2022 Weekly High 5s and Lows

Looking forward to seeing your highlights and lowlights

Ok, I'll go first, shall I?

High 5s

Hamza
Hamza's hair
Hamza and Jowitas warm and lovely partnership
Ellie Swim and Nikita's lovely partnership
Ellie Swim's gorgeous week 2 dress and toning eyeshadow - she looked absolutely beautiful
Ellie Comedy's week one foxtrot dress (and dance). It had a Sophie Ellis Bextor vibe, which I am always very behind
Nadiya's Studio 54 playsuit and hair

(That's more than five, but you can put all the Hamza ones together if you're feeling picky)

Lows

The All New, Out-of-her-Shell-at-Long-Last Nadiya getting Super Diva Matt as her partner. I wanted someone sweet and lovely like Hamza for her, so she can contiue her short trip to Dusseldorf of self-discovery
Will getting Mad Nancy as partner
The awful Quickstep song
Claudia's pink trousers
Matts VERY tight white trousers
Shirley's scoring in week 2 (I know C raig was grumpy and mean, but he was consistent. Kaye scored the same from Shirley as Tyler...)

(that's also more than five. You are just going to have to deal with it, I'm afraid

As always Diamonds you have made me smile with your lovely reviews.
Always look forward to your posts

Highs

Going to copy Diamonds here and say Hamza, Hamza's hair, and most things Hamza-related. Just wish they'd dressed him in the Weeknd's trademark red jacket instead of that sci-fi outfit

Liked Molly and Carlos' contrasting outfits for the quickstep

Scratching my head to think of any other highs

Lows

Why did Will get latin two weeks in a row?  Not really liking Nancy's choreography so far, I hope her ballroom routines are more memorable

Sensing a predetermined storyline for Helen to find her missing confidence through the dance - just feels like we've seen that storyline so many times before

Distracting hair extensions - specifically Helen (stuck all over her face during the cha cha) and Fleur (the hair extensions and the M&S-style nightie didn't add anything to the viennese waltz)

Looks like the budget has been spent on plastic props rather than gorgeous costumes

Highs and Lows

Highs
I liked Tess's blouse in the Results Show.
Ellie S looked sensational and danced like a dream. Lovely routine by Nikita
I enjoyed Tyler's Jive and Diane's gangster's concept.
I liked Katya's Charleston routine and Tony was a good sport.
Hamza battling on with the jive despite a knee injury.
Motsi managing to make a couple of constructive criticisms.

Lows
PINK! Kaye's knickers, Claudia's trousers, the male dancers wearing pink PVC gloves in the Result Show pro dance (very disturbing), Robbie Williams suit, Ellie T and Johannes outfits.
Jayde stomping about looking like she's chewing a wasp.
Kai going out so early.
The band and singers not mentioned this week until after the 15th dancer - bad manners and frankly unacceptable.
The presenter's tired and predictable scripted comments.
Motsi talking over Cr aig

Highs
Richie and Gio
Kym and Graziano's Viennese Waltz and hearing that Corrs track - took me back to a holiday around the West Coast of Ireland in 1996
The joy of Ellie and Nikita
Tony being such a good sport
Lots of couples with potential
Good opener from the pros tonight   (except for the red gloves) reminded me of a modern day Kit Kat Club.
Having so many couples there isn't too much time for cheesy VTs (yet!)

Lows  - not many -
As usual some couples get stitched up and some luck out in the first two weeks with the dance choices.  As others have said, they should be made to do one latin and one ballroom dance - end of.
Regrettably - Nadya and Matt
Shame that we will not see any more of Kai in the contest this year
Agree with B4P that the band and singers are not getting enough credit

My highs and lows:-

HIGHS

Tony bouncing back from a true dance disaaaaster in Week 1 with a fun Charleston in Week 2.

Richie and Gio's Quickstep. Classy Hollywood 1930s style.

Ellie S's lovely Waltz - divine.

Liking the new Pros so far.

C.raig at least offering critique (see below too).

LOWS

Richie's in yer faceness. He needs to really tone it down. It is grating with me.

