Strictly '22 #18 — Who's going to lift the glitterball? We don't know, but it will happen in this thread!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread

We're moving so fast I'm setting this one up to be ready!

Agree with all this.. the costumes were mostly awful and the dancing unfortunately didn't hold my attention this year. The format needs to change.

They would have looked resigned rather than nervous in that case. Molly, Fleur and Hamza all looked nervous. Not so Helen and Gorka. 🤷🏻‍♀️

still, it's done now.

The costumes were terrible. Especially for Ellie T and Fleur. And some of Hamza's. And then putting the wig of doom on Tyler.

Here's the link to the blog:

The only important final this weekend

i think they should discourage sob stories, it is miserable and unfair,
i think those who trot out sob stories dont tend to win,
i dont think rose did, or bill bailey or ore

The "sob stories" aren't solely down to the contestant but really more about the story the producers want for them.

Fleur's story was that she was doing it for her Dad (who died just before lockdowns started in 2020), so they kept talking about it. One of the first things Claudia said to her after her showdance was "Your Dad would be so proud".

Will had a similar story, plus Northern Lad.

Molly didn't really have anything until she ended up in the bottom two so many times, so that became her Thing, despite Fleur being in the same number of dance offs.

Helen's was finding confidence again, though I agree with everyone who said she was always confident. But that was their code for Jilted Woman Living Her Best Life.

Anyway. I'd like the producers to remember that it should be a lovely, warm, lighthearted show and they should leave all the Sad Stuff for the X-Factor.

Hamza not universally liked it seems, an old university classmate trying to stir up some controversy!

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/strictlys-hamza-yassin-performs-salsa-28753350

I agree it wasn’t a vintage year, not so much the format for me more that there just weren’t any outstanding dances - some great ones (I really love Helen’s Fosse number but I know some didn’t) and some outstanding moments within dances but no proper all-out Wows. I guess the pool of willing and available celebs is pretty limited but it seems to have been a particularly “limited” year.

Anyway, Gorka got to spend the night with Gemma in a hotel so I reckon he’s probably
perked up a bit since the result 😁 he perhaps had started believing the hype of all the fellow dancers cheering them on to win.

The problem this year was some of the pro partnering, I expect Kai and Gio to be given better celebs next year and as much as I love Diane, Tyler should have gone further so I can't see her being given a "ringer" again.

I think one of the main problems has been that there has been no sort of jeopardy or suspense around dance-offs. With Fleur or Molly in so many dance-offs, it was always inevitable that their opponent would go and it felt like everyone was going through the motions. Likewise in the final it was obvious that they couldn't win.

They need to think a bit about how to deal with that. Maybe a rule along the lines of saying that if you are in the bottom two three or four times you go anyway?

Rather the contrary, I'd say. They don't look nervous because they don't expect to win.

Couples' choice should definitely go, but they should keep Theatre Jazz. I'd be very happy to see more dances like Helen and Gorka's CC, or Giovanni and Faye's.

I think they're intended to be Human Interest rather than sob stories per se.

I don't buy that for one second. It wasn't just a lack of nervousness, it had a strong whiff of smug confidence. Born out by their reaction.

I had read that story pre voting but from the footage, it did look basic. He allegedly stood in for a friend. Someone under the comments made me laugh about having to declare doing the hokey-cokey at a wedding
It is an odd one though - being part of a university dance club, even amateur, does constitute dance of some sort. That said, the salsa footage wasn't all that. But that said, his salsa for me was a breakout number so any muscle memory might have been useful. More interestingly though...why did Hamza avoid the Paso if he had performed an advanced number in the past?

Looked at Gorka footage again - he just looks pale, ill and drawn on second view. When not announced, he looks really disappointed. I doubt very much he'd leave though...where are AJ, Curtis and Aljaz atm?

Pleased to see Hamza win, would also have been happy to see Helen win. I think there have been too many celebrities this year that we’re just a bit mediocre, I think when they picked who they wanted to do it, they thought at least one out of Kym, Ellie T, Tyler, Fleur or Mollie would have been much better than they were. I know two of them got to the final but I didn’t find Mollie exciting to watch and Fleur was a bit stompy at times although great at others. I know the ones with dance experience get a bit of a panning but I think they might need a couple more that have it to liven in up a bit next year. They should also ditch the couples choice and the themes weeks and go back to the fabulous costumes, that green and red dress fleur had last night was dreadful.

She was meant to be a chilli pepper

It is an odd one though - being part of a university dance club, even amateur, does constitute dance of some sort.

It's an interesting choice of word — these (see my post of 00.58) are amateur couples!

I have 99 problems with Hamza winning but his previous uni experience ( or not) isn't one of them.

I was thinking though that Jowita must be in such shock:) Very few pros have won in their debut season, no? I think Aljaz and Brendan have.

It really depends what the experience was — I've added some links of university beginners to the multimedia thread. That's after 4/5 months dancing.

He might not have done that though (although I can't really understand why something other than a society that does ballroom/Latin would be teaching Paso. Salsa is different.) I don't remember Bangor from the university circuit so perhaps they don't compete, or it's a more general dance society.

Thank you Polkadots - I enjoyed these.

The first one with the Blackpool competition was really "Shades of 'Come Dancing' " (complete with rictus expressions 😀) and it was the sort of thing I'd like to see more of in strictly. Definite rules of dance etc and (of course) glorious dresses etc.

@Lentilweaver apparently Jowita is the fifth pro to win in her debut season with a partner. The others are Brendan (series 1), Darren Bennett (series 2), Artem (series 8) and Aljaz (series 11). I’m not sure the first two really count though given all the pros were new in series 1 and there was another new batch for series 2. And she’s the first female pro to win in her debut season.

I think the whole contest has become a popularity/underdog show. Hamza has an appeal of sorts .However he is NOT the best dancer! Helen should have won ,but either Fleur or young Molly would have deserved their win.I didnt watch at all last year as I was so cross with Bill Bailey robbing young Maisie of her prize .

I think the whole contest has become a popularity/underdog show. Hamza has an appeal of sorts .However he is NOT the best dancer! Helen should have won
Why? She wasn’t the best dancer either.