SCD '23 #17: Semi finals — double the dances, triple the scores, quadruple the 10 paddles? (NO SPOILERS)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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Why not? Didn't Bill and Oti repeat their CC to Rapper's Delight in the final?

I've said this before but I think couple's choice should be scrapped completely.

It was originally meant to be in the style of either theatre jazz, street style or contempowaft but then it became a free style, so no rules.

Plus, I don't believe some of the couple's choice are truly their choice, but the producer's. For example, Molly and Carlos' cc to Grange Hill! They would not have chosen that themselves!

I also don't like how the sob stories are getting shoehorned for the cc.

Really cross that Annabel has gone. It’s left a bit of a nasty taste to me. I don’t pay my licence fee for such blatant favouritism.

Wonder how the voting went? If Annabel got more public votes than Ringer Ringer Layton then it’s not fair. But luckily for the BBC we will never know as they don’t say…

This series has really turned me off Strictly. I was the same when Debbie M was in it, but as she was older it didn’t bother me as much.

Im away next weekend and can’t say I’m disappointed as I don’t think I’d watch anyway.

Yeay Bobby. Very late to the party tonight but pleased for him.

Even if Annabel was top in the public vote, Layton can afford to be two places behind her to avoid the dance off.

That’s what annoys me a little….. that he may think he’s got through on the public vote and think that the public prefer him to Annabelle and he probably thinks that us watchers think he’s fully earned his place and that we think he deserves to be there more than she does etc when in reality it’s probably only the judges votes that saved him from a DO.

It almost feels like at the moment there’s no point in having a public vote after the semi-final as it’s very rare it will have any impact on who goes through to the final as the judges scores will pretty much have already determined it.

I think going forward only public votes should be allowed to decide who goes into the final. The judges shouldn’t have this level of influence at such an important stage.

That’s what annoys me a little….. that he may think he’s got through on the public vote and think that the public prefer him to Annabelle and he probably thinks that us watchers think he’s fully earned his place and that we think he deserves to be there more than she does etc when in reality it’s probably only the judges votes that saved him from a DO.

Well I'm a member of the public and I definitely prefer him to Annabel and think he's fully earned his place and deserves to be there more than her. I'd have been gutted if she'd gone through and he hadn't. I've voted for him throughout and will be voting for him again next week.

He probably thinks that us watchers think he’s fully earned his place and that we think he deserves to be there more than she does

Those that voted for him, myself included, DO think that.
I intended voting in the final based on one thing only this year - whose showdance I enjoy the most, as last year I voted too early for my favourite Hamza, when in fact Helen should have taken the based on performances.
But my God, Layton has taken so much flak this series I might give him all three votes and then some. and watch his critics combust

That’s what annoys me a little….. that he may think he’s got through on the public vote and think that the public prefer him to Annabelle and he probably thinks that us watchers think he’s fully earned his place and that we think he deserves to be there more than she does etc when in reality it’s probably only the judges votes that saved him from a DO.

How does that do anyone any harm?

@Romeiswheretheheartis
I agree. We haven't got a clue what Layton "probably" thinks. I'm pretty sure he won't win, but the final would be less exciting without him in it imho.

I agree about CC. The judges seem to become paralysed when giving their scores because there are really no criteria by which they can judge a
CC. Even if a couple are totally out of time with each other, for all the judges know it's completely intentional. So we get ridiculously high scores being given for very run-of-the-mill and boring dances. If they can shoehorn in a sob story, a high score becomes a nailed-on certainty, the judges daren't disrespect the sleb's grief/journey or whatever.

The one exception I'd make is theatre jazz. Giovanni and Gorka have both choreographed incredibly good theatre jazz dances and they are both difficult to do and enjoyable to watch. So let's get rid of CC and bring in a theatre jazz category, I say!

Did anyone else find the choice of "Mack the Knife" for Bobby's quickstep rather odd? It's quite a dark song, and it just sounds wrong having Bobby and Dianne happily trotting around the room smiling brightly while someone sings about a body oozing life. And the tempo was much too fast for it, anyway.

I would rather watch Layton dance than Annabelle any day. I love watching him and Nikita dance.

OMG - that's EXACTLY who Mark is morphing into!

I know what you mean (and agree it sounded too fast), but years ago when I was in a university ballroom society we used to put together themed five-dance playlists, and we definitely had a murder one.

Delilah was the Viennese waltz, Bad Bad Leroy Brown was the foxtrot. I can't remember the others off the top of my head.

I thought Graziano was very happy with the dog and Lauren almost looked surprised to see it

I thought that! But it was a lovely dance...

It reminded me of You've Got Mail!

As soon as I realised there was a dog I knew it would be a golden retriever (I've got one)

Yes. In their final speeches I thought Johannes had been asked to do a lot of work: Annabel joined the show very soon after her husband's death - maybe too soon? - and it sounded as if she had used JoJo as a grief counsellor. It really does seem that they got on very well, and I enjoyed their journey.

Bobby crying at Annabel's speech - very sweet. I wonder if the show has brought up past traumas for him too?

I agree! The first time she danced this, the singer's voice was all I could Focus on! And for all the wrong reasons...

May we hope for Mr Darcy Dog as a contestant next year? Just as long as he's not a ringer - see my post on the video thread!

Just catching up. It was time for Annabel to leave, it’s really been impressive how long she’s stayed in the running given that she’s an older contestant.

I’m not sure what to think for the final.
Layton is an amazing dancer but I feel that either Bobby or Ellie should win. I thought I was Team Ellie, but Bobby really impressed me this week so I don’t know now. 😂

Yes, time for Annabel to leave, though she has done really well ( and motivated me to keep exercising). I don't enjoy Bobby's dancing or Dianne's choreo at all, and would have preferred Nigel in the final, but c'est la vie.

Which dances do we all want to see again? I want to see Ellie's underrated jive ( her first dance so lots to improve) and her paso maybe. Layton's QS and possibly salsa? Didn't enjoy any of Bobby's really except his QS, but perhaps anything where he is not wearing a vest! or Dianne rolling around on the floor.

I voted for Leyton x3. His Charleston was the dance that had the wow factor for me. Plus all the hate he received and how well he handles it has really warmed me to him.
I think the right 3 are in the final although Nigel and Amanda may well have been there had they not dropped out.
I would quite like a shock Bobby win- he showed enormous improvement on Saturday and lovely as Ellie is (and she really is!) I just can’t get excited about her dances.
I’d be quite happy with any of the three winning though really as they all seem lovely young people.