Oh i'm not suggesting he's worse than Dave, g_d no

But on the cha cha i agree far more with Craig.
And i disagree that the gurning is only in character.. it seems to be a stock response.

I couldn't spot any here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqnFrQKphb0

It's probably not helped that there is a gurn at the start of every VT of him.

If someone i was with gurned like that when i touched him i'd be very hurt. Its not funny. Maybe this predisposes me against him every show.

Fair point on the clip, no gurning, but not a massive amount of content either.

I am sure Iveta doesn't mind the expressions, au contraire she is probably encouraging them as part of the performance, it is after all a performance.

His ballroom is content-wise a work in progress, but most of the criticisms were about posture and top line, which also applies to several of the others. Craig said it was danced with "simplicity and effectiveness".

Mark has a wide range of facial expressions and uses his acting ability to misdirect us away from his less than perfect dancing but at least he tries to dance and is getting better unlike Dave who appears to be going backwards and just playing it for laughs.

I don't trust Len, he often marks according to where he wants a couple on the leader board, not according to how they danced.

I think they all mark according to where they think people should be placed, and they will have their own preferences but I suspect a consensus if not unanimity.

In terms of comments, I think they each have different roles to play, so for me I would look to Craig when it comes to performance, placement and the overall look of a dance, Len when it comes to technical content in terms of specific moves etc. Darcey is the one who gives the most advice on improvement and Bruno, well he seems to be there mainly for a bit of light relief, though I think sometimes he is helpful in terms of offering encouragement.

OK now this is a general comment and not specifically concerning Mark, although i do feel his scores have been too high.

I don't trust any of the judges tbh, i fear there is often an agenda, and very commonly a BBC agenda at that.

Am i misremembering or were there bizarre 10s from Darcey very early in the series last year?

Sometimes i feel like they're watching something different from me.




She may well be, but i'm entitled NOT to like them, and indeed to find them very offputting and not funny or pleasant or endearing in any way.

You mentioned how you would feel in real life, I suspect it is no more than an exaggeration for the performance. But who knows, and either way it is surely a case of "each to their own". i wonder if for Mrs Benton it was what sealed the deal

This^^^^..

They are becoming my 2nd favourites behind Ashley and Ola.

Who knows? Could be.

I've genuinely enjoyed watching Mark dance and I agree with others who've said Iveta is very good at choreographing to his strengths.

I agree with you Moonbeam

Thanks for saving us from being moved to the appreciation thread, I was getting worried.

I didn't think it would have been right to say this there.

I guess i just find it confusing. But as has been said each to their own.

It's fine Becky. It's just unusual to have so many positive posts without someone being nasty, and you weren't nasty you just have your own very valid reasons for not liking Mark

Thank you.

I would hope i wasn't, its certainly not my intention to be.

And i don't even mean i don't like him as a person, i don't know him, he's probably lovely. I only mean in the context of the show.

Perhaps his dance partner and teacher understands him better than you do though - after all it is they who have the dance relationship, and it is Iveta who is tasked with bringing the best out of him, using both his skills and his dance knowledge/technique..

That's not the point though is it?
The point i'm making is why *I* don't enjoy his performances, not how to train him.

It is the point, because this is what you said:

If someone i was with gurned like that when i touched him i'd be very hurt.


That comment has more to do with how you would react face to face, rather than how you enjoy his performances as a viewer (hence my reply - Iveta, being in a dance relationship with him, and where she knows him, would not be likely to react the same).

No.You're building a strawman

The point is about why *I* don't enjoy the performances and in particular find the face pulling unpleasant. And that that moment is a reminder before every single performance of something i personally do not like.

Arguably Mark can sell a performance as well as anyone. His acting/facial expressions are fabulous within the routines and he is a big part of what makes the early rounds of Strictly such fantastic entertainment. I hope he stays in for several more weeks.

Nope. It's my point, my opinion. Albeit one based upon no intimate knowledge other than what we see on the screen and what comes across.

Before you fire off a reply, please let me explain:

Your "I'd be very hurt" comment came across to me as almost questioning why Iveta would not react the same way, rather than explaining why you don't like the performance. I replied accordingly.

So, a very minor disagreement over interpretation of what you posted. That's all.

Nowt to get too worked up about on either side.


Can we put it to one side?

He's too nice for that + he's quite nifty on his feet ..I LOVED his dance on Saturday and hope he's with us for a while to come.

Yes of course.

I just felt i was being misrepresented.

Some people, for example, say that they find Sophie's Latin dances uncomfortable to watch (and have used terms such as 'cold fish' or 'robot' which i think is somewhat inpleasant.

Personally, I find Mark unpleasant to watch. I do not enjoy the 'mugging' to camera, the hamminess, and in particularly some of the expressions, and i do not find there is enough in the dances to overcome that or warrant some of the scores, in my opinion.

The particular moment i mentioned was merely the most obvious moment as it is repeated over and over again, and generates an uncomfortable reaction in me every time.



I meant no offence


Shalom.