S22.E10: Finale - Night 1

[iMonrey]

I hate to say it but I thought Ginger and Val had the best Freestyle.  It was cute as hell, and so old school. But then, I simply do not care for "contemporary." To me, it's a lot of lifting and posing and gymnastics. In fact I think I've seen more actual dancing in a floor routine at a gymnastics competition. But enough about me.

It seems to me the judges really want Paige to win. Which is fine, I don't hate her or anything, but my issue with her is that I'm not as impressed with her dancing ability as I am with Nyle's. It's not that amazing she dances so well - she had lessons for years and plus, she can hear. So yeah, she's a much better dancer, but so what? 

I'm also cringing at the way they seem to be struggling to give Paige some kind of story, because I really haven't seen this personal "growth" they keep harping on, and the bullying thing is kind of making me roll my eyes. I hate to say it, but as someone who endured bullying myself, whenever Paige brings this up I can't help but think "Oh, you poor, poor pretty cheerleader. Poor you." And now? She beats the crap out of people for a living. The irony.

I'd really like Nyle to win, but I don't think anyone has ever won going into the final night in third place. And the final dance tonight is where the judges can basically choose whoever they want if the voting is as close as they say, and they seem to want Paige.

Oh well.

[Fliz]

I'm so happy that nobody did a hip-hop freestyle.

I think what Nyle has achieved is impressive, but I think I must have missed something in the context or the translation when he said he was "saving lives" - at least, I hope that didn't translate properly.

I feel like Ginger's freestyle was a calculated risk that didn't pay off. Even the color of the costumes bored me.

[majormama]

I hate contemporary, even well done, professional contemporary (I can appreciate it was well done, still don't enjoy it), so I was really disappointed that all three couples did one. My vote and hopes for a winner are based on the season as a whole, not from anything that wowed me last night, because not much did. I expect Nyle to win, but I voted for Paige. Either one would be acceptable to me. I find Ginger a technically good, beautiful, but boring dancer. Last week, I completely forgot she had even done a quickstep and could remember nothing of it when it came up in the recap and discussions. Nyle and Paige have both been much more memorable throughout the season.

Donald Driver always gets thrown out there as an undeserving winner. He wasn't the most technically proficient of his season, but he wasn't terrible either (terrible being relative and subjective, of course), and he performed the heck out of every dance. Dance is more than technique; performance and connection with partner and audience count for a lot. His country freestyle is one of the few dances I continue to go back and watch. And I was born and raised in Bear country, so it's not because I'm some crazy Packer fan. I view Nyle the same way. Not perfect, not terrible, but connecting with the audience and Peta in an interesting and captivating way.

9 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

First off, I could not have been the only one who spent half of that performance distracted by the song. I mean it was awesome, but I was just thinking the whole time, "wait, is he saying 'son of bitch...get me a drink?"

Yeah, son of a bitch and Fireball (baby, get your booty naked, take off all your clothes) in the first 20 minutes of a 7:00c show with my kids watching. Yay!

Edited May 25, 2016 by majormama

[Hiacios]

19 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

I hate to say it but I thought Ginger and Val had the best Freestyle.  It was cute as hell, and so old school. But then, I simply do not care for "contemporary." To me, it's a lot of lifting and posing and gymnastics. In fact I think I've seen more actual dancing in a floor routine at a gymnastics competition. But enough about me.

It seems to me the judges really want Paige to win. Which is fine, I don't hate her or anything, but my issue with her is that I'm not as impressed with her dancing ability as I am with Nyle's. It's not that amazing she dances so well - she had lessons for years and plus, she can hear. So yeah, she's a much better dancer, but so what? 

I'm also cringing at the way they seem to be struggling to give Paige some kind of story, because I really haven't seen this personal "growth" they keep harping on, and the bullying thing is kind of making me roll my eyes. I hate to say it, but as someone who endured bullying myself, whenever Paige brings this up I can't help but think "Oh, you poor, poor pretty cheerleader. Poor you." And now? She beats the crap out of people for a living. The irony.

