PureDWTS Season 20, Week 4 – Power Rankings
Well, after shedding more tears than I intended to last night, I’m left feeling a tad uncertain about how things are shaking out these season. Though Michael left on a high note with his best dance yet, he still seemed to get underscored relative to some of the other couples, and it just kinda makes me resent the fact that the judges nitpicked him to death week after week. Though he seemed like he was at peace with getting eliminated, I still can think of at least 3 other celebs that should have gotten sent him before he did. But moving right along…
…Len seemed unusually disgruntled last night, and the only people he seemed to really gush about were Robert & Willow. He’s still not too fond of Riker or Nastia, but he seems like he turned on Rumer a bit this week, too. Julianne seemed to love just about everyone, but did kinda surprise me when she told Robert he had the best technique of the men this season – perhaps trying to draw attention away from #RikerNotADancer and his suspiciously good technique? Tuned out when Carrie Ann & Bruno spoke, so I can’t really say anything about them. The big announcement that the cast is touring again this summer? Meh. If they think Melissa’s gonna be as big a draw as Alfonso, god love them. Oh, and if you didn’t hear already – the switch-up is cancelled, and we don’t know why. *shrug* No skin off my back. Is it Disney week yet??? 😀
1.) Noah & Sharna – Noah may not have gotten the high score of the night, but after that contemporary? He and Sharna won the night for me – because that wasn’t just “a good dance – for an amputee”; that was a good dance, PERIOD. Still in awe of what this man can do without an arm – you’d think it would be the leg that would really hold him back, but I think so many of us forget how much arm work then men have to do when leading/lifting/getting up off the floor, etc. And Noah did all of it – without an arm, and without really breaking a sweat. And a big around of applause for Sharna, who yet again worked up some clever choreography to really show what he’s able to do. Loved the mirror at the beginning – and this may just be the nerdy “a-ha, I see what you did there!” side of me, but I loved that it was almost a bit of a nod to other amputees going through treatment: a friend from high school lost his right leg to an IED in Fallujah about 8 years ago, and he really struggled with phantom limb pain…the treatment? A mirror that tricked his brain into thinking he still had two legs, by reflecting the image of the remaining one. So I appreciated that little homage, whether it was intentional or not 🙂 Doubt these two are going anywhere anytime soon – and I’m glad.
2.) Willow & Mark – I’m left with a few mixed feelings about this dance tonight, as well as the score. I’ll put this out there first: I think Willow did a great job with what she was given. That said – I’m not sure I think it warranted three 10’s and one 9. I thought the troupe, while essential to the story of the dance, kinda distracted from Willow – and when they’re all wearing the same outfits, it makes it even harder to pick her out of the group. Also would have liked a little less reliance on the sticks and a little more open choreo, as the sticks got a tad repetitive after a bit. And on top of all that – I’m a little bit over The Hunger Games references. Glad they got this one dance to get it out of their system, but now I’m ready to see other facets of what Willow can do. It was a dramatic, interesting dance – but I probably would have given it two 8’s and two 9’s, and I saw several other people remarking that they thought she was overscored. So I guess it begs the question: what exactly is the angle here? Is she not getting the votes? Are they just trying to shake things up and keep it from being Rumer, Riker, or Nastia at the top every week? I’m just…puzzled. Will be interested to see how she fares during Disney week.
3.) Nastia & Derek – First off – anyone else think Nastia looked like Carole Lombard tonight? Go Google her, if that reference is too dated for you 😉 I thought she looked gorgeous tonight. But anyway! I actually thought this was Nastia’s strongest dance yet – once again, she nailed the technique, and for the first time, I felt her really connect with the dance and with Derek…she was in the zone on this one. And Derek outdid himself with some of the creativity of the lifts this time – it was as if he was like “Y’know what? I’ve got a partner with the chops to carry these off…let’s play with this!” I think the only two factors that may have made Nastia take backseat to Noah & Willow tonight were that she had to dance first, and she didn’t really have a “sob story” – and I think that’s also one of the things Shawn & Ali had to deal with during their personal story weeks, too: their stories were about triumph, rather than tragedy. Oh well – onto the next. And for those of you asking what dance “Love is An Open Door” is? I’m gonna go with quickstep – but that’s kind of a guess.
4.) Rumer & Val – One thing I really enjoyed about Rumer tonight: we got to see her be HUMAN. She finally showed some real vulnerability – and my god, do I feel bad for that girl and the ridicule that was dumped on her not only by social media, but actual media outlets, too – the latter is particularly inexcusable. I would hardly call her ugly – in fact, I think she’s got a very interesting, unique look to her face. Kinda refreshing, actually – the world could use a few less Victoria’s Secret angels and a few more Rumer’s. As for the dance – once again, I’m left kinda going “Well, was that really a good [insert dance here]?” because, like her disco salsa and angsty non-foxtrot, this seemed to be a waltz only in name…kinda wonder why they didn’t just call it contemporary and let them really own it. Not sure that Val was thrilled at the prospect of choreographing a waltz to that song, either – because he almost seemed like he was expecting it when Len was laying into him about there not being enough waltz in it. Once again, I’m kinda of left going “Well, she danced what she was given well…but was what she was given a good example of the dance, or no?” I’ll just leave it at this: I hope to god Rumer gets the song she wants for Disney week…because I think it’s exactly the kind of routine we need to see from her: no angst or sexpot – just fun-loving, goofy Rumer. Because I’m afraid she’s becoming a bit one-note…
5.) Riker & Allison – Riker looked great. Great frame, great footwork, great performance. Unfortunately, this critique is going to focus more on Allison (again), who I feel was the real problem with their tango. Choreography was just so FRANTIC – as if Allison tried to load every single tango step in her vocabulary into one dance. Broken hold – big no-no, and she should probably know better by now. And then there’s what really stuck out to me: her posture. She had a really stiff frame, which I think was making it harder for Riker to maneuver her around the floor (you want a firm frame, but one that still allows you to be led – not one that is rigid); and she was unfortunately suffering from “tango head” – what I call the weird, kinda creepy upturned glance that inexperienced ladies tend to get when doing the tango. It all resulted in a rather awkward juxtaposition between the two: he looked calm, organic, and in control; she looked stiff, uncomfortable, and uncertain. And I felt like the judges were very delicately trying to dance around the fact that they would rather be critiquing Allison than Riker – vague comments about choreography, frame, etc. that felt more directed at her than him. If Rumer’s biggest issue is one-note Val and his penchant for repeated edgy/angsty routines, then Riker’s biggest issue is Allison’s inexperience – and I think both couples could fall short of the MBT as a result.
