Strictly '22 #11 — Not too many fireworks last night, but might somebody go out with a bang tonight?

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread

New thread to link to for videos, to try to keep this one running faster.

SPOILER-FREE THREAD

Whenever I feel low I rewatch that jive. Heaven pure heaven!

Sorry Fleur's AT. Not paso.

Anyone wish wardrobe would stop dressing Fleur in a maternity smock for the ballroom? She has a great body. Why no sparkly dress?

Was sad to see Ellie S go. Felt another few weeks would have been fairer for her. She did really well and has such positivity. I never noticed how dangerous that middle of board is in past season. Is it a new thing this year? I think people really believed she’s be safe so didn’t give her a vote. having said that I am pleased Ellie T got though. She was so upset after her dance and I think Craig and Snwetenunduelt harsh with their comments and scores.

I feel so blah about so many of them this year though. Molly Flure Tyler all seem decent dancers for most part but none have much of a spark. Kym is so different that I expected - reserved and strange. Will I wanted to like him the most as such a good actor but he seems too competitive. Helen is forgettable too yet her jive was great so she should be forefront of my mind but isn’t. Hamaz is lovely and really enjoy the partnership with aJowita - she’s a great pro and he’s a bit in love with her (in awe not romantic) and they can dance beautifully. Think their cc will be epic. Tony is just Tony - I quite like him he’s entertaining and I don’t know enough about dancing to have spotted his million mistakes.

On ITT Gio and Kia were discussing past Halloween dances and the standard was so much better and more “wow” moments. Seems all a bit flatter this year so far.

Katya and Tony def had a “discussion” as the cameras were rolling ended Saturday show. In all the papers too. Then I thought was bit awkwardness when awaiting results - even after names were called they looked like didn’t know how to act together until he finally pulled her in for hug. I’ve not been watching for that long (think first year was Faye Ashley series) but have any pros been so critical of their celebrities before?? I actually can’t stand the Amy type of approach over nicely nice fawning and “but we’re just having so much fun that’s all we want each week to have FUN” when we all
know she’s likely totally cutthroat. However, I don’t think I’ve noticed any pro being as harsh as Katya seems to be with Tony. A few comments during main show esp with Claud then fully on criticism on ITT. I think in their interview this week Tony said he made a mistake in X week but this week made none and she said no it wasn’t just in X seem you made mistakes it’s been every single week. Really harsh. I actually wondered if she was trying get the votes form the football fans by being mean to him so they feel even more sorry for him. It’s a really weird dynamic.

Every time I am reminded that Charles Venn was in four dance-offs I am genuinely shocked.

There was a lot of hate for Charles Venn on these threads at the time. If that reflected the general public then it wasn't much of a surprise he was in several dance offs.

I had to Google to remember who Charles Venn is but I remember liking him!

I never noticed how dangerous that middle of board is in past season. Is it a new thing this year?

no, it's the same every year in the early weeks. Those in the middle tend to be the more "forgettable" dances for one reason or another. When there are a lot of dancers it's sometimes very easy to forget the ones that don't stand out for one reason or another. People vote for perceived injustice for a favourite celebrity at the bottom which leaves the middle ones vulnerable.

And if there are ties, it gives all the dancers below the tie a higher number of points. So there's less difference between top and bottom.

That was my thinking, as well. Not to mention she would likely feel suffocated by the group hug.

I loved Karim - I still watch his jive, salsa and quickstep. I get that he was OTT for a lot of ppl, but I really enjoyed his energy and enthusiasm.

On the other side, I could not stand Kelvin - other than his rumba with Oti. I didn't understand the fangirling at all.

On twitter a lot of ppl justify Tony still there as "well he's entertaining" as if that's a universal fact. Many ppl don't find him entertaining, myself included.

It's all about individual tastes. There is no one right answer.

I think Helen's jive last night is one I'd watch again, I really enjoyed it. Whether I'd still be going back to it after some time (which I still do with things like Jay's jive), I don't know.

Nadiya just posted this on twitter

That Is adorable they are the cutest 😍

Ah I'm seeing Johannes a few days before their Scottish. Dates.

