Against my expectations, these were my surprises:

-I really liked Colin - didn't know him at all and expected to be underwhelmed
-Lisa's dancing ability
-Thought I'd love Jerry & Anton, but didn't like them together at all
-Expected Victoria to be a natural (thought/still think of her as potential winner) and have nerves of steel!
-Didn't expect to like Darcy but thought she was great

What were yours?

Good:

- Sid's beautiful waltz. Best actual performance of the night for me - Lisa had it a lot easier in 'selling' the CCC so I'm prepared to give Sid the vote here.

- Louis looking far better than the rehearsal footage indicated. I was worried that he wasn't going to be able to cope with the steps, but there's room to build there, definitely. Go Team Flouis

- The lack of an obvious 'comedy candidate'. Everyone tried their hearts out and produced credible routines, if varied in amount of content and clarity of execution.

Bad:

- Darcey, yah? You'd think someone would have put her through a bit of a crash course in 'giving a concise judgement'. Constructive comments wrapped up in a lot of windbaggery and irritating verbal tics.

- Nicky and Karen. I was prepared to be entirely open-minded despite not being either a Westlife or a SYTYCD fan, but God, that was horrible to watch.

- Bruce on Saturday's live show had several near car-crash moments that I'm sure weren't scripted.

hi everyone new poster joined to post about strictly and xfactor

i loved how great lisa was i know shes a big girl and i wasnt expecting her to be so light on her feet and she had great dancing skills i liked her not because shes fat but inspite of her being big she danced better than a lot of them

i think jerry hall was rubbish she just sort of stroud about like she was still in the 70s or something

i liked sid and dani as well and denise and louis i didnt like victoria and i didnt like the cricket bloke either but richard was quite good wasnt expecting that.

oh and darcys yah was really really annoying by the end

I agree with all of the above comments...and to add

good

-enjoyed the more realistic marking on Friday
- Darcey had good advice to give, a joy to have someone as a judge who knows about dancing
- all the celebs taking it seriously, like the "tone"
- *fingers crossed* we actually get training videos and not silly VT's
- Craig in a good mood on Saturday, a bit more constructive than destructive
bad
- thought Saturday's marking was more generous
- timing of Friday show
- Tess' dresses, thumbs up Friday, thumbs down Saturday

undecided

- cant make my mind up about the music choices? I'd have liked a few more recent "pop" songs in the mix. What does everyone else think?

Good

There were a lot of good Latin dances - Louis, Kimberley, Lisa and Fern's wasn't bad which for the first week is very encouraging. They're usually horrific at this point.

Darcey. When she loses the yahs and oks, she'll be great. She had lots of constructive advice, rather than "you woz triffic"

Lots of dancers with potential

Bad

The waltzes were all a bit dull/insipid. Usually there is a standout waltz, but, for me, this time, they were just competent.

Karen and Nicky
She's the pro and I read she didn't do any heel leads, what hope does Nicky have?

Anton
He didn't even bother to teach Jerry any Latin. I'm also not that overjoyed with Jerry's whole "I'm fabulous, but lazy" attitude. If you're too lazy to learn, I'm too lazy to care.

Bruce! Sigh!

welcome Michelle

i forgive you the BIB as Michael is my new crush

lol thank you



i also didnt like either of tess's dresses sats was awful

Yes welcom Michelle

A few here I'd overlooked - Lorelei Lee Sid & Ola ...surprised me too, in a good way.

Bruces bad jokes/car crash moments though - were you really surprised by those?!

And Mrs F yes the VT's were definitely a pleasant surprise, but we need to reserve judgement on that one in case it was just a first-week thing (fingers crossed!!)

thanks yes i thought sid was very elegant

Practically everything!

Is that right about the heel leads, Alli?

That's a bit bleak. I do like her Latin dancing, but what's she doing on the show if she can't teach the ballroom stuff?

I wish I could remember who said it, it was probably someone in the in unappreciation thread. I don't know what I'm looking for, so I can't help, but someone definitely said it.

The bad jokes, no - the moments where it genuinely looked like he was falling over the script in such a way that the show was going to grind to a halt, yes, a bit

I think for me this year good surprises outweighed the bad surprises/things. I really enjoyed the show.

