PureDWTS Season 25, Week 2, Night 2 – Power Rankings
So the bar was set pretty low for the show on night #2 of this week, given that night #1 was, for the most part, a snoozefest. Did Latin Night rise to the occasion? Yes…and no. Ehhh, sorta…I guess. If nothing else, the energy level seemed higher, though there was still some really, REALLY screwy scoring (sorry to anyone who danced in the first half of the show – y’all were gonna get hosed, regardless), and the music department still seems to be saddling some couples with some absolutely garbage songs that have an impossibly long intro for a dance that’s already been severely truncated. Bruno seemed to be relishing the opportunity to continue his stint as “good judge” this week, to Carrie Ann & Len’s “bad judge” roles; Erin, who looked stunning on premiere night, looked more like the lead singer in a Florence + The Machine cover band last night in a dress that still has me scratching my head.
Sad to see Debbie go, but can’t really say it was entirely unexpected – I had her in my 4-couple “lost in the shuffle” club after ballroom night, while Terrell, who had an atrocious rehearsal package that I thought for sure would do him in, actually had enough support (from Cheryl’s fans, I guess) to stick around. Better to be a jerk and memorable (or at least paired with a popular pro whose fans can float you) than be polite and forgettable, I guess. I have a feeling Debbie was probably not long for this competition, though – she just looked progressively more exhausted with each dance she did, and something was probably gonna have to give by week 4, at the latest. Alan had an admirable first outing as a pro, as well, and probably earned himself a pro spot next year (side note: it feels totally weird saying “next year” instead of “next season”, when referring to DWTS…gonna take some getting used to.)
NOTE: If you’re looking for the power rankings from Monday night, go here.
1.) Frankie & Witney – Judging from the comments on Heidi’s post, this is probably gonna piss a few people off – but I actually agree that Frankie had the dance of the night, and I’m totally okay with 9 he got. Allow me to explain 🙂 Though last night was better than Monday night’s show, it was still relatively tame – even the strongest routines (namely Jordan & Lindsay’s) were lacking a bit for me in terms of emotional connection: Jordan just makes everything look so easy, like he’s not even sweatin’ it; Lindsay just makes everything look so fun and goofy, as if she’s saying “Eh, I could screw this up completely, and be totally ok with it – ain’t no thing!” Frankie isn’t quite as at ease with his dancing as those two are, so he has a certain intensity about him on the floor – like he’s really, really invested in what he’s doing, and is really excited about it, and he’s REALLY hoping he does it well. THAT is what loved about his dance – Frankie was all-in, and reminded me of that “I have no idea what I’m doing” dog meme where it’s clear he’s out of his element, but he’s so stinking cute doing it and he’s just trying so hard that you don’t care. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of a lot of Hinch’s dances, where you could tell he was really trying, but he was genuinely shocked upon being told he actually did it well and people enjoyed it. There was just something so pure and endearing about Frankie going out there and giving it his best shot, and actually giving a pretty respectable performance. And remember – if Hinch’s placement on his season and David & Rashad’s placement last season is any indicator, viewers seem to love them some guys with zero dance experience that end up being really good, but really humble. And I love me some people who seem genuinely grateful for the experience of doing DWTS (Nancy Kerrigan comes to mind), so to hear Frankie gushing about how much fun he’s having just kind of solidified his position as the highlight of the evening for me. As for the “9” – I get the feeling that Bruno went a bit off-script with that one, because the looks on Carrie Ann & Len’s faces seemed genuinely shocked and “WTF ARE YOU DOING???!”; but honestly, I derived so much joy from watching Frankie do his thing, I probably would have given it a “9” as well – we always talk about how this show “isn’t all about who the best dancer is”, so I’m not gonna sit here and mince words about “well Lindsay’s choreo was more difficult” or “Jordan’s technique was cleaner”; at the end of the night, I was the most entertained and felt the most satisfied across the board with Frankie’s performance, so I’m ok with it. Plus, I think it’s important to keep in mind that, once again, TPTB are probably trying not to make it seem as though this is only a two-horse race between Jordan and Lindsey – and throwing a curveball like Frankie as the high-scorer is definitely something that keeps viewers on their toes.
2.) Lindsey & Mark – Lindsey delivers yet another fun, carefree dance – and with her signature quirky, I’m-not-trying-too-hard-to-be-sexy spin on it, it was a nice respite from the over-the-top sexy tone of Vanessa’s salsa. I’ve said it before, but Lindsey’s style of movement (and just her general personality, really) really suits Mark’s style of choreography well – but once again, my only nitpick is that there’s just something just a little bit off about the way Lindsey moves. And it’s really hard to put my finger on, because it’s kind of a vague “hoppiness” or something – I’m probably the only one that it currently bothers, but I could see it being a bit of an issue in a smoother dance with more rigid rules, like rumba or tango. Not a whole lot else to add – great dance, enjoyable, bouncy quality to her movement could be an issue at some point. Good choreo from Mark, but maybe not my favorite that he’s ever done – waiting for him to pull that out later 🙂
3.) Jordan & Lindsay – If I find myself a tad irked by Lindsey’s bounciness, I find myself a bit flustered by how unflappable Jordan seems 😛 Two rather strange complaints about two stellar frontrunners, I know, but last night, I didn’t find myself super-satisfied by either one in the same way I was with Frankie’s performance. Jordan delivers yet again – strongest samba of the night, and the only one of the four we saw where I felt like the celeb really “got” the characteristic samba beat and milked it for all it was worth. Really, his musicality was exquisite. He also seemed to actually get the bounce action of the samba as well, which most celebs don’t even attempt. Technically, it was near flawless (strange bitching by Len about footwear notwithstanding) – but part of me wishes that Jordan would, I don’t know, pretend like this was all a bit more challenging for him? I’m just tired of hearing bitching from fans about how he’s “cocky” because he never seems to sweat any of the dances; he’s “fake” because he’s articulate and complementary of his partner (and I believe he has a genuine respect for her – hence the gushing); and he’s “unrelatable” because he’s had a very successful career path. I guess I should really be irritated with the viewers, more than anything, but I find I’m never really all that shocked about some of the ridiculous stuff that comes out of fans’ mouths anymore – I just kinda wish Jordan would have ONE WEEK where he would struggle a bit with the dance, and could show the audience a bit more vulnerability. Because if who wins comes down to who the audience relates to better – I think Lindsey has him beat. Then again, after the response Frankie got last night, I’m wondering if another non-ringer is going to end up with the trophy instead this season…
4.) Vanessa & Maks – If TPTB are trying to make it look like Jordan & Lindsey are NOT running away with the MBT already – man, they sure are trying to make it seem like Vanessa IS. Let me say this: Vanessa is pretty good. Better than I thought she’d be. But given the pretty simplistic choreography she’s gotten from Maks so far, I can’t really put her in the same tier as Jordan & Lindsey in terms of being a contender. She’s handled what he’s given her well, but I don’t think he’s thrown anything too difficult at her yet. This salsa was good, but I wouldn’t say it was great – seemed like quite a bit of time-wasting at the beginning (again), and not a ton of stuff in-hold – was also devoid of any super-complex or impressive tricks or lifts. Lindsey was doing a lot more intricate footwork in her salsa, while this stuck with more basic moves. The costume was probably the biggest offense – a shapeless crop top and a pair of pants that looked like they were made of Hefty trash bags on the bottom. Was it a salsa? Yes. Was I entertained by it? Somewhat. Is it proof she’s a contender? I’m not sold yet. But I think TPTB have decided that, between Nick & Vanessa, Vanessa is the one that’s going to be worth propping up – so we’ll probably see her stick around for awhile.
