dr. bones

You held the key.

You open the door

And set me free.

The door’s still open

Come back to me

Before it closes

Never ceased to exist

Okay, so I haven’t been active on Tumblr for quite a while now, and I wanted to repay all of that by writing about what I thought of season 21 to be by an analysis of each contestant’s journey (most especially to contestants who made it to the switch-up).

Bindi and Derek

On day one, I knew Bindi was a contender for the title. I never thought that she would have the technical skill, so in my mind she was definitely gonna make it to the top 4 in this season full of contenders. She was on top on week 1 but she just faded and faded for a couple of weeks and then she just began to excel performance-wise and technique-wise. Bindi deserved to win and I’m glad the voters chose to let Bindi win and not let Derek lose (as they say he’s won too much, but it’s about the celebrity, not the professional)

Nick and Sharna

Nick and Sharna was my bid to win before the season began. No doubts about that. His brother rocked the dance floor with Karina back then and since he has had even more fame than Aaron, I thought the votes could back Nick up. In Week 1, I knew he was gonna make the finals. His week 3 Viennese waltz substantiated a win for me (Bindi’s week 3 quickstep didn’t do it for me tbh) but from that week, I never felt Nick again. Sharna did not make the most of this opportunity with Nick but a well-deserved second place spot for him!

Alek and Lindsay

Bash all you want but I do agree with America on making Alek a finalist. If this was a competition where the best dancer automatically wins, then you might as well get a whole cast of competitors from Broadway, from musical shows, from the dance industry. This is a show about teaching others how to dance, and Alek showed more than that. Others learned how to dance, but Alek learned how to explore. Lindsay had an excellent season and Alek has become one of my most favorite contestants to appear on the show ever. I do hope they make her pro for the long time.

Carlos and Witney

Carlos was an excellent dancer, and I also did think he would make the top 3. But he was not memorable. None of his performances were memorable. Witney’s choreography was far from being up to par with her choreo with Alfonso. A deserved fourth place spot as a dancer, but I would have liked to see Alexa make the top 4 more.

Tamar and Val

Tamar was just like Carlos, but I never thought she had the technical skill to back up her performance level. She brings a new edge to dance by her sass (in a good way) but she just didn’t blow me away with her performances.

Alexa and Mark

Talk about a journey, and Alexa’s totally had one. Carlos came across to me as fake and Alexa brought her real self into everything she did. She was kinda like an Alek to me as I saw an evolution through her dance. She nails technical skill and performance skill, but week to week you see her dancing more confident. And she’s had her stumbles which I loved to see her overcome. She was sabotaged (a Britney cha-cha and almost losing to Tamar in the dance-off?) but she handles them gracefully. If there was an all-star season, I want Alexa to be there.

Andy and Allison

Oh boy. Allison came from a technically perfect Riker and thought she could do what she did with Riker to Andy. Riker could handle fast and complex movements, but not Andy. In fact, it had to take Sharna show Andy’s capabilities in Switch-up week. To make it short, had Andy’s choreo been simpler and more technically in sync, he would have made it far.

Hayes and Emma

I didn’t think he would be a contender, but he became one. Hayes would never have the public on his side. He was famous for making Vines, something middle-aged housewives won’t ever see. Hayes was another Alexa and Alek to me as he was the underdog who no one expected to make it far. Hayes’ last performance (the group dance) was the best he’s ever had. He stole the show!

The other contestants I didn’t give any attention to them. But they surely were adorable. Wish Chaka could have made it further though :’(

So I’ve decided to skip the weeks I missed because I REALLY LOVED THIS WEEK’S THEME AND IT WAS AN AWESOME SHOW. THIS WAS AN AMAZING IDEA BY THE PRODUCERS. SO GREAT. And I wanted to criticize some points made by judges, viewers (based on their online reactions) and everything else. So here’s my take on this!

