You've lost me? What did I miss?

Wondering if tonight's Tango, like the AT will be better with the music muted .....
Last edited by Fairytootoo : 03-12-2016 at 22:02

they had 4 tweets go up while the voting was still going on I think !

Well....... that was.... interesting!

Love Danny and Oti's work but that..... wasn't great. It wasn't terrible but it just wasn't great! I've watched it a couple of times now and it actually starts well and has some interesting aspects but despite the music my main issues are that Danny wasn't low enough in his knees and some of his kicks and flicks looked a little soft and not sharp enough. The speed of the music obviously impeded the sharpness of his moves but l feel Danny just wasn't confident in this dance.

However, what he lacked in technique he made up with performance and that for me is the important thing as dances are generally not remembered fondly because all the heal leads were in the right place but on the impact they made on the viewer. The dance was perhaps a little over marked but l'll take it as he has been under marked plenty in the past. Also l didn't think any of the other dances were better so l don't feel anyone suffered from his danced being generously marked, on the contrary l felt both Ore and Louise were also over marked so no harm done. (I was however happy to see Claudia finally get a 10 even if her dance in my opinion only paid lip service to the salsa basic).

All in all Danny should be through to the semi-finals where hopefully better dances await. However if they don't live up to my expectations l'll still support him and won't mind too much as both he and Oti have brought us some beautiful dances so l would understand if they had finally run out of steam.

Tonight wasn't very good at all. His technique was all over the place and I'm not sure if that was down to the choreography, the music or Danny. Very disappointing because it was technique that let him down rather than making a clear mistake like in the Foxtrot.

They should be safe but, if the pros etc. were preparing to leap on him after that Samba on their blogs then they're going to savage him after the Tango. I wonder if they've decided to change their tactic to try and get Kevin the Mirrorball; instead of shoving his partner front and centre they'll focus on someone else; hoping they'll get the backlash and Louise and Kevin will swan through.

To be fair the show was completely awful tonight. Hopefully they'll axe Musicals week next year.

Yeah not a brilliant performance tonight I didn't think. Enjoyed it but as someone else said Danny wasn't low enough in the knees - Ian picked up on this on itt. I'm surprised Oti hadn't focused more on fixing that. Maybe it was cos the music was just too fast to get the technique working well. But as Danny himself said perhaps not a ten dance. More a 9 dance for me. He needs to not be seen to be over marked as we move into semi/final stage as I think that'll work against him with the public.

I'd love American smooth next week. He still has that to dance right?!

American Smooth, Waltz and Salsa to come. The latter is almost definite as that's their only Latin left so they'll drop one of the Ballroom's; I just wonder if it'll be the American Smooth so they don't have two dances with lifts.

Regarding his Tango I think we're going to see it being used as Judge's Choice in the final if he gets there. Craig's critique seemed to suggest Danny would have a chance to iron out his footwork which struck me strange at the time but maybe he will have a second stab at the getting the 10... or in the Dance Off tonight if he falls that far!

I understand the comments about the song, it was tricky. I think Oti had a challenge on her hands but her choreography was very clever. I thought Danny's performance really matched the role of manager and when I watch Danny and Oti perform I believe the story they are telling implicitly. They draw the audience in and I think that is what sets them apart from the others. I'm not sure anybody else would've achieved what they did with such an out of character number.

I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing that this dance hasn't received as much acclaim as his other performances as some viewers might bash him with the 'ringer' label if he's perfect every week. They will have something to aim for next week and the pressure of living up to the high expectations that everyone has of them will hopefully be relieved a little.

In my opinion Danny's performance was more polished and connected than some of the others even with the tweaks needed, I think it was worthy of being top of the leaderboard as I think the other celebs had tweaks to make too.

I just love watching them together and I hope they get to perform to wonderful songs next week so that they can continue to set the floor alight.

I agree with your comments, Nellrose. I think the judges had nowhere to go when they gave Ore 9s and, as Danny and Oti's dance was so much better they had to bring out the 10s. It makes up for the undermarking he got earlier in the show.

It definitely wasn't my favourite week of theirs but I agree that overmarking left the judges little room to manoeuvre by the time they got to Danny. I hope his reaction to getting two 10s - shocked and clearly a little confused - will help lessen any backlash from the general audience. I don't think they take scores as seriously/remember the scores the way forum members do but being perceived as overmarked is never a good thing this late in the competition. The general reaction seems to be that he was better than Louise and Ore but Claudia was best and deserved a higher score (which is how I would have ranked them tbh).

