Originally Posted by fatskia:
“I hadn't looked at last night's ITT so have just checked it and Ash did say that getting 35 every week didn't suggest that he was improving.
The judges have been commenting on his improvement so I guess he thinks the scores should be related to that.
How well someone danced and their score? I no longer worry about there being any relationship. There seem to be other things being taken into account and I don't mean entertainment.”
Yes, the judges have a choice between :
a) marking against the same standard throughout the series, so as dancers are trained more and improve they generally score higher, and
b) marking more generously early on, more against what stage they are at.
The judges in general choose b), hence quite early high marks, and comments about them going to get more picky now, but seem to forget themselves at times.
There is though an issue there in that it may be disheatening to not see a progression forward in marks, when you know you are getting better, as Ashley indicated.
I know there must be a wish not to appear too harsh early on, particularly to the less talented, so giving them half decent marks pushes up the better couples' marks.
Personally, I do think they should mark stricter, particularly early on. A very decent dance, but still with understandable mustakes should be say maximum 8. A later truly great dance that wowed folk could then be a 10, much more something to work for and aspire to, rather than something Joe Bloggs achieved in week 3 with a very good dance at that stage.
Maybe, as someone suggested, a bigger range than up to 10 would help, but I just do think there is too much generosity early on and even lately.
10 should be for wow, just wow !