5.) Victoria & Val – Sure was nice having a quiet, reserved Val for two dances. When the Chmerkovskiy boys start talking back to the judges is when I start to have issues – particularly when it’s to Len, because both Maks and Val have made some pretty ageist comments to him over the years about it being “time to quit” or “forgetting his meds”, and it’s usually in response to a pretty valid critique Len has given them about their choreography (or lack thereof). Yes, “times have changed” and the choreography these days is a bit different than when Len was competing; but at the same time, there is still a rumba syllabus, which means you’ve still got to use at least some rumba steps when choreographing a rumba. Len actually made a really good point about how the dance should be identifiable even if he can’t hear the music – even at the professional level, where the couples are doing predominantly open choreography and not syllabus steps, the quality of movement is still very characteristic of a rumba – and I didn’t see that in Victoria’s dance. Val choreographed a contemporary routine and basically tried to label it a modern rumba when it became obvious that it wasn’t going to pass muster with Len – and really, had he just replied to Len’s critique with “Yeah, I had to adjust the choreo to fit Victoria’s abilities”, I would have said “Ok, I respect that.” Derek had to do similar things when he was choreographing for Amy, and I’m pretty sure Sharna had a few instances where she had to bite the bullet from the judges for choreo she had to adjust for Noah. Mark took his lumps like an adult the other night for breaking hold – would have been nice if Val could have done the same with his rumba choreography. Victoria’s still a bright spot to watch, but I think last night was the first time we saw just how limited she could be – in light of her not being to feel her legs much, she can’t really bend & straighten her legs properly, and thus she can’t really achieve the correct hip action. Is that going to get called out as the season wears on? I’m not sure yet, but at some point, I think the judges are going to have to get a bit real with her – there are at least (4) contenders right now (with maybe 2-3 couples that could improve with time), and most of them already have far better leg action. The whole “how do you do it???” schtick from the judges is going to wear thin, very soon, and they’re going to have to drop the hammer…
6.) Drew & Emma – Really, another unexpectedly decent dance from Drew – I was having visions of a total non-event rumba with stiff hips and not much moving, but he actually did a really respectable job. Sure, there could have been more hip action, but that’s a complaint I have about most male celebs’ rumbas; overall, he kept up nicely and had a nice, sweet chemistry on the floor with Emma. My one complaint had to do with the funky camera angles we were seeing on the floor – not sure if there was a nip slip or something, but at one point the camera guy went funny. Oh well – nothing else to add. Keep up the good work 🙂
7.) Derek & Sharna – I’m still scratching my head as to what, if anything, Derek and/or Sharna did to get on the judges bad side and get nitpicked & underscored to death – because it happened again last night, despite Derek doing a pretty respectable paso doble. Probably not my favorite of the three dances he’s done so far, but as far as I could tell, he stayed on-time (and actually had some pretty amazing musicality – makes me wonder if he either plays/played an instrument, or has some other musical training), didn’t miss any steps, and embodied the aggression of the dance. Sure, his hands could have been better – but man, the way the judges were harping on his hands (and some vague critique about artistry), you’d think he was out there just making obscene gestures instead of doing paso doble-esque movements. The poor dude is actually a pretty decent dancer, but somehow keeps ending up in the bottom with the likes of Nick and Terrell. Which brings me to about the only theory I have as to why he’s being low-balled: are they possibly using Derek as some kind of disposable shield for Nick? As I’ve mentioned before, I get the impression that TPTB have a vested interest in keeping Nick around – and one strategy to ensure that might be to use someone else to take the hit during an elim to keep Nick safe, and if I had to guess, Derek is someone that probably can’t get past Nick in votes, when you take into account 98 Degrees fans and Peta’s fanbase (then again, after Nick’s appearance in jeopardy last night, all bets are kinda off). If they’re close (or tied) in score, and Derek just can’t get past Nick in votes…Derek goes, Nick stays. Not exactly the most foolproof strategy (especially since Nick has been a bit of a dud, personality-wise), but it’s the only one I’ve got right now to explain why Derek is getting consistently low-balled. I’m interested to see if this scoring pattern still holds next week…
8.) Sasha & Gleb – Sasha finally started really MOVING during her samba, and most importantly, for the first time I actually believed that she was enjoying herself in the process 🙂 Not sure she ever got truly in-the-pocket of the samba beat like Jordan did, but there was some nice effort there, and she was moving through her hips surprisingly well. I’m just glad we got to see a bit more of a vulnerable side to her in rehearsal – up until last night, I think she was just a bit of a “stock character” on this season, if you will, as we didn’t have a whole lot of backstory from her and she had been part of the “woodwork squad” I mentioned in the night 1 rankings. So I’m glad she spoke out about her PCOS (I have several friends that have struggled with it, and it can be debilitating) and let us see a more human side – I think she may have gained a few voters as a result. Now if she and Gleb can just maintain that momentum…
9.) Nick & Peta – Was shocked (and pleasantly surprised) to see these two winding up in jeopardy – for a little while there, I was starting to feel alone in my utter boredom with Nick. Sorry, but after last night, this man does nothing for me, dance-wise or personality-wise. That was probably one of the most tepid Argentine tangos we’ve seen on the show – not sure if it was because Peta was trying to make him channel he & Vanessa’s first date, which he totally didn’t remember and just hemmed & hawed when asked about it; or because Nick just really seems like he doesn’t want to be there. I’m at least partly convinced now that Nick only agreed to do the show because Vanessa really wanted to (and it was a package deal – I get the feeling DWTS wouldn’t have taken Vanessa if they couldn’t have Nick, too), and is just biding his time doing the bare minimum and hoping he gets eliminated soon. And to be fair – neither he nor Peta looked too disappointed to be standing up there in jeopardy last night, and almost seemed resigned to going home. One bright spot of their dance last night: Peta did a complete 180 from her dowdy Golden Girls-esque gown on Monday and opted to show us her snapback game was strong – I thought she looked fantastic in that pale pink two-piece costume, and I spent most of the dance watching her (since Nick was such a stiff non-event). But here’s the kicker: I think TPTB are still looking to milk the married couple storyline (and to a lesser degree, the “Drew Lachey’s big bro” storyline) for all they can, so I don’t think they’re inclined to let Nick go anytime soon – I think putting him in jeopardy was an effort to stimulate votes, and I would not be surprised to see the judges suddenly start gushing about “improved” he is, and start to lay the groundwork for a redemption arc. They’re already being pretty kind with his scores – he may be low on the leader board, but he always seems to have at least 1-2 other people tied with him or below him, which in turn helps shield him. I guess my big question is this: is it going to work, or are the viewers going to rebel a bit against the manipulation, like they did last season?
