Ali and Brian were technically better and they had an element of 'story' to their dance. Chris and Ola were mostly just entertainment, he was a bit clumpy, didn't do the the cross crossy thing with his feet and was out of time a few times. But he did have lots of wow bits, which pleases the audience

Her ten made sense after giving Chris a 9 for a simpler crowd pleasing panto routine. You have to differentiate - or at least a few people on the panel do when Len gives anything a 9 - otherwise they will all be on the same marks. Craig did better by giving Chris an 8 so he could then give Ali a 9. The order was perfectly correct given Ricky was otherwise detained, Nat can't be lifted and Laila had a much simplerbut neater routine with no dynamic lifts.

Ali and Brian were brilliant, and they deserved the high marks.

I thought Chris and Ola were rubbish!

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I agree. the judges seem to forget this isn't just a dance show it's also about entertainment, every other couple tonight entertained me more than Ali and her partener, as they do most weeks

they were both good - if you asked me which one I'd like to see again it would be chris and ola's

Ali's footwork is very poor, she doesn't do well out of hold and she flings her arms about to detract from the fact that she's not actually doing any steps.

Blatant favouritism from the judges. I thought Ali's Charleston routine was mediocre, both Chris (and even Laila) were far better. I take my hat off to Brian, it was a clever attempt to hide any inadequacies caused by the injury, but it couldn't disguise the lack of content.
Why no comments about the flat-footedness of Ali's routine, or the lack of any bounce ? This had been mentioned during the week, but seemed to have be conveniently forgotten when judging the actual dance tonight.
It seems Ali can do no wrong with the judges, still the voting public will have the final say in a few weeks.

Agreed

[quote=Jak14;36966363]
I don't think the judges need to mark on entertainment value though - that's what the public voting is for.

I just felt Laila and Anton's dance was better performed - Ali looked awkward at times, especially coming out of the lift and the move where she went over Brian's arm.

Cola were fantastic. Couldn't top it.

I can't decide who did it best, they were all good.

You must have been watching a different programme to everyone else then

Loved Chris`s Charleston...I thought it was better than Ali`s....but in my humble opinion I thought Laila topped them both....She was so smooth and elegant but the dance still had that Charleston vibe about it....I`am not Anton`s greatest fan but he excelled himself tonight......Anyway the the right person went tonight.....I know we`v moaned alot about Strictly this year but all things considered the final 4 is quite a decent line up.

Ali and Brian and Laila and Anton were technically better.

Chris and Ola went for the entertainment vote, so if that's what you think of as entertainment then you would have liked theirs best.

Ali's Charleston appeared to have more in the way of technical content and the steps we were shown on ITT, and she sold the dance for me, for the first time. That said, Team Cola's was very entertaining, just perhaps a little light on Charleston steps.

I finally 'got' Chris and Ola - that Charleston should have topped the leader board.

I couldn't see myself voting after Jade left the competition through injury, but that dance put such a smile on my face, my fingers just kept on walking until I dialled their phone number.

Also loved Laila and Anton tonight.

I don't have a clue about the technicalities but Len did mention that he would have liked to have seen more steps in Chris's dance. Perhaps that's why Ali got a better score.

The 10 was ridiculous though.

I loved Anton and Leila's and Chris and Ola's dance much more than Ali and Brian, I find Ali insipid and they never say thank you to the public as they are voted through when all the others immediately say thank you to the camera.

Obviously Ali is the chosen one.

I appreciate good dancing. Chris really is not a very competent dancer.

I agree too. I thought they were really bad and expected the judges to flame them. I preferred both Chris and Ola and Laila and Anton. She just looked very awkward and ungainly in the dance. In fact, if i included Ricky and Natalie's R&R in the dance off, they were 4th for me. Considering the injury she did brilliantly but way overmarked tonight.

I thought Chris nailed the performance side of things much better than Ali. I really got into his and Ola's dance.

But I expect her technique was better hence the higher marks.

I'm no expert though.

To be fair, although I loved Chris & Ola's Charlston, Ali danced better and that's what the judges go on. I enjoyed all three Charlestons this evening but think they were in the right order and much better than the RNR. Ricky & Natalie upped their game in the DO though.

Nope, I thought Laila and Anton and Ali and Brian were better and I enjoyed them more.

Have to say I agree. I thought it was a clever routine with Brian doing a lot of the work but Ali's footwork was very flat. And that left elbow in the VW - it defies belief that the judges always ignore it.

This, absolutely.