SCD '21 #15: The return of Craig (and sensible marking)?

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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Right, from the clues on ITT, I'm going to guess Will from The Repair Shop and Fred Siriex for the Christmas Special.

Good god he's still talking about his sister as if she's dead

Tom is still emehtional on it takes two.

@TitsInAbsentia

Series 1, week 5, they all did the samba in fact I'd forgotten that there was some sense to the dances people did (ie you did the foxtrot or the tango, far easier to compare abilities)...when did we lose that?!

I remember when half the celebs did a waltz and the other half a cha cha cha the first week.

Amy’s a cackler!

@EsmaCannonball

Right, from the clues on ITT, I'm going to guess Will from The Repair Shop and Fred Siriex for the Christmas Special.

I was close. Fred and Jay from The Repair Shop.

It was so much better when the celebs did one of two dances. Especially in early episodes of a series. You could compare like for like

Awwww I like like both Jay & Fred and their partners

I like them all doing different dances because, to quite honest, I am completely clueless on the technical aspect anyway and just go by whether I've enjoyed it 😂

SoupDragon

For me, Tom was flat emotionally in his dance (in contrast to the VT when he was speaking naturally), whereas Dan in his dance, IMO, exuded enthusiasm and love for the dance and embodied the spirit of the Charleston.

It's really interesting how people get completely opposite impressions from the same dance!

Not half. I thought I was seeing plenty of emotion from both of them... Dan clearly enjoying himself and Tom giving his all to his cc. I know the judges said he needed to let go, but he seemed to me to be using every ounce of strength and concentration he had to get Amy into the lifts. He’s quite slightly built, I think, so it can’t be easy- his focus was probably on not dropping his partner more than anything .

I'm excited to see Jay and Fred dance! I hope this means they might be in the running to compete in the series next year...

@SoupDragon

For me, Tom was flat emotionally in his dance (in contrast to the VT when he was speaking naturally), whereas Dan in his dance, IMO, exuded enthusiasm and love for the dance and embodied the spirit of the Charleston.

It's really interesting how people get completely opposite impressions from the same dance!

I agree. I didn't feel much from Tom's dance and I wasn't surprised he was in the dance-off because it didn't quite hit the mark they obviously wanted. Dan, though. I didn't see enthusiasm and love for the dance, nor the spirit of the Charleston. A friend and I talked about it on Sunday and agreed that while it was well danced, it looked like something you'd show to people who'd never danced before to show them what a very basic Charleston was like so that they wouldn't be put off trying by how free and wild the dance actually is. In her words "You'd show them that and then show them AJ or Rhys's Charleston and say 'and that's what it looks like when you've learned what it's all about.'"

I wasn't expecting the latter from Dan, that would have been ridiculous and unfair and I was impressed that he danced what he was given to dance relatively well, but it was dull and bland and as full of life as a dead fish.

For me, Tom was flat emotionally in his dance (in contrast to the VT when he was speaking naturally)
According to Tom and Amy on ITT that was a conscious choice to fit with the characters, so Amy was play the love struck girl and Tom was basically blanking her. Watching their dance again with that explanation kind of makes sense - the bit where she launches herself at him he then sort of shakes his head and I thought perhaps he had made a mistake or was indicating that he was backing out of a more complex move but in that context it makes sense as part of the dance not as an error.

It was shit conceot and choreography I think.

According to Tom and Amy on ITT that was a conscious choice to fit with the characters, so Amy was play the love struck girl and Tom was basically blanking her. Watching their dance again with that explanation kind of makes sense - the bit where she launches herself at him he then sort of shakes his head and I thought perhaps he had made a mistake or was indicating that he was backing out of a more complex move but in that context it makes sense as part of the dance not as an error.

If that didn't come across like that, then there was a problem with the choreography for me, sorry.

@Fenelladepompom yep but most CCs can get in sea as far as I'm concerned but Tilly was handed a shit load of tens for hers 🤷‍♀️

@iklboo

According to Tom and Amy on ITT that was a conscious choice to fit with the characters, so Amy was play the love struck girl and Tom was basically blanking her. Watching their dance again with that explanation kind of makes sense - the bit where she launches herself at him he then sort of shakes his head and I thought perhaps he had made a mistake or was indicating that he was backing out of a more complex move but in that context it makes sense as part of the dance not as an error.

If that didn't come across like that, then there was a problem with the choreography for me, sorry.