10.) Terrell & Cheryl – He may have dodged a bullet last night, but unless there’s a secret hoard of massive T.O. fans out there just voting their asses off, Cheryl’s fanbase can’t carry Terrell forever. And while the internet fans are certainly the minority, I am not seeing a ton of warm fuzzies for dear ol’ Terrell – most people I talked to seemed pretty put-off by his package Monday night. His Tuesday package was better, but in the same token, I think he came off arrogant – which is funny, because I saw nobody calling that out, but apparently Jordan is “soooo cocky”. I’d say this was a middle-of-the-road to decent samba – he stayed on-time and seemed to at least understand the beat, but he’s still got some feet issues to resolve, and needs to clean everything up. I hate to say this, though – I think he actually did better than Nikki 🙁 I’m hoping he gets a hardcore ballroom dance next week – something that Cheryl can’t sex up so much to cover his weaknesses.
11.) Nikki & Artem – Man, I really hate that I have to put them this low, and I’m honestly hoping I’m wrong and either Terrell or Nick goes home instead – but due to a combo of bad dance & music assignments, bad running order, and maybe just nerves, I think these two have unfortunately become the queen & king of the “fading into the woodwork” club, and were altogether unmemorable in the grand scheme of this week’s shows. They were alright in week 1 – neither great nor terrible; they were ok-but-unremarkable on Monday night; and last night they were mediocre at best. And I feel like Nikki has some natural skill, so it just sucks that they kinda got handed songs this week that were either totally boring (“Come Away With Me”) or not really appropriate for the dance style they were given, and with a looooong intro (“Despacito”). The thing that got my goat about “Despacito” in particular was that they gave them a version with a ridiculously long intro, that wasn’t conducive to doing samba steps; it left them to do this kind of odd hip rolling segment, and then we barely got any samba steps before the song ended. Nikki seemed a bit more tentative and unsure of herself this time around – understandable, considering samba is probably the trickiest of the five Latin dances, in terms of DWTS; but for the first time, she actually seemed timid to me…which isn’t good. There are certainly other people I’d rather see go home first (I’ve named them), and I think a lot of the circumstances leading to these two being so low on the totem pole were out of their control – but unless they’re getting a crap ton of votes, I’d say they’re goners come Monday.
So do you agree with who got sent home? Who do you think is on the chopping block next week?
Totally agree on Frankie, and I absolutely see the Hinch comparison — I tweeted that to him last night after the show, lol. It’s never bad to have the Hinch vibe! I LOVE that he is so genuinely and unabashedly thrilled to be there.
I agree with the rankings, but I personally would have put Jordan before Lindsey.
On another note, Drew said on instagram that their rumba last night is also going to be his wedding dance. I think that’s adorable and so sweet!
Well I think this is going to be the season where I don’t know what the heck is going to happen when it comes to eliminations (didn’t see Debbie leaving this soon) I blame this solely on the judges. INCONSISTENT is all I have to say. Also, I have to point out that if you’re in the first half of the line up 1-5 your at this point not guaranteed higher than a 7 since that’s where most of the 6s are getting thrown out. It’s like they save the growth of the night for the end and I completely disagree with that.
Nikki & Artem
Ended up by the end of the night finding myself forgetting Nikki’s performance. Maybe since she went first? Also recognized Artem used the entire beginning of their dance from a pro number they did to despacito on the hot summer nights tour. Not sure if that hurt them, considering Len doesn’t like all that fooling around, he likes getting right to the dance.
Victoria & Val
In my opinion, over scored unfortunately 🙁 I really like her but the judges were correct not much rumba in there. She was lucky to see 7,6,7 considering some others didn’t even get that score and were beyond better.
Derek & Sharna
Once again this poor guy comes out with a great performance, Sharna nailed the choreography for the 3rd time this season, (I commend her for a traditional paso) but the judges are super tough on him. Seems like no matter how well he performs the judges don’t like him. In no means does he belong on the bottom of the leaderboard STILL getting 6s. I’m gutted for this team and not sure what the show has against them. He delivered a powerful paso, and while the judges noted on his improvement, his scores never reflected it, makes no sense. Doesn’t deserve to go home, but seems like the judges are trying to convince the audience he does. Should have scored 7,7,7.
Sasha & Gleb
First performance that I loved from her. You could tell she was having fun, she’ll keep improving.
Nick & Peta
Unfortunately, I think he should have been the one to go, not Debbie. He dances awkward & the fact that a judge keeps throwing in a 7 makes me cringe. Not quite sure how Nikki or Derek are getting same scores as him? Not quite sure the show is ready to end the married couple rivalry yet.