I'd really like Nyle to win, but I don't think anyone has ever won going into the final night in third place. And the final dance tonight is where the judges can basically choose whoever they want if the voting is as close as they say, and they seem to want Paige.

Oh well.

I know that the judges want Paige to win given the overscores they gave her last night, but I am confident that Nyle will pull it off

[tessaforever]

3 hours ago, Kail said:

Ginger: I think she did okay with the crap Val gave her. What was he thinking with that freestyle? So boring. But Ginger is rather unforgettable and boring so I guess it makes sense. She is a competent dancer and deserved her place in the finale but I never warmed up to her. Sorry she was injured though.

Thinking back over Val's dances, I really, really like some of them - the Argentine Tango with Zendaya, the Rumba with Rumer...but this was just terrible! Crap is right - their costumes were baby diaper brown, and her shoes looked orthopedic. Strangely, I think the style of Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers actually suits Ginger really well, but something was off about this routine. I hated seeing the newspaper crumpled in Val's hand as they danced in hold. Down with props!

[giaNtsandYankees]

16 hours ago, howmanywords said:

I admit, I started crying during Nyle and Peta's freestyle and I say this as someone that hasn't been all that enthralled by his story this season.  But damn if it didnt hit me in the gut tonight.  Then Carrie Ann had to lay it on with that "best I've ever seen in 22 seasons" hyperbole and I was back to being annoyed.  I noticed she tweeted Nyle that it was the most powerful dance she ever saw on the show so maybe she really was sincere.

That said, I think  Mark is getting his 3rd mirrorball and Paige is a very deserving winner.

HowManyWords, I'm just glad that Carrie Ann did not want to "Thank Nyle's parents for making him" like she did with Bindi last year.

[Boofish]

I could no longer take Nyles and Peta seriously after second 48 when they broke out the contemporary dance staple "spirit fingers." Between pretend running, cycling backwards while in lift, spirit fingers, grab head like you can't believe what you just saw, look like something stinks, spider crawl across the floor and the dramatic finish of "embracing in darkness" or "walking away from each other" I just cannot take contemporary dancing seriously. My apologies to professionals and people who enjoy the style but I simply can not

[ocelot]

I think it's interesting there is so much strong, strong dislike for contemporary. I guess probably because it is the most common dance style for trained dancers in the US, and there's a lot of it so people who don't like it start getting angry with it being shoved in their faces all the time haha.

Like I really don't like pasos but I don't care that much, but if I had to see pasos everywhere I went I would probably start getting violently angry too, at some point hehe.

[boyznkatz]

From what I understand contemporary takes years of ballet experience to perfect. Amateur dancers generally don't have that type of experience, and even the pros don't all have ballet training. It's ridiculous to expect most contestants on dwts to do it. Amateurs can learn ballroom, but not something that takes years of dance experience to learn.

[Boofish]

I think my issue with it stems from this show. As mentioned, they don't seem to have the training. They are professional ballroom dancers and darn good ones let me add. I wish they would just stay in their lane. Maybe that is my issue .. since they are not professionally trained contemporary dancers I just end up seeing the same moves over and over (and over and over and over and over) again. 

[boyznkatz]

It also bugs me that the injuries have really risen after they started expecting non-trained people to do it. Most men except athletes aren't strong enough to lift a woman over their heads. Most women likewise aren't used to being lifted. This show is starting to become like the Biggest Loser with their shameless exploiting of people for ratings.

[Vinyasa]

Quote

I don't doubt that a lot of people get injured doing this show. However, they really milk it when pimping someone. They did that with Amy Purdy, Amber Riley, Alfonso, Ginger, etc. etc. No one really wants to hear about "poor widdle whomever" so I wish they would stop doing it. 

At least they didn't show anyone taken off in the ambulance this season, did they?

Did you notice the cameras where there when tears where running down Ginger's face as she was laying on a table? UGH

[realdancemom]

Contemporary used to be my favorite style until they overdid them on SYTYCD.  I guess they wanted those emmy awards.  Then they started looking all the same even when they got new choreographers.  I still like the SYTYCD routines better than most of the contemporary and jazz routines that have been on DWTS.  That is why I'm glad that Peta got an outside choreographer since it's not her specialty.  I also want to clarify that in my previous post, I mentioned that I think Nyle will win because of his freestyle.  It's not because I think he danced it really well.  He did a decent job but there were awkward moments.  It's because of the cry factor which is also the reason why I thought Bindi would win last season.  Technically, Paige did a better job in her freestyle but I don't think it had as much of an emotional impact. 

