I didn't really like the Argentine Tango the first time. It was mostly the ill-fitting song that ruined it for me, but I also agreed with Craig's comments on the results show about why he didn't give it a 10 the first time - that it had too much attack and was a bit frantic and disjointed. I never thought in a million years that he'd actually improve it in the Final and was all prepared to roll my eyes at it getting the scripted 40 even though it had the same problem as before, but I was so, so impressed that he actually danced it so much better than the first time - way smoother and more connected with Nikita. I really loved it this time (other than the lack of proper music) and I'm so glad it was their last dance and the last dance of the night and they got their well deserved 40 for it. I also confess to thinking Nikita was full of shit when he said on ITT that the dance would have a different story/emotion/meaning/whatever the second time round, and fully expected to be entirely unmoved as I was the first time. So glad I was wrong!
And his tears after got to me, he's so precious, I can't even deal
The Quickstep was also amazing, again, absolutely awestruck that he improved it so much. The most I hoped for was for the couple of moments they were a little out of sync the first time to be smoothed out, but as well as being more calm, controlled and in sync, the frame and body contact was hugely improved too. There was definitely a mistake (actually I think there were two, oops) but after Booby's ridiculous 39s for dances that were firmly in the 30-34 range, who cares? And I'm feeling slightly wrathful once again about the music and costume stitch-up they had with the American Smooth which really obscured how much improvement there was from the Viennese Waltz.
Mostly I'm happy for Ellie's win, but it makes me a little frustrated how many people claim to vote for the most improvement but willfully shut their eyes to how much Layton has improved. I usually agree that a ringer shouldn't win, but I don't think I've ever seen one show such clear, marked improvement before as Layton has. I normally hate the repeated dances in the Final and feel they're a complete waste of everyone's time. For the first time ever I loved them and I'm sad we can't see all his early dances again to see what they could be like now. Ellie got really lucky - any other year she'd have been the one the journey voters called boring because she was too good from the start.