TO & Cheryl
He is my least favorite on the show. Although his samba was an improvement, his dancing will never win me over due to his attitude. He should be the next eliminated Monday, but I’m not quite sure he will be, maybe Cheryl fans are fighting to keep her in?
Vanessa & Maks
First performance I enjoyed from her. Actually have to give it to her, she is all personality on the dance floor it’s very fun to watch. Not quite sure about the hype of her the first two dances, but the judging seemed fair this time around.
Jordan & Lindsay
His excitement to learn is fun to watch, love his partnership & respect for Lindsay and he nailed a quite difficult samba. Still top 2 for me.
Mark & Lindsey
My favorite of the night, she is so much fun. After getting 7s on Monday she bounced right back like it never happened. She earned the first 9 of the season IMO. Man I love that Mark is back.
Frankie & Witney
Where the heck did he come from, he truly can dance. Loved the energy, and I’m beginning to see the confidence in him for sure. Now here’s where I assume people may disagree with me. Was Frankie great last night? Heck yeah, so fun. Was Frankie the top performance last night? No. Not quite sure his dance was worth the first 9 of the season, still think Jordan & Lindsey were better. If he would have gone first last night, guaranteed his score would not have been that high. Also, not too fond of his “send the people who don’t work as hard as me home & keep me in the competition” comment. Besides TO, every couple has proven they work just as hard. He is not the first person to do yoga & other activities outside of the ballroom to get better. Bonner Bolton for example, did the same thing last season with the yoga, cryo, and physical therapy to get through the season with his broken neck, much like Frankie’s broken back. But honestly really love Frankie he is in my top 3 for sure, just nitpicking a little at this point 🙂
Emma & Drew
Much improved from the first 2 dances. His scores were right where they should be with all 7s though, since I think his quickstep was over scored Monday night. Slow dances like the rumba tend to sometimes become forgettable, and for me it was, but he improved so much that I think he will still get the votes.
I agree on Frankie as well. He has all the qualities that play right into the hands of the viewers. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the finals.
I’m just going to say that there is nothing better than someone surprising us with their joy and dancing on this show. Best technical dancer? Nope. Best dance of the night? Yep. Sometimes it’s just something that shines through.
I’m hoping for a Nikki comeback. Would love to see her stick around.
I totally agree that Nick being in jeopardy is to stimulate voting. If it weren’t for that I’d say he’s gone next week. I feel like Derek could be the one bc Nikki seems to have a great fan base (that’s just my observation from social media..not sure if they are voting). I wish it was Terrell going home next week bc he’s actually the only one out of this cast that I don’t care for. I hope they bring up Jordan’s childhood in an upcoming package bc he didn’t have it easy from that standpoint. According to his wiki page his grandparents raised him and his siblings bc his mother struggled with drug addiction. To accomplish what he has in such a short period of time is pretty amazing to me . I don’t find him cocky at all.
I really think it’s Derek or TO leaving next week. I know Nikki is at the bottom of the LB but her fanbase actually seems to be voting. I find the WWE crowd refreshing; I don’t hear any drama or arguments with other fans from them (they didn’t even throw a hissy fit over the scores) they just support their celeb and keep voting. Derek and TO seemed to be forgotten about when the night was over (Nick too but jeopardy will probs give him a boost). I agree Derek deserves to stick around so I sent him some votes.
Court I have to agree with you, looks like Derek is the shield to save nick. Let’s low ball Derek’s scores so he’s tied with nick and hopefully nicks fan base votes more than Derek’s. Only thing that makes sense, because the comparison between Derek & nicks dancing is on different levels, nick obviously not as good. This week if TO doesn’t go home I bet Derek ends up leaving & boy would that be a shame. After watching Derek and Sharna on ET FB Live today I just adore that team. He so wants to get better and wants to learn from Sharna, and he is an absolute humble sweetheart, I recommend people go watch the interview. Would be sad to see him leave when you have TO still in the competition.
I am totally in love with Frankie and Witney and Jordan and Lindsay! Two cute as a button couples who are perfectly matched! Frankie simply shone very bright last night! I can’t wait to see what these two keeping bringing to the ballroom!
Agree with a lot of what was said. I get annoyed with some of Len’s comments, but when he complains about lack of a real Samba (in this week’s case) or the time wasting, I tend to agree with him. Val didn’t need to turn to age or changing times, you-did-not-choreograph-a-rumba! End of story. It would’ve been more respectful to say “yeah it was on purpose!”. Like when they do lifts and just accept that they did them instead of going against Carrie Ann.
And like some of us mentioned on the other post, some of these dances were very short. So to know that you don’t have enough time and still not show the proper dance, it’s even more annoying.
And yes. Nick can go. The only person who wants to stay there is Peta. Nick is not really into it. They’re not even playing the competition between the couples angle which I thought would’ve happened enough times already for us to be annoyed and complain about it in every post. I also think that Vanessa has passed so far over Nick that everybody involved gave up on him and all the attention turned to her.
My thoughts on Latin Night:
Overall Latin night was better than ballroom. Maybe because Latin dances are overall more upbeat, but it just seemed more exciting. I didn’t mind most of the music choices and the costumes were a lot better.
Favorites:
1 Jordan&Lindsay: He is just a natural and takes on every dance so easily like it is nothing. Not sure if this will hurt or help him. People like seeing growth, struggle, and improvement. But there have been winners like Meryl, Alfonso, Nicole who all just breezed through their seasons with no frustrations. But there also been winners who beat out other contenders with dance experience like Bindi, Rashad, Kellie so it is hard to know in the long run what will happen with him. Jordan just does whatever Lindsay throws at him, no matter the style he does well but at the same time they aren’t super memorable or a show stopper. He is confident and always has one of the better dances of the night.
2 Frankie&Witney: I’m actually sort of happy someone unexpected got the first nine of the season. He seems so dedicated and invested, that I don’t want him to go because he is enjoying it so much. His enthusiasm has also made Witney so happy and positive. He can handle to choreography, so now Witney has to continue giving him great choreo so he doesn’t fade back into the woodwork. He is the opposite of Jordan, he trying really hard to keep up with everyone and is not as sure if he’ll do well as Jordan is. They could be like Rashad and Emma and make it through, even with a few great contenders.
