Tonight, for the first time, the couples have to perform two full pre-planned routines, and one of them will be in the style chosen for them by the viewers via Twitter last week.
Derek and Kellie are up first and after having some fun at Len's expense for his shitty score last week, they talk about their dance, the flamenco, which Derek has never done. Despite that, Derek wants to make the routine as traditional as possible since Len dinged them last week. He and Kellie are also working on their Argentine tango, and Kellie struggles with them a bit. So we're going to see their Argentine tango first. And wow, it's a doozy. The way Derek has choreographed it, leg placement is everything, because their legs are interacting without touching, if that makes any sense. And Kelly nails it. And there is a ton of content; I can see why Kellie was struggling. My only complaint is that I don't think these two have romantic chemistry, but their dancing is so good.
Judges? Len thought it was a mix of pride and joy. Bruno welcomes her to the world of the sublime. Carrie tells her that it was perfection, especially the opening silhouette section. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10, and Bruno 10. Wow. I didn't think they'd get a perfect score, but it was a pretty good routine.
I keep forgetting that Ingo is still here. I'm going to be so mad if he makes it to the finals. This week, they have the samba and the Charleston. They know that they are the underdogs and have to fight to stay in it. Don't fight! Just let it go. Anyway, their first dance tonight is the samba. Ingo is so athletic and he really puts his all into the routine, but it's missing the samba bounce. It feels like he's going from pose to pose instead of flowing through the routine.
Judges? Bruno says that he can see how hard Ingo worked, although he didn't have the bounce. Carrie Ann says that Ingo has some great moves and some sloppy moves, but she's looking forward to his dance. Len thought he did a good job with a difficult dance. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Len 9, and Bruno 8. They are happy with those scores.
This week, Aly and Mark have the rumba and Afro jazz. Mark is psyched about Afro jazz, which he describes as "tribal and animalistic." I'm worried, you guys. Mark tries to get Aly to be sensual when dancing the rumba. He should buy her a vibrator. I'm not kidding. I think she'd really benefit from that. Anyway, their rumba is up first. They dance to "When I Was Your Man" and it's...really beautiful. I am captivated. I think it helps that Mark's not wearing a fedora. But Aly gets into the storyline and her lines are beautiful. She could use a little more hip action (or any, frankly) but it's a great performance.
Judges? Carrie Ann says that Aly was "all woman out there" and she drew them in with her performance. Len liked that it was romantic but not raunchy, and he admires Aly's growth. Bruno compares her to a butterfly, with the right balance between romance and sensuality. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10, and Bruno 10. Deserved.
Jacoby and Karina were disappointed with their scores last week, mostly because they can't get a ten. This week, they have the Argentine tango and the Lindy Hop. Jacoby gets frustrated and notes that in football, he can hit stuff when he gets mad, but he can't do that here. As they rehearsed yesterday, Karina slammed her jaw on Jacoby's back and had to go to the hospital, but I guess she's fine now? Anyway, they're doing the Argentine tango. Jacoby does a great job with footwork, but I think their height differential is hurting them again. Then he just throws Karina around a lot but somehow it works in the "story" of the routine for me. Usually I don't love that stuff, but I liked it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good.
Judges? Len is very excited, and tells Jacoby that it was "right on the money." Bruno loved the sexual tension, and loved that Jacoby was slick, refined, and controlled. Carrie Ann can't even talk, and after Jacoby gives her a kiss, she stands up and whips her hair around? I don't even know. I mean, calm down, Carrie Ann. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10, and Bruno 10. Wow, I didn't think it was perfect, but what do I know?
Zendaya and Val are driving around the floor in go karts? I don't even know. This week, they have the quickstep and hip hop. Zendaya is thrilled about the hip hop part, and Val is not, because he's terrible at hip hop. Zendaya brings in her first ever hip hop teacher and she schools Val, which Zendaya finds hilarious. Anyway, their quickstep is first. They are competing race car drivers? I guess? It's certainly quick, I'll give them that. I feel like with the speed, they lost a little bit of the grace in the quickstep. At times, it feels more like a jive. It's great, technically, but the quickstep is my favorite dance and this didn't quite do it for me.
Judges? Bruno asks if she had rocket fuel for breakfast, and he loved the concept, but he noticed that they lost frame and footing a few times. Carrie Ann thought it was kind of a mess, and agrees with Bruno that the speed caused them to miss a few steps. Len thought that parts of it were fabulous, but the attack caused them to lose technique a bit. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Len 8, and Bruno 9. Well, they've got hip hop coming up, and that will surely be better.