[Boofish]

Paige seems lovely but she is just "there." Like you go to a crowded party and she is there but you don't realize she is there until you are talking about the party the next day and someone mentions she was there. Her salsa was nice but it looked like the troop "and we're back" dance. 

[WhosThatGirl]

6 minutes ago, Boofish said:

Paige seems lovely but she is just "there." Like you go to a crowded party and she is there but you don't realize she is there until you are talking about the party the next day and someone mentions she was there. Her salsa was nice but it looked like the troop "and we're back" dance. 

That is how I feel about Ginger.

Anyways, I did love contemporary too. But after this show and SYTYCD- which still do it better than this show, though- it's happening all the time. This show now uses contemporary a lot more than they did in the earlier seasons, so to me, it makes when they do have team dancing or the freestyle finale night dances, it makes them less exciting. I kind of wish this show would go back to the earlier years and do ballroom dances again and get rid of contemporary until finale night, but that's just how I feel. 

Edited May 24, 2016 by WhosThatGirl

[Boofish]

1 minute ago, WhosThatGirl said:

That is how I feel about Ginger.

Anyways, I did love contemporary too. But after this show and SYTYCD- which still do it better than this show, though- it's happening all the time. This show now uses contemporary a lot more than they did in the earlier seasons, so to me, it makes when they do have team dancing or the freestyle finale night dances, it makes them less exciting. I kind of wish this show would go back to the earlier years and do ballroom dances again and get rid of contemporary until finale night, but that's just how I feel. 

Agreed. Especially since the judges are not sure what to look for and therefore have to judge on the fly. It's best done with no rules - the freestyle.

[renzii]

3 hours ago, Fliz said:

I feel like Ginger's freestyle was a calculated risk that didn't pay off. Even the color of the costumes bored me.

I don't think many people recognised the significance of the sepia coloured costuming = black & white/ pre coloured films. I do think the cut and fit of Ginger' costume and those shoes could have been much more flattering though...even if she was supposed to be a hard nosed girl reporter!

Edited May 24, 2016 by renzii
added a phrase

[majormama]

Is that why? Yeah, totally didn't pick up on that.

[WhosThatGirl]

I understand the need for the show to inject more dance styles into the show, but I feel like they could bring more ballroom. I really wish they would save contemporary for the last night for the reason you suggested, the lack of rules. I feel like this show was a ballroom competition, the judges judge on ballroom steps and their comments are reflected of that. Where as on SYTYCD, it's a different atmosphere and rulebook, the judges make comments but the don't really get a say who gets to stay on the show after they pick the top 10 or whatever the number is, the viewers of the show do(I think they sometimes get to save one if they feel that they deserve to stay), but on this show, the judges input is a factor as they judge them.  But yes, I don't think the judges know how to judge contemporary but to me, it makes a lot of the dances less special. Like, I use to love freestyle and now I don't because it kind of all looks the same. Also, sometimes I feel like contemporary gets an unfair advantage because since the judges do not how to judge it, whenever a contestant gets contemporary on most memorable year, it makes me angry because the judges fawn all over it. It makes me mad. 

Last night during Ginger's 1st dance, I was lack, oh it's nice but it was kind of like the first time she did contemporary. I didn't notice a change or improvement. 

Like I said, if they want to inject new styles into the show, I'm sure they could find more ballroom styles they haven't even done yet. 

Edited May 24, 2016 by WhosThatGirl

[kitcloudkicker]

11 minutes ago, Boofish said:

It's best done with no rules - the freestyle.

I always like when the freestyles are true fusions - a step or two of cha cha here, jazz spins, viennese waltz turn, something side by side, dash of contemporary inspired lift, AT move, etc. If it's done smartly and connected to the music (I thought Derek usually did a good job at it this, but everyone can have their own opinion) you get something interesting and new, with some classic inspiration that can take advantage of your strengths as a couple. 