Shir.ley and Mot.so on their feet at the end of male (only) celeb dances whooping and hollering like American Football cheerleaders. Damned unprofessional. Sit down, shut up and score and critique.

C.raig getting shouted down for daring to offer criticism and tips.

Highs :

Underdog Tony going for it.
Hollywood quickstep.
"Music, music, music" track. Took me back to a happy era'


A pretty average show where normal isn't really a "high"

Lows: Lots of them.
Producers handling of a once great show.(Do we need "celebrities" telling people how to use a phone?) unsuitable music.
Pros all going contemporary, gymnastic and very little ballroom dance.
A nton (a ballroom hero) overdoing the "Mr Nice guy" as a foil to C raig's grumping.
C raig overdoing the Mr Grumpy (maybe forgetting it's his daft marking sending contestants home..
Bubble Bath Co raiding Charity shops for costumes.
S hirley and M otsi need glueing to their seats
Tess trying to be Brucie calling contestants "My darling" (okay, I'm not a Tess fan but I promise not to mention it again)
Too much emphasis on tecnicality ( musicality, heel leads, straight legs, maintaining a frame etc, etc,) over just dancing

Apart from that, oh, that's more than five..er...

saxonsiren wrote:As always Diamonds you have made me smile with your lovely reviews.
Always look forward to your posts

Thank you Sax!

I've been looking out for you on the Twitters, but failed. Maybe you've had a name change? (I have, I'm now Sparkly@sparklyfellelf). Sid's still v prominent on it and I commune with him most days.

Highs

Two good Charleston's for Movie week.
Graziano receiving his first 9s since he joined Strictly
Will & Nancy's DD routine
Helen & Gorka's VW
The Elvis pro dance (I thought it ironic that Gorka had taken off his quiff wig he'd used for his Grease character
Shirley deciding to get stricter over her footwork fundamentals!

Lows

I like CGI, but it was so overpowering this week and distracted focus away from the dancers.
I like Tyler but I feel like he's being pushed as the judges favourite which might create a backlash effect.
Shirley & Motsi giving their 10 scores.
With the exception of Claude mentioning Hayley singing one song, the band & singers not mentioned until the end.
Jayde doesn't seem to get critiqued at all by the judges.
Tony being promoted as the comedy figure

Highs.

Pros' Mexicali show opener
Tony's Full Monty.
Some decent dancing generally.
Tyler's show stopping end.

Lows.

Costume madness.
Unfair levels of competitiveness.
Claudia's skeleton pants
Tess's plastic bin-bag skirt tonight
Silly marking
Adam Lambert (not impressed) Sorry
Two males dancing to "Mad about the boy"sorry, but you asked. Kids can be excused for being confused.

HIGHS

Tony's dance - just great entertainment.

Tyler's Charleston to great music superbly sung and played by Dave Arch's orchestra.

Likewise Kym's Charleston.

A general improvement across the board in dance standards.

Seeing Matt actually look like he enjoyed dancing.

LOWS

The favouritism of judges who heap praise on certain couples and dare not offer criticism.

Lop-sided scoring. Too low scores from C.raig for some and too high by Shirl.ey and Motzi for others.

Highs and Lows for week 5. Reverse order.

Lows.
Sob story stuff. We're all decent considerate people, but there's a time and place for everything. Strictly isn't it.
Novelty acts that use people and awful props.
Some poor music choices (not all thankfully).
Tyler's M.O.T.special. Just didn't understand where it fits in.

Highs.
Gradual improvement from start to finish.
Three top dances : Hamza, Helen and Gorka's Paso and Fluer's Tango plus Kim's Gypsy Kings Samba.

And in the Dance off, it had to be as it was. Always sad for the losers, but that's the show. Somebody else has to do the worrying now. I didn't think Kim should have been anywhere near the red light. Onwards and upwards...

