As posted elsewhere

Having just rewatched it, it really is a very good dance (should have scored at least 2 nines).

Then again, I love the technical aspects of dances and am not bothered by stuff like passion and character (It has to be pointed out that at least 70% percent of the dance you are not able to see Sophie's face).

Seems quite a few people have taken against her, which is fine, and they will not be impressed by her again this series (whatever she does, as her personality grates them; only have one of them, luv).

It is ironic when you think about the last two winners, though

I hold Brendan Where's the Camera Cole completely, utterly and totally responsible for never once dancing as though he is the star and is only there to be admired.

Trouble is with AT if the technical aspects are right the passion is there. They go hand in hand.

I think Sophie has been let down by Brendan more than anything else. With a different partner she would shine.

Her scores were fair

I think sophie was fantastic and she did exceptionally well. I would say she is making great progress and is on a typical strictly journey and by the end should b extra special on the floor

You don't know that. I think the pros do what they can in the 3 1/2 days they have for training this year, now that Monday's are half taken up with the elaborate and complicated pro dances.
I thought they did a good job and Sophie does know where her weakness lies - whether she can rectify it to the satisfaction of the judges is another matter. She seems to be more than happy with Brendan, who she said was her partner of choice as he is also a parent. They seem to have a good working relationship and like each other. As long as Sophie is happy, which she says she is, then it is fine.

I think the AT is an impressive dance and Sophie's appeared equally impressive because of the lifts and Brendan's choreography but the judges were right not enough character and dramatisation. Come on Sophie we know you have it in you!

This is the major part I blame Brendan for and why I opine a different pro partner would be better.

The pro is supposed to help the celebrity with their weak points, not choreograph to avoid them altogether and then just talk a lot about how hard things are for them.

As others have said elsewhere, all Brendan't celebrity partners seem to be floppy in the middle even when they have a core of steel such as Victoria. So the obvious conclusion is Brendan is the issue rather than Sophie.

Its beginning to look like that isnt it .Victoria and now Sophie seem to crumble and at the same point in the competition . Odd that .

Yeah, her legs are simply not agile enough.
She looks like what she is, someone used to doing a little wiggle in an overly tight dress.
I freely admit my perceptions may be clouded from watching most of the dance from between my fingers, fearing a bacofoil comeback

Maybe an acting coach will help
She definitely needs to sort that problem out before the rumba, paso and ballroom tango which are really character driven .

I meant attacking the dance and Brendan told her this and practised it with her. I thought Sophie did take it on board and tried and I thought she had improved over last week, hence her apparent disappointment when the judges implied it was no better.
However, she is enjoying herself, seems more than happy to have got this far in the competition, so I don't see a problem

That's because she was overmarked for her samba......

Unfortunately there was neither technique nor much authentic AT in last night's routine. The lifts were bizarre. Brendan's lead was appalling. He can't even lead a giro or a gancho, so why bother including his own half baked version and then muck it up? Ego?

But then again, I am foolish in that I still expect to see an AT on SCD when the majority of the pros cannot even master salsa and dance samba to a flamenco rhythm

I thought she deserved a couple of nines - they have been awarded for less for other dancers. Usually if Craig gives eight the others give nines.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - The Argentine Tango
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58DKzAt4N_A

Sophie is my favourite and I was hoping to see her perform a fantastic Argentinian Tango.
And yes, the dance was well-choreographed and had some great technical moves, but it didn't show Sophie in her best light.
Darcey remarked (I think?) about the way Sophie responded to the moves as being great technically and I do think Sophie had more control than the judges gave her credit for.
But the way the dance was choreographed meant that Sophie appeared to be guided by Brendan all the way.
So Brendan became the 'star' and Sophie became the also-ran.

Now it could be that this was the best way for this particular AT to work, allowing that Brendan had put in some really technical moves and there was a lot for Sophie to learn in a week.

Brendan is definitely pushing Sophie to do her best, and credit to him (and Sophie), but for Brendan, 'doing her best' appears to be all about ever more difficult moves, rather than taking a step back and getting the characterisation right.

For me, Sophie being able to do the difficult moves (and remember them all on the night) is fine, but the judges (and perhaps many of the watching public) want to see characterisation.

Someone mentioned Louis last year and I agree. He learned everything Flavia taught him, but kept the same 'stern/staring' face throughout until the judges kept on at him to 'put some character' into his performances.
What we were then left with was Louis gurning through an average (but impressive in parts) Charleston. It wasn't his best dance, but it pleased the judges and was seen as his 'turning point'.

If Sophie follows the same pattern, Brendan needs to act sooner rather than later to choreograph a dance that helps Sophie 'build character' in some way.
It may not be great, but it should please the judges and those who say they are fed up with Sophie's non-expression.
Then she can get on with winning the competition (fingers crossed! ).

I actually thought she was fairly scored. This dance was a nice comeback for her based off her previous two dances. I thought she danced it well but she needed more attack in her moves and more of that passionate chemistry in this dance too. I thought all 8's were right, although one 9 in the mix would have been fine too.

I just watched it back and actually thought it was really good. Loved the music, choreography, partnership. Surprised it didn't get at least a few nines. One of my favourite dances of the series.

I have watched it back and I thought she was overmarked.

Not nearly enough passion- she lacks the acting ability- think Mark Ramprakash

I thought the marks were quite generous.....

and if there was any passion, this was smothered by the studio audience clapping along to the beat like maniacs. Exactly like with Dave and Karen's 500 miles - and at about the same pace too!

Agree. One of my favourite Strictly moments ever - Karen's "oh yes!" At the end of their AT. It sizzled off the screen.
Sophie and Brendan merely fizzle out.

Great post. I've never thought about Brendan in this way before and you could be spot on. Not so sure about Anton because of the capabilities of his celebs, but maybe there is an element of what you say. I can't count how many times I've thought s celeb is being pulled into place.

Now I'm thinking that although I think Brendan is a great choreographer, he should be one of the best at showcasing his celeb by giving them routines they can manage and looking at him in this new light, maybe he's not.

My respect for Ola and Kristina has just grown again because whilst they might repeat choreography, they are playing to the strength of their celebs.

I was there. Sophie (who is painfully thin with shoulder blades and ribs showing) not only was completely blank but there was no tautness or strength about her. Her body, while upright, seemed listless and she just seemed to be going through the motions.
Also Craig was right. When she was doing the ronde's at the beginning her balance was off. In fact, I thought she was just marking and hadn't started the dance. She also notably wobbled coming out of that amazing lift.

Shame with that amazing choreography.