Monday, 30 October 2017

Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Week 6 Review


Halloween week, which means frightful costumes, scary hair and terrifying routines – same as any other week then, no?

Pre-show VT: I got Ruth/Debbie/Mollie/Susan/Joe/Aston/Gemma/Alex. Jonnie and Simon were unrecognisable, and who am I missing? Ah Davood. Nothing new there then.

OMG loved that opening routine – did not recognise Kev whatsoever. And who was it on the chandelier?



The Fashion Police Segment:

Tess or Claud?: Claud – Tess needed to get rid of the sleeves

Best Dressed Judge?: Shirl

Best Dressed Couple: Mollie & AJ, honourable mention for Jonnie & Oti

Worst Dressed Couple: I think Aston & Janette or Joe & Katya

Not in the theme: Ruth & Anton



Jonnie & Oti – Cha Cha Cha – “Troublemaker”

1.       Liked Jonnie’s joke about how him being an amputee fits the role of a pirate perfectly, his VT acting is a lot better than Pasha’s.

2.       Aww Jonnie, that beginning mess-up with the prop kind of put you off.

3.       Was that the blade again? Footwork was improving by the end but upper body and lines were as bad as ever.

4.       Nice little con crit from Shirley, love Bruno ‘who needs Jack Sparrow?’, Craig he did have some hip action

5.        Agreed with the score from the judges, think I might be block-voting for him tonight but loved the support from the other guys in the Clauditorium. Haha at Claud bringing in AJ’s mom for the T’s & C’s.


Ruth & Anton – Quickstep – “Bewitched Theme” (RECYCLED SONG ALERT! - Jason & Kristina in series 9)

1.       Aww Anton as a bunny rabbit was funny even though that was not his voice

2.       She seemed to lose timing at the start but she did pull it back (thank you Bruno)

3.       I would disagree with Craig that it didn’t have style, loved Shirley’s little Craig-style interplay with Anton.

4.       I wasn’t as entertained by that as I normally am, think she might be in trouble

5.       Score was about right, think Craig’s 4 was harsh as I thought it was better than Jonnie’s dance.


Simon & Karen – American Smooth – “Delilah”

1.       Karen cannot do a posh English accent to save her life

2.       What is it with Karen and eating? The hair looks good on Simon though

3.       What on earth was that? It was so bad that Karen looked awful technically as well, choreography not up to scratch. Such small steps but Karen was doing those too?

4.       Was it just me or were there no actual lifts? I don’t think there were any in their Charleston either so is Simon not able to do them for whatever reason? I do feel that they’re trying to get us to vote for them though. Actually, just realised that this was originally listed as a Viennese Waltz so why the sudden change?

5.       Overmarked for me, 12 would be my score.


Gemma & Aljaz – Jive – “Ever Fallen in Love”

1.       They should have gone the whole hog and made Aljaz look like either Spike or Angel from Buffy. Oh, apparently they did? Should have gone for Spike.

2.       Quite decent, but I felt that Gemma lacked a bit of energy in the legs (Aljaz overdancing does not help)

3.       She also still seems to have problems with balance where spins are involved, she lets it show on her face where she’s uncomfortable

4.       I don’t think the dress helped her though, the shortness made her legs look a little blocky.

5.       Slightly overmarked for me, think 7 was about the right score so I would have given 28. (I do love this song so wish I could have given more)


Joe & Katya – Foxtrot – “Trouble”

1.       Haha at Joe using Katya’s dog to trick her with (Crumble? What kind of name is that for a pooch?)

2.       Bit too much theming, although at least I now understand why they used this song (there was a line about spiders at the beginning)

3.       Clearly I’m not as enamoured with this as the judges were, I didn’t think the hold looked right (although not sure why), and thought it was a bit too contemporary.

4.       Way overmarked for me, I thought Gemma was a little better so I would give Joe 26

5.       If they put Alexandra at the end again then it will be ridiculous.


Mollie & AJ – Cha Cha Cha – “Better the Devil You Know”

1.       Why did they squeakify AJ’s voice?

2.       Her VT acting is awful

3.       That was actually really fun – agreed with Bruno on the hip action though, but I was fully with Craig (he was really nice about it)

4.       Who would have thought that Shirley would be more harsh than Craig? Surprised she didn’t get booed. By the way, who’s the suit of armour in the Clauditorium?

