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

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

SPOILER-FREE THREAD PLEASE

Previous thread here.

Video thread. Please post videos on that thread, then link across to here to avoid buffering issues with this thread.

Spoiler thread.

Another member of the public here who used all votes on Layton. I might have used one on the dog if that had been an option, but nobody else.

Just caught up. I was glad it was Annabel and Bobby in the final as it made it more interesting than whose getting voted off against Layton. I think Bobby is slightly better than Annabel so it was fair she went. Although agree with others Nigel deserved to be in the final .

It does make me laugh. Every year "this is the bedt/strongest show ever" and Diane continually selling Bobby as practically a professional. Joe was way better than Bobby is.

I am sad there are no "old" people in the final. I miss Amanda's and Nigel's acerbic wit. and poise, as also KGM's.

All this young people burbling about their journeys and trotting out their sob stories is painful for me. ( light-hearted; I hope people know what I mean). I wanted a nice grumpy middle aged woman in the final.

Diane's comments annoy me too.

Saying how she wouldn't be able to do that lift with the male pros, and also the comment about dancing with Bobby by the end of the week is like dancing with a professional wad exactly what Katya said about Nigel earlier in the series.

You can big up your celeb of course, but she sounds so insincere.

I do like Bobby though, he's really improved and has embraced the Strictly experience. The results of his hard work has been evident.

I do. I commented that it was a very young final.

Apart from Dianne, who hasn't won yet, the pros remaining are relatively new too.

I'm missing Nigel and Krishnan too.

To me Krishnan and Annabel are what Strictly is about. Bobby to some certain extent as he’s really developed as a dancer.

Ellie was good from the start imo.

And Layton - well if he was one of the professionals I’d be happy. But as one of the ‘celeb amateurs’ not so much! Not his fault but still shouldn’t be there and spoils it for me. Dh otoh loves watching him!

Actually, most of the dances I have watched back have been Krishnan's. I usually watch the "better" dances back, but this year I think I enjoyed watching him most ( not his CC though). He had so much personality. The three remaining don't seem to have that much personality, or maybe not the kind I like or identify with. I also really liked Lauren.

Krishnan was my favourite too- what a shame he wasn’t just that bit better as he was so joyful to watch. He was unfortunately not finalist standard, unlike Hamza who really was.

Yes, Krishnan had that joy which is good to watch.

I think the hate Layton gets online is more about his sexuality rather than him being a pro dancer in a 'learning to dance' programme.

I'm sad about Annabel, but she was so gracious and positive. I've said this before but Johannes is a beautiful soul.
Lauren DID look surprised to see the dog! I wonder if she genuinely wasn't told about it in advance. I also thought about Those Bloody Dalmatians

"... Joe was way better than Bobby is."

Was he? I don't think so at all, although I did enjoy watching Joe and Diane, whatever year that was. In fact, I'd say there were certain similarities; both boys with no dance experience, out of their comfort zone and making the most of their strictly j-word.

Mixing up the dances is just a way of manipulating the outcomes. This year they've been really blatant: giving Krishnan a samba, which he was bound to struggle with, just before Blackpool as they wanted Angela R to get there; giving Annabel a salsa this week, which was clearly not going to be her best.

I want them t o go back to everyone doing the same ballroom or the same Latin each week. Yes, people would still come up against nemesis dances sometimes, but it'd be much less predictable.

So for me - loved the dog

I think Motsi had decided she was voting for Bobby before seeing the dance.
I was so pleased to see Craig voting for Annabel.

I too am one who thinks if you have been dancing on the West end Stage since you were 12 then not quite fair to compare with 1st time dancers.

& I also vote for couple's choice to not feature - or let them do a dance of their choice but not "freestyle" which is v hard to judge I would say.

Apart from that I have only two words - John Sergeant - Oh my goodness he couldn't dance the best but he made me laugh. Which on a Saturday evening I looked forward to.

DH thinks they knew public vote could not get Annabel out of the dance off but I do think they under marked - that said I think she was gracious and knew she was going but well done for getting so far.

I won't vote but suspect Ellie will win

Bravo to Craig for voting for Annabel - he is the most honest and consistent judge (a 10 from him means more to everyone!). Annabel's departure actually made me cry - everyone keeps saying "This is what Strictly is all about" and I completely agree. Love watching Layton - he's a brilliant, brilliant dancer - but it's like having Bonne Langford on the show. At least she did Dancing on Ice and so had to learn to skate. I also (and feel free to disagree) think Layton has an advantage by being in a same sex couple so doesn't get held to the same technical requirements - doesn't have to lead or lift his partner etc. He's basically done what he does in his day job and I would pay to watch him dance, but I don't think that's what Strictly is about.

There’s an idea - I’d like to see Layton do Dancing on Ice… Probably not for a few years now though.

So a couple of the judges mentioned a pivot turn hesitation as their reason for not voting to save Annabel. Did anyone see this 'mistake'?

I think the final will be between Ellie and Bobby. The public never vote the experienced dancer. But glad we always have a dancer like Layton to enjoy every week.

Think Ellie will come back on Saturday better than her semi finals. Hope Bobby can keep up the momentum - he's my winner.

No. That was a strange rationalisation I thought to eliminate her. She was weaker on the night and they didn't say it as it is.

I guess Annabel will do the tour so that will keep her occupied too.

Annabel was such a delight, so kind and gracious, and her partnership with JoJo was just beautiful. But I agree, it was the end of her journey.

I like Ellie and think she will win but wasn't wowed by either of her dances on Saturday night. I especially didn't enjoy the CC but can see why she wanted to try a different style. I thought Bobby and Layton gave two amazing dances, the quickstep and the Charleston

Layton is having to lead and lift though; in most of their dances they both take both the 'male' and 'female' role. The judges have commented on how he leads better than he follows.
I totally agree he's just been doing what he does in his day job. This is what irks me about him, more than him being a good/professional dancer; they've consistently asked him to nail the basics of Latin and ballroom and he hasn't. I don't think it's fair that he's got so far despite failing in something that the others get picked up on.

I think Layton has shown significant improvement in ballroom and Latin. To say he hadn't knuckled down is very unfair. He clearly has worked and trained very hard. His feet were much better in the Rumba than previously and his frame in the AS was much better than in the VW.

His Rumba wasn't perfect but it was fluid, controlled, technically very difficult and showed a much softer side in a week when he also had to master an absurdly demanding Charleston.

absolutely yes to all of this

👏

No I didn’t! On the contrary, I thought I saw Bobby make a mistake but I’m no expert.

I agreed with Craig that Annabel should have gone through on that dance alone. And I thought she should have received at least one nine on her original second dance.