The first round is done! So now we get a clip package of Kellie's life story, most of which you're familiar with if you watched her season of Idol. She grew up poor with a drug-addicted mother and an imprisoned father, raised by her grandparents. Then she went on Idol and got a singing career. And now she's dancing the flamenco. Here's the problem: Kellie looks like she's really unsure of the steps most of the time. Derek is stomping and dancing all over the place and Kellie is mostly swinging her skirt around and clapping. She just doesn't seem confident or in character.
Judges? Len tells Kellie that she's just booked her place in the finals. Really? Bruno thinks Kellie got the character of the dance, but there were a few moments where she tightened up and lost the flow of the dance. Carrie Ann asks why Kellie tensed up halfway through, and Kellie says that her dress was really heavy. So then Derek scoops her up and carries her up the stairs. Holy shit. That's a man. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 10, and Bruno 9. Well, Len made it up to them. Bruno showed a 10 paddle, but he clarifies that his score was actually a 9.
Ingo grew up in Germany, and he's been a competitive athlete from a young age. His parents were huge hippies, so they moved to Australia to go off the grid, basically. He grew up and moved to California and got on General Hospital and bought a house in Hawaii, where he met his wife. And now, their Charleston. They spend a lot of time faffing about in the beginning, but the first third is pretty good. Then Ingo's hat gets knocked off in one of their lifts and he seems to lose the thread, because the middle section is a mess. He's kind of walking through the steps, but he's not putting any energy into it. It's a shame, because this really is the perfect dance for him.
Judges? Bruno calls it frothy and bubbling. Did he watch a different dance than me? Carrie Ann thought he hit a grand slam, although he had a few mistakes. Len thought it was his best dance. What? Did they just watch the same dance as me? He was totally out of sync with Kym for the middle section of the dance. Whatever. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9.
I think everyone knows Aly's life story. She started training as a gymnast at a young age, and then went to the Olympics. I'm a little uncomfortable with these two whiteys dressing up like African bushmen and dancing around. I mean, I don't know how authentic their dance moves are, but I'm going to try to ignore the racial implications and just look at their dancing. And I have to say, Aly matches Mark move for move. She doesn't miss a beat, through all the jumping and stomping and whatnot.
Judges? Carrie Ann comments on how hard that dance was athletically and they were in perfect sync. Len loved the musical interpretation, but he would have liked a bit more connection between them. Bruno tells Aly that she has exceeded all expectations and has shown an incredible range. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10.
Jacoby was small growing up, so he was underrated as a player. He was a walk-on in college and he finally had his growth spurt. And then you know the rest, if you follow football at all. Anyway, their Lindy hop is high energy and full of the usual Jacoby swag. I'm a little disappointed that there isn't more actual dancing, though, because the segments with actual dancing are fantastic. There are a lot of lifts and pretending to play the trumpet. That said, it was a joy to watch.
Judges? Len thinks it was high energy and action-packed, but he points out that Jacoby got on the wrong foot at one point. Bruno says that they got everyone powered up and nailed that routine. Carrie Ann thinks that he is the number one entertainer of the season. Thank you! That is what I've been saying all along. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10.
I am giggling over the telling of Zendaya's life story. She's a teenager. How much has she been through? Anyway, here's the gist: she was shy, but she loved singing and dancing, and then she wasn't shy anymore. Here's the thing about Zendaya's hip hop dance: you can't take your eyes off her. Val might as well not even be there. I mean, she's a pro.
Judges? Bruno says it was ridiculously cool and hip. Carrie Ann can't wait for Zendaya's album to come out, and she compliments Val for keeping up with her. Len loved the attitude, because they were fun and fantastic. It really was as good as any pro hip hop routine I've seen on this show. I almost wish Zendaya could dance with Mark or Derek just one time to see what she could do. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10, and Bruno 10.
It's got to be Ingo that goes, right? I am going to riot if it's not. Seriously. One-woman riot. The streets of my semi-rural suburb will never be the same. The post office? Gone. The fire station? Well, I guess you can't burn down the fire station. And we don't really have any other landmarks. Well, I'll just be really mad while sitting on the couch then. Your scores:
Aly and Mark: 30 + 29 = 59
Jacoby and Karina: 30 + 29 = 59
Kellie and Derek: 30 + 28 = 58
Zendaya and Val: 25 + 30 = 55