6.) Robert & Kym – As weird as it sounds, I tend not to have a whole lot to say about these two each week – and it’s not because they’re bad: it’s because they’re good…or rather, they seem to have the right strategy: steady, continuous improvement each week, and a stress-free partnership. I do notice Robert improving week to week – frame was quite a bit better this week, although I did think he tended to rush ahead of the beat a bit. Thing I noticed the most: he never takes his eyes off Kym – he’s 100% devoted to her in each and every dance. Now for romantic dances, this is perfect – but I wonder if it could become a hindrance in dances like the jive that require a lot of crowd engagement. But I just love these two – both just seem so freakin’ NICE.
7.) Suzanne & Tony – Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did – the theme could have turned out to be a hot mess (kinda like Suzanne’s costume…eek!), but I actually found myself smiling as it came across light-hearted, fun, and a sweet tribute to John Ritter. Sure, Suzanne’s still a bit tentative in her movement, but I think she did loosen up a bit this week, and I think ballroom is going to be more of her strength this season, as opposed to Latin. I don’t know that she’s going to end up being a contender, but I do think she’s improving gradually and is still fun to watch.
8.) Patti & Artem – Gotta give Miss Patti props for telling us the story of how she got knocked up with her son Zori after a wild, sake-soaked night in Japan 😛 And I gotta give Zori props, too, because he seemed to recognize Patti’s biggest problem: so few steps in her dances. This jazz/Charleston/whatever (I actually had to ask someone after she finished what dance it was supposed to be, because I was so confused) was a SLIGHT improvement over the last few weeks – Patti did seem to do a few more steps – but now we’ve got a new problem: she does more steps, but each step still moves SMALL. She barely seemed to move outside of a little 2’X2′ square around her body. And I guess it’s made me come to this conclusion about Patti: she’s a good “singing dancer” – somebody who performs as a singer, but can do some basic, low-energy choreography while she’s singing. A more sedate Bruno Mars, if you will. Great for a singer – not very impressive for a dancer. And I think I said it last week, but I think we’ve seen the best we’re going to get out of her this season – it’s time for her to go. I doubt she’s suddenly going to have this breakthrough and suddenly become a contender in the coming weeks…she’s fun to watch, but it’s becoming a tad repetitive. And for the love of god, judges, give her relevant scores – a 30 when Suzanne moved about quite a bit more and got a 28???! Noooooo.
9.) Chris & Witney – First off, the positive: Witney looked stunning last night. Ok, that’s about it – because for the second week in a row, Witney danced around Chris while he remained pretty stationary. I think the only difference between their Argentine tango last week and their rumba this week was lifts – I think it made the former look slightly more impressive, but take them out and you’ve got this week’s rather ho-hum rumba. Chris just seemed petrified to move – as a result, he seemed to throw away a lot of arm lines, and just looked clipped in his movement. Sorry, but I think we’ve reached the apex of what Chris can do – and it’s time for him to go. In all honesty, I think Michael had more potential than the bottom 3 of my rankings this week, combined – and yet he’s gone, while they’re still here. No more messing around and giving cushy critiques about people “giving it their best shot” – sorry Chris, but you just ain’t cutting the mustard anymore, sir. Giddyup back to the farm.
So let’s hear your thoughts. Who did well? Who crashed and burned? And do you agree with who went home?
Just awesome again, Court. Ok, here are mine:
1. TIE for 1st. These dances were masterpieces in my opinion:
Nastia and Derek – Wow, what a way to start the night. Their Argentine Tango was passionate, powerful, and full of amazing footwork. I loved the curtain ceiling. It added such a cool visual and dramatic effect. I loved all of their spinning. And that ending move….wow, heaven! Just STUNNING! B-EAUTIFUL!! 10 from me!
Willow and Mark – OMG, I just loved this dance. It was theatrical, so clever. And powerful. Mark’s choreography is out of this world and blowing me away this season. It was just visually stunning. I had a total total moment. Another 10
2. Rumer and Val – This dance was visually stunning. I loved the way it started with her spinning on the floor. It was so full of emotion and beauty. Val stepped up his choreography this week, but, there was something about her arms that were a little odd and she stepped wrong once, but, it was still really pretty. I loved when her hair got in her face. 9
3. Riker and Allison – Well, I don’t care what the judges said, this was a fun and powerful Argentine Tango. I couldn’t take my eyes off Riker and his faces. Same with Allison. They were shining out there and full of compassion for the moment and dance floor. I loved their red costumes and all of their power filled, sleek moves. 9-
4. Noah and Sharna – Once again, these two soar in a heaven of their own. They danced with so much emotion. Their lifts were so full of art, muscle, and creativity. 8+
5. Kym and Robert – This was the first week I really liked them. He was such a natural out there, relaxed, and just enjoying himself. They were full of romance and charm. Just lovely. 8
6. Suzanne and Tony – Awwww, I loved them again and she showed improvement too. It was so cool seeing her as “Chrissy Snow” again. They were so cute and charming. Loved her elegance and joy. 7+
7. Patti and Artem – I vote Miss Patti as Entertainer of DWTS this season. She may not have complicated choreo like all the others or dnace as much, but, she comes out there moving and grooving and just does her thing every week. You can count on their routines to always get you smiling and wanting to dance afterwards. 7
8. Chris and Witney – I didn’t like them as much as last week. They felt disconnected again like the judges remarked, but, I always love his heart and how hard he’s trying. I agree with Bruno…he wears his heart on his sleeve. 7-
With that said, what a competition. It seems every couple brings something different to the table. They should all be so proud.
I Like your rankings this week! I think the right bottom 3 is Chris Patti and Suzanne next week. Robert and Kym could be the surprising Dark Horses to make the semi even the final this season. They have steadily improved each week and people really love them. I know Kym has a big production number planned for Disney week so it will be interesting to see how he handles that.