3 Sasha&Gleb: So happy she finally had a pretty great dance. Gleb stepped out of his usual dance style and gave Sasha something she could be confident in. She stood out more this week and this dance made her step out of the crowd she was grouped with in the middle of the leaderboard. She seemed genuinely seemed happy and confident in this dance. Gleb just needs to stick with choreography that she is confident in and she will make it far.
4 Lindsey&Mark: This was a pretty intense salsa. It started right away and had no tricks or lifts. I find that I enjoy Lindsey’s video packages the most. She is just so funny and quirky which makes her rehearsal videos so entertaining. Her and Mark are perfectly matched for each other. Lindsey can definitely handle the choreo and doesn’t need any troupe or production.
Likes:
5 Derek&Sharna: I don’t know why they are so extra harsh on Derek compared to everyone else. He tries and performs a decent dance. They possibly see him as someone to go in a few weeks and low scoring him so that he goes faster. He is kind of getting the Simone treatment, meaning he will get criticized no matter what he does, and won’t get scored well until the week of his elimination. It was a good paso and had a lot of content in it.
6 Vanessa&Maks: It was pretty good, wasn’t crazy about the costumes. She isn’t forgettable, but some of her dances can be. Her dances are good, just not showstoppers that I’ll remember by the end of the season. She can handle the steps and can put on a good performance though.
7 Drew&Emma: He is improving, and is trying to please the judges. He is a good showman, so he should just try to maximize his performance level and try to be memorable. He did better at the Rumba than I anticipated and Emma is doing a good job giving him choreo he can handle while trying to show his strengths.
Meh:
8 Victoria&Val: This dance wasn’t as memorable as her tango. I almost forgot about it until I went through the list of everyone. I did see a slight stumble and looked more like a contemporary than a rumba.
9 Terrell&Cheryl: Both terrell and cheryl have tough personalities so sometimes i feel like there is friction between the two. They just don’t mesh as well as other couples. He is actually decent, but I can’t see him making it far.
10 Nick&Peta: Almost forgot about him too before going through the list. I wouldn’t have minded if he went home over Debbie, but they probably want to keep Peta around a little while longer. He is very serious and doesn’t display much emotion.
Thoughts on Debbie: Sad to see her go, but she may have been overwhelmed in the coming weeks. Alan did well, he gave her choreo she can handle and didn’t overshadow her. They both seemed happy with their dances and I wish she would’ve stayed over a few of some of the remaining couples. Alan should be given a spot next year as a pro.
I just want to start off my saying my jaw hit the floor when it was announced that Nick/Peta and Debbie/Alan were the two in jeopardy. I was SO sure that TO would be sent packing. Between his middle of the road dancing, his bad edit Monday, and just his rep in general so to see him safe I was dumbfounded. Then because I have enjoyed Debbie so much and have enjoyed Alan’s choreography for her I was praying it would be Nick/Peta because I have not connected with him at all and find him super boring.. But it seems like a pattern is in the process of developing. People have been monitoring the facebook comments and it’s been pretty spot on with who goes home. Whoever is the least talked about goes home. For Monday’s elimination it was Barbara. For last night it was Debbie. And as of last I checked seems like Derek/Nick are the two being least talked about. We’ll see if the pattern holds up with one of them getting eliminated next week.
Now to start off my rankings, no surprise as to who my top 3 were. Lindsey, Jordan, Frankie. I guess I’ll start with Frankie.
Frankie: After seeing his Foxtrot last week he gave me a very Hinch like vibe as well and I thought he could totally be a darkhorse. Then he did a great job with his Tango Monday and I thought okay.. now lets see if he can do Latin if he can do Latin he’s my darkhorse pick. And then he gave us that Cha Cha. I was grinning the whole time, he looked like he was having a blast, and Witney’s choreography.. I think we have Witney back. She’s been missing a few seasons and it’s so nice to see her back. Frankie is just a ray of sunshine, and he was in the top 3 most talked about on Facebook last night. I have no doubts he will be in the final 4 and that he could easily knock someone else out to take 2nd.
Lindsey: What can I say that I haven’t said in other posts? I love Lindsey, I love how hard she works. I love her personality and I think that’s something that the demo is really liking too. I love her partnership with Mark. I love them being creative together. Hands down my favorite partnership Mark has ever had. This dance was fun, it had Mark written all over it in terms of the style and it didn’t have to have fancy lifts to be fun and entertaining. I also was a huge fan of the dress Lindsey was in that purple color was gorgeous. I think that bouncy quality is just something she naturally has because I’ve noticed it watching her performances from tour. But it doesn’t seem like she has it in the Arena video. So it might just take the serious styles for her to not have that bounce.
Jordan: This samba was everything that I had hoped and wanted it to be. After seeing the BTS videos of him doing hips Samba was the dance I wanted to see him do most and wow.. he makes arguably the hardest latin dance look effortless. In terms of how demo is it would be nice to see him “struggle” to some extent with one dance to make him have a relatability. That’s the only thing that I have concern over is that people will view him as “too” good and will be more apt to like Lindsey’s work ethic and her personality. I love Jordan’s personality and seeing videos of him and Lindsay together, their BUILD interview he’s a doll but if people don’t take the time to watch those kinda things then they’ll miss knowing that side of him. But overall He’s impressed me every night and can’t wait to see his next dance as well as Lindsey’s and Frankie’s.
Next I’m just going to go over my these are the ones that were meh/didn’t impress me much:
Nick: I never was a 98 degrees fan. I was always a BSB girl. I don’t get Nick. I mean he’s not the worst dancer this show has ever seen but still he’s not fantastic by any means. He’s just there. I’m more and more sure that Vanessa wanted to do it like you said Courtney and that they didn’t want her without Nick which is why he agreed to it. Both him and Peta seemed almost like relieved they were in jeopardy. To me his AT was a non event. And why did they have to do that stupid remix to the song he danced to? The original was fine. I don’t feel like he’s got much left in him a few weeks tops. probably long enough to get to team dances is my guess.
