Here it is. 💕
https://mobile.twitter.com/StrictlyG...432832/video/1

Oh my TT, this is epic, a real mixture of moments throughout his journey.
Do you think OH would notice if I used No. 14 Waltz 4 as my desktop wallpaper?


When Korky hit 11,000 posts
The one she appreciates most
Stuck up his thumb
And grinned like a chum
'Cos of all the Jayjobs she boasts

*Waves to Jackybob, Kazzie and Agrion*

Hannah, I really think you should pen a limerick about the craven grinch

?????

The nitpicking nasty judge ...

Love it Rafferty - You encapsulated ours feelings so well. Bravo!

J is odd-jobbing for me this evening and has been working very hard testing my absorption field with his power rodder.

Bravo indeed Rafferty

Second waltz gif posted now.

Night all

Oh, so that's where he stuck his thumb ...

Final Review - or maybe that should say Review of Final!!

Have missed a few weeks, so thought I'd do it as an overview - probably more of a reflective rambling one as opposed to a technical analysis, but I'll try for coherency.😊
THE BUILD UP
I was a mixture of anticipation and dread

It was in the bag. Wasn't it?
Oh no. Would the fudges influence floating one off voters?
Already I had obviously decided they couldn't be trusted. I wonder why!
Was I the only person going to be voting like a looney? No. There were a few of us on the thread by the sound of it!!😆

How could the best dancers lose? WE were voting!!😅

The wibbling on the thread that week must have broken the record of all time wibbling, which was the inspiration behind my paraphrasing of My Way.

I, myself, was unsure of Can't Feel My Face, because I didn't know the tune and it didn't sound suitable for a Showdance - though I loved the innuendo behind the title.😊

As a child (well teenager) of the 60's loved the Who and the song My Generation - hated it as a QS music choice. Knew they'd be given that to do again.
Poor decision from people who should have been clenching their fists to their bare, white knuckles, hoping for success from all couples, to promote their art.

After week 3 I thought : 'I'll see that dance again in the final'.
Interesting how the unfolding scenario behind the scenes, that we can only guess at, produced the Red Paso instead.
So fitting💃💃

That ITT has to be one of the best of all times. I could love that panel for ever😁

That more or less unanimous shout for Jay to win had my positive streak firmly to the fore again. Hurrah.
Really I was so mixed up by now I didn't know if it was my heart ruling my head - or my head my heart!!

THE DANCES
QS danced so much more competently and joyously.
Its complexity alone, never mind its execution in the circumstances, deserved a 10 somewhere.
But it was never going to stand out in people's minds e.g like Harry's QS as the music was wrong.

Showdance was so beautiful and clever, but I did feel it gave the judges, who wanted to gripe, an opening.

Red Paso
Makes me smile just saying it. Jay had really improved his lines and execution. Loved the uncontrolled smile and triumphant arm gesture.

Fudging/Judging
I have a real problem with this. It spoiled the Final.

Re QS
The last thing a supposed head judge should be saying is, well you wanted it to be perfect, but it wasn't.....I couldn't believe my ears and my heart sank.
Would make a useless teacher.
It should have been along the lines of - that was the most difficult dance we could have given you and you rose to the challenge magnificently showing a great improvement. Well done.
There was a small mistake, that most folk would have missed. (I still don't know what it was)

SD
Judges are meant to know more than us, so they should have appreciated the increased difficulty in the moves, its seamless flow and the application and ability needed to put together previously learned moves in a different context to different music.

RP
Craig's actions summed up the underlying attitude of (some of) the judges begun by Len's opening remark.
It wouldn't havemattered how perfectly Jay had danced, he wasn't awarding a 10 for love nor money.
So he wasn't judging the dancing : so why was he there?

Think Darcy was nearly ok and for once Bruno was the most consistent. Don't think Len and Craig should now be there.
Don't know what their game was.
Totally spoiled a final and celebration of dance.

Result
Never watched the other dances. Still haven't. Caught odd bits. Too busy voting. Had all my family's emails. That's quite a lot..........😝
Still thought they had to win, the great British public were not as fickle as the judges were they?......but was so pleased when they were announced.
Might just have shouted out 😂
Their reactions were a joy to behold and the other couples did seem pleased.