Hopefully they made it through last night and can move on to producing a gorgeous ballroom and a fun party Latin dance next week - with decent music for both!

It wasn't their best but that was mostly the fault of the music, they did their best to it but I wish they had been given something slower and less disco. As others have said, they weren't overmarked compared to others, the leaderboard was about right.
I doubt they will make it the judges choice ... if they get to the final ... they don't usually pick dances from the previous three weeks etc. Hope they don't anyway, if they do ... we'll know which way the wind is blowing.

RANT ALERT

Some people don't like Danny because he works hard and produces good dances. Apparently it's desperate that he practices for long hours. How ridiculous is that?

If he was too good, why is he sometimes picked up on his technique?


I don't like the way people dislike Danny mainly because he's good. Who said you have to be crap to do Strictly?

I doubt he will do the tango as Judges' Choice because they don't have the backing dancers in the final and the storyline of Dreamgirls would be completely lost. You can't have one Dreamgirl!

I have seen the film and having three is an integral part of the story.

I couldn't agree more with your commentary. Oti made the performance a spectacle and centred the story. Darcey's critique about Danny's character, the sweet talking manager, is what I zeroed in on too. The scores are important at this stage as they keep you out of trouble or land you in it but I wasn't expecting a "40", being in first place was good enough. This week is kind of similar to foxtrot week, they have an opportunity (if they get through) to come back with a bang with two routines for the semifinals.

If they get through, I'd love them to have the AS to go with the Salsa. I know two lift based dances in one week could be a lot to do but I'm sure Danny would rise to that challenge (Sunday training?). I've always thought he could do a beautiful classic AS - old Hollywood styling like the QS. Though I wouldn't mind a slow romantic waltz to show he isn't all "bash and dash" as some of his critics like to complain. All I really care about is the song choices tbh!

Londongirl, I don't think there's any pleasing some people. Danny is a contender and therefore he's going to be attacked for anything he does. There are some people who will never like him - which goes for all the contestants - and his dance experience/high marks make him an easy target for constant criticism. I refuse to engage with them because they're never going to be convinced he isn't a smug, dull, overmarked, flashy, all show and no substance judges' pet and the ringiest ringer ever who's ruining Strictly and should be kicked off the show immediately because he's not what it's all about... Oh and don't forget that he's also cheating on his fiancée with his dance partner. Or is it that Oti is all over him and embarrassing herself because he actually hates her? Or is it that they have no chemistry or connection and are a poor partnership? It's so hard to keep track of their issues with him (and Oti)!

You are right but it's just annoying to read.


Just watching their dance back, I love Danny's reaction to getting 2 10s. It made it seem like he acknowledges when a routine isn't his best which makes him even more likable.

It really is and it annoys me too but I know I'm not going to change their minds so there's no point letting them impact on my enjoyment of Strictly. At the end of the day, Danny has made it to the quarter finals, produced fantastic dances, created Strictly history, gotten a higher average than all but three dancers ever, built up a great friendship with Oti, made the most of every moment of Strictly, entertained millions and probably done a lot to boost his career. They can keep yelling but it doesn't undo anything Danny and Oti have achieved or lessen all the joy they've brought me this series.

(Also my ignore button has been getting a good work out )

Very true!

I agree, Mutinta, with everything you've said here. If he has two dances that allow lifts, it doesn't necessarily mean that he has to put the maximum amount of lifts in either. I don't like lift fests!!! A slow waltz would have a nice contrast to the salsa, but an AS would perhaps have more impact.

Your second paragraph says it all!!!!! Certain forum members would not lose a second to jump on the "I hate Danny" bandwagon. I don't mind people registering their dislike, it is a public forum after all, but at every available opportunity............it gets bloody boring.

And, yes londongirlGre, Danny's reaction to the 10s.................he seems always surprised with the marks.

An 'authentic' salsa without lifts (or just one at the end) that focuses on content, technique and the connection between the pair, I feel, would engage the audience. They may even be praised for not doing a typical scd salsa. I remember Scott Maslen and Natalie Gumede dancing salsa without any lifts and still producing entertaining performances. Re Sunday training I wouldn't be surprised, it's the semifinals and they do have two routines to learn (if they get through). If it's to be a waltz the song needs to be on point, something poignant and romantic as you say that allows a story to be told.