Victoria: I love her attitude. I love her positivity. But with her limitations the show and judges can’t continue to make excuses for her. Val’s spat with Len made me livid last night. I wanted to smack Val. He should have just said he had to choreograph based on her limitations and let it roll off like Mark did in regards to Len’s breaking hold comment Monday night. But he didn’t. It was nice having two weeks of Val not doing stuff like this.. was good while it lasted. I can see Victoria getting lost in the shuffle at the end of the day. Several seem to think MMY and her sharing her story will help her but as I’ve said before invisible diseases people have a hard time empathizing with. So I guess we’ll see.
TO: His edit Monday was atrocious, his one last night wasn’t much better. His samba.. what Cheryl did was great. I just.. he’s like Nick such a non event like I can never remember their dances by the end of the night which is bad since TO’s last night was two from the end. I just.. he rubs me the wrong way and I hope he’s gone sooner rather than later.
Now the ones that were good but not to the same level as Lindsey/Jordan/Frankie:
Sasha: Was SO nice seeing her share about herself. As I’ve said before long time fan and she’s never opened up about what her hormone imbalance was. She’s just always said that nothing more. So to find out she has PCOS which so many women deal with, alone in the US up to 10% of women of “child bearing” age have it. Then on top of it she came out and was the Sasha that I expected on premiere night. I was so happy to see her finally rock it and I hope she continues to do that and get better. Like I have said before if she continues to grow on her own and no manipulation occurs from TPTB to keep her around because of the PLL spin off I’ll gladly continue to support her all the way.
Derek: I can’t seem to figure out what TPTB have against him other than what you said Courtney they think he’ll be cannon fodder to try and protect Nick for a few more weeks. Was his Paso his best dance? No but it was much better than Nick. Sharna is doing a really good job with him and I really want him to stay in for awhile longer. I think his mother being a fan and having appeared might sit with the demo and keep the votes going his way to save him.. maybe just maybe.
Drew: can I just say I was expecting his Rumba to be a hot mess. But I’m so glad I was wrong. I was so impressed with his hips and the fluidity of his lines. He’s definitely not the most polished in the bunch but he’s got potential. I don’t think he can be counted out between that and his likability, coupled with the fact he already is in line with the demo. I don’t see Drew going anywhere for awhile.
Nikki: I really like Nikki but.. man.. they really did her no favors. Like WHY did they chose that part of the song? And what was Artem doing with the choreography? I just.. After Nancy’s samba last season I thought Nikki’s would be fire and it wasn’t. She has the potential. I just hope she lasts through next week to be able to show it.
Vanessa: I like Vanessa. I like her a lot. But Maks is being so lackadaisical with her. He’s just going through the motions. She has potential and had she been paired with Mark, Derek, or even Alan I think she would be doing even better than she is right now. I just hope that Maks finally wakes up and gives her some amazing stuff. Doubt it but I can dream.
I’ll end by saying the judges really need to get a handle on scoring. It’s ridiculous that the leadboard is so close. I mean highest score is 25 and lowest is 18. That’s not a huge divide at all especially this early on. Later in the season the closeness makes sense but now in week two it’s kinda ridiculous.
Frankie is my favorite this season, totally rooting for him! of course he’s not as athletic and flexible as Jordan and Lindsey, but his routine was still the best of the night imo!
Jordan and Lindsey are obviously the best dancers of the season and no one will reach that quality of movement these two have, but we all know it takes more to win than being a technically good dancer 🙂 I really like both of them, but who knows, maybe they have too many ‘ringer vibes’ going on that will turn some of the viewers off.
I think at least pre-season quite a few people were excited about Nikki and she was expected to do quite well, so that would be another surprise if she turns out to be an early elimination. She seems to have quite a big fanbase on her own, so that might keep her in the competition. But what about the general DWTS audience? I kinda have the feeling she’s not really the type of celeb that is overly popular with the typical DWTS viewership or am I wrong?
Well done, Court! I especially love what you said on Frankie! I feel the same.
Ok, here’s mine…
1. Frankie and Witney – Wow! I was just completely blown away by these two. He is rockin it and just having a blast. I love his fighting spirit and how hard he’s working over time. Witney’s choreo was totally spot on. I just loved them.
2. Jordan and Lindsay – I don’t know what Glen was talking about with his feet. I thought he was perfection. Once again, Lindsay’s choreo was at another level. I love their connection and they are full of charm and fun.
3. Mark and Lindsey – They came out so full of fun. There were a few times where I thought it was a little messy in their turns, but, I just loved them again.
4. Vanessa and Maks – She is so full of passion and I love her expressions. I love how much fun she’s having out there. The more she just lets herself loose out there, the better her dances are.
5. Victoria and Val – I love how deeply she was into her character. Her lines were just beautiful. I’m wanting more from them, but I’m not sure what it is?
6. Derek and Sharna – I think this Paso could have used a little more power, passion, and expressionfrom him, but, overall, he did pretty good.
7. Drew and Emma – Improvement of the night! I loved his lines and extensions. He didn’t seem as nervous. Beautiful!
8. Gleb and Sasha – This girl just needs to “believe”. She started off a little nervous, but, the more she danced, the better she did.
9. Terrell and Cheryl – I continue to love his charm and smile. It was a little rough around some edges. If and when he can find his pocket, I think he’ll really start nailing it? Let’s just hope it’s soon!
10. and 11: TIE as I can’t decide:
Nick and Peta – I don’t know what to say? He’s trying hard, but, he’s not as natural out there as the others. Peta seems frustrated and not sure how to help him. Drew, HELP!
Artem and Nikki – These two seam like they are going backwards. The dance was slow and she needed more bounce and hip action. Sometimes it’s like she’s trying too hard.
Frankie actually reminds me of Jack Osbourne. Even the way he extended his hands in the ballroom dances reminded me of Jack.
The Facebook thing is FAR from new Brittany C – people noticed it several seasons ago. It’s also not foolproof and it’s less reliable now that people know it’s a thing.
I’m really glad you said that, because I kind of like Terrell too. It’s been like my dirty little secret lol
I think Frankie might just be the dark horse of the competition. I admit he was no where near the top of my radar before the season started, but he’s really shot to the top with his eagerness and work ethic. Witney also looks like she’s having a blast dancing with him. I think she’s one of those pros that has to have an emotional connection with her partner in order to make dance magic, much like she had with Alphonso.
I like Victoria a lot. She has a smile that lights up the room. You can’t help but root for her. Unfortunately the Rumba they did had little content or memorability. I have no idea if it was her physical limitations, Val’s inability to showcase a partner who has physical vulnerabilities or some combination of the two. I suspect a little of both.