AFTERMATH THOUGHTS

Waiting for the actual announcement was murder.
The last time I was as invested in a result was Mattiona.
Loved Matt and Aliona as much, although Jay is a better dancer.
Thought they also got on very well as a couple. He was happily married, with a great work ethic, same as Aliona this year with Vincent.
No conflict.
Voted like mad.
I was so disappointed Matt lost, but not disappointed that Kara won.
Whereas I would have been very disappointed if either of the the 2 double initials had won.

I don't feel the same sorrow about Kevin's missed finals' triumphs.
He's been in 3 finals because he's had 3 good partners.
Who else has had 3 in a row?

Aliona was quite honest and straightforward about her success (although it also was her excellent instruction which triumphed)
In some ways now, I could almost welcome the 'calibre' of her last 3 partners as she would never have been partnered with Jay otherwise, and think what we would have missed!!

Probably wittered enough.

If I did have other thoughts, they will be left for posterity.

This series and that partnership was definitely the best too much ever.

TT - accessed Flick'r at last. Great job💃

FRED - My thanks also for all your work👏

https://mobile.twitter.com/StrictlyG...739584/video/1 💘

DeiseDays Tsk Tsk.

...

I know what else I wanted to say.

Harry was given QS with a score of 39.

Jay given QS with a score of 25.

What's it all about........Alfie?

Very very Clever Toad - loved the pics you chose from each weeks show and then the ITT ones interspersed with them serve to tell the Juliana story and journey so well.
Well chosen..well thought out..very well done!!
I thoroughly enjoyed viewing them and recalling the emotions, happy and wibbling memories evoked of the dance and events of each week.
Thank you very much TT

Isn't that from the days when they thought highest scoring dance would make for a better, more entertaining final than lowest scoring dance? (though that would have given us J's rumba - not a particularly vote-winning dance for a final, but at least he danced it well, unlike the QS, which was never going to be good).

Been absent for a few days, trying to catch up, apologies for not acknowledging every post but here are some of my responses...sorry, this may take a while...by which time a good few of you will be tucked up in bed.

Ah well, cue tumbleweed.

In no particular order but...
First... a discussion between TT and Cat mainly, re Jive/no Jive final.
I said at the time that I completely trusted Jay and Aliona's decision to leave out the Jive from the final. I still stand by that. If I want to go Gangsta, I'd say, hell they won anyway! If I want to be absolutely petty I'd say 'look if you want to play it by the book fudges, according to your marks, the Jive wasn't their best dance anyway, so why should they feel obliged to dance it again?' 'As it's week 3...' anyone??!! (OK, that may sound a bit Gangsta too)
But if I want to provide a rational argument, I'd call Witness A to the box...the Red Paso. Now, 'That Jive' has been described as being the perfect storm...of music, staging, lighting, singing, almost for wardrobe (safety pins aside), choreo, and of course the J&A magic. The Green Paso was almost there...a few 'whoopsies' in execution as Zoe might say but otherwise, a very effective performance. Contrast Green with Red...what do we all regret as being a detraction from the impact of the original? The godawful singing and musical arrangement that led to an apparent slowing of the tempo...the decision to change lighting, which for some, was a bugbear. For some, the Green Paso still surpassed the Red, so much so, a blend of the two was produced in video form. If it wasn't for the rebelliousness and jubilation of the Red Paso, we might still resent the outside factors. Can you imagine That Jive with godawful singing, poor camera work and, I don't know, a laughable wig (tour version)?? Poof, and the magic of the week 3 night is, well, besmirched.
I think that was a bullet well dodged.

Next, Fatskia and Cat, thank you for your reviews, I loved them. I particularly liked Bruno's comments being highlighted...he was a Jay champion from day one really and still fought his corner to the last...I liked how he made a point of stating that he was the only one to give them a 10 for the Jive...that's right Bruno, you recognised and rewarded his talent...even though it was only week 3.

