Last year I used to hang out on the forums in the other place, but found the surfeit of angry people throwing around insults like confetti regarding anyone but their favourite a bit tiresome. Ditto people shouting 'Conspiracy!' with such frequency and passion that I wouldn't be surprised if the NHS reported a surge in hernia cases in early January. So this year I thought I'd come over here... only to find more of the same.

Yes, it's been a lacklustre series overall. Yes there have been myriad problems. But let's just take a breather and focus on the positive. Even if you are a die-hard supporter of X, try to find a positive about Y or Z. None of these people are evil. None of them have eaten kittens for breakfast, stolen your Granny's pension book or single handedly caused global conflict. Let's cut them some slack.

Here are a few things to kick off with:[LIST][*]I loved all the Charlestons and re-watching any of them brings a smile to my face.[*]It's nice to see a male celeb lead as well as Ricky does. He's done incredibly well to put in so many hours at his day job alongside.[*]Team Cola have never failed to make me smile on or off the dance floor. He seems like a true gentleman.[*]Ali is graceful and has beautiful arms; it's nice to see someone finish their moves as well as she does.[*]Claud has been great as ever[*]It's nice for the pros that none of those who remain have ever got this far before.[*]We may yet get to see Jade's tango[*]I'm pleased that James has had a chance to do some stuff on ITT and that some of the nastiness towards him has abated[*]There have been some excellent pro dances this year[*]Apart from some highly notable exceptions (Jade's samba dress, Erin's Tango dress) the costumes have been pretty good this year.[/LIST]
What do you think? If you see something here you disagree with, then please take your response elsewhere and post it on a different thread, or even start a brand new one, cos there aren't that many negative ones around. Be aware that nerves seem sufficiently frayed that even constructive criticism can sound overly harsh without the benefit of tone of voice, so maybe it's best to stick to affirmation.

I'm going to go away now and do some Real World stuff for a few hours. When I return I'd love to see people playing nicely. Don't let me down.

aha - i love this post

Yay, positivity!

This series hasn't lived up to series 5 (the first one I watched properly and loved) for me but I've still really enjoyed it and will definitely miss it after Christmas! I'm away the next two weekends and am sneakily planning how I can convince the people I'm staying with to watch the main Saturday show at least, because it's just not the same watching it late on my laptop.

Things I've loved:
- The Charlestons, which were glorious fun and all the better for being unexpected so far as I was concerned. I wasn't expecting to like the dance much, and then all three were just wonderful.
- The grace and charm that Ali has brought to her ballroom dances and the steady gorwth of her confidence and joy in the Latin as well- her samba was performed far better for me than her salsa or jive.
- The skill and strength that Ricky has brought to all his dances. His quickstep is one of the highlights of the series for me and his cha cha cha the one I've liked best since Matt in series 5 in terms of male celebs.
- The joy and laughter of Chris and Ola's partnership. The series wouldn't have been the same without them and while he may lack the elegance of the top two couples, his skill and confidence is improving all the time.
- Jade's growth as a performer and the strong possibility that we may still get to see her tango in the final. *fingers crossed*
- All of the celebrities and pros actually- I've just realised this list is going to go on and on if I list what I liked about each couple, because I can't think of a single person I've disliked or who stayed too much longer than they should have in terms of dance ability. And yes, I do include Craig in that.
- The pro dances. The quickstep that Natalie choreographed, last week cha cha cha, the jive, the ones "with a twist" (especially that one just by Matt and Aliona)... all of them have been fab.
- The new professionals who ahve proven themselves to be more than capable of adding to the history of SCD and of belonging to the SCD family. Unlike in some previous years, I think all the new pros suit their new partners and I love watching them.

I'm sure there's more but I have a feeling this post is getting quite long (!) so I'll stop. Despite occasional problems and muck-ups, I do love Strictly as a programme. Oh, and ITT has been great this series as well- much better than last year! Strictly is the only series I look forward to each year and follow religiously. At its best, it's just such an amazingly happy and upbeat show.

Great post.

I can't believe how seriously some people take all this, its a Saturday night light entertainment.

Loved it all, but what I really will miss is ITT every night.

Who do you reckon is going to win the dance machine challenge?

I'm afraid I can't agree...

Jade's samba dress was amazing.

I can live with that disagreement. At least we won't be bidding against each other for it!

Great post.

It's unfortunate that threads like these are in the minority - but the same thing happens every year! It saddens me to see so many people sniping at the celebs (or one in particular at the moment) and each other.

But I shall see if I can't find some positivity in all of this.

