene Kelly that the judges swerved). Gorgeous dismount for Katya, he was very close to being very good (with the reminder that this is week 4 and he’s a ringer) because he made a good stab at leading, frame and almost having swing and sway, and Katya is now judging the choreo well, because the closing break out worked well.
Jimmy and Lauren had couples choice and would be doing freestyle Caribbean to a mash-up of two songs. You could always tell who the pro was, but this was fun and a refreshingly new style. Switching to a more energetic second half was great. (Craig was the only judge to attempt to offer a critique.)
George and Alexis were dancing a tango to a Coldplay song, so we had a bit refencing the infamous kisscam moment featuring Claudia/Dave Arch. The concept really leaned into the ‘rule the world’ lyric. I thought he opened with too deep a lunge, but was good from then on, he really can move, and I appreciated the floor coverage, but apparently he made a mistake that some of the judges saw.
La Voix/Chris and Aljiaz did a boxing themed cha cha, and (shocker) the concept didn’t help, neither did the outsize wig, but there were some obvious errors, not enough energy till the fake fight and it was a bit of a mess. Actually, the judges concluded that it was a lot of a mess. (Hilariously, Shirley scored it even lower than Craig with a 2 to his 3.)
Balvinder and Julian had a paso, their VT was heavy on the post-dance-off debrief without mentioning that their problem is probably popularity, not the dancing. Anyway, I loved her fierce energy, and she worked that skirt, though I felt I’ve seen pasos with more dance content.
Alex and Johannes would be dancing the second rumba of the night, and it was more emotional. I could have done without the screeching from the audience, because it was really, really good. Not only did it get a standing O from Shirley, but she came on to the dance floor to compliment her. She kind of had to give them a 10 after what she’d said, flooring Jo-Jo.
Chris and Nadiya had to follow that with a salsa. He’s improved, certainly, but from a lower base than most. Nadiya went for crazy impressive lifts, which were mostly well done (and then she dissed the pro gents for being too puny to lift her like that.)
Amber and Nikita followed that with a (too early) Argentine tango. Continuous movement, lots of intricacy, some intensity, gorgeous final move, but she felt like she was too pressured (because even though she’s a ringer, she wasn’t ready for it.)
Closing with a couples choice were Ellie and Vito, and I flinched at her mother recounting how she’d been told that Ellie wouldn’t be able to walk. And here she is doing so very much more than that. So, I guess the dance style was ‘celebration’ and the synchro was okay, she was occasionally too wild, but Vito put in some nice touches in preparation for future dances. By giving her one of the songs of 2025 and the glory spot, the show was clearly going for A Moment, and the 8s were perhaps too generous, but it’s hard to carp too hard.
Alex, Lewis and George danced my favourite routines, but I might have voted for Balvinder had I been able to.
I was spoiled for who would be leaving before catching up on the results show.
Results:
Much hype that Craig would (finally!) get the casting vote, should it be needed. In the first batch called safe were Stefan and Dianne, but also La Voix and Aljiaz, who had every reason to think they’d be dancing again and maybe showing us what the dance was meant to look like. La Voix admitted they were relieved (obvs) as they were too wound up to dance it properly.
Reveals about who the celebs’ called safe’s icons were, except I don’t believe that Harry Styles really is George’s (can’t they give him a break theme and concept and music wise?)
Very dramatic group number with everyone in suits and dancing on tables. (Julian looks good in a suit. Luba’s wetlook hair doesn’t look so good.) The use of the jackets wasn’t quite on time, and then we had some same-sex couples dancing, but the ending, focusing on Luba and Johannes was strong.
Second set of reveals, and Amber and Nikita and Jimmy and Lauren were left hanging, which feels ridiculous. Did we need to know about Vicky’s crush on Anton? No.
Leigh-Anne (formerly of Little Mix) came on and sang a song I found dull, then four of the female dancers came on (which felt a bit like not what someone embarking on a post-girl band career might want), then Gorka and Neil joined two of them the second time around, before Leigh-Anne joined all six off them to strut and shimmy a little (although she lacked the energy in her legs that they had. Future Strictly celeb?)
Under the red lights: Chris and Nadiya, which must have been a relief to the other couples, and, predictably, Balvinder and Julian. (So, we don’t know who are Amber and Jimmy’s icons.) What I saw as hesitations from Balvinder in the dance-off were mistakes, apparently, while Chris delivered a similar level with his salsa to that reached on the live show, so it was a split panel, and Craig’s casting vote went to Balvinder and Julian ‘for quality and technical ability’. Rough, as in it’s too early for her to be in trouble dance-wise, Chris was continuously improving, and La Voix really ought to have been in the dance-off.
On ITT Monday, it was announced that Stefan will be withdrawing because of injury, so does that mean three couples in the final? Stay fit and healthy, everyone else!
