Originally Posted by belgiumvote:
“This dance competition will of course evolve, and lots of celebs will learn a lot as the show moves along but I'm afraid Natalie and Artem stand out like the EiffelTower would if it were set in the French countryside. That rumba was absolutely stunning! The choreo breathtaking and the dancing perfect. I am looking very much forward to that couple's Foxtrot, Quickstep and AS (needless to say they are my favourite dances). I don't like Rumba, except for the famous pink/white one and this one. Yes, life is good.
Alley/Alyaz - she looked a bit slow, not quirky enough, but she looked gorgeous, loved the hairdo/make up and the dress, I like this parnership
Susanne/Kevin - good waltz, I seem to have a maternal sweet spot for Kevinfromgrimsby and Susanne really enjoys dancing
Ashley/Ola - he's good, I quite enjoy watching him dance, but I'm not always fond of Ola's choreo
I'm happy that Ben received good remarks, you can tell he's a competitor and wants to do good, which is a trait I can appreciate. OH is totally in awe with Kristina's 'persona' and I can't blame him for that
”
Endorse all of the above...
Originally Posted by
Noone:
“Lor, it's taken me all day to catch up.
Here be my thoughts.
A new addition to Strictly viewing, I mute Tess now too…the way she treated Alijaz like a performing monkey, ack! 
I think Bruno is making really sound comments this series…after he's finished with the innuendos, that is.
Abbey - A wee bit samey throughout I thought and really lacked energy in the second half. I'm getting less interested in her.
Patrick - once again I'm struggling to see what the judges see. I thought this was clunky and sluggish, almost as if he was walking through the while thing.
Dave - Blimes…what can you say. Totally barmy, nuts, My-Little-Pony leaping, weirdly adorable Muppet-like and …blimes.
Rachel - thought she looked fabulous. A bit awkard and gawky. Not a natural. A bit vacant (I'm guessing botox)
Mark - I love Iveta, she's so clever. Not a wow performance, just a bit of pedestrian.
Ben - strongly sexy. Still a bit athletic but such an improvement. His best performance. Kristina was mightily bodacious and loved the way he carried her at the end as if she was light as a feather.
Sophie - Very nice but not that Latin and a bit too languid. Could the music have been a bit faster?
Susannah - Love Kevin. Thought Craig was spot on but I do enjoy watching her. She could let go a bit more.
Vanessa - oh dear. Stompy.
Ashley - I thought the music was far too slow, perhaps didn't help him. I never really feel embarassed when he dances and that's a huge plus.
Natalie - Very lovely but I wasn't emotionally involved. I'm going to say that I bliddy hate BOTOX and wish to G** that everyone on telly would stop using it because there is such a vacancy of expression and having a frozen forehead sort of doesn't work well in the 'performing' arts.
Deborah - Got to agree with the judges that her love of dancing is very appealing. I'm liking her a lot.”
Agree with all of the above save the BIB
Originally Posted by
fridgesoup:
“Abbey - time wasting on the wall with Abbey legs akimbo trying to hide her knickers wasn't a great start. Loved the dress, hated the socks which just drew attention to her feet being less than flicky. Still think she's going to do well.
Patrick - should have been wonderful with that music, but he so ...tentative?...anyway, I don't believe he's leading (or faking it very well) and his bum sticks out.
Dave - Oh, Dave! 
A pony jumping paso!! Awful. Loved it!
Fiona - nice lady, quite nicely danced. Um, a tad boring??
Rachel - looks lovely, but I watch her though my fingers thinking something awful is going to happen. I don't know, is she even that bothered about it all? Maybe she's just uncomfortable with the whole experience...
Mark - I think he has quite nice timing and musicality and Iveta makes the most of what he can do. He's growing on me.
Ben - he's not great but I love that he made a big improvement (thank goodness) and Kristina choreographed a nice rumba (tho I could have done without the undressing)
Sophie - lots of content and some (to my eyes) good technique on show, but I wished she could have found some abandon. Oddly 'contained'.
Julien - begrudgingly I'd have to say he made an improvement - at least in his performance if not massively in technique. It was quite fun...
Susanna - I like her and TwoMinuteKFG, but although this was pleasant to watch, it didn't have any wow factor and her frame looked wrong. I thought it should have got 7s and 8s, not 8s and 9s.
Vanessa - dire and I wish she would just shut up at the judging (although it was nice for aperçu to get an outing on a Saturday night shiney floor show
Ashley - I'm afraid I do find his dancing a bit cringey, noonster. He's all floppy and mincey, but I can see he has timing and musicality, so there's hope. The side by side bits were good. Wish Ola hadn't put in a floor spin
Natalie - I thought it was exquisite in every way 
(Wren, you were right, she did get her heel caught, but she just dealt with it 
)). Bruce saying how nice it was to see her being pleasant made me cringe 
. Artem's having a great time
Deborah - Robin's campy solo at the beginning was so inexplicable and incongruous for a QS I laughed out loud. Really nice dance and great dress on her, but her frame was poor. She's growing on me .”
Yep, agree with all of the above except BIB.
If you look at the foreheads of a lot of the women on Strictly they are totally frozen and you'll notice that they don't move their eyebrows at all (sometimes botox seems to lower the brow too). It's something you don't notice in general but just get the feeling of a certain blankness or lack of emotion - I found Bobby a difficult Pro to relate to until I realised his face is almost frozen from expression. 