I remember so far...Fleurs AT,Wills ballroom(dont know the dance but it was to "cry to me"(I think the song is called)they made ballroom sexy!and Kyms AT.
I do think its the music and the lighting etc as much as the dance itself.
I have smiled through almost all Hamzas dances so that means something and going off this thread alone it would appear he is almost set to win?
I like Will but agree he does seem rather sure of himself but I do think he will make the final.

I have been expecting Ellie T to leave since the first week so don't think she has much time left(unless she keeps getting the sympathy vote)
I actually thought at one point in their rumba that it looked like Johannes was trying to move a dead body!!!
Molly and Kym probably to go after Ellie
Ellie S had reached her limit and I was happy with the result(not a popular opinion on here I see)
Tony I do like and he has made me laugh both on and off the dance floor but enough now!(though I still reckon he will outlive at least two more dancers)
Helen I find rather dull(sorry!)but i can see her making the final.

But she did say that she loves being picked up, as it feels like flying.

To be honest, I found it really difficult watching her and Nikita dance because of the height disparity. He did his best, but she would have been better partnered with someone like Janette Manrara (if JM were still dancing). It was hard sometimes not to think he was flinging a doll around, which for me detracted from Ellie's admirable efforts while also weirdly making me feel like a bad person.

For me, Hamza's salsa is the dance of the series, and the only one I've watched back several times. Last year I fell down the internet rabbit hole of watching professional cabaret salsa dances, and his is the only Strictly salsa that's come close to capturing that style. It's overtaken Jay's routine as my favourite ever salsa.

Agree about Jay’s dance. Similar with Oti and Bill’s Rapper’s Delight even if it wasn’t technically as brilliant as Jay’s.

the other one I re-watch is the samba that Oti and Danny Mac did. Yes he was just naturally good and a ringer but that was just epic.

Yes, I have Danny and Oti’s samba on my top list, and Mark and Karen’s salsa!

I wouldn't write off Molly just yet just because she's been in two dance offs. Should Fleur also bow out if she's in another dance off?

There have been past contestants in more than 2 dance offs who made it through the final:

Ashley Roberts
Jamie Laing
Mark Wright
Simon Webb

Rhys Stephenson was in 4 dance offs before being eliminated in the semi final. I think he should have had a place in the final when AJ had to withdraw.

I am guessing Molly just doesn't have enough exposure outside of Strictly, so who are her audience and fans? It must be a niche demographic.

Contrary to what people have been saying about her being an over confident young woman, I think she actually comes across as being very timid and lacking in the attitude for some of the performances. Maybe that's what makes her forgettable?

Contrary to what people have been saying about her being an over confident young woman, I think she actually comes across as being very timid and lacking in the attitude for some of the performances. Maybe that's what makes her forgettable?
This is what I think too. She seems unsure of herself (totally understandable), and hasn't put in a sparkling performance yet. She should be able to, given her day job. She's a lovely dancer, very competent, but she doesn't have any sparkle.

Katya is due in Panto from 8 December so it’s going to be tricky if she reaches the final. She was probably expecting to be out of the competition by now.

A quick Google suggests that Katya's only contracted to appear in the Panto from the 18thDecember onwards, so she's covered if they do make the final.

Totally agree Grouchy.

Her AT for Halloween week should have been her comeback dance from the dance off the week before. Anton was spot on when he said she needed the "pow" all the way through the AT dance and not just at the end.

Fleur on the other had can do "pow" without a problem.

I saw it mentioned upthread but yes loved Jay's salsa its a youtube go to of mine and his rumba which was beautiful

(Who is voting for Tony??)

Every Arsenal supporter globally with access to a computer @MaryDerry .

I did once think the beautiful music from Midnight Cowboy would make a lovely Movie Week VW, but then realised the theming problem. Giovanni tries to get Debbie McGee to pay him for sex, ends up giving Craig a hand-job instead, and when they go over for the judging at the end they realise that Bruno's died halfway through the routine.

😂@EsmaCannonball