Sounds entirely plausible. Was Matt playing along though or the innocent victim?


*snerk* Personally, I would have howled with laughter

No, it hasn't worked for Cher on the "other side"..she appears to be universally loathed. Stick to the "crying game", it's a safer bet.

^^^^^^ - What she said.
I re-watched the judges comments and didn't think they were any worse than comments made to others in the past. They weren't particularly nasty and made valid comments about his technique and the lack of proper Salsa.
He was shocked and deflated and at one point in the Tessanine I thought he was going to walk out.

I tend to agree with this, and I'm not normally that cynical! I think it was the contrast between his positive attitude in the VT (to give it a kind interpretation) and the entirely negative attitude of the judges that made me wonder how manufactured it all was. Having said that, they could have let Matt in on the ploy - he was, I'm sure, genuinely gutted. He could barely speak up in the Tessanine, so was clearly feeling very emotional about it all.

Again, it might just be clever editing of the VTs, but he resented Alesha's mild criticism last week and has barely been criticised before, so gawd alone knows how he'll react to being shot down in flames by all four of them. And that's unusual in itself - they're not normally in accord like that.

Having said that, watching that dance again, it was a poor salsa, with very basic moves, unnecessary lifts and a lot of faffing around by Aliona to disguise the fact that Matt wasn't doing very much. It deserved criticism, sure, but not such a concerted effort.

Oh, and well done to Matt for putting it to one side and coming out for a storming swing, particularly when he'd hardly had time to get his breath back, let alone compose his emotional state of mind.

Well we all react to things differently. As a viewer I'd be more put off, especially at this stage, by someone who appeared not to react at all.

And I'd be a lot less put off if, like all the other contestants, when they've done badly and been heavily criticized they just nodded in agreement, or got a sense of humour about it, instead of acting like they'd just been told they were going to be taken out back and shot.

That dance wasn't good.

ROFLMAO.

That's more or less what Widdy did, though in more 'parliamentary' language, and she got away with it for quite a long time!

He shrugged and half-smiled at Len's comments....anyway I'm off to get ready to watch the show, TTFN all.

I think he was genuinely surprised and disappointed. However, he danced craply, so he needs to learn to take criticism.

Totally agree with all you say.

Kara is my favourite and I haven't been able to choose between the rest of the "super 4" up to now, for me they all have had weeks of being better than the others. Last night though I thought the judges were unnecessarily unkind and indeed unreasonable in their comments and marks to Matt. It wasn't the best he's been, but if Gavin had come out and danced like that they'd have given him 4 10s!

All true. But that's enough about me after the AT.


Basically, sulking.

Is that a third choice?

I bet I could bring a tear to your eye

You can have as many choices as you like, sulking also sounds plausible as a theory

Mwah! She's bullying me!


On a serious note, he just looked sulky / grumpy - I recognised it as that's exactly the same thing I do when I get in a grump.

think it was genuine - and no big conspiracy ..
I think he was stung by the criticism - I hate the intrusive way they pan in if there might be a tear. Matt looks run down and think he has been working so hard for a good routine and was disapointed - and who cant relate to that.

The difference being that Gavin really dances just like a big pile of dogs faeces

You forgot to add 'and takes the judges' nasty remarks with dignity, and doesn't throw his toys out of the pram or stick his bottom lip out like a spoilt three year old'.

Do you mean Gavin "I don't agree with that, I should've got more than that, I think I done alright" Henson?

Feel the same.

I also think it was genuine - he really tried and Aliona had probably said he was wonderful, then he got out and out attack.

We are all only human.

I don't know how I would react - probably angry, sulky or cry though, as I am ridiculously emotional. So I ain't going to trash Matt for his reaction. He cares and he's a good dancer. I feel he's really uncertain about 'where he is' so he finds it difficult to prepare himself.

If you know you're a bit crap, it's easier. So being a bit downbeat is just sensible for Gavin, no issue.

I think he looked gutted. Disappointed in himself, disappointed in the judges. I don't think he was manipulating voters at all, he wants to do well.

Although it wasn't his finest hour I do think Matt's reaction is understandable. The judges were really negative and didn't say anything good or constructive and although people have had worse comments in the past it was the way they said it with such coldness and almost hatred on Len's part.

I also wanted them to tell Aliona to stop doing awful choreography rather than tell Matt they hated that section on the floor. It's not his fault the routine was rubbish. The song choice was also bad and I agree that his dancing wasn't his best.

However, Scott didn't get half as much negativity when he mucked up his American Smooth and at least that was in his control unlike the terrible choreography Aliona chooses.

Also the audience gave Matt one of the loudest cheers so to go from that to the judges is quite a big change!

I don't think it was calculated at all. I thought it was totally genuine and he was absolutely fuming (his VT tonight seemed to back that up too). He expected praise (like I'm sure most do when heading over to the judges) and got crucified and as a result, he was very angry. I didn't see it as him being upset. I saw it as him being slightly mortified and extremely annoyed. But I didn't think it was fake in any way.

He had just been humiliated by the judges for doing a dance which wasn't even half as terrible as they tried to paint it, was understandably upset and then had to rush off to get changed and catch his breath for the Swingathon. I think the footage of him supposedly storming off was a few seconds shown out of context. I prefer a bit of real emotion to Pamela's blatant insincerity. She is starting to remind me of Lina Lamont in Singin' In the Rain giving her thank-you speech, 'If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'. Bless you all.'

I think he was shagged out to the wire and after 'giving himself over' to Aliona's choreography as quoted on the VT, and following her instructions, as he thought to a T, was knocked back and then kicked in the head and stomach while prostate on the ground. By four people one after the other.

I think he was a little bit upset, yes. His nerves are on edge; it happens sometimes.

The criticism may have been thoroughly justified, but the manner of giving it was strangely relentless.

Perhaps the judges don't like him? Or just his tenseness maybe. Well, all that should have made him a lot less 'tense'.

PS maybe it's the way they are directed - who knows?