Outside of this forum, Louise has been doing well in the show and, (so far), not been in the dance off. But on this forum, she seems to be getting quite a few negative comments, saying things that she's being overmarked, that the judges are showing favouritism towards her, that they can't warm to her dances and from tonight, that she shouldn't have been top of tonight's Cha Cha Challenge.

I've noticed that for whatever reason, Kevin gets so much stick on these forums. I can't help but wonder if a lot of these people who have been negative about Louise are only saying this because they don't like Kevin. And would she get more positive comments if she was partnered with a different male?

BTW, I'm not saying that the reason every person that's commented negatively about Louise is because they don't like Kevin. Just that it would make a lot of sense to me if that was the case.

In my case, absolutely not. I quite like Kevin - though he's not one of my favourites, and I do prefer his sister - and have voted for his partners on past occasions.

I'm by no means a dance expert, but I don't like Louise's dancing at all because she does absolutely nothing that entertains or engages me. I accept she does a lot of things that are technically correct, but I don't feel any emotion or excitement - it looks very much like dancing by numbers. I enjoy Rob Rinder's dancing far more as its so clear that he has fallen in love with dancing, cares passionately about the routines he is given and his joy is infectious.

To me, there's more to dancing than doing the correct steps, and Louise has not got that extra something special.

Partly because of Kevin and partly because she is a threat to some people's favourite reaching the final. And of course it is entirely her fault if the judges compliment her or give her a decent score.😏

I have no problem with Kevin or Louise,but,if I could be bothered I would be questioning her scores more often.
I feel like she is holding something back,like we're watching a dress rehearsal rather than the 'big-night' performance.

Yes, when people have criticised her for these reasons, I don't think that's very fair on Louise.

as a rule and I don't care for Louise. I can see she dances well but of all his partners she is the one I'm indifferent to dand who, were they in the DO, I would not miss. Kellie was much maligned last year but I really like her in comparison to Louise. The use of her husband on this week's VT was embarrassing.

Kevin is lovely .No reason there to crap on Louise .
But having said that there is a small number floating about who are not overly enthralled with Kevin and it applies to everything he does , says , wears, or dances . So that unfortunately has branded Louise from day one . She's a target , but more to get at Kevin , which is truly sad .
As a person I find her a bit twee, but she has worked hard and performed some wonderful routines with Kevin so I don't mind if she wins .
Nice to see her husband on the VT tonight supporting her . Usually he stays in the shadows .

I have no issue with Kevin - or Louise for that matter. I just find her a bit boring to be honest, so I don't pay much attention to her. Last year, as much as I wasn't a huge fan of Kellie, I got into her dances more - even with "Clifton hate" seemingly at an all-time high

Louise seems reallly nice, looks lovely and is dancing well but it's a bit Stepford Wives for me. I think the judges' favouritism for Kevin is not doing Louise any favors.

Her being over marked is not her fault but it might be detracting some ppls engagement in her performances. She doesn't move me at all

I managed to overcome James Jordan to show DVO some support so I can look past Kevin. But, she just never does anything that I'm dying to watch again. None of her performances leave an enduring emotional impression on me and that's because Louise herself doesn't really give herself to the performance - not properly. Tonight she danced prettily but she wasn't radiant - she still spent most of the dance looking down at the floor. It's frustrating cos I really wanted to like her dancing as much as I've always liked her but it's dullsville.

I don't think the partnership's irrelevant though. They're not well matched IMO. Each trying to adjust their personality a bit to be more like the other - but it's not working. Kevin needs someone he doesn't have to hold back with - a Susanna or Kellie not a Louise or Frankie and she'd ptobably be better off with an Aljaz or Pasha - if Jamie would let her

Jo's my favourite female pro and she's Kevin sister so there is no way he would make me dislike Louise.

The problem is the judges.

I don't mind Kevin. Louise is the problem for me, her dancing just doesn't engage me at all. I've felt this way from the start and it has annoyed me that the judges seem to ignore any flaws in her routines when they'd pick on them with other contestants.

Excellent point about the mismatch.

Yeah, the judges should judge her on her boringness not her actual dancing.

So she performs the dance as it should be performed technically, why does that matter, where are the jazz hands, tears and silly camp expressions,?

Andy Murray world number one?

No way! He is way more boring than Djokovic, forget the technical tennis, that is how it should go.



Maggie

I agree with you. I'd rank Kevin's partners to date in order of personal preference:
Kellie
Frankie
Susanna
Louise

Dance is SO different from tennis though, to some of us its as much about expression as technical ability. That said I'd argue that Louise has done too much of the stage school/jazz hands type stuff when it really wasn't appropriate.

She just doesn't have much personality in her dances from my point of view.

I take the point that they are being marked on technical ability, but surely there's an element of the marking for 'interpretation'? I've never felt uplifted or thrilled by any of Louise's dances. I'm sure she works hard at getting them right, but I don't make an emotional connection with her.

I did feel there was a bit more emotion in her waltz tonight.

As far as I'm concerned, Kevin seems to be a brilliant teacher, and that's why she's got as far as she has, so it's nothing to do with disliking Kevin at all.

Someone here posted that Louise lacks the "Wow" factor, and I agree

When the judges act all blown away and use endless superlatives about her dances I'm left thinking, hang on, it was OK, I quite enjoyed it, but it really wasn't that amazing

She is quite a bland character, and for me, there is no thrill in any of her performances

Nothing to do with Kevin, who I like

I've noticed that too amelie

The judges never give Louise 'advice' on how to improve, or point out her mistakes

Dance competitions will almost certainly be won by the best technical performer, that is what dominates judges marks.

You might like the Rinder, Ore, Claudia or Ed for their character and enthusiasm but do you really think they would score more than Louise in a judged dance competition?

This is Strictly though, if you feel Louise is a threat to your 'favourite', don't vote for her, that is how it will be ultimately decided.

Don't try and make out these are deserving of better marks from judges who are marking an actual dance because clearly there are hardly any actual real judges of ballroom dances who would think that.



Maggie

I've said it before that my main issue is the judges. They nitpick at every slight mistake the other contestants make but with Louise it's all ignored.

Cobblers frankly!

Ore got three tens last week when his posture went to pot during the everlasting fleckles and his footwork went wrong around the table.

Claudia got four nines when she was completely wrong for about a fifth of the dance and was generally uninspiring in the rest of the jive.



Maggie.

This ^ Fair enough if people find her dull or just don't like her but to try to justify their dislike by pulling apart her technical skill just doesn't wash. She is the best remaining female.

It may be that 'technical merit' is more important than artistic impression, but great dancing always combines both

What you have not mentioned, though, is 'technical difficulty' ... which should also be taken into account

None of Louise's dances have been technically difficult. They involve no risk-taking or brave choreography

For that reason ( never daring to push the envelope and remaining in her comfort zone ) Louise's performances fail to thrill and feel disappointingly 'safe'


Spot