Good

1. Judges reasonable marking.
2. I was hoping for Sid and Ola to do well although i didn't have much expectation,so happy to see them doing well.
3. Lisa and Robin,again so happy for them,Robin was chuffed to bits.
4. Kimberly and Pasha,I did expect for them to give a good performance and they did,not much of a surprise,but nevertheless happy for them.
5. Darcey,i really liked her. I don't mind her "yahs". I don't think it is a big deal as some others make out.
6. Saturday show good time management,chances to hear all judges feedback.
7. I did laugh at some of the Brucie's jokes.
8. ETA: Never liked Tess's dresses,but on saturday even as a straight girl,couldn't resist my eyes off her boobs. I think it is a good enough thing to add to this list.

Bad

1. Rushing off friday's show,couldn't listen to all judges.
2. Craig is my favorite judge,but didn't like his nasty comment to Johnny.
3. Karen,had lots of hopes for her,but she disappointed me in all the ways.
4. Richard,i don't know what it is,but i don't like the way he behaves with Erin,but he did give a good performance though.

Good.


Sir Bruce overcoming his first night nerves.

Lisa's energy.

Colin's charisma.

Kimberley's performance and booty.

Jerry's star quality.

Victoria's brave loyalty.



Bad.


The joker who put Victoria in stilt high heels and over complicated her first dance routine.

Good
Training VT's
Lisa and Robin


Bad
Karen and Nicky - I expected more
The awful cheesy beginning to the pro dance - WTF??

Good -

Lots of interesting characters and lots of potential amongst the couples
Cuddly Artem
Sid not being spatulistic


Bad -

Sir Bruce
Tess
Bruno's histrionics are already wearing thin and seemed particularly forced.

Good
Sid and Ola. Really surprised me, what a great job Ola has done already.
Lisa and Robin. What fun
Bruce and Tess. Wouldn't be the same without them.

Bad
Louis and Flavia. Just would have preferred Ola or Aliona to partner Louis.
Criticism of Karen. Give her a chance.

lisa and robin were the highlight of the show for me

Good

Michael & Natalie
Lisa & Robin

Bad.
Brucie

Thought Victoria would be a lot better, don't know what's gone wrong there.

Good

Craig's transformation from Friday night misery to Saturday night funster. On Friday I was left with a terrible sinking feeling that the new producers had instructed him to play some pantomime 'Mr Mean' from the get-go. But apparently not - he was just in a grump!

Darcey (all yahs aside) being warm and supportive with the contestants.

No comedy contestant. No infantile VTs (Jason Donovan as a Mexican in a Tesco Express anyone?)

Lisa Riley for making me say out loud "You go, girl!"

Not So Good

A bit disappointed at the moment with Karen and the all-too-apparent artifice of the lift in the waltz set up to create a flicker of controversy.

Brucie's laboured jokes and struggles with the autocue. Even though I still sort of adore him.

Good: Lisa's verve in doing a proper dance routine.

Training VT's. Yes!

Sid and Ola, like Natalie she does such a good job with her celebs.

Natalie, this might be the series I really take to her.

Darcey yah, she's tremendous yah.

No props...yet.

Bad: Bruce can still adlib but scriptwise it's time to go.

Tess used to have long Hollywood style dresses that were fabulous, I have no explanation for those two ghastly creations. Will the edgy Tess please cover her knees and dress like she used to.

NewproKaren didn't do it for me. In any way. So disappointed.

I missed Ourleona (can't believe it) but Iveta seems lovely so at least that's not an unmitigated disaster.
Denise and James. Sigh.

Anton I'm afraid seems more and more like a spare part in the show now.

I think it was Flugella and her dance teacher.

Good
The main one for me was Lisa I was expecting her to be the comedy for this series but I was really surprised
Training VT's
Natalie and Robin just because I thought they partners would be comedy but they didn't turn out too bad

Bad:
Victoria thought she would be better
Karen (new pro)
Denise I thought she would do better as well
James I'm finding myself growing off him (and this surprises me because I usually like James)