Jordan and Lindsay remind me of why I still watch the show. That alchemy of likability, natural dance skills, chemistry between partners and great choreography.
He has the same ability Alphonso had in making every single beat and step come alive with energy, commitment and soul. No step is an afterthought. Even the transitions come alive with cohesion and flair.
I like the Maks&Vanessa partnership. I hope he gives her more challenging choreography. She can definitely handle it. Maks needs to be spanked with a burning plank for dressing her in those stupid, leg covering Genie pants.
Tell me what part of Salsa inspires you to cover your celeb from head to toe in mismatched fabric?
Mark is doing great job of presenting Lindsey’s bubbling personality and energy. I’m looking forward to seeing something different from her, like a kick-ass Paso or a sensuous, moving Rumba.
Man Courtney, we are on the same page! I found myself thinking so many of the same things. Definitely think Vanessa wanted to do the show and they wanted the married package so Nick agreed. And that they put him in jeopardy to stimulate votes.
Don’t agree with the comments attacking Jordan either. He is a happy, confident successful, talented and good-looking guy. I think all of those things together in one make one of two things happen: people are jealous of someone with all of those qualities so they look for reasons to dislike him, or because of having all of these traits, he is a bit hard to relate to because most people aren’t that blessed. I agree that the later could hurt them in coming weeks but I hope people are so blown away by their dances and his partnership with Lindsay (and also that people want her to win a mirrorball too) enough to vote. If anyone is too cocky its TO.
I thought Latin night was much better than Ballroom night overall. Scoring is a bit ridiculous though, the difference between first and second half scores for all three shows so far is much greater than usual. Loved Jordan, Lindsey and Frankie. They are my top 3 and I would already love to see a top 3 finale with those 3 couples only (what a choreo treat that would be!) and no C bros. I have a feeling that TPTB will push to have one of the two C bros couples in the finale though. Vanessa was completely overscored. I really thought the dance was overrated – to simple and too much messing around and yes bad costuming too. Maks is so unenthused once again this season you wonder why he bothers. She does have talent but she’s been the most overscored of anyone so far.
Hoping the next to go is TO and then Nick. I don’t think either really wants to be there that much, unlike the rest of the cast. I find the rest of the celeb cast very likeable and want to see them do well. Eliminations are going to get hard after a few more weeks!
Did anyone else hear Len’s side comment to Maks, something like ‘wait until you are head judge!’ I immediately thought that meant Maks is going to be head judge for the kids season? If that is old news, sorry, I don’t pay as much attention to dwts news outside of the period when the show airs!
What about your thoughts on Nikki & Artem’s Samba?
I hope that people are voting for Lindsey & Mark (what am I saying? They are). The media seems to be focusing a lot more on Nikki, Nick & Vanessa, Drew and almost all of the rest of the contestants not that I have a problem with it (which I don’t). But I think that their chemistry and her personality is what will take them far. On another note, I’m shocked that Frankie has been doing so amazingly well. He will definitely become one of the frontrunners IMO.
It’s not easy to guess who might be on the chopping block and maybe won’t be all season long if the scores stay this close. 18 to 25 points is not a big spread, so nobody has a comfortable lead and no fan base has an insurmountable gap to overcome.
I’d guess Nick and Nikki, leaning Nick. Nikki’s dance wasn’t bad but it was too measured and cautious for a dance that’s supposed to be fun. I’d say forgettable, especially after having to dance first, except she gets a break that DWTS is on at the same time WWE’s big weekly show is on, and the WWE stars and fans are actively reminding each other to vote for her during voting hours.
Nick’s dance wasn’t bad either, definitely an improvement over his other dances, but TPTB plan to match up a married couple with married pro partners has a big wrinkle in it that showed itself from the first night–Vanessa is a way better dancer than Nick, which kind of emphasizes early-on that Nick’s chances across an entire season are not good.
Big difference from Meryl v. Charlie and Alexa v. Carlos, where both were contenders. TPTB may have been trying to stimulate Nick’s vote by putting him in jeopardy but it’s hard to imagine there’s a big “let’s keep Nick and Vanessa together on the show because they’re married” sympathy vote out there. Or maybe the Lachey brothers have a big fan base that I’m not aware of, but my memory is that Drew Lachey needed to score high with the judges because Jerry Rice was the one with the massive fan vote.
So I’m thinking the WWE Universe does help Nikki and TPTB “stimulus package” (h/t to Courtney) doesn’t help Nick. But the point spread is so tight it could be somebody else entirely.
LOL Thanks Christi! 😉
Frankie and Whitney top my list. He is a joy to watch, and I love his enthusiasm.
You are going to think I am crazy… but Lindsey/Mark and Jordan/Lindsey are almost too good. I love their performances, but it feels like I am watching 2 pros. While I agree that they are the best dancers, for the actual competition I am rooting for Frankie. He is just a delightful surprise, and he represents what I think the show should be about which is taking a celebrity out of his element and turning him into a dancer.
I am also enjoying Vanessa. She is a good dancer, and she is fun to watch. I am also liking the softer, kinder Maks.
I like Nick, too. I think he is improving, and the judges are being a bit too tough on him. Derek is also better than his scores, in my opinion.
Drew is another one that I like, but everyone else fades into the woodwork for me. I am hoping that Terrell is the next to go.
I really hope Nikki isn’t the next to go. I liked her Samba and thought it was unfortunate for her to go first. Sure it could have been better but I think the judges made it out to be worse than it was and I really believe she has the potential. I think it might have been the two dances in one week that had to do with the quality and choreography. The videos of her dances on the DWTS Youtube page have consistently been the most watched each week, so that leaves me to believe she’s got a good following for her to stick around.
I hope the WWE fans can keeps Nikki and Artem in a few more weeks. There are 3 or 4 I’d like to see go before her.
Frankie, Jordan, Lindsay S were my favorites of the night. I’m glad Frankie got a 9. It might have been one point too many but I just love him. I had no idea that he was going to become one of my favorites!
