I just loved Kara's dancing, and her partnership with Artem. These photos and her costumes remind me of what a great final it was.

Thought it was worth highlighting at this point in the evening.

http://balletnews.co.uk/strictly-new...ions-for-2010/

It wasn't a great final. Kara was out of it on painkillers, her rumba wasn't as good as the week before, her showdance fell flat, she got a 7 from Len... Matt and Pamela weren't much better, although Pamela had the best showdance. Alesha was the only judge who rose to the occasion; the rest just nitpicked as if it was week one.

Great series and the right person won, but an underwhelming final. From what we've seen so far, this year is an improvement.

This years final is MUCH better... more of a cliffhanger.....

There was an underlying nastiness to last year - Matt Baker was the but of the judges comments.

Kara was a worthy winner but the final disappointed

So far better. The showdances last year were all shocking.

Completely agree. This year is much more exciting and too close to call.

Agreed.

I think four dances is just too much pressure so we get four average dances rather than 2 or 3 great ones.

Last year's final was a bit rubbish to be honest, Kara was sensational throughout the series but she wasn't so good in the finale, Chelsee is the same, so I hope she goes the same way

So interesting to see how different we all are ! I thought last night's final was pretty dull. The dancing was pretty good in places but I didn't warm to any of them

there were many more WTF?? moments in last year's final

I always find the final disappointing, total anti climax - far too many dances

I would rather they did fewer dances properly than four dances half-arsed

Yes, they were equally bad.

In terms of Harry and Kara as winners, I was more of a general fan of Kara throughout the series but agree that she didn't shine in the final - I still wanted her to win. I've never been a fan of Harry but all of his four dances were exceptional and I can understand how that would have got him lots of votes for those not voting based on because "he's fit". For me it was the case of the best dancer on the night winning which as I said isn't normally how I would base my vote on.

I didn't think either final lived up to the hype. I think 2 new dances to learn and 2 to freshen up is too much for the final, especially given all the press interviews the celebs are expected to do. There is not enough time to polish them so we end up with four average dances. I'd rather they kept it simple and went for favourite ballroom and latin dance, showdance (I've gone right off them as they never live up to the hype but I expect they are here to stay) and maybe a group dance (I think I vaguely remember Matt Di Angelo and Alesha VW'ing against each other in their final.) There would be less pressure on the celebs and we'd get to see higher quality dances.
I used to love the finals. I remember when Darren, Mark and Alesha won it was a fantastic evening but, for me personally, they are just a bit of a let down these days.

I loved last year's series and particularly Kara but I thought this year's was something extra special.

Last night was entertaining in that it was too close to call but, for me, it did not have the magic of last year. Kara was the most beautiful dancer and her developing relationship with Artem added to the drama creating real chemistry and dance magic. Despite sustaining an injury and an underwhelming showdance, Kara shone and was the deserved winner. You must remember going into the final Matt was the favourite so her victory was not a certainty. The best dancer does not always win - Chris Hollins!

I wouldn't say last night was dull. Harry's Quickstep and AT were fanastic. Chelsee was very nervous but her jive and rumba were great. Even Mr Ernest surprised me with a great showdance, the best of the three and Kristina deserves full credit for all her wonderful choreography

Aliona took on board alot from last year in terms of her choreo and she too deserves full praise for turning Harry into a great dancer. She deserved her victory

Chelsee was a revelation. Pasha is a very welcome addition to the show. His chore was a bit ambitious for her in the end although I put that down to Chelsee's nerves and a few wadrobe malfunctions.

It was the right result, the best dancer won but for me this was not the 'best final ever'.

In the end I felt this final was much closer than last year's - especially after the first two dances, as Jason's & Kristina's show dance blew me away (much better than the other two) and it made me feel for the first time that he could win it. As the three couples stood waiting for the first elimination, I genuinely felt it could go any way and that was very exciting.

Better final this year, Showdances much better than last year's debacles.

Totally agree with BIB; even when I have very low expectations...

Spot on! I'd take quality over quantity anytime. The celebs simply don't have the time to perfect 2 new dances and polish 2 old ones whilst doing multiple interviews and, this year, travelling to Blackpool.

I thought it was a much better final than last year, which was dull. Kara was a lovely dancer an' all, but the final was horribly boring.

I wish they'd go back to having the showdance last. And I wish they'd stop eliminating someone halfway through. Let's just have a big bonanza and vote for a winner. All three finalists (whoever they are) should be able to dance all their dances. No need for a third place.

Totally agree.

Ah, I think I understand now. I enjoyed last night's show very much indeed, but I wasn't in the least emotionally involved and didn't even vote, as I really didn't mind who won. Such a contrast to last year! Then I was a nervous wreck, desperately voting while trying to watch, worried sick about Kara's injury, texting a fellow Kartemite who couldn't watch the show - it was all a bit of a nightmare, but nobody could have called it dull!


Again, it depends on emotional involvement, I guess. I didn't find last night's show dull, I hasten to add - it's just that I could have happily waited and watched it on i-player because it wasn't that important. But it was very enjoyable and the standard of dancing was excellent.


Applause. Totally agree. Even though I was no fan of Pamela and James, I wanted to see their AT (although I saw it on tour). Ditto, I would have liked to have seen Jason & Kristina's salsa and, most of all, their lovely quickstep. Such a shame that they learn the dance, train hard, get dressed up (sort of, in Kristana's case!) and then get sent home. Bizarre.

All I remember about last year'sshowdance was a lot of doing backflips and somersaults off blocks and tables and backflips on the floor.

Thought this year's final was over hyped, not much between any of them, although enjoyed it as I simply adore SCD as a show.

Kara and Artem of last year were and still are my absolute favourite of all time. I dont think anyone will come up to their beautiful patnership and dancing (even though the final show dance was not so good ) they were still magic

Artem choreographed it beautifully but I just didn't enjoy watching her dance. She was too soft for me. And Aliona picked, as usual, entirely the wrong dances/choreography for Matt so I didn't even enjoy watching him as much as usual.

I never enjoy the finals very much, actually. Thinking back...