Strictly 2022 Thread 2 - Who's your favourite...

[xsquared]

Hello folks,
Last one filled up and I was surprised another hadn't been started for a while.

First thoughts:
I like this year's cohort and I recognise a few faces.

• Jayde reminds me of Dawn French. Wasn't expecting her to be paired with Karen.

• Carlos and Vito will be interesting to watch in their debut. Molly went to Sylvia Young Theatre, so she could be a ringer.

• I've seen Jowita in The Greatest Dancer and she was phenomenal. Hamza looks like he'll be good fun.

• Luba looked amazing during John Legend's performance and it's a shame that neither her celebs went very far. Maybe she's better suited to dancing in the background.

• When Helen Skelton mentioned needing someone who could understand a northern accent, I immediately guessed it was Gorka.

• Ellie and Johannes look good together. She's absolutely delighted with him, and I hope we get to watch them for a good while.

• Matt Goss seems rather subdued, but I think he'll have a good work ethic and deliver a good performance.

Im only watching for Will and Ellie S tbh, I rarely bother with Strictly.

Wills my favourite, he doesn't give me the fanny gallops, I just remember the good ole days of Two Pints very fondly. He can dance but I doubt he has much in the last 20 years and whilst Michelle was a dancer, she's been retired a long while too... I don't think his drama school training 20+ years ago gives him the edge, I think he's just naturally good at it and quite a confident, cocky sort of person who doesn't really give a shit about looking daft.

Interested to see how Ellie S and partner get on, theres the obvious height difference issue but I think with her being so strong and fit, there may be an advantage there to that they can work out moves another couple actually couldn't do perhaps?

I still think the same sex couples have a disadvantage in that it highlights how much better the celeb is. I love Karen - I was definitely watching her though and thought jade looked like a fangirl trying to copy her. I’d never heard of her and my first impressions of her were that she was rather annoying, the audience don’t always warm to confident women, as we have seen many times before! Jayde and Karen’s different shapes also mean that the dances that require elegance will be a challenge. Jayde would have been better off with a man imo. Will was great - he has the natural confidence and swagger to give him a head start. The eastEnders man was totally forgettable. Ritchie was awful and I don’t like pelvic thrusts / overly suggestive moves in family shows! I hope he tones it down - he needs to be able to dance in different ways for the different dances.

I’m really not loving the Gio/Richie partnership! Gio had always been my eye candy and I’m struggling to see him the same way when he’s part of a ridiculous pairing. It certainly doesn’t have the same impact as the John and Johannes pairing did.

Karen looked phenomenal in her dress last night!

I really liked Carlos.

Im intrigued as to his the Nikita and Ellie partnership will walk out, especially in the ballroom dances as I just can’t picture how it will be done. And like another poster said, I would be concerned for Nikita’s if he’s having to bend it 7 days a week for many hours a day.

I found Kai’s dance really awkward….I really didn’t like what hair and make-up did to Kaye as they seemed to age her by 10 years.

I have always found Fleur East to be annoying and I don’t think she’ll change my opinion in this show. She may have sass and attitude but I’m not sure she had the grace and elegance to pull this off.

I quite liked James from EE but I find Amy very dull.

I liked Diane’s dance.

My heart almost broke for Tony Adams, he looked like he was about to cry.

And as for Matt…..what on earth?! In the Friday night episode I thought he came across as quite fun and characteristic whereas last night there was just nothing there. It was really odd.

I was very disappointed with Kym Marsh.

Ad much as I love Johannes, I don’t think any coupling he has will ever be as amazing as what he and John achieved last year so I feel like the only way is down for him. Not because the dancing was poor, they danced fantastically, but the J&J chemistry just wasn’t there with his partner last night (I’ve already forgotten her name).

Overall though, I’m liking all the participants and couplings and I can’t wait to see the show unfold!

@xsquaredSpeaking of Gorka. I preferred the Romeo and Juliet dance he lead in his first year of Strictly here. He looked hot then, and had good chemistry with Oksana in that dance.

When strictly was actually about dancing, I loved it more then.

I love Will. Generally. He was fab.
I thought Hamza was very light footed but not as good as the judges scored.
I think Kym will be good but it was a really slow jive. I think she will be great in the dramatic dances like tango, rumba etc.
How will Ellie and Nikita navigate ballroom, when in hold? Will they perhaps not do those dances? I’m not saying that in a cruel way so I hope it doesn’t offend, just generally very curious about how it’ll work.
I like Jayde, she is having the time of her life. Physically though she was still struggling when with Claudia. I guess they will have to consider that in the dances.

i worry Hamza will cause himself or someone else an injury with his swinging hair!