[Boofish]

4 minutes ago, kitcloudkicker said:

I always like when the freestyles are true fusions - a step or two of cha cha here, jazz spins, viennese waltz turn, something side by side, dash of contemporary inspired lift, AT move, etc. If it's done smartly and connected to the music (I thought Derek usually did a good job at it this, but everyone can have their own opinion) you get something interesting and new, with some classic inspiration that can take advantage of your strengths as a couple. 

YES! That is one of the reasons Nicole S and Jennifer Grey had 2 of my favorite freestyles of all time

[Zuleikha]

I got the idea of the sepia costumes, but I think it was a bad choice all the same. Sometimes what's a cute idea in theory doesn't translate well. I think it would only have worked if they went all out and did black-and-white costumes with black-and-white bodypaint/face makeup.

I don't think we know 100% but between Peta saying she brought someone in to choreograph the dance and then Talia talking about how the dance wasn't originally designed for two people with no contemporary training, it seems very likely that Talia came in with her routine pretty much done and at best changes were made if Nyle and Peta were struggling with a step here and there. And I guess that's fine and obviously it's allowed and has been happening for a while, but I personally prefer dances that have a more personal connection to the couple and I know the pro created with their partner's strengths in mind.

The song and choreography did have a very personal connection to Nyle, though, if you read his email that was linked above. I don't think it's such a cut and dry thing.

[NextIteration]

9 hours ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

I know dancers like Carrie Ann (and I'm including myself in this so I can personally attest to this) who are great at learning choreography and executing the moves but then in real life, they are total klutzes. We're talking walking into door frames, tripping over cracks in the sidewalk, or anything that people who aren't toddlers should not be doing anymore. I've never fallen out of a chair though (knock on wood) so I'm on up on Carrie Ann.

True Story!

So my first thought about the Val and Ginger and the flower and the bench was, oh no, no no no no.  Way too far into Mia territory - but that's just me, I suppose.  I loved the idea of their freestyle, but not the execution or choreography as much. 

Peta and Nyle's contemporary made me cry, I think it was a combination of the stunning version of the song, Peta's intensity and the very good pro-contemporary choreography as opposed to the usual ballroom pro attempt at contemporary choreography that we usually get.  For me, Nyle started out impressive and plateaued but I'm not sure it could have turned out different, being unable to hear at all means no shot at musicality, and that is a huge part of dance, well good dance anyways.

I'm still rooting for Paige, but yes, Mark ain't Derek when it comes to contemporary choreography and though it was very well danced, it was a little too fluffy for me. Ringers be damned and all that, I appreciate good dancers.  I thought the salsa was well, on fire.

[Archery]

Dear recapper Kim Reed, 

Thank for that perfect stop-motion screen cap at the top of the recap.  It made my heart happy. 

Love, Archery. 

[Chit Chat]

Quote

To me, it's a lot of lifting and posing and gymnastics. In fact I think I've seen more actual dancing in a floor routine at a gymnastics competition.

I agree.  I hate, hate, hate the contemporary style.  If we could vote on one dance to be eliminated from this show, I would pick that one. No disrespect to Peta & Nyles, but there wasn't a whole lot of dance in that routine, IMO.  Disclaimer: I'm not a dancer, so what do I know! ;)

Edited May 24, 2016 by ChitChat

[TiredMe]

Whoever put ginger in those pants should be fired. Tragic. As for the freestyle, I was a bit bored. 

Still would like to see Paige win but it will be Nyle. The only good thing about him winning is that I think PETA had to have had a difficult season so she prob deserves the win. 

Edited May 25, 2016 by TiredMe

[Runningwild]

9 hours ago, iMonrey said:

It seems to me the judges really want Paige to win. Which is fine, I don't hate her or anything, but my issue with her is that I'm not as impressed with her dancing ability as I am with Nyle's. It's not that amazing she dances so well - she had lessons for years and plus, she can hear. So yeah, she's a much better dancer, but so what? 