Bindi and Derek’s dance was amazing, but was extremely bashed by viewers. Their arguments included: a) It didn’t have a lot of rumba b) They had a lift c) The lift sucked. I can totally defend Bindi and Derek’s side. First, this paid homage to the famous dances so they have to consider adding steps from the original routines, which meant straying from dance rules. Second, the lift thing should be a rule-break but you can’t pay homage to Dirty Dancing without the lift. It was cleared and the judges had to be way more lenient with the rules. Third, the lift is hard to execute. Derek doesn’t have the body type, Bindi’s not a dancer, and they had only one shot to do it unlike the movie where they had possibly unlimited takes. THAT’S ALL.

Andy and Allison, Tamar and Val didn’t really seem to be perfect 40s. Yeah they were great. Deserved at least a 10 or two. But perfect scores? Nah. There were a few obvious flaws in their routines. Andy missed a couple of steps (yes I saw them) and Tamar didn’t deliver as much as the people behind her. A few minor setbacks, but really not 40-worthy.

So why does Nick and Sharna not get a perfect 40? They had perfect movement. Perfect sync. Amazing choreography. Loved the blend of disco and samba as they were so perfectly in tune that sometimes I could not distinguish one from the other. And they perfectly paid homage to the iconic dance. Carrie Ann? Really?

Carlos and Witney’s performance was more of a Carlos performance than a Carlos and Witney’s performance. I understand that it was difficult for them to incorporate a pair performance with the context of Magic Mike. It was just weird how Witney completely leaves the scene. And it probably deserved all 9′s.

Hayes and Emma, Alek and Lindsay, and most especially, Alexa and Mark were screwed over. Hayes and Emma could have had one or two nines but I understand where they come from. Alek and Lindsay performed well! Alek had expressions! I saw it! He was embodying Elvis. Deserved all 8sat least. Alexa was the one screwed over the most. TWO SEVENS. Let’s recall Paula was given a seven last week. And you dare equal that to Alexa’s dance. TOTAL BS. Same with Alek! SO SCREWED UP.

Paula and Louis just sucked. So much walking and posing. Boring.

Okay these people didn’t suck. They were just bad compared to the others.

9. Victor and Karina (Rumba; 20 7,6,7)

Surprise, surprise! Victor did awesome (for his own standards). He had a passionate rumba. He nailed the timing. He nailed the steps. Performance-wise, not really showmanly but it was an excellent effort especially for Victor.

10. Paula and Louis (Tango; 18 6,6,6)

Paula has bad memory but with the actual dance. She did really well. Really really well. She may have forgotten some steps but boy did she do the tango. She moved very small though and very minimally. But good effort.

11. Kim and Tony (Foxtrot; 18 6,6,6)

Although it felt much like a romantic thing, Kim and Tony did decent. Tony choreographs so simply for all his partners. It makes them look horrible, especially since Kim could do much more. Kim was so subtle with her movements yet again so I don’t know what to feel with her.

12. Gary and Anna (Paso doble; 15 5,5,5)

Here’s the “okays” of Hometown Glory part 2!

5. Hayes and Emma (Quickstep; 23 8,7,8)

Hayes could have been in the upper 4. I had a hard time debating on these first 4 and I had to downgrade Hayes a bit. Hayes was mature during the quickstep. It was amazing to watch him grow in two short weeks from his Cheerleader cha-cha. However, I downgraded him because it still felt too young for the quickstep. He should have put ballroom shoes on so it movement would look more appropriate for the quickstep.

6. Alexa and Mark (Rumba; 22 7,7,8)

Alexa and Mark performed a nice rumba. Yes it lacked hip movement but I still liked it. To make things short, I didn’t feel the connection between them. It was so disconnected. The end.

7. Alek and Lindsay (Quickstep; 22 7,7,8)

I actually think Alek did the quickstep right. It was just too held back and it felt like he wasn’t really giving his all. I understand that he was tired and everything but the level of performance just wasn’t great and he had several stumbles.

8. Carlos and Witney (Cha-cha-cha; 21 7,7,7)

It’s that time of day again when I take over your tumblr with these long blogs! It’s Hometown Glory for the pros! I loved this idea! It shows where the pros come from! Without further ado, here are my personal rankings of the dances!