I would put Robert 5th in the power rankings this week as I thought Riker’s tango was messy.
Vogue! Riker’s Dance was supposed to be a traditional tango! My house thought it was an AT too! That’s why I thought it was messy
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Tony is THE worst at dressing his celebs. WTF was that costume? Ugh. But I love me some John Ritter, and I’m glad they used the dance as an homage to him and not just when Suzanne became famous.
While I think all of the criticisms about Willow and Mark’s dance are valid – I friggen loved it. That along with Nastia and Derek was my absolute favorite routines of the night, even if they weren’t the most heart-wrenching.
Cried at Robert’s, cried at Michael’s.
Riker and Allison were a bit disappointing, especially since I LOVED their salsa last week. I’m hoping his Paso and Jack Sparrow is out of this world.
It’s weird that I didn’t cry at Noah’s. I thought it was very well done, though.
Seriously though Val – we get it, you’re dark and serious. Goddamn.
Witney and Chris were my least favorite of the night – and it was definitely the least compelling story for me, too. I hope he and Patti are the next to go.
I listened Emma on all access commenting on the dance and insightful while not demeaning. Anna should take notes for AB. She mentioned Allison not correcting Riker’s hold and that it was too high. He needed to bring it down to her and she demonstrated it.
Top 3 :
Willow and mark- I freakin loved the choreography and the acting/chemistry between these 2. I love the hunger games movies (1 of my fav movie franchises) I loved how they payed homage to the movies – 5 stars from me. I wanted to dance along with them to this number and it also helps that atlas is 1 of my fav Coldplay songs. I also loved marks hair lol – he’s looking mighty fine these days. This dance was defiantly worthy the 3 10s. And the jeopardy crap with her and riker is pure crap just bogus cow crap haha
Derek and nastia- wow wow wow wow wow – the way he flung her around was amzing- those lifts were so creative and unique – this argentine dance / choreography goes down as 1 of my favourite argentine tangos ever. I just wanna hug derek he was so jetlagged u can see it in his eyes- I’m so proud to call him my idol and hero. Proud and honured to be his fan
Riker and allison- it was frantic but what I love is how allison is really tryin her best to prove herself which was probably the reason why she overloaded the dance. Riker is amazing and he really wants to be in this show for all the right reasons and when they put him in the fake jeopardy I seriously wanted to kick those producers and slap the crap out of them- that was wrong. Riker face was hard not to notice and I felt so sick to my stomach when they had to leave his fate to the final 2 that is just not fair to him. He is 1 of the best contestants to ever be on this pathetic show and they treat him like that – just no and the same thing goes for they way they treat derek as well. I guess those producers wanna ruin riker confidence well they sure did that last night. They made riker really think he was the bottom 2 when he wasn’t at all. Not cool
It’s gonna come down to willow – nastia & riker as the top 3 – rumour is just so bland and boring. I fall asleep watching her
I honesty don’t think willow and mark were over scored. The dance was brilliant . I think maybe other couples were underscored . Nastia and Derek were amazing . I just have trouble connecting with her . I’m my opinion she lacks the charisma that Robert Patti and willow have .
I’ll start off by saying there was a lot of beauty last night.
Willow and Mark — Deserved 4 10’s LOVED IT!!! It was hauntingly beautiful. I admit to watching it over and over. Just my opinion but I think this is the future of DWTS if they want to retain/increase viewers. At least half of the dances should probably be pieces like this if the pros are willing to do it or if they can find the talent. Please don’t throw rocks at me. It’s just my opinion.
Nastia and Derek – Also BEAUTIFUL!! Loved it as well. Shake my head at Len!! Deserved 4 10’s They went first so underscored.
Rumer and Val –Beautiful again but not perfect. Needed more fluidity if that makes sense. All 9’s
Robert and Kym — Again Beautiful and fluid. All 9’s
Riker and Allison – This could have been so great. There was something odd about his legs and shoulders. I’m sorry now for thinking he was trying to hide his ballroom experience. The dance was just off. Still probably all 8’s. I do like him though. He has great potential.
Chris, Patti, and Suzanne. I really think they all deserved 6’s maybe a couple of 7’s. For me it’s getting hard to watch. And I love Patti, but sometimes I think I see grimaces of pain when she dances. I was a bit uncomfortable with Suzanne’s Three’s company dance. I remember all of the strife between the stars of the show at the time so I was kind of shaking my head at her package.
Noah and Sharna – as usual I can’t be objective about him. Hated the song though.
HATED seeing Michael go. Three people should have went before him.
I’ve loved Nastia & Derek AT, great choreography, great technique and a lot of footworks <3
Oh, did anyone else think it was strange/funny when Len started complimenting Mark, but then seemed to check himself and address Willow? It just seemed odd to me.
Michael’s dance was one of my favourites of the night. But I’m glad he was eliminated. He looks very content in post show interviews and you can tell he’s happy to be able to be out the competition so he can fully concentrate on his football now. I really hope he gets sorted out with a team.
Willow, Nastia and Rumer the best dances of the night. I think Willow was overscored compared to Nastia but the concept was brilliant. Being a hunger games fan I appreciated that. Noah was amazing but I wasn’t really concentrating on his dance, I was to busy taking in his story. I’m glad the judges didn’t throw out sympathy tens for him though. Nobody else really stood out for me. Chris and Witney need to go. Patti was fun but to be honest I don’t think anything can top that week 2 dance and as such I just come away with a meh feeling about her dances now.
I get a very slight feeling TPTB maybe want Suzanne out next. I’d guess she was in the real bottom 2 with Michael last night and not calling her in jeopardy could be a subtle way of making her fans believe she is doing well in the votes so they don’t need to power vote. Same with her scores, they weren’t great but they weren’t bad enough for people to feel sorry for her and sympathy vote. PH’s numbers post will be a much better indicator before anyone can make a serious prediction, but if I had a pound to put on someone to be eliminated next, I’d probably pick Suzanne.
