slaterain

Chandler gave me such a weird icky vibe by the end of the episode. I think that he was a bit upset that Rhylee was focusing on Ashton when they went out drinking and not him. He did make that comment to her that I am not your bosun off-ship! The person above nailed it that he went to the nuclear option first. Especially when he totally went after Rylee so hardcore in the cab. This does not bode well for him - not to mention his screw ups with the lifejacket and the anchor. Ross definitely would be a better bosun. Rhylee was definitely obnoxious with someone who is her superior but she was just trying to warn him that it wasn't good to go to such extremes on the first night out. 6am was ridiculous. 8am was going to be tough anyway - he could have just given Ashton the sh*t jobs in the morning instead. I also hope that the misogyny ends and they actually teach Rhylee - questions are good - she is willing to learn and isn't trying to act all-knowing. I can't tell with Ross if he would be more willing to answer her questions as bosun or if his method of pushing her out of the room is more his style. I felt like that was more due to the fact that she was drunk and he was trying to keep them separated and quick. Time will tell! I dig Adrian's calm style and impressive cooking so far. Loved Kate's dog description for him - he has made some side comments that have been icky. Kate - How i missed you after watching BDM - so glad that she is back!

I also missed the first 40 minutes due to Ohio State football being the most important thing ever to report on here in Columbus. I'm not sure I am too interested to take time to watch the other junior group routines. I am glad that I caught the Fabulous Sisters as they are just power and a whole new perspective! I'm sad that B-Dash/Koncrete didn't make it through. Their uniqueness should have kept them in IMO but I knew they would be right on that bubble. They really pushed themselves each new routine and I would have loved to see what they came up next. I do think there were gaps that didn't flow as well when they went to grab the next prop that did bring me out of it slightly. I kinda wish they had solos as a separate category from partners as I think it does really change the dynamic and how it is judged. The Aussie is good but there is less skill when you don't have to keep in synch with another and hold connections. It does say a lot that he is the only soloist left. but as others have said - we already know what to expect from him next week.

The traveler's cheques cracked me up! I moved about 3 years ago and found a few that I got in the late 90s when traveling in Australia at my mom's insistence. I'm sure I still have them because I mostly just used my credit cards! I really should go cash them in but I honestly forget about them so often that I feel it will be a real nice surprise at a time I really could use them! HA!

J-wow - MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN TEA!!! It really isn't difficult! other than that - meh episode - did love Hannah's quip about one more affirmation. and Colin's parents were adorable for an ep. but can we say that they helicopter just a teensy bit (insert eye roll!). the sliding space doors comment was sweet. that was so weird - why would you just hang in your room unless you were avoiding them!??! weren't they hungry? want some coffee at least or poke their head out and see what is going on at some point before noon if you really were up?

This episode more than any other reinforced my feelings on missing the old setup. We are already to the top 6 and we have only been seeing these dancers really perform for 3 weeks. The top 20 allowed us to enjoy our favs for longer and really weed out the weaker ones after the powers that be push for their favs but still allow strong dancers through. They are less willing to give the spot to an amazing dancer and solely focus on personality/storyline which does the show a huge disservice. I feel like Slavik and Gennesy get weaker and weaker each week. Also - there is a better build to the evolution of dancers with more performance shows as it used to be - they only had to focus on one duet and one group routine for the first 4-5 weeks and get used to the show before having to do 3 and now 4 routines plus a solo in one 2 hour period as they had to do this week. I think this is one of the major reasons that we don't feel the routines are as powerful or the dancers are as strong anymore. They were thrown in way too deep to start. I actually wonder if twitch and others would have come out of the show so strong and revered if they had had the shorter setup. And there is no recovery time from being in the bottom one week to the next - they don't really have a chance to improve their rankings when there is a 50/50 shot of being in the bottom already! The group number cracked me up at the end when no surprise Slavik was the one still in the ropes because he couldn't handle the floor portion. The choreo didn't build the flow well enough to make sense why he is the only one still caged. I'm over the push for Slavik, Gennesy and Jensen. I loved having some new choreographers in the mix and helped me get more excited. They have a learning curve as well - but again these first routines would have worked better for a top 20 to top 10 period then now.

I enjoyed this episode if only just to have Megan Follows as Mama to watch (love me some Anne!) I didn't realize she was on Reign too - I may need to check that out. I liked Jolene and she kinda reminded me of the woman who played Halfrek on Buffy - especially with some of the nuances and the comedic timing. When I realized who it was I was kinda surprised as I really didn't like her on Lost Girl at all. Seeing that she has more skills then I'm curious if she just got better or it just wasn't the right role on Lost Girl. I did feel that the last few eps have been a bit scattered. And I am not as drawn in as I have been in the past. But I liked the quirk Jolene added to the ep and am curious to see where they go next.

