Strictly Quarter Finals/Musicals Week
Dec. 7th, 2025 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessOpening group number to a medley of Lunnun-themed songs from Me and My Girl, Oliver! and Half a Sixpence from the pros and celebs. All the remaining couples got a chance to star, George and Alexis were very decent until the end of their bit (he went off, not her); Balvinder and Jules next, with her relishing getting to Perform; Lewis and Katya were a whole other level, though, with his musical theatre experience telling; matched by Amber and Nikita; and Karen and Carlos were more like the other two, although, as with George, her performance skills have also come on. And then a big finish. No points from the judges on the line, but I’ll be honest, Lewis and Amber got a vote each from me on the strength of their performances in that.
Pink bows on her upper arm from Tess, black bows on her hips from Claudia. Motsi had a train affixed to her purple cocktail dress (which she’d come to regret), while Shirley had an electric blue gown on. Anton went off his own sweet way in the dance. CARLOS’S OUTFIT deserved all caps.
Phantom of the Opera Argentine tango from George and Alexis, opening the show for the first time, apparently. Weird mix of song and style at first, for me, but it was a recognisable Argentine tango, and I was really impressed by his legwork. The song then turned into the title song from the musical and it all sped up for a rousing crescendo. The studio audience liked it more than Craig.
Phantom fan Alexis clearly cared a whole lot more about getting a video from Andrew Lloyd-Webber than musicals hater George.
Karen and Carlos’s samba was to Sweet Charity’s Rhythm of Life; again, a weird combo. In a word, hysterical. Karen’s fringes were doing a lot of work, but she sang along to most of it and you can’t fault her effort, even if there were some rough bits. Oh, but I loved the extra dancers draping themselves around the judges.
Claudia got everyone in the Clauditorium to sit down in homage to an upcoming routine. I hope someone had cleaned the floor beforehand. The bit with Tess and the judges to introduce the next dance threw some shade on Anton always going the wrong way.
The Greatest Showman Viennese Waltz from Balvinder and Julian. (Better fit of song and style.) Her dress was gorgeous, she absolutely committed to it, and though I thought a few of her early steps when they got into hold were too timid, she improved and certainly connected with the studio audience. Motsi made her cry by referencing the dance-offs and had to come on to the dance floor to give her a hug. As she was already emotional, her video message being from her nieces felt cruel. But then there was cake for her and George for their birthdays, which they belatedly ate.
Guys and Dolls Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat which doesn’t actually feature Sarah, who Amber was clearly being. Never mind that, Amber and Nikita (and company)’s Charleston was amazing. She nailed the buttoned-up Sarah becoming a shimmering shooting star. Super brave given the lifts, totally on top of every move. And then Nikita needed a translation of what Craig said, because he started with ‘too clean,’ which could be a criticism of a Charleston, but not this one. Deserved 40 for the second week running for them.
Following that with a West Side Story salsa, Lewis and Katya (and company.) Absolutely honouring Jerome Robbins’s choreography. Lewis was looking at home when he was dancing with the pro men, Katya came up with that double lift thing (why hasn’t she done an Oti and gone into choreography?) But I saw at least one hesitation from Lewis, and his big problem was that he was following that amazing Charleston and competing with his best. The judges all tended to think the musical theatre bits were better than the salsa bits, and they also got 35 (along with George and Balvinder making for a tight leaderboard.)
We then had a performance from Tom Fletcher of a song from Paddington the Musical, which he wrote, which was nice enough, but Nadiya and Vito dancing full out was brilliant. And then Tom was joined by ‘the bear himself.’
Nikita lifted Claudia despite her remonstrations as she announced the vote was open (look, he got another 40, he’s overexcited.) Quick recap, and then it was announced that Motsi will have the casting vote – which seems fair, as it was essentially her scoring that put Karen last. (As I’ve been starting to think that Karen may well win this year, being the breakout star who can compete with the best dancers at her very best, I think it’s the 35ers who are in trouble.)
I voted once for Lewis and Katya (for the opening number) and four times for Amber and Nikita, because that Charleston was outstanding, and ringer or not, her dancing means she deserves to be in the semi.
Pink bows on her upper arm from Tess, black bows on her hips from Claudia. Motsi had a train affixed to her purple cocktail dress (which she’d come to regret), while Shirley had an electric blue gown on. Anton went off his own sweet way in the dance. CARLOS’S OUTFIT deserved all caps.
Phantom of the Opera Argentine tango from George and Alexis, opening the show for the first time, apparently. Weird mix of song and style at first, for me, but it was a recognisable Argentine tango, and I was really impressed by his legwork. The song then turned into the title song from the musical and it all sped up for a rousing crescendo. The studio audience liked it more than Craig.
Phantom fan Alexis clearly cared a whole lot more about getting a video from Andrew Lloyd-Webber than musicals hater George.
Karen and Carlos’s samba was to Sweet Charity’s Rhythm of Life; again, a weird combo. In a word, hysterical. Karen’s fringes were doing a lot of work, but she sang along to most of it and you can’t fault her effort, even if there were some rough bits. Oh, but I loved the extra dancers draping themselves around the judges.
Claudia got everyone in the Clauditorium to sit down in homage to an upcoming routine. I hope someone had cleaned the floor beforehand. The bit with Tess and the judges to introduce the next dance threw some shade on Anton always going the wrong way.
The Greatest Showman Viennese Waltz from Balvinder and Julian. (Better fit of song and style.) Her dress was gorgeous, she absolutely committed to it, and though I thought a few of her early steps when they got into hold were too timid, she improved and certainly connected with the studio audience. Motsi made her cry by referencing the dance-offs and had to come on to the dance floor to give her a hug. As she was already emotional, her video message being from her nieces felt cruel. But then there was cake for her and George for their birthdays, which they belatedly ate.
Guys and Dolls Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat which doesn’t actually feature Sarah, who Amber was clearly being. Never mind that, Amber and Nikita (and company)’s Charleston was amazing. She nailed the buttoned-up Sarah becoming a shimmering shooting star. Super brave given the lifts, totally on top of every move. And then Nikita needed a translation of what Craig said, because he started with ‘too clean,’ which could be a criticism of a Charleston, but not this one. Deserved 40 for the second week running for them.
Following that with a West Side Story salsa, Lewis and Katya (and company.) Absolutely honouring Jerome Robbins’s choreography. Lewis was looking at home when he was dancing with the pro men, Katya came up with that double lift thing (why hasn’t she done an Oti and gone into choreography?) But I saw at least one hesitation from Lewis, and his big problem was that he was following that amazing Charleston and competing with his best. The judges all tended to think the musical theatre bits were better than the salsa bits, and they also got 35 (along with George and Balvinder making for a tight leaderboard.)
We then had a performance from Tom Fletcher of a song from Paddington the Musical, which he wrote, which was nice enough, but Nadiya and Vito dancing full out was brilliant. And then Tom was joined by ‘the bear himself.’
Nikita lifted Claudia despite her remonstrations as she announced the vote was open (look, he got another 40, he’s overexcited.) Quick recap, and then it was announced that Motsi will have the casting vote – which seems fair, as it was essentially her scoring that put Karen last. (As I’ve been starting to think that Karen may well win this year, being the breakout star who can compete with the best dancers at her very best, I think it’s the 35ers who are in trouble.)
I voted once for Lewis and Katya (for the opening number) and four times for Amber and Nikita, because that Charleston was outstanding, and ringer or not, her dancing means she deserves to be in the semi.
