Am I going mental. I really thought their Paso was quite a car crash yet somehow judges didn't see this?

I thought it feeble too.

I really enjoyed it.

Like the judges said, "Lyrical".

I thought it was lacklustre.

It wasn't good first time and was overmarked...but then so were at least half of the other dances tonight.

In the DO they were very lucky to survive on that performance...valiant though the attempt was given Ali's injury.

I think one of them said it was difficult to sell as she was the cape. Personally, I thought it was the music and her bad foot. A more able Ali, would have sold it better as it seemed to be concentrating on her ballet skills.

No attack. No energy. No drive. Not strong. She danced it. She didn't perform it. She was clearly in pain at times and the facial expressions were unfortunate but I thought the judges weren't accepting injury or illness as excuses.
I felt she wasn't completing her lines. Her steps weren't sufficiently firm.

I don't know how good an actress she is as I have never seen her on TV but she didn't make much of that paso.

I thought it was one of her worst performances BUT better than the majority that night, and in the right place on the scoreboard.

She sold it better the second time around but as you say it was partly the music lent itself to what she did and nothing more dramatic and partly because Brian choreographed it that way . He tends to choreograph her ballet skills and downplay her acting ability when it wouldn't be that difficult to out act the Eastenders

Here very late, very drunk etc. Have watched the programme.

Ali had no fire, no passion - it was a rote dance and deeply disappointed me.

Not good.

Technically alright - actually stuff that , just NOT GOOD.

She can do better than that - needs some fire in her bellyl.

It didn't suit Rachel last year, she stumbled and struggled but my goodness she gave it some passion.

Ali doesn't seem to know what it is.

Thank goodness for this thread..I was beginning to think I watched a different show.
I thought it was a very poor routine by Ali tonight. She was clearly injured, but that is no excuse for the judges giving such generous marks.

Shes living on borrowed time

LOL

Apparently it was, although they didn't apply that same rule to Phil Tuffnel a couple of weeks back.

Her foot did look quite black and blue in the dance off (there's a pic on DS), I just wish she'd channeled that pain into a little more aggression than grimace. But kudos to her for continuing.

Did she have proper heels on the first time and ballet shoes on the second? Can't remember what she wore for the first performance.

Yes proper heels.

I think.

I seem to remember glittering shoes....

Would you bet against her surviving longer than Craig now?

Be honest

Of course she will outstay Craig.

I believe she attacked it a bit better the second time because she was in less pain but dancing in ballet shoes looked a bit awkward for her.

I am going to take a hard line on this one.

I though Ali and Brian's paso was the only dance tonight that was worth the time I spent watching (largely because of the choreography).

There was nothing of interest in any of the other dances.

So you were certain that she was going through tonight? One judge voted against her

There is a strong chance she could be in the dance off against Ricky W next week

If they both don't get in the top 2 then I think that will happen

The routine was a good paso danced to traditional music but there was no attack and drive in the dance or a bit of acting the role from Ali

Me too.

You have a point there. And if a couple of the judges make unnecessarily spiteful remarks about Craig again (like Bruno did last night), they can ensure he stays in the contest despite being the poorest dancer by quite a long way. which means someone decent goes out.

I didn't enjoy it either - I was a little disappointed but as people have said she looked like she was in a lot of pain.