Top Ten - totally agree they keep trying to remake Ramalama!!! My thought the entire time was who is trying to imitate Wade Robson and failing?!?! There were spots in it that might have been good but Luther Brown didn't let any of those bits breathe. It just seemed frantic and hard to follow. The camera work never helps either!!! Jensen/JJ - Their African Jazz had some good moments and was the first time I wasn't annoyed by Jensen. I liked that weird interlocked crawl thing! Their contemporary was good - not great but good. There were a few rough transitions. What is JJ's official style? Jazz? seemed like these two got the choreo/style favoritism for sure! Genessy/Slavik - The broadway was fine. I thought they did pretty well with it but they were trying to recreate the bench and that pulled me out of just enjoying the dance. Literally even copying a couple of portions of it. but honestly Slavik barely did anything. I gave up on the Jive - just couldn't get into it so I ff-ed through it all - didn't realize they got a standing O until reading here which makes me roll my eyes even more. They were the two that I kinda didn't want in the top 10. Last week I was ok with them but still not completely sold beyond letting them have another week. This week didn't really help either and I would be happy if they were cut next. it won't happen with how much they play up their chemistry. Hannahlei/Cole - They are one of my fav couples! And they totally got screwed with the style assignments. With Hannahlei getting called first I am guessing the producers were targeting Cole more. Step should not be done as a solo or duet. It needs the group to make it work - the stepping should drown out everything. Two people (especially such lightweights like them!) just can't have the same impact. They should do a group step routine if they really want to include it. Nigel even said that in an audition round stepping needed the group after someone did a step solo. Their disco didn't bug me as much as past ones did but with their costumes (in both routines) plus Cat's outfit - I thought the whole show was going to be 80s retro! Chelsea/Evan - I liked Chelsea but wanted Emily - and Evan just seems so young in his dancing that I struggled with this couple and was kinda ok that they were the sacrificial lambs. The contemporary was fine and had some really beautiful moments. But you knew it wouldn't matter. The hip hop was just fine but the two don't have much chemistry and it didn't completely click. I wonder if the choreo was simplified a bit or they just didn't sell it. Totally ok with them going home. And honestly with the tap - they do so much choreo where they play off the other skills (every hip hop dancer!) yet they didn't try and do that with the tap at all. The plot could have been an instructor/newb role to make it work. There was no hope for them and Nigel totally tried to cya with his voluntold speech. Magda/Darius - they have become my other fav couple! The smooth jazz was my favorite routine of the night. So much good! And they totally connect. I was bummed that Magda was in the bottom so I hope that this helps push her up. The bollywood was ok. It was slow as many have said but it also was a bit too ADD. They never held any one movement for more than 1-2 repetitions. I wanted them to really get into it and it moved too quickly through all the moves trying to fit it all in. It needed to breath more and let them lose themselves in it more than focusing on what move came next. They did use to critique far more! I think it helped when they had a longer season and didn't waste so many weeks on auditions/academy. Also they had more time to get to know the dancers. Usually the first ep or two they would be super nice - then they would be pretty critical to get to the top 10 while they were still in control of who went home. Then they would get a bit more pollyanna with their favs until the end. Shankman, Little C, and a few others would give really insightful comments. And I think Twitch can/does too at times. Still don't see any value to Vanessa. I have been fastforwarding through all the comments while pausing occasionally to hear Twitch's thoughts.

I was so annoyed when Jane joined them in Paris. I was actually hopeful that for once Jane would be the lone one out. I have really hated her this season and I don't recall thinking that last season. So did the character/writing change or did I just not notice it as much since it was a new show!?!?! I really can't stand her. She gets ZERO consequences. Can't afford fertility treatments? Here are two guys that will help you out. Don't like a locked gun without ammunition in your apartment? Just guilt your friend out of it. (I am anti gun but completely sided with Sutton on this one!) Escape work to help a friend but are so completely trashed that you don't realize all that both friends are going through! I need her to have something happen and stick. I want both guys to realize what a b*tch she is!!! Both Sutton and Kat have called her out on her behavior but she still seems to win every time. UGH!!!

had to look up BDE! :D I totally agree! I thought I heard "I like you but I don't need you" - either way works but slightly different in that she doesn't need a publicist...

SO MUCH THIS!!! I'm so sure Torn is on their regular gig list. Was it supposed to be live band karaoke instead of just a band playing? Then maybe. But still!

Yet all the hip hoppers did that - and the choreographers encouraged it. They are always saying that they like to see the blending and making the dance their own. And then the judges (aka Nigel's) favoritism shows by who they ding for it and who they applaud.

I was really annoyed that Kyle was let go and Slavic stayed - that was the wrong decision IMO. I didn't think the tapper did that well but wasn't surprised that he got through - Nigel loves having at least one tapper. I would have preferred having the hip hop guy stay that they told to come back next year. I loved Darius and Comfort's hip hop routine (his was the last one correct? still learning names!) - I had to rewatch it - it was so much fun!

I'm sure it was longer than the rounds where they rehearse for 90 and then perform. My guess is that they had them learn it a day before or the morning of. I wonder if the allstars may have already learned the routines. but they would still need time to work with both for those that doubled up. I just don't see them lingering at academy for multiple days for those. So I am sure it is still a far shorter time than they will have during the Lives.

I will say that all the dancers showed promise since we were seeing how they did after just a short rehearsal - I am assuming these were taught and then performed the same day during academy. At least during lives they get days to work on the routines.