For those who appreciate literary prowess and a healthy interest in reading I thought you might like a glimpse into Jay's library and a small example of his own creative writing from way back when.
First, a clip including some of Jay's reading from when he had to pack for leaving (be quick...):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2T7-mHLmT4 01:45 ...and yeah, he can read sheet music!!
Next, another glimpse of his bookcase via pics incorporated in a little piece written by Jay in the voice of Neytiri:
http://www.sugarscape.com/celebs/new...jay-mcguiness/
Then, a lovely clip of Jay relating to youngsters... he'd make a great educator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDkaMKU_RY 02:59

In other news:
Whiffle, great work on the Jay on a Train Qs.
Cello...marvelous news about your op!
Red and now Korky... you Milestoners you
Jnb I don't think there was really a reason for Jay's emotional outpouring other than the situation. Heart Vacancy girls were always such a random choice, on this occasion they were rather weepy emotional beings and I think Jay got caught up in the moment. Lovely to see other HV girls wanting a JayHug after the song finished...who in their right mind wouldn't

Finally, for now, TT Brava for your compilation of J&A pics...I relived the entire j------y through those shots...so beautifully captured. To bring my ramble to a full on topic close...the shot of J&A waiting for the announcement of the winners...wow, the look of both sadness and resolution in their faces is visceral. Thank you.

Not sure as they they have had years/series when they've allotted lower/lowest scores to show improvement.

Other years they've been given a ballroom and a Latin.

You think you're going to remember what happened when, but unfortunately the deteriorating brain takes over........😆

Hey Speedy - they were so unsure, weren't they? It's not the final final announcement as it were. This is the elimination after the showdance. Their expressions before the final result were so similar though that I didn't post a second screencap!

Does anyone know why Flickr might not be showing me a viewcount for this album? It's all showing zero, so unless everyone is merely pretending they've looked at it, I'm guessing at least one person has visited!

Four of them sat on the panel
The public vote they tried to channel
Away from our true dancing pair
Until they got the Paddington Stare
To show he wasn't taking any flannel

The Grinch and the Grump
The Dancer and the Chump
The fudging 4 were not averse
To make their comments rude and terse
But t'was to no avail as their plan went bump

Would be kinda nice if they kept the formula consistent (so long as it's not consistent with this year!). However, one thing that does become evident if you go back and read reviews of previous years is that this year's final was quite like a lot of the others:

(a) the final has very little to do with who becomes the ultimate winner - most years, everyone knew who they were going to vote for going in. In fact, as I remember, showdance used to be the last dance, so by the time they'd danced it almost all votes were in anyway (the judges didn't used to mark the showdance - comments only). ETA: sorry for appalling grammar there!
(b) it's very often not the judge's favourite who wins - Pammy would have won if the judges had had their way (although I wouldn't have minded personally - I thought she was fab if only she had kept her gob shut).
(c) the final tends to be a disappointment/a bit flat (showdances are often a let down, dance selection can make things tedious)

There are always exceptions to that, of course, but this year was far from the only time this happened. However, it may be the only time when a mediocre dancer has been preferred by the judges to the best dancer. KK put up a good show in the final - good on them (I liked their showdance) - but as a fudge I would never be able to overlook the fact that J is a better dancer.

Yeah, their demeanor didn't change much after the SD. I think Aliona was more upset than Jay, afterall, it was her choreo that was citicised...he seemed more resolute.

Sorry, I can't help with Flickr query, but you have at least one view from me

Danceagogo and Speedy

Wonderful posts and reviews. Thank you for such lovely reading

No tumbleweed here Speedy😉

I think you're probably right. Despite his reassurance that he loved the choreography and wouldn't have had it any different, it can't have felt good to be so comprehensively slated by the judges (this is not the first time this has happened - remember puppetgate? - but I think that was a far more extreme example of Erin going bonkers). This was season 13 already, so there is very little new under the Strictly sun!

BIB Speaking of which, I am intrigued to discover what these major changes are for the upcoming series...any lessons learned I wonder.

I suspect Ali's disappointment was compounded by her feeling that she may have let Jay down but, as a professional, those remarks must have been more than cuttng.

Hi TT
When I open it, it says 93 views, if that's any help. It looks absolutely fantastic, but as usual I can't get it all to appear on my iPad, so will have to wait to look on the laptop tomorrow.....
Looks brilliant , thank you so much xx