Highs

Hamza's Salsa
Hamza's shirt!
Fleur's A.Tango
Kyms Samba
Dave Arch giving it his all to produce 'Garage'


Lows

Inconsistent judging comments. some are given a shopping list of things to practice, others get a smile and pat on the head.
10s appearing like confetti. Shirley & An ton said they didn't know Tyler's Garage music, or dance genre but still gave him a 10.
Ridiculous MacDonald's farm theme for Ellie T. Strictly Playschool.
Will dancing on with a chest infection and only a few hours practice time.
Too many dancers being scored into the mid-table.

Highs
A brilliant and authentic Argentine Tango in week 4 from Fleur and Vito and a great DO comeback.
Hamza and Jowita's exciting Salsa
Helen and Gorka's Paso - loved it and a great partnership.
Kym and Graziano's excellent Samba
The improvement from James
Some good music

Lows
Kym in the Dance Off - really???
Johannes and Elley getting stitched up with the 'theme' and costumes.
Two ridiculous, random and unconnected 'themes' and a cha cha set that looked like it should have been a Charleston.
The sob stories - no more please
I don't mind the same sex stuff - I welcome the inclusion of same sex couples with no problems or fuss about it - but the same sex thing just seems to be being pushed from all directions - in the pro dances too. Why?
Too many '10's - we're going to have burn out

HIGHS

Fleur and Vito's atmospheric Argentine Tango.

Hamza and Jowita's action packed Salsa.

Kym and Graziano's lovely Samba.

C.raig fixing Motsi's chair and telling her to stay seated. If only she'd listen.

The overall standard of dance.

Dave Arch's band continuing to excel.


LOWS

Kym ending up in the dance-off.

Will struggling badly with his health.

The sob stories coming out from celebs.

Seeing a rare genuine learner dance leave.

Ellie's Viennesse Waltz sabotaged by ridiculous theme (and in my opinion unsuitable song).

Week 5

HIGHS
Helen and Gorka's Charleston
Hamza and Jowita's Quick Step
Kym and Graziano's Quick Step
Kym and Graziano staying in - was Shirley's low score a tactic to drum up the 'indignant' votes???
Angela Rippon
The Opening Pro N umber on the main show - thought it was very clever

LOWS
Spoilers I know that if you look hard enough you have always been able to find out who is in the DO - but this year it seems really bad and I've nearly seen spoilers every week just on my MSN and google news feeds. I don't want to avoid these all day Sunday. I know that they are getting very hot under the collar about the so called 'mole' at the beeb but to be honest there are only two choices - 1. Do a live show on Sunday night. I didn't realize that it was altered in 2008 because B rucie was finding it difficult to do 2 nights in a row. The downside is that the pros and the celebs would not get a day off on Sunday which is probably much needed. 2. A results show on Saturday night - this could be a much shorter show than the current one minus some of the flim flam of Sunday night - although I do quite enjoy watching the Sunday night show - What do you think?????

Highs

Amy's Foxtrot dress

Hamza's Quickstep

Ellie T's Tango

Vito rocking his bob length blonde wig and cardboard guitar

Helen enjoying her dancing this week, and the Blue Peter model of the judges!



Lows

Ellie S's awful snot-green dress complete with slimy slug trails

Fleur's trousers with the split down the sides of her legs - very distracting.

Molly's one pace, repetitive action, C.Choice

Jayde's walking Charleston

Diane looking like she was about to throw up waiting for the red light, then crying when they were eventually put through.

mauveangel09 wrote:Week 5 LOWS
Spoilers  I know that if you look hard enough you have always been able to find out who is in the DO - but this year it seems really bad and I've nearly seen spoilers every week just on my  MSN and google news feeds.   I don't want to avoid these all day Sunday.      I know that they are getting very hot under the collar about the so called 'mole' at the beeb but to be honest there are only two choices -    1.  Do a live show on Sunday night.   I didn't realize that it was altered in 2008 because B rucie was finding it difficult to do 2  nights in a row.    The downside is that the pros and the celebs would not get a day off on Sunday which is probably much needed.     2.  A results show on Saturday night - this could be a much shorter show than the current one minus some of the flim flam of Sunday night - although I do quite enjoy watching the Sunday night show -   What do you think?????