Totally routing for the AS as l too am hoping for a Quickstep style AS though a romantic quiet Waltz has it's appeal too.

Wow, can't believe all that has been said!
Glad l've avoided some of those threads down there - it's just not safe!


Found his reaction so endearing - just goes to show how right Oti is when she says he really doesn't know how good he is! It certainly flies in the face of all the criticism regarding his arrogance and smugness though l'm sure someone will deem his reaction to be fake!

I agree.

Don't shoot me .... But I'm guilty of replying downstairs in some threads.
However, I've been very careful not to 'bash' the other couples as in many cases many detractors assume it's Danny fans who do, when I've never seen any of the names in here being mean towards anyone else down there.

I'm still disappointed not to have had a decent Tango or AT from Doti.
Have mixed feelings about what I hope for next week.
But leaning towards a QS based AS, as I'm concerned that any errors would be easy to see in a lyrical waltz. On the other hand, we really haven't seen Doti doing lyrical, and their 'bashers' seem to assume they can't.
Either way semis will be interesting.

They have different reasons why they dislike , we all have reasons why we like, Now did you see the way Oti was nodding away While Len goes on about heel leads Oti knew the problem existed but could not get Danny out of it , that must have been a frustrating week for her,

They both seemed to accept that criticism as if they knew it was coming.
The lack of tweets and IG posts from both of them this week was the main reason I was having a wibble. When they're happy they tend to let us know.

I'll be watching avidly for positive posts from them this week, assuming they got through!

I posted my reaction to his dance yesterday not long after he danced it and felt it wasn't great but l'd take the 10's as l still thought it was the best dance of the night anyway. However, l was a bit confused by the judges effusive praise so felt l had to watch it back a few times to see what l'd missed. (To be honest it wasn't any real hardship watching it back as apart from that foxtrot l generally watch his dances back more times than l can count! I'm convinced that at least a quarter of those YouTube views on his Samba are mine!)

I tend to watch his live performance with a lot of nervous energy so sometimes any mistakes and niggles l see seem worse than they generally are and l miss the overall quality of the dance. Its not until l watch it back (particularly after Sunday's showing when l know he's safe can l really appreciate his dance). However l've been watching his dance back a lot today and l'm starting to see why the judges were so generous in their praise.

Firstly, the music is so overpowering and loud that l feel it distracts a little from what he is doing so turning the sound down a little helped me focus on his movements. I've never seen Dreamgirls so l only have a vague idea about what it's about and didn't really know if the role Danny seemed to be playing had any real significance. However, Darcy's description of his connection with Oti was actually true. There seemed to be a real zeroing in on a chemistry between the couple which was highlighted with his use of Alpha Male dominance and his ability to sweep her around the room.

Secondly, he was flying around the room and his steps though clearly having few if any heal leads were indeed sharp and precise (watch back his initial run back to the group promenade - that was particularly impressive). There was no feeling of him seeming to trip over his own feet despite the speed. I question whether he has enough skill as a celebrity learning the dance for the first time to have completed many heal leads anyway at that speed!

Finally, his head movements were indeed clipped and precise and his frame was reasonably still and solid. I was particularly impressed with his run to that group promenade that his frame didn't wobble in his haste to get there and he was able to quietly turn his frame to start the next phase of that group promenade - quite a feat in my opinion given the loud energetic nature of the music. I still feel he could have been a bit lower into his knees and there were a couple of kicks close to the judges that seemed a little tired as they were not quite as sharp (though l'm not sure l can blame him to much given the speed of the music) but overall his general technique was reasonably sound and he executed the theme well.

Compared with the other dances which seemed particularly staid and a little boring (particularly Ore's, also l think Louise danced one of the slowest quicksteps l'd ever seen), his dance had passion and fire and a real dynamic feel. It won't be in my top 3 Danny dances but it definitely won't be at the bottom overall either. Maybe it just me but it's continually growing on me and l have to commend Oti on her choreography again as that group promenade will be constantly referenced in the future as a stand out moment in the dance.

Sorry for the thesis guys but once l started writing it was hard to stop!