5.       I thought she was better than Gemma, I would have given 30. Bit odd that Craig was really positive but then gave a 6.


Alexandra & Gorka – Tango – “Maneater” (RECYCLED SONG ALERT! - Emma & Darren in series 4)

1.       Yeah, not a fan of this one guys, sorry.

2.       I was looking for more sharpness, yes she puts attack in but the frame seemed wobbly in places and her footwork looked a little off?

3.       I really did not like that choreography, and I agree with what Bruno said on the punctuation of her movements

4.       Funny how they love her attack and how she goes for it fearlessly but they thought Joe was too aggressive in his……..

5.       Spent a lot of time with them before the scores? Very much overmarked for me, would have gone for 28 with Gemma.


Davood & Nadiya – Rumba – “Wicked Game” (RECYCLED SONG ALERT! - Michelle & Brendan in series 8)

1.       Was that Alton Towers?

2.       Loved the graphics at the back, but how did Nadiya get down to Davood in time?

3.       His arm lines were much better, fully agreed with Darcey both on that and the lack of content.

4.       I’m with Shirley, it was a bit odd to watch. Also, too much mouth open again, and that was a lift at the end as Nadiya’s feet weren’t on the floor? Peculiar how they’re criticising the content but saying that they loved it – it kind of feels like they’re not really telling off the pro for that.

5.       Slightly overmarked, I would have gone with a 23.


Susan & Kevin – Foxtrot – “Killer Queen”

1.       They needed to give Kevin a better beard

2.       Normally I find the Foxtrot a bit boring to watch but that was so entertaining

3.       How can it be elegant with that song Shirley? Loved Kevin’s retort back.

4.       I thought Susan’s footwork was much better, I’m seriously starting to wonder whether she’s doing too well in the votes. Thank you Darcey for some positive comments, think Susan just needs to get a little more shaping in her arm and hand lines because she is starting to sort the feet out.

5.       Adored that group hug, really underscored for me, that was much improved on her Cha Cha Cha last week; I would have given about 24 I think.


Debbie & Giovanni – Charleston – “Frankie”

1.       Giovanni saying ‘Debbeh’ will never fail to amuse me

2.       Wow, I think Gio’s reaction at the end said everything

3.       The lifts did go wrong but she got the swivel, she got the character; nice little costume change. Feet were fabulous

4.       Haha Gio going into the ‘we are not worthy’, Shirley giving Debbie her ‘Queen of Latin’ crown; loved that whole dance. Best of the night so far by miles. Davood’s face when Debbie pretended to faint was a picture (ie if looks could kill…..).

5.       Joint highest score of the series, fully deserved. I would have given 36 for the lifts going wrong but considering Alex’s Jive got 10s and that had issues, I won’t begrudge this one.


Aston & Janette – Paso Doble – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

1.       Nice singing there from Jamie

2.       I was looking for some nice Spanish hands from Aston and I’m agreed with Craig on it having too much street but then he ruined it by saying that he loves it. The pelvis curve was good, agreed with Darcey there.

3.       Not as masterful as I would have liked either. He danced it well but it wasn’t really a Paso Doble for me.

4.       Judges will score this well though, as they always do with Aston

5.       Why the need to reward lack of dancing the correct dance? Aston must be struggling with the votes, but glad that Debbie is still top. Nadiya very awkward dancing at the end. I would have gone 32 I think.

My Leaderboard for the week:
1. Debbie & Giovanni - 36
2. Aston & Janette - 32
3. Mollie & AJ - 30
=4. Gemma & Aljaz, Alexandra & Gorka - 28
6. Joe & Katya - 26
7. Susan & Kevin - 24
8. Davood & Nadiya - 23
9. Ruth & Anton - 22
10. Jonnie & Oti - 20
11. Simon & Karen - 12

RECYCLED SONG ALERTS - this week: 3 (the Pixies weren't going lazy, I like)
RECYCLED SONG ALERTS - overall: 24 



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