I can't stand the flying stuff. More skating please.

I agree about varying the T&D routines - there are several that I prefer to Bolero.

If it's meant to be Dancing ON Ice, how does doing a second-rate Peter Pan routine count? It's all style but no substance (or contact with ice).

hate it. Was about to start a thread when I saw this one.

Not even watching until the routines start. Don't care if they can dance in a harness....it is dancing on ice...not air.

Would prefer 1 old routine, a new one and the bolero.

not even watching at the mo..and I love DOI!

I wish they T and D would do mack and mabel! That was my favourite having seem them all 'live' as it were!

To give Chris Fountain credit he did spend some time ON the ice during the fly routine unlike Abrahams.

I'd like to see the skaters do the Mack & Mabel routine.

I have to say that Suzanne and Matt's routine was truly beautiful. Flawless in fact and they so deserved all those sixes.

Lovely routine by Suzanne, well deserved marks,, Chris's was awful and Zaraahs was too similar all the way through, but beautifully executed.

Unfortunately I didn't see half of Suzanne's routine, but then I'm not really sure what the difference is. I find this wire stuff to be utterly rubbish. Wow, they can look alright whilst being pulled about by a wire. SO WHAT. Gravity and work ON the ice is what makes ice dancing beautiful.

I'll be pleased when the real show starts now.

Zaraahs was beautiful and so was Suzanne's....Dissapointed in Chris's but like I said can't be good at everything! He's still amazing.

Hate the flyign part but still Suzanne was amazing!

I thought the flying bit was completely pointless - nowt to do with skating

fine for the female contestants - has never been good for the guys

I find it dull. Also, it really favours the female celebs as it is an extension of the type of thing (lifts/being spun) that they do anyway and it is easier for male partners to manage the flyer than it is for the female partners. The male partner can do a lot more to assist a female flyer in and out of the spin. I'd rather they did a set dance such as a tango or waltz.

Well as we were reminded tonight, it is the 25th anniversary of Bolero next year. So for the DOI 2009 final (hoping and assuming we get a series!) I would suggest that T&D still do a version (and perhaps it should go back to as close to the original as possible) but the contestants should perhaps do something else.

They dont work do they.

I suppose its something different to put in the final but should really be dropped

What is the point on the flying bit, its dancing on ice not flying over ice, i just dont get it, its more a circus act than anything to do with ice dancing

I loved the flying, such elegance and so much entertainment

I think they should change the final show routine. There is no way that the men can look as graceful as the women. Look at the hard time that Frankie was having spinning Chris because of the weight difference. The girls were spun easily, definitely an unfair weight advantage.
Even though Suzanne did great performances tonight, I think she did even better with Jason as he purposely gave her the 6's and there was no hope in hell he was giving one to Chris as he's said several times that Chris didn't deserve to win because he had previous skating experience. So with Suzanne and Zaraah having previous dance, gymnastics and ballet experience between the 2 of them, that's not an advantage?????

Flying routine is crap

but didnt the girls look pretty being pulled around

Agreed. It would be better if they were allowed (or told) to include an element from say 3 T&D routines.

The problem with the Bolero thing is that they generally just do a few lifts and bits to the original T&D routine. What we want is originality. Suzannes "Music" routine was superb as an interpretation of the music.

The final is too rigid a format for my liking.

Bolero requires them to interpret something else rather than do what they do really well -we don't get breakdancing Bolero or headbanger Bolero. Its a nice musical mixture with a natural build up so you have to show a range. Given that the male celebs and the female celebs do different things making both finalists perform to the same music enables you to see who gets nearer to the real thing in their partnership which is about the only thing you can judge on given what each sex does is very different. Look at Kyran's Bolero on the ITV DVD split screen with Claire's and you find one gets far nearer to a professional performance than the other because one of them can do what the professionals do more - which is all logically you can ask of them . Conversely Bolero also requires them both to do complicated steps and act which again puts them on a more level footing - which is what you want for a final judgement.

This element needs dropping for the next series, it's so unfair to the men, I firmly believe Chris lost last night due to his 'flying' routine (and some biased editing!), Both Suzanne and Zarrah had dance training and its easier to them to look graceful whilst flying around and the routines make sense for the female partner to be the one lifted up, worst bit of the show for me.

Edited to add that I don't hate Suzanne, I think she did a brilliant job but for me, Chris did a hell of a lot more skating over the weeks and showed some sublime skill.

I don't like the flying element and do think the girls have a definite advantage in that.

However in the past it has made little difference to the final outcome. Pretty sure Kyran didn't win the flying routine round and Bonnie won it in first series. But Kyran won overall and Bonnie didn't win, so the individual performance don't always make such a difference.

However Suzanne's 'flying' absolutely blew me away last night and as she had not had wire training before as Bonnie had, it was all the more special.

She also did several take offs and landings (Zarrah did two very slow at the beginning with some lovely flying after). Chris did slightly more on the ice maybe (loved the runs) but lacked the elegance.

Was very impressed when a flying Suzanne dragged Matt backwards on the ice at an angle that meant no way was Matt in control at that point, she was.

Was ready to vote for Chris last night but Suzanne's flying and the way she gave her all to her Music perfomance with the added difficulties in the headbanger and some really complicated and difficult footwork and movements to the music and her synchronisation with Matt, changed my mind.

I thought Zaraah performed her Diamonds and Pearlls routine and the flying routine really well but just not as good as Suzanne who definitly had the wow factor for me last night.

I didn't expect so much from Chris in the flying and thought he did really well but was disappointed in his CMAR performance which didn't quite seem to have the wow factor of the first time he performed it in the series.

I have enjoyed Chris throughout the series but Suzanne grew on me as she showed a mastery over the skating skills, as well as the excellent presentation and her ability to synchronise with Matt was impressive. Chris's ability on the ice from the very start gave her something to aspire to and she did great.

Have to agree with the last poster......I started watching last night with the view of stuff the flying lets just get to the proper skating.....but I was shocked how moved I was by Suzannes routine.....yes the music helped (but that could be said of any routine) to quote Jason....she was spectacular......and it reduced me to tears too.

Unfortunately the wires just made Chris seem clumsy but it wasnt a disadvantage to him because he got through to Bolero anyway despite being 3rd with the judges and then it coul have gone either way.......so flying generally not a fan but just this once I was blown away.

Suzanne's flying routine was captivating, and I hope she does it on the tour. But I think it was also very influential in her winning, even though the votes were cleared after it. I would not have put much between her and Chris skating- wise. I thought his Bolero was better.