[gottago]

The postcards are a big letdown this year, though. As others have said they’re more personality driven than country specific, but that’s fine. The issue is that they just look… cheap. They feel like something which would have been self shot during Covid. I wonder if the “shot on a phone” look is part of a cost cutting exercise? Saves them arranging actual shoots in the countries themselves, with the final X Factor-style “hero shots” of the acts just all shot at the same studio in Sweden.

I mainly agree although I think the slo-mo shots at the end are absolutely stunning and the one saving grace.

I don't really get the archive bit and yes the self shot bits are very Covid.

These three recent Swedish contests have barely shown any of Sweden itself. 2013 and 2016's postcards were all filmed in the artists' home countries and you see hardly anything of Malmo or Stockholm. The Swedish Smorgasbord interval was as close to Swedish culture as they've had! It was a great show last night but that arena could've been anywhere in Europe.

1.8m on BBC1 last night which they will be very happy with considering these used to be hidden away on BBC3 for the same cost. I think it's about the same rating as last year. Eurovision fever has carried on from last year it seems.