There just have to be some SYTYCD fans that read Feministe, no? At least a couple? Well, such is my hope because I’m tired of watching these episodes and not having anybody to talk to about them. So, let’s get started!
Last night, the top 12 dancers danced their little hearts out with two dances for each couple. The pressure is definitely on to see who will make the top 10 (which we find out tonight! AHHHH!). I think the fact that last week’s dances were only okay, coupled with the desire to make the top 10 made for an incredible night.
Ellenore & Ryan – I think they had the best night. They had the lindy hop and then a Broadway number, and both were phenomenal, IMO. I kinda hated Ryan when the season started and really just liked seeing him with his shirt off cuz he is one attractive man. But I must say he has grown on me, though I’d still be okay if he left. Ellenore, on the other hand, is one of my favorites and has been from the start so YAY ELLENORE!
Kathryn & Legacy – They had a good night. Their first number, a jazz routine by Sonya (who I have an inexplicable crush on), was my favorite of the night, but their Viennese waltz bored me. That said, I LOVE Legacy and Kathryn. I think they should be a couple and love each other and dance together forever. They’re just too cute for words. I really hope they both make the top 10.
Karen & Victor – The new match-up after their partners left last week. They had the tango first, and that was good, but their hip hop routine was WACK. I don’t blame them though, I think Laurie Ann’s choreography was just awful. I really like both of them, and it’ll be sad if either of them leave tonight.
Mollee & Nathan – I can’t STAND Nathan! OMG PLEASE LEAVE ALREADY! Ok, sorry, so they danced hip hop and the can can. The hip hop routine was so weird (not their fault), and I did like the can can. But I don’t think either of those was the best of the night, whatever. I’d be fine if they both went home, though I think he’s been holding her back so it’s cool if she stays.
Noelle & Russell – I don’t even remember what they did last night, that’s how unimpressed I was I guess. They had a samba and a contemporary. Their samba was boring, and the contemporary was good. Meh. I like Russell, but Noelle isn’t anything special. My only request is that Nigel stop saying Russell has never taken a class because he said he has. It’s one thing to say “not trained” b/c, ok, taking a few classes here and their isn’t really training, but no classes? That’s just a lie.
Ashleigh & Jakob – I have to say it, I don’t particularly like this couple together. Ashleigh is cool and Jakob is obviously incredible technically, but they bore me. That said, I really liked last night’s lyrical jazz piece (by Sonya again – LOVE her). The cha cha is Ashleigh’s dance, so of course she was great, but Jakob was only okay.
I’d like to see Nathan and Noelle leave. I think who’s actually leaving is probably Karen and Victor. Karen’s solos are never good and they’ve been telling Victor that he hasn’t really grown as a dancer. I love Victor though, so I’ll be sad if he leaves.
Does anybody have any reactions and/or predictions to share?
BTW, I tried to link to videos I could find; if anybody finds a video of anything I haven’t linked to, please let me know so I can add it.
I think Victor or Nathan will leave, and I’m not sure among the women, probably Karen but maybe Mollee. I’d be happy for Nathan and Mollee or Noelle to leave.
I also have an inexplicable crush on Sonya. Seriously. I LOVE HER.
Totally agree about Nathan. I think he’s holding Mollee back, so I hope she gets to stay and he has to go. I’d like to see her dance with someone older?
I hope Victor and Mollee go home. I think that the Victor/Karen hip hop was bad, BUt she was so so so much better than he was and I was a little annoyed by the judges that they didn’t say so.
I ALSO LOVE SONYA MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS.
I kind of thought this episode was a little meh. There were bright points, but on the whole I wasn’t particularly impressed – more fumbles and missteps than I’d expect to see at this point. BUT I LOVE THE SHOW SO MUCH THAT I MUST USE ALL CAPS BUT THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO EMPHASIZE MY LOVE FOR SONYA BECAUSE I LOVE HER MORE.
good point, herong, good point! It really isn’t inexplicable cuz she is loads of awesome.
Karen was definitely better than Victor in the hip hop, but I was too distracted by the bad choreography to even notice until I saw the dance for the second time.
I really don’t want Karen to go, same with Victor though. I think they’re both capable of a lot more but they haven’t gotten there yet, you know?
Nathan is a lost cause, I think… And DAMN does he annoy me!
I have a love/hate relationship with this show, and yet I watch every episode. As a former dancer/ figure skater, I absolutely love dance as an art form, but am constantly annoyed with how gendered dance can be. It seems compulsory for women to show their bodies by wearing provocative clothing, but optional for male dancers… and there is the heteronormativity that comes with compulsory male/female partnerships. I just wish that dance allowed for a bit more freedom from some of these constraints, but with Nigel as judge and executive producer, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
I’ve PVRed this episode, so I can’t comment much on it, but I am glad to hear that it is getting better… I have been somewhat disappointed the past few weeks after spending the summer watching last season and the Canadian version, this season hasn’t quite measured up.
In England we have Strictly Come Dancing. I love it, although I’d love it more if they didn’t dress the women like strippers so much.
When I saw this post on here I totally squealed out loud at my desk! So embarrassing, but oh well.
I love this show. My roomie turned me onto it over the summer. My only regret is that I came so late to the game(so to speak).
Best thing about last night, for me, was that in both routines that Ryan did he wasn’t shirtless or practically shirtless. When he does that he just reminds me of some tool you might find on the jersey shore. I’ve been hoping they’d kick him off for weeks and then when they did so let him know they are sending him straight to Tool Academy. That said. . . I’m starting to enjoy him. He really is growing as a dancer and that is so much fun to watch. His wife on the other hand. . . still bugs the shit out of me! I want to like her. She has obviously worked very hard for everything she has. But she just comes across to me as a bit high strung and on the uptight side and I haven’t been excited by her dancing. Those are the only two I have such strong opinions on.
I really like Russell, Legacy, Ellenore, and Jakob. They are all a joy to watch.
I don’t like Ashleigh(duh!), Karen, or Nathan AT ALL!
And the rest of them. . . meh!
I haven’t seen this series in Oz yet, hope it’s not being aired at some ridiculous time. Every time a series airs here I am glued, GLUED to it. Looking at the “biggest Loser” post adjacent to this one, it is everything BL isn’t; It doesn’t subject its contestants to extremely humiliating and life-threatening torture (well not over and above the physical and emotional risk that dance and the dance industry poses as a rather gruelling discipline), and I love the positive attitude of the judges and choreographers. At least that was the case in the last series I saw. And I love Kat Deeley – so friendly and so loving her job, not just tottering out on heels going through the motions to be a celebritah.
thank you thank you thank you. i love this show and the blog of course so it’s great that you covered it :) now, what do you think about nigel? he talks to the female competitors in such a degrading way sometimes. it’s the only negative for me regarding the show.