My thoughts on the evening:
My favorite dance from the story standpoint was Noah and Sharna. I love how they started with the mirror and then went for it. The man can do so much with what he has. Props to Sharna for the amazing choreography. While it may technically not have been the best dance I think it was the most touching.
Most favorite dance from the dance standpoint was Rumer and Val followed closely by Nastia and Derek (yes I just admitted that). Rumer’s storyline was so touching. I love how she dedicated it to her sister and all the trials she went through. Was the dance a full on technical walt? Not really, but it was waltzy (is that a word?) enough for me and I thought it was beautiful. Nastia looked beautiful and their AT was full of technical moves and stunning. I do agree with Len that the character wasn’t fully there but I think he underscored her.
Fun factor was definitely Patti and Suzanne. Patti may not be a technical dancer but the entertainment factor is there. I think her scorer should have been lower than Suzanne because at least Suzanne is dancing and not just walking around. The costume for Suzanne left something to be desired LOL but how else do you immortalize Chrissy Snow in the ballroom? Touching tribute to John Ritter and underscored a bit.
Michael’s story?? Wow. Shame on his dad for turning his back on his son just because of his lifestyle choice. I think the dance was his best yet and it was a shame to see him go so soon. Chris should have gone before him.
Robert and Kym were mediocre at best. Although I loved his touching tribute to his mom and dancing to her favorite song. She would have been proud of his efforts. I am kinda sick of the cuteness these two exude. Give them a darker dance like Paso or AT and see how he does.
Riker’s Tango to me was kind of a mess. I too thought it was more of an AT. I think part of that had to do with the song and Alison’s choreo. He is a good dancer and needs something that suits him better.
Chris needs to go home. I think he has reached the max of what we are going to see out of him. He is not improving each week and seems to not really care about the competition. The time has come.
Willow and Mark. OVERSCORED!! Although I liked the choreography and the concept there was too much troupe interaction. Couldn’t hardly focus on Willow and Mark throughout the dance. Maybe she isn’t getting hte votes and that’s why the higher scores. Hard to tell. Don’t think it should have topped the leaderboard. I think that honor should have gone to Nastia and/or Rumer.
I think that’s everyone. Looking forward to Disney week! It’s my favorite theme week. Glad the switch up is gone although I don’t know why.
I also wanted to add that I am *not* a Hunger Games fan – I personally thought the first film was very meh, so I haven’t followed up with the subsequent movies (watch Battle Royale for an awesome version – it’s a direct inspiration for the novels). That being said, I still loved the concept of the dance and how it played into the story, so if this is the kind of stuff that inspires Mark, then have at it! But I will agree with Court that part of me hopes we don’t get inundated with more of it.
Yeah, if Tony had given me that costume to wear, I would have kicked in the nuts.
Shiny satin type material is an unforgiving fabric for just about any women to pull off unless you’re supermodel skinny. Plus the design itself was just horrendous. I get that they were going for a Chrissy Snow look, but yikes!
Thanks for putting into words what it is about Allison and her work with Riker that just doesn’t do it for me. I like the kid, even with the whole “I never danced!” misdirection, but I just can’t get over how disconnected I feel whenever I see Allison’s dancing and choreography on this show. And I’m someone who loves to see her dance on SYTYCD.
My Power Ranking –
1) Nastia-Derek -To me, THE BEST DANCE of the night! Everything about that dance was SPECTACULAR!
2) Rumer-Val -She continues to impress me …but i agree with everyone, she needs to bring the happy/goofy/funny/cute side of her now to prove how versatile she is as a dancer. That dance looked more like a contemporary than Waltz.
3) Willow-Mark -I think they were overscored…it had more drama and less dancing. Wasn’t very impressed..but very creative indeed.
4) Noah-Sharna -I’m SPEECHLESS! They were outstanding…
5) Robert-Kym -I just love ’em together! They’re such cuties..:)
6) Suzanne-Tony -UNDERSCORED! She deserved all 8s. I wonder why they underscore poor Suzanne..?! IMO, the most entertaining dance of the night!
7) Patti-Artem
8) Riker-Allison
9) Chris-Witney
I thought overall the couples did better than last week, but the same small issues seem to plague the same celebs.
1. Nastia/Derek – Val/Rumer: I think Nastia had the cleanest, most technically sound dance and there were some new and interesting lifts in there from Derek. I do think that it was almost a bit too athletic and lacked some performance. Meanwhile, i think Rumer performed hers amazingly, but as others have said, it seemed a bit too contemporary. I also think her story will endear her to viewers much more because it was, as Courtney said, not about triumph but insecurity, which is more relatable.
2. Robert/Kym – Another more traditional dance for this pair, but i think that this style suited them perfectly and that he danced better than ever. They are my dark-horses.
3. Willow/Mark – I appreciate the creativity behind this and I think that she clearly danced well because she blended in with the troupe. But that was the problem for me. It almost looked like a group dance for the first half and you completely lost her. Maybe a tad over-scored as well.
4. Riker/Allison – They looked a bit rigid throughout the dance. I feel like it’s hard to critique him if he is not getting the same proper instruction that the other dancers are, because Allison hasn’t had the years in ballroom that the other pros have. I think she is doing better than last season with choreo, but I’m kind of left scratching my head why they would give her a contender knowing that there are pros who have been on for longer who could have done better with him, not to mention both Jenna and Lindsay are ballroom dancers with jazz/contemp background. Either way, they are still doing well.
5. Noah/Sharna – I dont think you could possibly ask for more from him. He did great. Sharna is doing a wonderful job working with him.
6. Patti/Artem – Another really fun performance. Again, a lot of troupe use, but she was undoubtedly the star of the performance. I agree that she prob cant do much more, but I still want to see her tackle a more traditional ballroom next week.
7. Suzanne/Tony – I think she hit the steps well, but maybe didn’t pop for me as much as I would have liked. For how much set and set-up was involved, the actual dance was a bit boring for me. And who on earth thought those satin shorts were a good idea?
8. Chris/Witney – He’s not a dancer. I dont think there’s much more he can really give. Time to go it seems.
My rankings for this week:
1. Nastia and Derek – This is the first time that I thought the first dance of the evening ended up becoming the best dance overall, since Amy’s Rumba, and the first time when there are still at least ten couples around. The quality of this dance is just insanely high, what were there were incredible. This singlehandedly stomped all over the ATs done this season AND last season and for me personally it’s the best Argentine Tango since Kellie Pickler’s. BY FAR the best routine of the night, and should’ve gotten Willow’s score.
