Loving the show so far... but I'm puzzled by how underwhelmed the judges seem with Kara. I thought her Quickstep was dazzling and risk-taking (cartwheel in heels, dahling!), yet she only got 31. Again, I thought she threw herself into the Charleston without any show of nerves, had fantastic ankle-swivels, quirkiness and character throughout, and again received quiet commendation from the judges. I just don't get why Scott the Automaton gets so much praise, while Kara fizzes and crackles yet is criticised for not having enough 'wow'. Can anyone enlighten me please?

Totally agree I just woke up when she came on lol, and thought she was a PROFESSIONAL dancer for a minute. I thought she did a great job.....I dont get it either.

I think it's on the one hand unfair and the other hand really good for her. It's a shame that she doesn't get the praise she deserves for her great performances but on the other hand, it means that the public might get behind her and help her on to the final, if not to the glitterball. With no dance off this year, the public hold the power in every way and I would much rather she gets lower scores than she deserves if it means that there's no 'teacher's pet' label backlash and the public actually get behind her

They are being overly critical of her because she is good enough to be better than she has been, if that makes sense?

Giving top marks to a young, good-looking female is a sentence to elimination (the "teacher's pet" effect). Regardless of why they're not giving her the marks she deserves (compared to the others), it probably benefits her. (See: all the people on this forum now championing Kara because they think she's underappreciated. Soon there will be conspiracies about how "the producers are biased" and trying to get her eliminated for some mysterious non-reason.)

Kara is by far the best female dancer, but imo she doesn't really show the exhuberance required of a WOW performance.

Dancing - superb. Performance skills - bland.

Not so much underrated at the minute imo as very slightly underperforming (and I mean performing not dancing - her dancing is excellent). She's potentially fantastic, better than Ali from last year for example imo because her Latin seems much more solid, but she's just not quite connecting yet. Not a handicap thus far because I think her scores will ensure she's out of danger for a while yet and give her time to find that little extra spark that will transform her from being an extremely good celeb into being a special one.

She's naturally talented, has a wonderful body for dance and is incredibly pretty - but she lacks depth of emotion when she performs.

It may seem a weird thing to say, but if you watch a technically perfect couple dance with almost blank expressions on their faces and put them next to a pair who may not be flawless but have life, energy and emotion in every move and gesture, the difference will amaze you.

That's what is missing. The judges can see how good a she is, they're probably wondering where 'wow amazing' has got to.

I think the problem with being gorgeous is that you get so used to being gorgeous you don't have to try too hard - because the world loves gorgeous - whether it comes with guts or not!

Hope this makes sense

She's definitely much better than Ali who was very over-rated. Kara also has tons more wow factor than Ali EVER had.

Agreed. Ali used to send me to sleep... Kara has more natural talent.

Kara's time to shine will come. It just takes one spectacular performance where everything clicks.

Something tells me it's just around the corner.

I also believe she and Artem have taken a bit longer to gel compared to some of the others and this has affected the performance side of their dances.

Thank goodness for that!! I thought everyone loved Ali and I would get mauled. Ali seemed a nice girl but she was to quote a Craigism - D U L L.

I agree and when it does happen you just know that a lot of the people who are championing her now and claiming she's being underrated will suddenly complain she's the judges' pet. Twas ever thus - build em up to knock em down .

I think you just may be right. It may happen after she stops playing about with him (which she is certainly doing) and treats him like the grown man he is.

A bit spoilt that girl, but not bad at heart!

She has enough ability to make difficult look easy, but to look that polished and technically clean, I can imagine Artem has been really drilling her. She's a natural dancer, but loads of work has been going on in those training rooms to come out with the technique and some of the sequences she has shown in routines so far!! (Methinks the giggling VTs are a bit misleading!) Unfortunately people will just assume it all happens easily for her and so her dancing and improvement will be underrated - as happened with the judges last night.

She can improve in her performance - Kristina Rihanoff wrote about her being very shy in real life in her blog last week - and I'm looking forward to it all clicking. To be fair though, she's doing difficult routines so it's probably hard for her to click on both sides simultaneously so soon when doing it all live. I think it will come and I thought she did a great job selling the QS last week.

I also get the sense that Kara is tired and was not prepared for all the work that it takes to learn a dance in 5 days. I think Artem is trying to drill that into her. Strictly is a marathon and there is no let-up. Both the celebs and pros really don't have much of a life beyond SCD while they are in it.

Hopefully she will see that she has to go all out for the duration of the competition so she can stay in. It is worth all the work.

I agree with Sid - she will have her time to shine where technique and performance will live in the same ballroom.

I think that she is great and is clearly accomplished at a very early stage - without all of the over the top gimmics used by others with talent (step fprward matt baker - who is good but overdoing every move!)

The judges, as usual are contradicting themselves with the comments that they give, which makes it seem unfair in some cases. What is different in Karas case seems to be that she does not take it too hard and let it knock her confidence (yet) but I think that she is better than the other women (Pamela included) and yet to hear her comments you would think that she is hugely failing somehow.

She & Artem are my favourites so far this year.

Personally I think she is a beautiful classy girl who dances beautifully but hasnt quite settled into it yet........Like Sid (hi Sid) I think she and Artem have not bonded very quickly it might be because of the whol shomance crap that keeps being dumped on them which is making her feel uncomfortable and I wouldnt blame her. She looked stunning in her Charleston outfit and danced really well......I thought theirs was the only proper Charleston last night.......Artem obviously didnt pick up that to get more marks Kara would have to do it hanging from a trapeeze.

Excellent - my thoughts exactly!!

Haha!! Upside down, whilst juggling.

I think they do genuinely fancy each other and that may have made it all a bit more difficult and awkward when dancing together on the show. Especially when it came to the live shows after lots of press articles. I hope the show backs off a bit about the whole thing and Tess doesn't keep on making stupid comments.

Unfortunately I dont think there is ANY chance which is a shame I cant stand all that showmance rubbish.

Yes to this. It seems to make them both uncomfortable and it can appear they are not connecting. If they were too affectionate the media would be all over it. It has to be awkward and downright annoying.

I do see chemistry with them but it is understated which I rather like.

I agree, I don't get it either. She looks like a pro in my opinion!

I must be the only one but I don't get the praise for Pam. She looked both frightened and scary in that tango and her shoulders were too high.

She is a well good dancer, but does not have the wow factor as of yet.

[quote=Socha;45082328]I agree, I don't get it either. She looks like a pro in my opinion!

I must be the only one but I don't get the praise for Pam. She looked both frightened and scary in that tango and her shoulders were too high.[/QUOT
I dont get the praise for Pam either,she is good but Kara is miles better.