The final of Strictly Come Dancing 2015 promised a spectacular showdown between four talented couples, but ended in a curious anticlimax. Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani, the favourites, delivered a restrained show dance that judges slammed as 'disappointing'. Despite the criticism, they lifted the glitterball, leaving even themselves in disbelief.
The problem lay in the final's inability to produce 'wow' moments surpassing earlier series highlights, like Jay and Aliona's jive from week three. With no joke contestants, the competition was almost too good, yet not quite good enough to deliver a memorable finale.
Strictly faces a dilemma: it seeks contestants with prior dance training to deliver spectacular routines, but this approach risks homogenising the competition. Perhaps a return to more random casting, as with 2009 winner Chris Hollins, could inject fresh unpredictability.
Judges' inherent biases also came into play. Len Goodman favours traditional ballroom, Darcey Bussell lyricism, Craig Revel Horwood perfected innovation, and Bruno Tonioli follows his heart. These differing perspectives mean they often see dances differently from the audience, leading to clashes like the one that marred the final.
Despite the anticlimax, the evening offered classic Strictly moments: Mary Berry struggling with cue cards, Claudia Winkleman's sharp jibes, and a dolphin-costumed husband. The best line came from a viewer complaining that Craig had 'mellowed' and should return to being nasty—a sentiment many fans shared.