2. Robert and Kym – First of all, that rendition of “The Last Waltz” is INCREDIBLE. It’s funny that I had just mentioned Chelsea’s Waltz having my favourite performance of “My Love” ever a few days ago, and now Robert’s song was also performed amazingly. Robert’s dance also improved, I don’t get Jules saying he got the best technique of the men either, but he’s improving nonetheless. Quite dramatically, even. And Kym’s choreography was very pretty, overall a very dreamy dance for Robert’s mum. By far his best dance yet. I’d say they should get one more 9, I was surprised they didn’t get more since no one said a bad thing when they were critiqued. Did Carrie Ann cost them a point because Robert lifted Kym to the piano before the song ends? *rolleyes*
3. Riker and Allison – I have the same score for the next four couples so just say 3-6 as ties for 3rd. I don’t have a lot to say about Riker, which is probably why I put this ahead the other three, but this reminded me why I don’t like Allison – it does seem a pretty frantic dance, very S19-Allison which is a shame because I thought her choreography this season has been pretty nice. Don’t care about the song either. One 7 and three 8s from me.
4. Willow and Mark – Nope, not three 10s and one 9 worthy. Like at all. What was there, however, was nice. I feel kind of a rollercoaster with Willow – I loved her Cha-cha, found her AT to be overrated as heck and one of the weakest ATs ever, really enjoyed her Paso, and now kinda undecided with this. She seemed to be really invested with this dance, but the extra dancers distract way too much from her (and the costumes and sticks definitely didn’t help). This is definitely her second best dance from me after her Paso though, and I’d give it the same score with Riker.
5. Rumer and Val – Okay, nevermind when I said I’m excited to see Val choreographing this, I don’t see many differences at all with her previous dances. AND she did slipped at that spin. Not gonna comment more because they’ve somehow made a dance as sophisticated as a Waltz be that edgy, but I’m joining the circle that hoped Rumer would get more variety with her performances.
6. Noah and Sharna – I just can’t connect to this guy at all. His story is definitely very inspiring, and I respect him for the person he is now, but he just didn’t engage me with his dancing. Ever since from week 1. And Sharna’s choreography wasn’t as amazing as it usually is this time around. He did dance well, even if he had the tendency to be wooden at times, but he’s still not all that for me. Although he is another one who’s having his best performance so far.
7. Michael and Peta
8. Suzanne and Tony
9. Chris and Witney
10. Patti and Artem
I’m tired and they weren’t too memorable either for me, so I’ll just go this way. I’m sad to see Michael go because he’s my pre-season favourite, but he peaked at week one and never seems to bounce back for me (not even this week). And he has slipped completely off my radar. AND Robert and Kym has taken their position as my favourite couple this season. So that’s that. I think Suzanne, along with Noah, had the best package of the week – I loved her story. Her dance? Not so much sadly. Chris and Patti could go home for the next two weeks, didn’t care for them at all.
Now excuse me, I have Nastia’s and Robert’s performances to be watched again.
Here’s my completely bias and subjective ranking:
1. Willow & Mark: Wow! I loved this routine so much! It was really refreshing to see a contemporary dance that wasn’t focused on the sexy aspect (obviously that would have been super inappropriate, Willow’s too young for that). Really creative and not what I was expecting!
2. Robert & Kim: completely elegant and touching. Robert is the dark horse who just might take it all in the end.
3. Nastia & Derek: Warning: Unpopular opinion approaching, please don’t shoot me. I actually agreed with Len (somewhat). Visually and technically stunning but could have had more AT and emotion. Still really good, don’t think it warranted an 8.
4. Riker & Allison: Solid. I liked his other dances more, but the tango was still good. I’m really stoked to see his Pirates of the Caribbean dance for Disney week!
5. Rumer & Val: Like Nastia, visually stunning but lacking enough of the assigned dance (that makes it 2 weeks in a row that Val’s had this issue!) I wish it was more light and airy like Robert’s waltz. With all this super intense dances, Rumer’s turning into a one-trick pony (this is more Val’s fault than hers).
5. Noah & Sharna: Very impressive. Those lifts were truly spectacular. The rest of the dance was pretty good too. I should’ve probably rank him higher but I’m lazy, just imagine Rumer and Noah’s numbers are switched.
6. Michael and Peta: He went out on his best dance. Enough said.
7. Patti & Artem: Very entertaining. Patti’s dances are always fun to watch. She was over scored, but whatever. I hope she’s back in a classic ballroom dance next week because I think that’s where she has the most potential to excel.
8. Suzanne & Tony: I was born in the completely wrong generation when it comes to understanding Three’s Company references so this dance didn’t do much for me. And Suzanne’s outfit was an unfortunate choice.
9. Chris & Witney: Pretty forgettable. I don’t think it was bad enough to be 6 worthy though. I definitely think Prince Farming’s clock has struck midnight, it’s time for him to go.
This may sound awful but other than Nastia and Noah, I found last night rather boring.
I thought that Noah’s routine was amazing. Amazing doesn’t do it justice. A one arm lift. Just
Incredible.
I thought that Derek and Nastia’s dance was nice but something (maybe the music?) just didn’t seem to work. I felt like Lenn’s critique was OTT but I did understand what he was saying. I want to see Nastia glare at Derek, seethe. That would have made it a 10 for me.
I agree with a lot of people above. What was with Val’s waltz choreo? I think Rumer could do a slow beautiful, graceful waltz and bring the beauty. Maybe the song was the problem?
Robert’s package just touched your heart and I liked his dance but I don’t see him as a male contender. He has had 3 dances that catered to him (slow, romantic). Throw him a curveball like the Jive and I’m worried for him. His week one cha cha was his fastest routine and his worst.
I didn’t watch Chris’s rumba. I had FF past it on the DVR and I saw his face and the judges faces and I didn’t watch it. Maybe I will later but I thought rumba would be rough for him and it sounds like it was
I didn’t really care for susanne’s dance and the way Tony reacted to the scores really turned me off. “The judges are always against me.” Nuff said
I am going to lump Willow and Patti together—-too much troupe and over scored.