I'm also cringing at the way they seem to be struggling to give Paige some kind of story, because I really haven't seen this personal "growth" they keep harping on, and the bullying thing is kind of making me roll my eyes. I hate to say it, but as someone who endured bullying myself, whenever Paige brings this up I can't help but think "Oh, you poor, poor pretty cheerleader. Poor you." 

She originally said she was bullied for being pretty. Now it's because she was a freshman who made the cheerleading squad. Ugh  I'm sorry she was bullied, but it certainly doesn't seem to have effected how she views herself (one of the hot girls of the UFC).  

I was bullied by pretty much everyone for my looks. So I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for the pretty cheerleader. Sorry. 

[smiley13]

8 minutes ago, Runningwild said:

She originally said she was bullied for being pretty. Now it's because she was a freshman who made the cheerleading squad. Ugh  I'm sorry she was bullied, but it certainly doesn't seem to have effected how she views herself (one of the hot girls of the UFC).  

I was bullied by pretty much everyone for my looks. So I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for the pretty cheerleader. Sorry. 

Pretty girls can be treated horribly by others just because of their looks.  I can totally believe that some older girls were horrible to Paige for making the squad as a Freshman.

[Runningwild]

 I didn't say I didn't believe her, I just have trouble feeling sympathy for someone who was bullied for being too pretty. And who does not seem to have any trouble with her self-esteem whatsoever.

[crossover]

17 hours ago, Hiacios said:

I know that the judges want Paige to win given the overscores they gave her last night, but I am confident that Nyle will pull it off

I never thought the judges wanted Paige to win.  But I've always thought they wanted her in the finals because they know she is the best dancer.  I didn't think she was overscored but I didn't think they would low-ball her during this time of the game.  They know what kind of votes are being pulled in by each celeb.  Paige probably had the lowest of the three.  So they probably just wanted to make sure the best dancer made the finale.  They've known for several weeks that no one would catch Nyle.

[Jal]

On 5/23/2016 at 9:45 PM, PBGamer89 said:

Nyle/Peta (Freestyle): I knew it was coming, we all knew it was coming, Nyle doing a Contemporary dance to a song referencing his deafness and an outside choreographer apparently. Peta isn’t stupid, she knows what an audience eats up and it likely will take him to the winner’s spot. I mean I like Nyle, I liked his from Top Model, but I feel his deafness was talked about way too much and way too intensely.

Yup.

It made me not want him to win halfway through the competition. He was rarely perfect in his dancing and people ate him up like he was. However, I realize DWTS is more about a connection to the audience and that's what he had.

It was a nice freestyle, don't get me wrong. But there wasn't a lot of criticism for him this season like there was for other contestants.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Jal

[RedFiat]

15 hours ago, Jal said:

Yup.

It made me not want him to win halfway through the competition. He was rarely perfect in his dancing and people ate him up like he was. However, I realize DWTS is more about a connection to the audience and that's what he had.

It was a nice freestyle, don't get me wrong. But there wasn't a lot of criticism for him this season like there was for other contestants.

I agree with this. You know that other deaf person, Marlee Matlin who competed?  She competed as an Oscar winner, not necessarily the champion of all things Deaf. She had a great connection with the public, but she wasn't scored on a sliding scale, she was appropriately challenged to dance Ballroom. And it was 10 years ago so she was younger and more vibrant too.  The guy has a good life, he doesn't want to be a hearing person, he has embraced his community has a university degree, teaches the deaf,  and I guess wants the rest of us to keep funding them. That's cool. But I don't need to be schooled in it week in and week out. 

Edited May 26, 2016 by RedFiat

[RedFiat]

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 4:56 PM, Boofish said:

YES! That is one of the reasons Nicole S and Jennifer Grey had 2 of my favorite freestyles of all time

IMHO the better freestyle was the one with Brooke Burke, and he re-cycled it based on ability to Nicole and

Jennifer.  The same neon - same sort of lifts, but he blew the ending on Nicole's freestyle and it only got a 27, but the judges really lowballed Evan to be sure of it.  Now a guy standing there with his arms wrapped around his face for 8 bars can get a 30.  Who knew?