Where's the fun in that?

I know, but what can you do? Just ignore it as best you can.

What annoys me is the defensiveness. If you're perceived as being a fan of someone, any comment made about someone else is immediately written off as jealousy or a direct attack for no good reason. That annoys me far more than the bashing of each others' rivals.

I like both. When the celebrities were first announced, it was Sophie's name that stood out to me simply because I like her style. I felt if she was any good at dancing, she'd probably be the one I'd end up rooting for.

But then I'd never heard of Natalie before, now I have, and I like her style too. She's in a pairing with my favourite (male) pro, she looks fabulous (but then so does Sophie) she's clearly very talented and I think she will be "exciting" further down the line. If Sophie were to ace her samba tomorrow she'll confirm she's a contender, but lose some of that "can she? can't she?" anticipatory excitement herself and be in a similar boat to Natalie.

Those who are vehement in their "Sophie won't be able to do that" even if she already has, probably just hate being proven wrong. Which is kind of weird, because that's one of the best things about a show like this.

I never vote until the final, but if I were forced to right now it'd be for Natalie. That could change though. If natalie flops in the final and Sophie's fabulous I'd vote for her. But doesn't it seem a little early for Team Natalie versus Team Sophie? There's still every chance Abbey could win this, I certainly wouldn't bet against it, and based on my current feelings I'd be totally okay with that too.

Very good point, I made a comment about Sophie and then had a load of people then think I don't like Natalie

I like Natalie, Sophie (huge fan) and Abbey. Top that!

I'm not ready to go to war for anyone yet* but, at the moment, it would be unlikely to be between Natalie and Sophie. I like them both and my head is as intact as it usually is (although that may not be saying much...)

The point where I start pulling out the is when someone I think is OK-to-decent starts being treated by the judges as the second coming of dahnce and marked above contestants who are, in my perception, better. I know it's unreasonable, because it's not the contestant's fault, and it's not like I'm the world's leading expert in the subject, but it tends to bring out the Boadicea in me Apologies in advance if I get a bit cross and it comes across as mean.

*Unless people start saying that Dave is an unpleasant human being

Don't forget the Katya hat!

nowhere. you will be like the untouchables of the forum, destined to wander the margins, probably in rags, definitely crying out 'unclean' wherever you go, and generally reduced to an eternity of bad.

so, in the event that your head should explode, it will probably be a kindness, and i for one will be thankful for small mercies.

personally i think they are both entertaining dancers, and nothing so far about either of them has caused me to find them irritating or dislikeable. although saying i 'like' either of them would be going a bit far.

i haven't yet seen any 'fan wars'. i know thats probably because i'm just not as sensitive or clever as some, or one so blind as will not see. but as/when/if they do come, i hope i will survive.

be careful out there!

Same here.

The only thing that irks me at the moment is how the judges keep raving about Susanna when she really isn't that good at all.

She is nowhere near the standard of the other 3. It's got sod all to do with age - lest anyone think that - it's about ability.

Even if you're not in any particular camp, the defensiveness rears its head.

Take comments about Natalie being 'boring', for example. All things being relative, I think the statement is pretty apt. Natalie started this show in the unenviable position of having expectations placed upon her dancing - especially when coupled with a Pro who many consider to be our own Derek Hough. And while technically she is exemplary, there has been no surprise, no standout choreography, no special connection to her partner, that has made us go 'wow'.

I have 100% confidence that it will happen...maybe even in tonight's rumba...but it hasn't happened for many of us yet and I don't see that it is a crime to say as such.

I'm never that invested in any one contestant anyway; it will be weeks until I have a 'favourite' and even then it is subject to change (fickle creature that I am ), so if I say anything to the negative about Celeb A, it will not be because of anyone other than Celeb A (and possibly their partnership).

Starting a thread claiming 'war' has begun...could that be projection?

I just can't care about Sophie, sorry. I find her very aloof and *sorry* boring. I was the same with Kimberly last year, they are utterly gorgeous, lovely, lovely people but my brain just goes "meh".

I'm on the fence at the moment. If I see more of Sophie's personality emerging and I see her dry humour, I'll love her but I didn't really enjoy her waltz and I'm in the severe minority that didn't like her charleston but I have a feeling that I'm going to love her samba, it looks amazing in training and if she can inject some personality apart from cool and a bit quirky then I'll adore her.

I did love the Charleston as it suited Sophie's 'tolerating Brendan's presence without dancing with him' vibe but I'm hoping we will get more from her as the weeks go on.

Dry humour=good, Too cool for school=not so much.

I found the fan wars against Louis last year particularly hilarious - I could understand the criticisms of him not acting or performing some of the dances fully, I could even understand that some people didn't enjoy watching him - that's fair enough there's been celebs who can dance who I haven't enjoyed watching either - but I remember quite a few posters went as far as saying he couldn't dance!

Oh and I particularly loved the 'theory' that he only won because he danced topless in the finals

Oh, I'm sure someone has already announced their departure, you've probably just missed it!


Well, Baby Wars has already started (and potentially already a winner!)

Just wondering who has won and has cute children?

Louis - Nope.
Harry - Nope
Kara - Nope
Chris -Nope
Tom - Nope
Alisha - Nope
Ramps - ?
Darren - ?
Jill - Nope
Natasha - Nope

Chris was an overgrown child, Alesha had her nans, Ramps had hugely embarrassed children... I know the winner of the show isn't always Baby Wars winner, but my point (badly made) was Baby Wars may already have a winner...

I think she meant winner of the baby warz rather than the whole of Strictly.

I knew what she meant. It just tickles me that babywarz is started at all.

I think you can get away with liking Sophie and Natalie, if you really want to live dangerously you need to get behind Abbey.

There seems to be quite a lot of support for Abbey on here at the moment. It seems to me you have to be brave to admit you're not keen on her

I think everyone misses the negative stuff about contestants they don't like and remembers the stuff about the contestants they do.

The non app thread has been pretty quiet with drive by unappreciation. I'd say Julien gets the roughest ride, followed by Vanessa, followed by maybe Susanna.

Like Natalie and Sophie but in a final vote Sophie cos she didn't start from the same baseline IMO. Love Ashley but could do a Scott I fear. Suzanna nah can't stand her. Rachel the same looks like a baby faun to me. Mark's dance last week will stick in my memory for a long time. Off thread a bit cos I'm looking at the clock, time to get ready

So general un appreciation of one or the other really got going tonight.

I loved NatLies dance which was spectacular , I also loved Shies dance because it was quirky

Natalie's was better for me, but Sophie had something different for me

Susanna however did not do it for me either in the dance or personality wise and I felt she was over marked

Would not be surprised to see either Ashley or Susanna win at the moment. Both Natalie and Sophie are too polarizing (Natalie with the ringertag and every dance from Sophie will be unfavourably compared with her Charleston), as judged by the fact that or two of the few to have a backlash thread (probably both started by the opposite camp).

Sad, really.

I think Sophie is really nice, never really watched much of her, knew two of her songs, but she is extremely polite, hard-working, gracious and putting the effort in! and can dance, and my favourite partnership by far this year!