And I echo everyone else on Rykers dance. Too fast & hectic. I also didn’t like all the red. Perhaps they were trying to be edgy but I didn’t get edgy. I got chaos and I thought her frame looked strange.
And maybe this is just me but again!! Where is the opening number.?!?! Come on people!!!its season 20. If Derek can’t make rehearsals that’s okay. If Artem is off somewhere rehearsing with Patti, that’s ok. There should be enough pros with the new troupe members to do an opening number even if all pros cannot participate. Even if it’s just troupe, do the opening number. Personally I would love to see a Sasha choreo opener
Does anyone know how much ballroom training AH has actually had? I know she says herself she isn’t from the ballroom world but I didn’t know exactly what that meant in the way of training
Honestly, I felt bad for Ryker last night. If he had a more seasoned pro like Karina or Cheryl (or Chelsie or Lindsay) last night would have been so much better. The choreo and the costuming weren’t right. Please don’t get me wrong because I like Allison. She seems like a wonderful person and she is immensely talented but to me that dance just didn’t work and RYKER SHOULD BE KILLING IT…….he knows latin dancing!!!
I commented on another post about the disconnect between the Most Memorable Year theme and many of the dance style and song choices, but those issues changed the dynamic of the season for me. And I could do without couples being in jeopardy right before they spill their guts out and have to perform. That said, someone above remarked and I agree that all the celebrities should all be proud and brought unique, wonderful qualities to the show. Here are my rankings:
1. Noah & Sharna – his struggle is so raw and real and yet his acceptance and ability to excel is breathtaking. Unbe-freaking-lievable lifts and balances. One arm, people! IMO underscored on its own and as compared to other couples at the top.
2. Robert & Kym – perfect combination of dance style/choreography, music and story. It was well-performed too. Can’t not love this man and root for him! This dance makes me want to get to the studio and put on flowing chiffon skirt.
3. Derek & Nastia – I appreciate Courtney drawing the distinction between a story of triumph versus tragedy which accounts for what many think was missing. Brilliant choreography and technique though. And Sunshine Len’s comment about the lady of the night was not fair to them. Still it makes me want to rewatch Derek’s AT with Jennifer Grey.
4. Patti & Artem – she did a lot more steps last night, but mostly she’s pure joy on the dance floor. I love their chemistry – the way she looks and interacts with Artem. She has brought out the best in him! I look forward to her dance every week.
5. Rumer & Val – her story is moving and her dedication to her sister was beautiful, but I would like to have seen more of the journey in her dance. Come on, Val (I do think he’s too focused on winning). Before strength and confidence and acceptance comes vulnerability. (Check out Brene Brown’s amazing TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability). And at some point soon, a goofy/fun side would be refreshing too.
6. Riker & Allison – first time I’m not raving about this pair. Agree that it was frantic (again was it the song? the choreo?) The costuming and staging didn’t work either. Too much red made it difficult to distinguish the shapes and dancers themselves. He’s got a comeback in him though.
7. Willow & Mark – this was a fantastic dance about the Hunger Games, but not about her. The troupe was featured too much. I agree with Julianne that Willow danced solidly and was grounded. To me, this pair is feeling one-note. Not every dance has to be a OTT creative and a big production. She’s 14 years old and is exuberant and delightful (love her laugh). Big hopes for Disney week!
8. Suzanne & Tony – I didn’t feel it, too campy, too much 3’s Company production. Should have been simpler in its tribute to a friend lost too soon. And definitely worst costume of the night.
9. Chris & Witney – He seems a sweet guy who is trying, but it’s a bit painful to watch. I must be out of touch and haven’t followed the Bachelor in years, but am a bit baffled by the votes he must be getting. Michael & Peta had more potential and I was sad to see Michael eliminated before Chris.
I’ve been a Michael fan since before the season started, and I’ll agree that it should have been Chris before him. Chris isn’t progressing whatsoever. I do think Patti and Suzanne would have naturally beaten Michael considering they pull a big audience compared to Michael. I will say that Michael getting on a team will make up for getting kicked off this week.
To me: Rumer, Nastia, Riker all keep finishing the same….. there isn’t a clear favorite for me between the three of them. I’ve always naturally been a Val fan, but I think Nastia might pull ahead for me because i’ve always really loved her. What I wish is for Val to go back to season 18 choreography… That was his best season for choreography. If he brought that with Rumer, I wouldn’t have such issues with her. On top of that, Rumer has the personality that Janel lacked and they could have such a good season if he wasn’t being so damn weird about the choreography. It’s frustrating!
I am also having the same issues with RIker that you are Courtney. There was something about last nights performance that was so awkward (probably for the technical reasons you stated). I still do not get Allison on this show.
I wonder if Val is looking at what he thinks worked for Derek in terms of choreo in order to get the MBT. Although I’m not sure I understand that, as Derek’s winning partners were far from one-note. All, as I remember, had very diverse dances – intense and cute/happy/fun.
I just can’t figure out why he insists on making everything so intense. Or is he just naturally one-dimensional?? I have a hard time believing that because isn’t he the guy that gave us the dancing cups and saucers (which I LOVED)? Or was that Mandy??
I honestly think he’s actually he’s moving more toward Maks then Derek which is even more maddening. Val and Rumer seem to be more intense as people then actually silly and lighthearted. Even at Rumers silliest she still seems kind of low key and chill and I think that’s being reflected in what’s brought out.
Very solid night overall for everyone.
1)Willow and Mark: Such a creative dance that was so well executed that it was just classic Mark. Probably my fav dance ever by him. The creepy holograms were a great touch too.
2)Nastia and Derek: Team Reliable. Loved it. Always expect a lot from her but she always delivers.
3)Noah and Sharna: The best dance from him yet.
4)Robert and Kym: Cute and precise yet so moving.
5)Rumor and Val: I liked it but I want to see more fun from her and I know that sounds like a lot right now given how TPTB keep throwing her the intense and emotional dances for some reason. I just want to see a fun side from her.
