S14.E20: Week 10

[Pete Martell]

I enjoyed this more than just about any show this series - it felt less like a party that no one wanted to be invited to. Lots of good or decent dances, even if Oti and Joanne seemed to be choreographing more for SYTYCD. 

Danny/Oti - This is one of those dances where if I disliked the couple in question I'd probably fume, but I've grown to enjoy them over the last month (it helps that they're the one couple this series who have steadily grown in their chemistry and rapport), and I like how many risks Oti takes with her choreography. Danny is a bit of a 'bot but he was believably sexual and dirty in this dance. Oti having him with an open shirt so his pecs could bounce along to the beat was shameless and very clever pandering. 

Ore/Joanne - Probably my favorite dance of theirs, even with the cheesy end. The paso suits his dancing style and also suits them as partners. And this cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was much better than that Lorde pap that always sounded like an old record played too many times until every syllable is stretched. 

Louise/Kevin - As often happens with Louise, it felt very lackluster; she seems to be, like Greg, becoming more hesitant with each passing week. The choreography also felt very herky-jerky. And I was distracted by their using the theme from a sitcom that always kind of got on my nerves. I didn't think she was as bad in the rigathon as some claimed but throwing it at her to help keep her safe did her no favors. 

Rinder/Oksana - Corky St. Clair expressions aside, this was one of the times where the effort he made in both dances felt genuine rather than self-satisfied and cloying. 

Ed/Katya - I've defended his dancing in many weeks as not being any worse than most of the others, but I can't say that this week. It just wasn't good at all. 

Claudia/AJ - I wanted to like this more than I did. Technically it was good, but AJ in particular just seems too immature to carry the emotion of the AT off. And his hideous, oversized smoking jacket that looked like something Kevin Clifton donated for Christmas distracted me more than almost any wardrobe ever has on this show. 

Edited November 27, 2016 by Pete Martell

[Occasional Hope]

I'm not a fan of sambas in general, but I was impressed by Danny's execution.  I enjoyed Claudia's Argentine tango too.

Louise is good but boring.  I can't see her winning, no matter how much the judges love her, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her in a danceoff soon, even if she didn't deserve to be.

Ed had definitely run his course by this week.  I watched this on a recording, and we fast forwarded though all the VTs, so we spent the entire dance trying to work out what it was supposed to be.

[Dots And Stripes]

My poor Ed! It would hard to justify him having a place in the top 5 but I still would have loved it. Rinder had a bad week too, but obviously he is the better dancer of the two.

I'm actually slightly warming to Louise. She's never in character, unless that character is smiley, but she seems nice enough. I'd be ok with her winning if Kevin starts getting non-contenders. 

The biggest surprise of the night was Lousie beating Danny in the marathon. Louise may very well be this season's Kelly. She could dominate the finale with the judge's scores, but will the audience like her more than Kelly? Is Danny as popular as Jay? I feel like Claudia not getting 10's on the AT does not bode well for her ability to win this thing. I also get the sense Ore is not as popular as Danny, although admittedly I had no idea who either of them were before I started watching this season.