I did enjoy the format a lot - seeing ten full dances and without props/costumes/etc. It was refreshing! And actually made me forgive (just a little bit) the pairing down from 20 to 10. I thought all of the routines were strong but felt bad for Stephanie's which was way more nuanced than crazy flashy moves. I would have really liked her to move on instead of Jensen - mainly because I feel that it was rigged for Jensen - they do love their connection to past participant stories! I really wanted Emily to go through and I liked her hip hop better than Genessey (who I felt was missing something - maybe it was just the face/expressions) although I did feel that Emily did lose energy as the dance went on. I am glad that Hannahlei made it through - she is my fav so far. Was a bit sad that the tapper didn't make it but it was tough competition to narrow down to 5.

This episode frustrated me on so many levels!!!! I hate that Jane got her way. She had a life lesson learned (kinda) and yet still got her way. Never once was it said that it is ok to have different view points. And I think it really could have been a better advocate that most on the left don't just want to take everyone's guns away. And I hate that they dulled the story by adding the mom issues. I don't like guns and I definitely would be a bit weirded out if a roommate had a gun. But in Sutton's case she was extremely reasonable, had it locked, and didn't even have ammunition in the house. It is literally a hunk of metal in a crazy locked case. And really there was no reason for Jane to be such a pain about the "clarinet" and harassing Sutton at the start. How about respecting your bff if she doesn't want to talk about something! Jane has always been a bit obnoxious but I don't recall hating her in season 1 like I do now! And why does she need a man to always talk her down?!?! UGH! And seriously - get over the desk thing. What a petty little thing to get all caught up in. I would assume in two months that likely someone moved to that desk!

That really bugged me!!! So much!!! no comment about Rayna - no comment about Teddy. just ugh.

I wouldn't mind if Liza and Josh were end game - they have ruined the Charles character and all the build up that worked so well in the first two seasons has fizzled out. I just don't care about a Liza-Charles thing anymore. I just want them to hook up and get over it. Then she can go back to Josh for keeps.

I'm ready for Liza to write a book about her experiences - have Millennial print it - and let it all out. Then the show can just become the good stuff with all the cast - especially Maggie, Lauren, and Diana. I really want Diana to be brought into that fabulous group and they can all head back to that piano bar Diana loves!

The ridiculous love triangle aside - how has Avery not made some comment of "you dated my ex" to Gunner?!?! Hell they even formed a band called the exes and then Gunner got back together with her yet again. They have made Gunner this sap and Scarlet so annoying when they were my fav couple early on. And he will fall back in deep, forever love with someone else in a week or two. I really just want Avery, Gunner, Will and Scarlet to form an amazing band that actually sticks. Hasn't highway 65 folded by now?! who is left?! And I miss the songwriting. Can you imagine the incredible angtsy songs that Avery should be delivering right now!?!? I just don't care about so many of these storylines. And it seems like they just keep jumbling them up more instead of resolving things for the final season. I wonder how much was already written when they found out it would be the last. And then were they just too lazy to adjust?

YES!!! And why does she need to include his name in the article at all?!! It might be better to have him be anonymous. Yet similar to her issue with Insight and how she kept calling them out - she doesn't seem to think out potential consequences.

Although did she ever say it to him?!?! I would think that would be the first thing to say!

I saw her flippant answers as being more of the "I don't even want to try and go into it because no one gets it and it spirals into more questions so I will just be a bit self-deprecating and funny". I liked her and am excited to see what else she can do. This is when I really miss the choreography option during auditions. I really thought that Courtland shouldn't have made it through. My eyes were always on Nathan. The first day of the academy is going to be a bloodbath!!! Seriously!!! I don't need to see all the tears - they wouldn't leave that one ballet dancer alone and I really don't need to see that. YES! I am loving Twitch as a guest judge and really wish he was the permanent third instead of Vanessa.

Mine too - just caught them raving to a black guy in a brown hat but never saw his audition (anyone have a name to go with him so that I can look it up? or was that Dustin?) - then it blanked again until midway through Benji and partner's pseudo swing. and then out again with just a brief glimpse of the upcoming NY audition.

If I recall correctly - they never decided that it would be an Empirical book. They just told Kelsey that they were considering it and wanted to give her the heads up. I think the bigger miss is not officially telling them and letting them find out by seeing the book in print. That is not a good way to run a business - granted with all of their money issues it doesn't seem like they know how to anyway. and of course it helps create DRAH-MAH!!! While I don't think it affects the people who buy the book - I wonder if it is more a marketing PR thing that the publisher matters and helps them get the book into articles/reviews/top lists. Granted again - it is already somehow a big hit before it even is finished! I would like to see Charles and Liza just happen even if it is only for a few eps and even if it is secret. I want to see him actually loosen up like we saw the slight glimpse of when he was in the Hamptons. They used to show so many more great scenes with them where they talked about childhood books and random things that helped indicate that there might be more there. Now all it is is looks and declarations but no chemistry. So I kinda just want them to hook up and get it out of their systems!!!