6)Suzzanne and Tony: Adorable dance. Fun and she is definately better suited to the ballroom style dances it seems. Not sure what was going on scoring-wise though. Tony’s face said it all.
7)Riker and Allison: On second viewing, I still didnt like this dance as much as I wanted to and that sorta stinks because he seemed to be enjoying himself a lot. Nit his strongest dance but he should be safe.
8)Patti and Artem: So watching this back, I have to admit that it wasnt the strongest dance of the night but I still loved it. I can’t really pinpoint what made this dance so much fun for me to watch but it was a hoot. Good for her!
9)Chris and Witney: He is such a nice guy and is giving 110% to this show but he is the perfect example of all the tools but not a dancer. He has had a good run though but there is only so much Witney can cover up with choreography or in the case of this week dancing around him.
I’m disappointed Michael is out. At the very least, Patti, Suzanne and Chris should have been out before him. Patti doesn’t dance. Those steps she added because her son told her do more steps didn’t impress me. She stands there and has Artem and/or the troupe dance around her. I don’t understand why the judges gush all over her. She needs to go next week but I’m betting she doesn’t.
Suzanne is slightly better than Patti. She does move more but she should go too.
I wish TPTB would give up on having any bachelor on. They’re all the same when they dance. Chris does need to go back to the farm.
Noah was fantastic and Sharna is the perfect partner for him. Robert and Kym have been enjoyable to watch. I’m hoping Willow can pull in enough votes and make it to the finals. Rumer has to do something different, she’s getting boring. That falls a lot on Val and I think once again that will be his downfall and keep them from winning. At least I hope so. Nastia won’t be going anywhere. Ryder is just meh to me.
The next one to go should be Patti, but I’m thinking it will be Chris instead.
@Cindy: I gotta agree with you about the bachelor people. The only one that really wowed me was Mellissa and that was awhile back. Chris definately is an improvement over Jake and Sean though.
@ PH #23, I don’t think it’s just the Beauty & The Beast Quickstep. I think it’s almost all of his dances post-Zendaya that’s he’s been getting some help w/ choreography/creative direction – either by Mandy &/or Henry &/or Sharna. But that’s just my opinion.
But yes, the Beauty & the Beast Quickstep was quite a departure from what his typical dances have been. He seems to be more comfortable w/ the more serious & intense styles – even when he has dances like Waltz or Foxtrot that are typically more light & airy. In that way, I guess I would find Val (and his partners) to be 1-dimensional.
I think that Val did some really fun dances with Kelly, Zendaya, and Danica. The Disney Beauty and the Beast dance was light and airy and fun – lovely in all aspects. “Opinion” or not, I don’t think it is fair to make accusations about any pro using outside choreography without proof -although they may all run things past each other for all we know.
My guess on Val’s lean toward intense/passionate dances is that he lost the mirror ball to Derek by trying fun and fluff next to intensity and passion. Perhaps Val’s biggest mistake there is that it is not just the intensity, but the raw emotional vulnerability whether in joy, passion, or sorrow that touches the audiences hearts – Kelly and Derek had that in spades. For me so far, Robert (despite being far from the greatest dancer) is the best example of someone who truly lays his heart and soul out on the dance floor. It is that is that element that (for me) Willow, Nastia, and Riker are missing despite their extreme talent – the emotional connection to the dance that truly sells it. From what I have seen Rumer has the ability to demonstrate that if Val lets her.
I made the mistake of visiting DWTS facebook page for the first time. There are some angry and nasty people on there. Most of them were upset that Willow scored so many tens. They think Noah and Rumer should have received all tens. If Facebook is any indicator, I think Willow may have been in the bottom or soon will be. A lot of them seem to hate Mark and his “weird” choreography, too.
There was the typical Derek bashing and some of the other stars were bashed too. I didn’t want to waste my time reading more comments. Are people on DWTS facebook always so angry? If so, I’m staying away from there.
@Dee2 – Yes, the Facebook fans as a whole are 1) angry, 2) bitter, or 3) just plain stupid. Ditto for Instagram – only difference is an even poorer command of the English language and lots of emojis. And the official DWTS boards? Just avoid those altogether – black holes of human despair. 🙂
Learn to live with it, Jean, or go elsewhere. We are speculating. It’s what we do. Don’t like it? Leave.
#Courtney Thanks for the info! I was finding their logic or lack of logic hard to follow. I really hope these people don’t vote!
Dee2 (#33), Unfortunately, I think they do vote, but surely, they’re just an insignificant drop in the bucket (the vocal minority) and not representative of the silent majority of DWTS viewers. I want to believe that most viewers are just average Joe’s who tune in to watch the dancing and vote for whomever they liked most on the night. Those viewers are decent folk but gullible and can be unduly influenced by TPTB if The Stooges stay consistently “on message”.
Yeesh, you guys were right about the DWTS fb page. Everyone over there seems to love ranting and bickering. I expected to find the Derek haters, but it was Willow who seemed to be attracting the most negative attention. I guess the Rumer fans are afraid of some more competition? Some people were even saying Willow was bad because she didn’t dance the assigned dance but praised Rumer for her ‘waltz’ in the same sentence, lol.
Court, thanks as always for your insightful comments on the performances.
OK, just want to say that while I’ll never like personal stories week, this was probably the best installment I’ve seen. I give credit for that to this season’s celebs, who are decent people.
There were enough “triumph” stories to balance out the “tragedy”, and for the most part all the stories came from a pretty honest place. Best of all the celebs didn’t let the emotion of the night overwhelm their dancing.
I found everyone pretty watchable on Monday. Even Patti moved a bit and it made a difference. Chris was the only one who stood there to provide a May pole for Witney (again) but that just made them boring to watch not unpleasant.
My favorite dances were:
* Nastia/Derek’s AT. Nastia’s precision and Derek’s creativity combined to perfection in this performance, and I do see Nastia getting better each week at inhabiting the character of the dance.
* Sharna/Noah’s Contemporary. Contemporary suited Noash as we thought it would. His movement and performance continue to improve every week and that press lift was mind blowing. I also loved the way Sharna incorporated the part of his left arm that he has into the lifts.