1. Nick and Sharna (Foxtrot; 24 8,8,8)

I loved this dance. It was filled with pure, raw emotion matched with fiery intensity in every movement they made. I love the slight pauses amidst choreography and just the way it was all put together plus Nick’s execution was really great.

2. Bindi and Derek (Waltz; 23 7,8,8)

Okay Carrie Ann we give it to you. There was a lift. But I reckon had there not been a lift, I would have given it a 9. So I still think this dance deserves at least all 8′s if they were to be that strict. Bindi aced the waltz skilfully. I loved it. It was lovely, it was fluid, it was everything a waltz could be. 

3. Tamar and Val (Charleston; 25 8,8,9)

Tamar isn’t a big mover, so the Charleston was a perfect dance for her. Val was shirtless yet again so eew but yay for the performance. I didn’t feel stressed with Tamar unlike her other dances. She was in the zone for this one. LOVED IT!

4. Andy and Allison (Contemporary; 23 8,8,7)

The lowest scoring couples are the most fulfilling, but face it they’re horrible.

9. Paula Deen and Louis van Amstel (Rumba; 19 7,6,6)

I loved watching Paula. She aced the basic rumba well. She didn’t seem her age. It was very good, but she did make a mistake.

10. Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Tony Dovolani (Quickstep; 19 7,6,6)

It was fun to watch her severely improve but this dance wasn’t memorable. It aced basic quickstep though.

11. Gary Busey and Anna Trebunskaya (Foxtrot; 18 6,6,6)

I had no idea how to react to it. It was too kindergarten. But, good effort and improved from last week!

12. Victor Espinoza and Karina Smirnoff (Jive; 17 6,5,6)

I wasn’t bored. I was stressed. It was so stressful to watch this dance. So stressful.

13. Chaka Khan and Keo Motsepe (Foxtrot; 15 5,5,5)

HEY HEY HEY! Here are the next 4 dances. The “okay dances”. They served their hometowns justice but we’re not really gonna book a flight there anyway.

5. Carlos Pena and Witney Carson (Foxtrot; 24 8,8,8)

Based on performance, it was great. Based on technique, too simple. I’m not amazed. Carlos’ energy wasn’t even that great so yeah. I know it was a softer song but there has to be energy with the foxtrot!

6. Hayes Grier and Emma Slater (Foxtrot; 22 8,7,7)

I wasn’t a fan of the motorbike as well, Carrie Ann. I loved the feel of everything else. As of the foxtrot, it lacked body contact and it felt like he was avoiding Emma during the dance. Not THAT impressed, but okay with it.

7. Andy Grammer and Allison Holker (Jive; 21 7,7,7)

This dance had so much potential. Andy just lost his rhythm. I got so confused during the dance and Allison as well did. I didn’t even know how to time the dance mid-way. So confused.

8. Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (Jive; 21 7,7,7)

IT’S HOMETOWN GLORY WEEK! I loved the theme! That we see another side to celebrities’ lives. Without further ado, let’s check out which celebrities did their hometown proud (by my standings)!

1. Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (Tango; 25 9,8,8)

I was disappointed with this performance BECAUSE IT ENDED. THIS WAS A ROCKING PERFORMANCE. Aced technique, aced execution, aced performance. A++++++ I would have given it all 9′s.

2. Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (Jazz; 23 8,7,8)

Alek knows how the dances feel. I loved this dance. Very underrated by the judges. It had mind-blowing choreography for Lindsay (who was in the troupe for so long) and it had great execution. LOVED THE DANCE AND THE FEEL!

3. Tamar Braxton and Val Chmerkovskiy (Cha-cha-cha; 24 8,8,8)

Tamar aced the dance. She had amazing execution. I just didn’t feel it. She looked too unfocused. Her eyes were looking away. I didn’t feel it, you know.

4. Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (Salsa; 24 8,8,8)