Strictly 2022: Week 4

Welcome to week….what the hell is Motsi wearing? Whomever she has a bet with, La Mabuse has more than won it!

And congrats to the legendary Tony Beak and his NTA award. Hasn’t the judging seat suited Anton to a tee?

If tonight’s Strictly gives you a feeling of déjà vu, The Recs is not surprised! You certainly can’t doubt Strictly’s green credentials this week given the amount of song recycling they’ve got going on. Judge Rinder and his lederhosen already bagsied Boom Bang A Bang in Series 14. The same series saw Laura Whitmore and Giovanni tango to Paint It Black. Ditto to Greg Rutherford giving Tamacun a try – as did Mike Bushell and Katya Jones in Series 17. Series 13 saw Georgia May Foote and Giovanni sambaing to Volare. Don’t Get Me Wrong has been performed on two previous occasions – Anita Rani and Gleb in 2015 and Strictly winner Harry Judd and Aliona back in 2011. And finally Jake Wood and Janette jived to All Shook Up in 2014.

Ellie (as a glittery dentist, of course, we are in Strictlyland) and Nikita salsaing to I Love Your Smile by Shanice. Lifts almost as high as Nikita’s hair uplift – not bad! Nikita playing the Paralympian card rather unnecessarily hard.

Will and Nancy‘s Rumba to The Joker and The Queen by *checks notes* Ed Sheeran featuring Taylor Swift whoever they might be. “Wonderful dramatic actor” says Anton, clearly a fan of Two Pints of Lager and a Pint of Crisps. Seemed very stiff of hip – and in the death slot. Eek!

Jiving to All Shook Up by Paul McCartney, Matt and Nadiya is typically hit and miss as usual. Shook up in places, messier in other…basically if Matt had what Motsi’s on, it would have been so much better! There is something adorable about him – The Recs is not giving up on him…yet.

Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler is a classic. Jayde and Karen‘s dance not so much. Really hate when they play the sad story card (Will, Jayde) as the dance becomes impossible to critique. Shirley bought into it – we didn’t.

Molly and Carlos Cha Cha Cha’ing to Do What I Do by Lady Bri was at least focussed on the dance. A Gatsby-styled routine that brought us back to the ballroom. Enjoying this partnership.

James (does he have a family, he should have mentioned) and Amy performing a rather slow Quickstep to Don’t Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders – shocked at no mention of spatulistic hands but this season seems to be setting the bar low.

There are moments in history that need to be bookmarked for future scholars. On 16 September 2001, George W Bush declared a war on terrorism. And on 15 October 2022, Day Varch and his wunnerful, wunnerful cat-stranglers declared war on music.

Fleur and Vito with the first Argentine Tango of the series to Paint it Black by Ciara. Sensual, bold, so much attack. An outrage that Fleur was in bottom two. Judges got the memo (and lost their cushions)! No sob stories, just dancing. (Claude deserving the licence fee for “No animals”)

Preceded by some comedic schtick by the TessBot and Day Varch – tumbleweed – Kym (who is in Waterloo Road – a prize from anyone who knew that was still going) and Graziano‘s Samba to Volare by Gipsy Kings was her best dance yet. No need for sick bags. Elegance, sharpness…a delight!

“Our dances in the last few weeks have been quite playful” said Katya decrying her relentless Book of Distraction Tricks. Eviction-dodging Tony and Katya‘s American Smooth was baffling. So many lifts, not so much dancing and a finale that was either death-defying Katya trying to save her own neck as she was dropped from a lift or a modern counter-position to what an American Smooth is. The Marmite contestant…does he deserve another week?

Hamza (dressed by the interior designers of a regional Las Iguanas) and Jowita continued this week’s much improved second half with a jaw-dropping (but not Jowita-dropping) Salsa. Wow – has our journey contestant just become our potential winner. He is unknown pretty much, she is unknown…everything has just changed! Just shows that you don’t have to be famous or have a much-loved pro to blast everything away on the dancefloor.

Helen and Gorka‘s Paso Doble was super tradition, but suffered from following Hamza’s Salsa. The barrel-top tapdancing just needed a bit more oomph!

“We’re off to a farm for a Viennese Waltz” are the words that intone that say fast track to the Bottom Two. Has Ellie T got a long-standing grudge with the costume department? No designer would plonk that bizarre gingham headpiece near anyone that they had any affection for! “So much fun” said TessBot2000 as if she had an emergency download while having to announce.

Tyler and Dianne bizarrely getting The Couples’ Choice so early seems wrong for such an excellent dancer. A Garage Megamix was perhaps too snatchy and stop-start as a routine and lacked connection.

Thirteen couples left – a mix of talent, trying and sob stories!

Will talent or entertain prevail? The choice is yours!

But since we love the taste of egg on our face, we will predict…