After now seeing 3 dances from each contestant, I narrowed it down to who I feel has the most natural dance ability. Can’t go by the scoring because some are getting praised too highly and others are getting underscored tragically. Overall besides 1 or 2 couples everyone has natural rhythm. Wish the judges were more like SYTYCD where they just give their comments no actual score, because this season the judges are scoring opposite from their comments. They like a contestant & see improvement they give it a 6, they nitpick and seem like they didn’t enjoy it as much they give a 7 or 8. Maybe it’s just me who is confused 🙂
Jordan
Lindsey
Vanessa
Frankie
Derek
Nikki
Sasha
Victoria
Drew
Terrell
Nick
Natalie, Nikki’s dances on YouTube will be the highest viewed for as long as she’s in because WWE has a huge international following in places like the UK (they sell out all their events there). They can only catch her dances on YouTube as DWTS only airs in the US and Canada. International viewers can’t vote anymore so lots of people viewing Nikki’s dance won’t have voted for her so don’t take those views into account when it comes to votes. We’ll see how strong her fanbase is next week. They’ve got ground to make up and she was first in the running order (so basically forgettable to the general audience like Debbie the night before). Personally I don’t think she makes up the ground to stay. If international voting was allowed I think she’d pass Terrell but without it…she’s struggling I’m afraid.
Jordan, Lindsey and Frankie with Sasha are my favs.
Long life to Lindsay that put the amount of content in a single dance that we are not going to be able to see in all dances of some pros…
Spot on as always, Courtney! You really stuck a chord by coming up with the Derek-shielding-Nick equation there!
What I am really loving in this season is how few of the early-outs (a la Frankie, Derek) according to my expectations are right there, killing it.
Frankie’s excitement is so relatable, personal and endearing – he has really become this season’s Nancy for me within 2 weeks.
Other thoughts:
– Derek can potentially be this season’s Bonner and sail through eliminations (only with much more talent and much less appreciation/scores)
– Vanessa is probably being propped to end up as this season’s shocking elimination. I personally see Victoria making it farther than her
– Lindsey should get a Tango soon. For a serious/intense dance, but also for my guilty pleasure of this season: her killer leg action
– I can take Jordan’s youthful confidence (even if you call it cockiness, I don’t) if he continues to be the showman he’s being in every show he and Lindsay put up. Another spectacular performance!
– Artem is making weird choreographic choices this season :/
– In this week’s shows, I felt bad for Debbie, Alan, Derek but worse for Sharna. She’s doing a beyond respectable job for Derek but ends up only being lynched by the judges to follow the agenda
Debbie and alan got robbed it should have been Terrell and Cheryl and I hope alan becomes a pro next season in season 26 when it comes back in sept 2018 and I think Terrell and nikki and nick will be on the chopping block
Jordan superbly well trained dancer. Obviously odds on to win, sometimes that don’t work out how it ends up
Youtube by itself has never been a good indicator of who’s going to stay or go.
Now that you mention it I agree with the Frankie and Nancy comparison. Hopefully being male and not a perceived “ringer” will prevent him from suffering the same fate she did.
@M8 – I honest-to-god believe that Nancy would not have gone home when she did if not for Normani – that’s the week Normani got immunity, and I’d stake money on it that she very well might have gotten sent home had they not given it to her. I didn’t hear as much “ringer!” finger-pointing with Nancy as I heard with Simone, Normani, & Heather – maybe because she was older.
I’ve had so much fun reading these rankings and comments!
I don’t think Frankie’s cha cha was the best dance yet but maybe it’s the most fun so far?
I find myself rewatching it on YT more than any other dance from this season. The troupe didn’t overshadow the Star, Frankie looks like he’s possessed by James Brown, and I love Witney’s ecstatic smile at the end.
It’s also been fun watching Frankie tell the media how much he enjoys dancing now and won’t stop after the show does.
1.Jordan/Lindsay- My only complaint is I wish the dance was longer. He killed this- not just the dancing but the facial expressions, the personality, and the style. He was a tad underscored, but I’m almost glad bc it allows him a growth arc.
2.Frankie/Witney- I love when someone with no dance experience comes on, does well, and is so heavily invested in the experience. Every time he dances you can tell how much he genuinely enjoys it. Was it overscored? IMO Yes. But this dance is one of my favorites of the season so far.
3.Lindsey/Mark- It’s incredible how good a choreographer Mark is – he can craft an insane salsa without ridiculous tricks and lifts. Very few contestants could have done that dance. My only hope is, since we’ve seen three high energy dances from them and a Jive next week, we get something slower soon.
4.Sasha/Gleb- I like her more and more every week- good growth all around. This was a fun dance and her technique was great. Gleb’s also putting out his best choreo since returning, IMO.
5.Drew/Emma- I didn’t have high hopes for this, so I was blown-away by how good this was. His best dance for sure. Hips could have been better, but there was a beautiful intimacy to this dance. He really channels every dance so well.
6.Vanessa/Maks- STOP WASTING HALF THE DANCE ON FLUFF. She is one of my favorites and she killed what she was given, IMO, but Maks is giving her crap to work with. She really has a shot, and I think Maks is going to blow it. That outfit was a travesty as well.
7.Nick/Peta- He clearly is not a natural dancer and struggles but I thought he’s shown a lot of improvement. I actually really like him and want him to stick around. That was by far his best dance and he had some really good moments.
8.Derek/Sharna- As I wrote in the live-blog, I am getting pissed at the scoring and comments for Derek. They hated his foxtrot, he got a 19. They loved his Paso, he got a 19. He is working hard and improving and yet they judge him like he has years of experience. It’s disheartening and they got all my votes this week.
9.Terrell/Cheryl- I’m over him. He’s actually not a bad dancer and Cheryl is super smart with choreo, but his attitude is off-putting. With all the rest of the dancers so invested and grateful, I would have preferred he left over Debbie.
10.Nikki/Artem- So awkward. The choreo was weird, everything seemed so tentative, and it was just strange and kind of uncomfortable from beginning to end. They desperately need a break-out moment or they are going to get lost in the canon-fodder.
11.Victoria/Val- That was not a rumba- I’m not even sure what that was. Overscored IMO. I truly like her, though. I think it would be helpful if the show delved into her learning process and limitations. I noticed she had a ton of tape around her knees and ankles.
I really agree with what you said about Frankie. He’s really made me enjoy watching this show again.
[…] Derek & Sharna – Remember how I theorized last week that the reason Derek was getting low-balled by the judges was so they could use him as a bit of […]