* Ali and Brian - She has been so naturally talented and graceful and some of her dresses have been gorgeous (the Blackpool one made her look like Snow White! I adored it!)
* Ricky and Natalie - He's really sweet and is a gifted dancer. And he takes everything in such good spirit (maybe those elsewhere on this forum could learn by his example?).
* Chris and Ola - they have brightened the show since day one. He was a revelation that week and I always look forward to seeing them.
* Jade and Ian - She was wonderful and they came across so well on ITT. I definitely hope we can see their dance in two weeks time!
Natalie and Vincent - She obviously adored the show and was chuffed to bits to be on it! Her enthusiasm was infectious and they were sweet together.
* All of the other celebs, to be honest. They have all done so well and had so much to offer individually in many different ways
* Loved Claud in Tess's shoes when Brucie was off sick. She was wonderful (but then, big soft spot for Claud anyway. She makes me weep with laughter sometimes).
* ITT - it wouldn't be the same without Claud!
* SCD itself - It's my autumn/winter schedule treat. I shall miss it once it's gone again!

Hope that suffices!

I can't believe they didn'tlet Lillia have another go, there must have been something wrong with the machine. Its an outrage, I'm phoning Ofcom. Its all a big fix though, in order to improve James' profile with the public.

Well I wouldn't want to wear it - I'd barely be able to get it on, and if I did I'd end up looking like a seagull trapped in the plastic-rings from a six-pack of beer.

Brilliant!

Ok, really must go now. But thank you to those who have joined me so far.

What a fabulous thread

Seriously, would you really wear any of the dresses in real life? Sadly I don't get much call for sequins, tail feathers and fringing.

Not to mention that I would probably need about 3 of Ola's dresses sewn together to get them to fit me!

Good idea.

I've enjoyed the cosiness of it all. I like the fact that Bruce isn't word-perfect and slick. It's comfortable, old-fashioned entertainment.

Love the dance machine challenge, Lilia's outrage at her zero had me in tears I was laughing so hard.

Laila's AS dress was gorgeous.

Loved Jade & Ian, sorry to see them leave.

The pro dances, especially Flavia and Vincent's AT (even with the lifts!) have been great.

ITT which I have enjoyed as much as the main show, Tess & Claudia's hosting when Bruce was ill.

I must admit, to me that is more interesting than who will win SCD this year.

And yes, I agree with the OP.

I used to think these kinds of threads were silly, but I need them this year, so well done Ginger. I wouldn't argue with you about anything in the original post, except I actually missed Brucie when he out sick! I quite scared myself there. And I also liked Jade's samba dress! Ha! Hoist on your own negative exceptions petard!

The only other thing I would add is:

o/ Ricky and Natalie, they're easy on the eye...o/

I sing it everytime I see them, and that makes me really happy! 10 points to anyone who knows why!

Oh come on where do I start....

Bruce should be in a home, and someone needs to shoot Tess's dress maker.

Kristina will sleep with anything...probably had a go at John last year...

Len is obviously taking medication, and Craig is secretly in love with him.

Someone buy that dixon bird a gag...god has she got an awful cackle!

Bruno has slept with all the (male) professional dancers.

Matt is so camp, a tent falls out of his blouse each time he dances

Don't even get me started on that Natalie Lowe thing.

....I like Erin!

Only joking everyone, wouldn't miss it for the world!!!

Thank goodness, a nice thread for a change.

As with the OP I used to go on the 'other' forum last year but it got too nasty. It seems this forum is going the same way

Let's enjoy the 3 remaining couples even if they aren't our favourites.

A nice thread great idea because i stay well away from the conspiracy/irate threads!

The positives for me:
The Dresses- There have been some gorgeous ones (Ola's Waltz dress on saturday being the most recent example)
The Pro dances- always look forward to seeing them
The Semi Finalists- I genuinely like all of them, which doesn't normally happen.
ITT- great show
Charleston- They have to bring it back next year.
Doing Ballroom and Latin on first week- Great Idea, and much better than Boy/Girl divide.

This is such a refreshing thread. I love it

I will miss SCD when January comes, and look forward to the next series

Nobody's mentioned that Darcey is a bit of alright yet! I'd watch just for the posh totty thing.
I don't vote so I can't get upset.

Darcey is indeed a fine example of "Posh Totty". I could listen to her cultured speaking tones all night. It's a refreshing change to hear the Mother Tongue spoken proper, like, after the abuse it gets from Len and Alesha.

Do the guys' outfits get auctioned off? I'd pay good money for Anton's pink Salsa shirt...