I’m really not loving the Gio/Richie partnership! Gio had always been my eye candy and I’m struggling to see him the same way when he’s part of a ridiculous pairing. It certainly doesn’t have the same impact as the John and Johannes pairing did

Yes. I see it as Gio having a mini break after an amazing year last year with Rose. For me Gio and Rose were the best pairing ever.

I heard Matt became a recluse for 8 years after his mother's awful death from lung cancer .. he looked after her personally. He's paid 20 grand to have his beloved dog with him in the UK whilst he’s on the show.

EmptyHouse

I too was a bit disappointed with Kym Marsh. She was good, but I think she might get lost amongst so many more electrifying pairings and forgotten about.

Wills my favourite, he doesn't give me the fanny gallops, I just remember the good ole days of Two Pints very fondly. He can dance but I doubt he has much in the last 20 years and whilst Michelle was a dancer, she's been retired a long while too... I don't think his drama school training 20+ years ago gives him the edge, I think he's just naturally good at it and quite a confident, cocky sort of person who doesn't really give a shit about looking daft.

i think it will definitely give him the edge over people who haven't danced before. Just like Helen's tap dance experience will give her the edge. They already have the basics of dance movement lodged in their brains plus rhythm.

I think that, plus his confident cocky personality will take him through to the final. Acting ability also helps with the characterisation I think. He ticks a lot of the "advantage" boxes.

I don't like the Gio/Richie pairing either. They just don't seem to work together.

Whoever put Gio with Ritchie needs to hang their head in shame ! 😂
Although , who would he be better with ? ..

Ritchie is so annoying and the pairing has fallen flat! Last year John/Johannes was fantastic but this years it is cringe and dreadful. Same for Jayde that was awkward and she struggled it’s not a pairing in any shape or form. Strictly trying to cover too many bases and this year it’s failing ...

Really enjoyed the show last night, it’s the one thing we all gather around the telly to watch. Hamza was a lovely surprise. Felt awful for Tony, he seems like such a sensitive chap, really hope he has a better week next week as he’s overcome a lot in his time. Agree he would have probably been better off with Nadiya. Watched the Bros documentary Friday night after the launch show (it’s on Netflix) and Matt really I quite odd, and comes off as not particularly bright. Echo the worries for Nikita, I’d wondered how they were going to manage in hold and that didn’t look great for him last night. Great show though, scoring was batshit obvs but enjoying having them all back on the balcony and a more normal format

The two same sex couples this year are both comedy acts.

I could not agree more about the 2 same sex couples. So disappointed that Karen got Jayde. Why does Jayde even want to dance with a woman when she is not gay? I love Karen but not keen on Jayde at all.

I don't dislike Richie as much as some seem to and do like that he is loving it but I don't like him with Gio. Don't think is Gio is very happy either although he is pretending to be

I love Jaydes sas and attitude but she would have been better with a man I think.

I think Jayde has a big LGBT following as she does an Adele tribute act. I agree, though - the pairing isn't great. I don't mind Richie, he's entertaining and Giovanni is such a brilliant pro he'll use that and produce some good dances.
Ellie S was just gorgeous and Nikita is doing a great job, but we'll see about the adaptations for ballroom.
Will Mellor was a revelation! Fabulous!

Agree @mydogisthebest i don’t think Gio is happy at all...both same sex pairings are off

I kept thinking where do I know Jadya from..
she was in Almas not normal earlier this year and an Adele tribute act !
I kept thinking she looked familiar

Jayde looks like Gemma Collins and dawn French to me.

Jayda , sorry to spell her name wrong below.

Why isn't the guy with the auburn hair and beard paired with anyone, does he just hang around

I don't really see the point of the same sex couple pairing idea tbh.

Aren't they all meant to be professionals

I was wondering this. He usually has a partner.
I am also very concerned for Nikita.He is already hunched over and having to bend. As a professional dancer with possibly another 8 or so weeks ahead with long practice days it could cause problems for him.
I agree with other Posters - the same sex couples just don't work (maybe I will be proved wrong) and it's the BBC trying to be inclusive as usual.
Poor Giovanni - He's so gorgeous and I loved watching him dance over the previous years. There's definitely no chance of romance with Richie! In fact there doesn't seem much chance of romance with any of them this year which has always been part of Strictly's allure and helped bring in massive viewing figures.