I'm the only person on the planet that hasn't seen Les Mis so I have no idea what it was supposed to be about - I assumed it made more sense to people who know the show. I do think it's a bit harsh on the celeb when they go because of a shit theme/ choreography/ fury suit they can only dance what they are given. As Dan seems to be pulling massive vote Tom/Tilly/Rhys were/are probably the next batch to go - in no particular order- so I don't think it was a shock boot or particularly unjust.

Maybe I'm just a horrible person but Tom's tears and handkerchief-dabbing on ITT all seemed a bit fake to me.

Dan and Nadiya have been getting a lot of flak on social media for daring to still be in. Dan posted this today:

*Good morning…
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all the amazing messages about Saturday night.
We are genuinely not bothered by the criticism or anger because:

1. It’s all a bit silly
2. It’s just a TV show
3. The guff is far outweighed by the positivity 🕺🏼

Nadiya and I will continue to smile and we can’t wait to perform this week‘s dance.*

Dan is quite correct. It is just a light entertainment show. I sometimes forget that when hurling abuse at the screen 😂

I'm glad that Dan is rising above all the silliness. A great response!

Me too maireas

I think we all have our bits to say but he seems to be one of the most inoffensive people ever and does not deserve the tomfoolery on Twitter, etc.

So what if he is still in? So what if he isn’t the best hoofer there?

Someone is voting for him so why can’t he just keep on enjoying himself and living the dream?

He is right. It is all silly. And I’m glad he responded.

He isn’t my cup of tea but he was lucky enough to get a pro who is intent on showing the best of him. And she has managed it just fine if the votes are anything to go by.

I think Nadiya is a very under rated pro and I'm glad she's getting a chance this year to show that she can teach really well!

She's been given some real duff pairings before (often based on height, which is understandable but must be frustrating for her) and it looked like Dan was set to be another early exit, but she's very clever in what they are doing, nothing too taxing but all about the fun, and all power to her. She's also a fab dancer to watch.

Shallwegoforawalk

I think Nadiya is a very under rated pro and I'm glad she's getting a chance this year to show that she can teach really well!

She's been given some real duff pairings before (often based on height, which is understandable but must be frustrating for her) and it looked like Dan was set to be another early exit, but she's very clever in what they are doing, nothing too taxing but all about the fun, and all power to her. She's also a fab dancer to watch.

Absolutely this. She somehow manages to match herself to her partner so she’s not doing the Kristina Rhianoff thing of dancing around him to distract the viewer, and achieves the magical effect of making him seem better than he is by not outdoing him. Johannes, take note.

@Runningupthecurtains

For me, Tom was flat emotionally in his dance (in contrast to the VT when he was speaking naturally) According to Tom and Amy on ITT that was a conscious choice to fit with the characters, so Amy was play the love struck girl and Tom was basically blanking her. Watching their dance again with that explanation kind of makes sense - the bit where she launches herself at him he then sort of shakes his head and I thought perhaps he had made a mistake or was indicating that he was backing out of a more complex move but in that context it makes sense as part of the dance not as an error.

That's a lot of why the whole concept of the dance was flawed for me. It's a female solo, shoehorned into a duet. Could have worked for a female celeb and Rose could have pulled the concept off with her level of dance and drama, but a background indifferent, unrequiting lover role is not an opportunity to let the male celeb shine.

Unfortunately his general level of performance wasn't up to pulling off a tricky concept. I had no love of his "perfect" paso doble because he looked like a marathon runner holding in an untrustworthy fart at mile 24. I vaguely remember that his costume looked like a lacy flag. He danced well the first week. I remember the halloween costume and it was something lively that went well. That really is all I can remember of him!

Dan is weaker, but clearly enjoys the dances and gets (as best as he can) into the spirit of them, and is well partnered with Nadiya who's bringing out the optimum in the celebrity she has. (I was expecting Adam to have more potential and wonder if a different pro could have got a few more weeks out of him)

At this point I have a clear top 3 (Rose, AJ, John) and have for some time. I think Tilly is the better of the rest unless Rhys rapidly finds some nuance and nails his technique. Hypthotetically (to me) the worthy list to go should be Dan, Rhys, Tilly but I won't be devestated if that order goes awry and I think Rose, AJ and John have enough popular support to bail them out of a poor week on judging.

The people clamouring for Dan to step out are missing the fact that this would lead to a two person final. They are so worried about their favourite missing out on a place in the final that they are calling for something that would reduce the chances of their favourite getting to the final.

Much as I am unimpressed with him never having been in the bottom two, I don't want him to step down.