I think it's time they rolled the programme back into one show on the Saturday night. I think they could cut some items back to make it a slicker show. Surely that would also mean less work for the Pro dancers. They could all still have the day off on Sunday. I'm not sure what's going to happen when the World Cup is on prime time in November?

Not so much set Highs and Lows for me, more unremarkablle than anything..

Lower than normals.

Halloween. Childish waste of good dance time. .
The Bees which I missed some of from a T.V.weather twitch. Not sorry .
Bad lighting and the fabu-u-lus darling one's 6 for Molly's Argentine Tango. I felt she did okay, better than okay actually in a hard dance.
Banana boat song danced way to fast for me. A real square peg round hole number , but no one agreed.
The silly sisters behaving like school cheerleaders.
Hamza's hair. Sorry, just  my opinion and I know it's wrong,  but it gets me down. Doubt he cares.
Is it impossible that the pros could do a basic foxtrot or so to the guest singer instead of gymnastics.

Highs. Decent improvement all round.
Tony's obvious improvement.
Ellie an Johanes No rules Couples choice.
No more Halloween.

TANGOLERO wrote:


Banana boat song danced way to fast for me. A real square peg round hole number , but no one agreed.

I did!

Whoopy-doo Mauve.

Highs

Makeup and Hair. The judges outfits, especially Cruella Deville/Morticia.
Tony's Quickstep and Katya's clever choreography
Helen's Red Ridinghood dress
Hamza & Howita's costumes
The Icarus Pro dance on the results show
Diane really enjoying herself getting into her Beetlejuice dance

Lows
The costumes were very varied. Some like Hamza's were sumptous, others looked bargain basement rummage sale tatt.
Childish themes for James, Ellie S and Helen. Killer bumble bees? Scooby Doo has been done so many times. The normal fast jolly theme tune was totally unsuitable for a foxtrot, turning it into a right dirge. Who is picking the music?
James & Amy got stitched up with their music, theme and costumes. It's starting to be predictable that the weakest dancers have the worst themes, costumes, and music  
Over scoring one or two to help keep them out of the potential dance-off.
Double standards between Fleur and Tyler. One gets praised for having wild hips, the other gets told to reign it in.
Some of the judges 'scripts' need updating. I've just watched a couple of old A.Tangos on Youtube, and Cr aig said exactly the same to those contestants that he said to Molly this week, even the standards between all three varied enormously.

The professional dance on Remembrance Sunday. It was so special to see the pros doing a group ballroom and the ending nod to Queen Elizabeth was lovely. I had a lump in my throat, it was still there after this morning's Remembrance Service which also included clips of her.

Highs
Some lovely outfits this week. Two different styles of necklines for Molly and Kym. Will in his tail coat. Fleur's Samba dress.
Fleur's Samba
Will's Waltz
Jowita dancing for England/Africa!
Tony having a ball as a rock star

Lows
Motsi getting over-emotional throughout the evening. It's getting to be a weekly trauma segway. She's a dancer, who rarely talks about any dance moves, just her feelings  
Tyler's ridiculous Paso outfit. Elasticated blue glittery shoulder-pads? Really? Usually a sign that a male contestant is struggling when the shirt comes off.
I wasn't keen on Molly's Rumba. I don't believe in their partnership. I don't usually care for his choreography, and think they are consistently overmarked. I had to laugh at T ess introducing Carlos and Molly - she's been in the dance off 3 times and is dancing to Carlos' favourite dance' No pressure then!
Too many emotional stories. I don't need to know everyone's trauma or backstory to enjoy their dancing.
Not keen on the singer on the result show. Repetitve, slow and boring song.

B4p wrote:
Too many emotional stories. I don't need to know everyone's trauma or backstory to enjoy their dancing.
Not keen on the singer on the result show. Repetitve, slow and boring song.

Both these B4p . Time and place, and a dance show isn't "This is your life".
Lows, as above.
Tony going out. Fair and had to be, but I enjoyed is dancing
Not convinced with his exit.
Tyler's Flash Gordon outfit and Paso essence.
Motsi, should stick to dance comments, that's here job.

Highs.
General show (take out the mawkish bits) was good.