Strictly Come Dancing semi-final: a perfect score, lots of tears, but it all felt a bit flat

Was there a bit of sparkle missing from this year’s semi-final?

Strictly Come Dancing reached the semi-final this week, but it felt a bit less exciting than in previous years. This weekend, the contestants were taking on two dances as they fought to make it to next week’s grand final.

There were a LOT of emotions on display as the four remaining celebrities took to the dance floor to showcase their talents.

It was a fun week with some nice dances but as far as Strictly semi-finals go, it wasn’t earth-shattering. We even found ourselves zoning out during the competitors’ VTs as we heard how much they love their mum/dad/sister/brother/insert family member here.

Here’s what we thought of everything that happened in the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final.

Karen and Carlos were emotional (Credit: BBC)

Karen and Carlos got emotional

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been brilliant in this year’s competition, but she has proved her worth – as judge Anton du Beke said – by being a bit “crash, bang wallop”. She’s thrown herself into dances with real enthusiasm and gusto.

But this week she was dancing a Waltz to One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston. And she showed everyone that she could bring the sensitivity to the dance floor too.

By the end of the dance both Karen and her partner Carlos Gu were sobbing. Anton was emotional too as he told her that he’d never thought she could dance that way, and his heart “skips a beat” to see it.

Head judge Shirley Ballas was also choked with tears as she complimented the dance.

Karen won 39 from the judges for her Waltz.

And she won the same score for her second dance – a Salsa. The judges really enjoyed her Latin moves with Motsi Mabuse saying she wished she could have joined her on the dance floor! High praise, indeed!

Amber wowed the judges with her Couple’s Choice (Credit: BBC)

Amber and Nikita got top marks

West End star Amber Davies was saved in the dance off last week, sending actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones home.

Amber took to social media during the week to share that she’d been sent some hateful messages about her success in the dance off. Her partner Nikita Kuzmin also admitted it had been tough.

But they pulled it out of the bag!

Their first dance was a Tango, which was dramatic and sharp, but oddly attracted criticism from Anton and Shirley.

In a twist, Craig Revel Horwood, know to be the toughest judge, said his fellow judges were being “unnecessarily harsh”!

But he scored Amber a 9 anyway – the same as Anton. Make it make sense. Amber won 37 points for the Tango.

It was her Couple’s Choice, though, that brought the house down. Her old-Hollywood-style dance to Fly Me to the Moon was a winner.

“Absolutely beautiful in every way,” said Shirley.

A thrilled Amber and Nikita won top marks – 40 – from the judges.

George went for it in his Samba (Credit: BBC)

George let loose!

YouTuber George Clarke has been tipped as favourite to win the whole competition and this week it felt like he just went for it!

“You certainly let loose!” commented Craig about the energetic Samba George danced with partner Alexis Warr. “What it lacked in technique, it made up for in entertainment!”

George’s second dance was a Charleston inspired by the Inbetweeners. It was funny and quirky and the judges all agreed it suited George perfectly.

He was given 35 points for his Samba, and 37 for his Charleston. Not too shabby.

Bal showed off her Salsa skills (Credit: BBC)

Bal gave it her all!

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal has been in FIVE dance-offs this series. But this week she proved she was supposed to be in the semi-final, when she danced a fabulous Salsa to a Gloria Estefan medly.

“What a start,” said a stunned Anton. While Shirley said it reminded her of dancing Salsa in Cuba.

Bal won 35 points from the judges for her Salsa.

Though she confessed she hadn’t enjoyed learning the Waltz at first, her second dance was a snowy Parisian joy. With a little awkwardness when she got her dress caught as she struggled to get up off the floor.

We loved it, and the judges did too, praising how natural she was.

Bal scored 35 for her Waltz, and the same for her Salsa.

But sadly it wasn’t enough.

Bal said goodbye (Credit: BBC)

Dance-off drama!

Despite getting a perfect score, Amber and Nikita were in the dance-off again this week, taking on Bal and Julian.

Just like last week, the judges chose to save Amber.

So Bal’s time on Strictly has come to an end – we’ll miss the ultimate comeback queen.

Despite the emotions of the results show, we were delighted to see a very Christmassy performance by Kylie, plus a wintery treat from the band James.

We always enjoy Strictly, that’s true. But this week’s semi-final did fall a bit flat for us. We’re not sure why. Was it the absence of Lewis and Katya? The knowledge that everything’s changing as presenters Claudia and Tess say goodbye? Who knows?

But we’re still feeling pretty excited about next week’s final, anyway.