As much as I love Willow/Mark, this dance was too much of an ensemble performance piece, although I felt it was appropriate, clever, and well-danced. The overscoring does make me wonder if her little fans are tweeting more than voting.
I was hoping for more from Rumer/Val and Riker/Allison. These two celebs have so much potential and their pros are just not doing them justice. It’s a shame.
I’m glad Michael danced as well as he did, got some praise for a change, and left on a high note. I agree with Court that he should have been on for 3 more eliminations (with Chris, Patti, and Suzanne all leaving before him). However, I do think he’s relieved to be done with the show.
Thrilled to pieces there will *not* be a switch-up this season.
Personal stories done and dusted, let’s move on to Disney Week!
I love Mark’s choreo but in the beginning I had a hard time finding who’s who because of their outfits. About Val, this is what happen when the judges or TPTB keep praising him and let him get away with a less or no content dances and get at least an 8 or 9. I’m surprised grumpy old Len finally said something but it might change next week. This is exactly what happened to Maks on ssn 18. I didn’t find any of his choreo to be interesting at all (funny how his fans think Maks deserved an Emmy nomination). I don’t hate on Val but to think he deserve something without much work, sorry not for me. You have to work hard to earn it because Rumer can handle harder choreography. Don’t give me “this is the year” stuff because so far I’m not convince. I don’t buy into “he never win”, “this is his year to win”, etc. Sharna can create an amazing choreo for someone like Noah. Derek and Nastia can create an amazing AT with their limited time. Mark push his creativity and Willow basically killed it every week. What about Rob and Kym? I think they all deserve to win!
Courtney:
“A mirror that tricked his brain into thinking he still had two legs, by reflecting the image of the remaining one. So I appreciated that little homage, whether it was intentional or not 🙂 ”
FWIW, I think Sharna’s aim there was to show what Noah used to see in the mirror before his injuries, and then to show him as he is now, and that he’s accepted it. To be quite honest, I don’t think those first few seconds made any sense at all to the people watching the dance floor in the studio; it was designed for the millions watching at home. (And this is something I don’t think Sharna gets enough credit for—I think she might be the best pro when it comes to camera blocking.)
1) Nastia and Derek- What an amazing AT. And Len was smoking something with his comment about the character of the dance. I actually think Nastia and Derek did the BEST of managing the storytelling of Most Memorable Year Week and the character of the dance.
2) Noah and Sharna- The mirror thing at the beginning was one of the coolest things this season. His strength, both mental and physical, is astonishing. I will be giving all my votes to him for as long as he’s on. He and Sharna are such a great pair.
3) Rumer and Val- I’m torn on this. On the one hand, it was nice to see the vulnerability and be able to connect to Rumer more. On the other hand, I thought this dance veered too much towards the story because I couldn’t really tell it was a waltz at all. I actually think if they want to do non-ballroom dances on DWTS (which I’m not a big fan of), everyone could do one during Most Memorable Year week. That way the focus of the week is the story, and you wouldn’t have weeks where some couples are doing ballroom or Latin and others aren’t.
4) Willow and Mark- I did not like this as much as most. Too much going on IMO. Willow got a little lost amongst the troupe, props, and effects. It was really well danced, though.
5) Robert and Kym- This was my second or third favorite dance of the night. Such a beautiful tribute to his mom and beautifully danced. Robert isn’t anywhere near the dancer Riker is, but his story and mostly Kym’s choreo give him the edge. This is one of those dances I will watch again and again. That said, it was a bit over scored.
6) Riker and Allison- I still think Allison has some learning to do with the show. The tango was way too frenetic for me, and it just didn’t feel quite right. Riker’s a good dancer, but his dance wasn’t that memorable this week.
7) Patti and Artem- This was a close pick. I almost had Suzanne here. Suzanne seems to be the more talented dancer, but Patti is so endearing. Again, I think she was over scored, but this dance did put a big smile on my face.
8) Suzanne and Tony- This was my favorite dance from Suzanne. It was such a celebration, and she really got into the character. I was really be able to connect to her this week.
9) Chris and Witney- I think the biggest gap on this list is from 8 to 9. Sorry, but this pairing just isn’t working. As an Iowan, I wanted to love Chris, but just like on the Bachelor, I find him awkward and a bit inarticulate. I don’t think Witney was the right pro for him either. It pains me to say this, but I hope he’s gone this week.
My favorite dance of the evening, if not the season was the contemporary by Willow and Mark. I love the Hunger Games books and movies and I felt the choreography and mood was closely related to the series. I really think that the extra dancers were needed because an important part of the series was that young people were being forced by a corrupt government to fight to the finish. If it had just been Willow and Mark, battling with sticks, I don’t think the connection would have been as strong. However, maybe if Willow was wearing a different outfit or color, she would have stood out more. I also really liked the dance between Noah and Sharna, especially the vulnerability he showed during the package. I thought it was great when Len asked everyone to give them a standing ovation.
In therapy with amputees they use mirrors to learn how to cope with phantom pain. For example with leg amputees they let them sit on a chair an put a big mirror between the leg and the stump so that when the person looks into the mirror it looks like he has two legs and than he can adjust his leg and try to make the pain go away. The brain is a miracle thing.
@artdeco – Right…which is what I said above.
LOL, Court. Good one! I guess lots of folks read from the bottom up on these threads. I always try to find the last comment I read before and work my way down, but then (as we all know) I’m perfect (ask my hubby). 😉
Sure Len thought Derek and Nastia’s AT lacked the character and passion. Meanwhile Tony and Melissa’s AT during All Stars was lift after lift after lift, bent legs, sloppy and absolutely zero passion or intensity and got a 10. Right….
Cidra #43, I am the same way. I guess I’m also perfect? LOL!
Anyway, I truly appreciate your insights on all the dances, Courtney. Very balanced. Really helps put everything in perspective. Loved your take on tragedy/sad versus triumph stories on personal week, with tragedy/sad appearing to be more relatable to the audience/viewers.
sorry Courtney I somehow missed that.
Lisa #44 – she (Melissa) also did the same dance 3 times in a row (Salsa? Samba? don’t remember now), did each one more sloppy than the last and kept getting perfect scores. No agenda there…