PicnicLife77

Late to the party, but here are my thoughts! And some genuine questions for dancers. First, I'm just not getting it with Amber. We haven't seen much of her, but what they do show doesn't seem impressive. I was a lot more thrilled with Kylie. And with Presley, I wish they'd show some wow moments. Or even just anything of her at all. Because I'm not getting it there, either. I'm sure she's a lovely person, just not seeing it, and if it's there, why not show us? I loved seeing more of the technique, both with the field entrance and the kick clinic. Which leads me to these thoughts: Is it normal to put your shoes up on the mirror like that? I understand the walls, but the mirror? Then with Kelli's comment about everyone's extensions staying in (I thought that was cute), I really got to thinking more about those things than I already did ... How does makeup hold up throughout a game? I can't even get through a day at my desk job without my eyeliner smudging. I truly don't understand how dancers get through a game without being able to check the mirror every once in a while. I certainly couldn't go through one sweaty dance practice without SOMETHING going wrong with hair or makeup. And what kind of foundation holds up to all that sweat? In a similar vein, and I mean this (not trying to be funny or nasty) ... some things about long, sweaty days of dancing don't seem particularly ... hygenic? Again, I'm not a dancer. But when I see the girls in the studio rolling al over the floor during solos, I truly can't help but think about the fact that they're placing their hands where someone else's sweaty personal parts were just touching the floor. And with hooking up in the kick line next to each other, don't they end up smelling a lot of armpits and other things? As a germaphobe, it's just interesting to me, honestly. ETA: The part about Jordann's brother was absurd if you ask me. I've dealt with similar things in my family and understand that it's an important message, but that was just WAY out of place and a perfect example of producers pandering and hunting for any story they could find.

I completely agree with this, and maybe she's using the wrong terminology, but she has said multiple times and appears to say again next week that the issue is that he doesn't accept her. Initially I took this the same way, that he didn't accept her new desires in life, but the more I listen it sounds like she's feeling he also doesn't accept her as a person.

It seems to be coming to light that the core issue between E and O isn't really the move but that she doesn't feel accepted by him. I wonder what more there is to this? I like and support both of them, but it's interesting. I wonder if it's in an emotional sense, as in he isn't as into her or in a Barry-and-Kim sense where she feels judged. And if so I wonder what those issues are. Clothing choices? Marijuana in California? Things like that? Does Ethan have a controlling side like B and K? Or is he simply afraid of change and so conditioned to only be attracted to the very lifestyle that damaged him?

I think she's a lot more mature and self-aware than people give her credit for. She tries hard to grow.

Whoa. The producers really tried for some drama with Helena v Leah. I can't really pick between those two. There are things I like and don't about both. I know I'll develop many more thoughts as soon as I hit submit, but ... I do really like Olivia. I also really like Ethan. And not that this is the most important takeaway by any means, but I feel for Ethan's not wanting to lose his outside space. I couldn't do it either. Good for him for enjoying "tinkering" and hobbies. I don't think he will be happy in an apartment, and he shouldn't have to be. But Olivia's needs matter too, and I don't see why it has to be an apartment. Compromise and rent a house.

Last yr I was a lot more into Tori than Ashlinn, but in the first dance of this episode Ashlinn had a lot more style than Tori. She absolutely nailed it, and with curves, sass and all. And I like her look a lot better this time around. Darian was shown during part of BPR's choreo. It wasn't a flattering moment, but that choreo was odd. I thought the same about Jensen. I got her mixed up with Amanda for a bit then realized they didn't discuss her at all.

Didn't Tyra actually have two sob stories? They already talked about her solo being a tribute to her dance teacher who died. I still really like her though and am just irritated with producers.

The golf scene with Barry grossed me out. It was so scripted and unnatural. You can't convince me the family does things for fun together like that. They barely knew how to interact with one another, and I felt uncomfortable watching them attempt to joke around for the cameras.

Re Ethan and Olivia: I've been there and done this. Twice. I did the ironic thing of "getting married to have sex" then getting divorced, (which is extremely shameful and essentially forbidden in that culture) BECAUSE of how I ended up married in the first place. And I still don't know the solution. I didn't grow up "fundie" but was Christian and really valued "saving myself for marriage" and waiting for the right person. It was very important to me. So I met someone, dragged out the holding hands and kissing for as long as any guy would put up with, and we got married. We were too young. We were wrong for each other. But no guy is going to wait 10 years to do anything. Then I did it again. Met someone with the same values and this time got married really quickly, because, of course, what could possibly go wrong? A lot of people in our circle had short engagements because, again, you can't move in together or "do anything" until marriage, so it's sort of what you do. Again, wrong choice. Should have waited years to get to know the person. But you can't wait years. Now, in middle age, I know myself and who I am and what I want, and I realize I, personally, had no business getting married until probably mid 30s. Like most of us, I am a completely different person now than I was when I was 20 or even 25. It has taken me this long to truly figure out what to look for in someone and even to get to know myself. But I still would rather not have racked up a spreadsheet of names from the past to get to this point. I had equal phobias and shame surrounding premarital sex and divorce. And it all led to quite the ironic outcome. We are made to hit puberty in our teens and have sexual urges and be able to carry children. Yet our minds aren't sane enough until much later on! So, what does one do? I think of Lydia. And I don't understand Kim in all of it. Lydia doesn't know the boy well enough to text, so she needs to get to know him better before texting him by . . . not talking to him? I think text is a relatively harmless way to get to know someone if there ever was one. Especially when you know parents have access to your phone. It's not like they'd send anything lewd or too personal. Seems pretty benign. What else could Kim hope for? If the boy lived closer it's not as if she'd allow Lydia the opportunity to get to know him in person anyway. I see a lot of myself in Lydia and feel she'll probably do what I did. And I hope it works out better for her than it did for me or has for Ethan and Olivia.

I'm not sure if this is the right moment or if they said this at anotherpoint, but they said she comes across as heavy on her feet and stompy.

And I hated the Post Malone song last year and even more now during the solos. It just doesnt fit.

It's the hair for me with Lea. I actually like her features otherwise. I think what threw me off the most initially was it almost looked like she had one of those black plastic 90s middle school chokers in her initial head shot. I do wonder what they'll do with her hair. ETA: Speaking of hair:Armani. I LOVE her but feel like her hair was better before. Also would have loved to see Kleine's full solo. And Ashlee F. ... DANG! SHE's got the power!

I've said that before, too. Adopting a boy would make sense considering everything. Pay it forward, in a way.

Okay, on the jaw lines again 😂 ... First, I like both Lily and Madeline as people. And both are certainly more attractive than I am. I'm just snarking because that's what we do here. More so on TPTB and their arbitrary measures of attractiveness. But I'll just sum it up with this. Lily's thing is the underbite from the front. Madeline's for me was the jaw from the side. I don't dislike her as a person. I'm not saying they shouldn't choose her. We all notice different things. Something that stands out to me with any woman in general in any setting is when features appear "masculine". And from the side, her face shape does. To ME. Just like I couldn't stop seeing Ashlee's hairline in her first couple seasons. It doesn't make her a bad person, and it doesn't make me one either.

Lauren Gibler and Ashley Burandt were two cuts I never understood. Still can't look past the underbite, as much as I like her as a person. And it's the jawline for me with Madeline S too.