SYTYCD Top 14 Power Rankings
I just don’t know HOW I’m gonna do this. Well, before I do, here’s a break to protect the eyes of those who don’t wish to have the show spoiled…
Top Four Couples:
1. Kathryn and Legacy had the best routine of the night, in my opinion. Kathryn smoldered tonight in a well-rounded and strong way. She was amazing, both supportive of her partner and entirely self-confident and independent. She had a great routine, great chemistry with her partner and great dancing. Legacy really impressed me (and I’m sure others) tonight with not just his abs (where was he hiding THOSE?) but his really strong dancing. This routine had charisma and character and story, strong music and strong dancing.
2. Elleanor and Ryan had it all tonight as well. If any routine could compete with the paso doble above, it’d be this new memorable routine from Travis Wall. Ryan’s a strong dancer, but Elleanor is the quiet start to me. She dances so completely unique and I’m glad that Nigel pointed out how the choreographers feel about her. I don’t know if she’s as easy to forget as he seems to think she is. I love her.
3. Noelle and Russell have incredibly chemistry. While the foxtrot itself wasn’t the most unique dance, they danced it gorgeously and it was an utter joy to watch because they looked like they were having such an amazing time together. Only thing is, it was early in the night and not everybody loves foxtrot, so that may hurt them…
4. Mollee and Nathan deserved to be in the bottom 3 last week and definitely didn’t deserve to be this week. However, they didn’t have the most powerful routine. It was good, and exactly what they needed to prove they deserve to be here. Their popularity (and strong performance tonight) will continue to keep them safe, I think.
Bottom Three Couples:
5. Ashleigh and Jakob might fall under the same curse, having danced first. Ashleigh might’ve outdanced and outshined Jakob tonight, but I’m not sure she has the following that some of the other girls do. I suspect they’ll both be safe, though. And for the first time, I’m pulling for Ashleigh to stay in cause I’m curious to see what else she’ll do.
6. Channing and Victor had a great, breakthrough performance. I think the distracting song and the strength of the other routines might hurt them. Plus, they were the middle performance, so maybe they’ll be forgotten a bit. They don’t have quite the cemented chemistry and popularity that Mollee and Nathan have, so I think they’ll be here. I don’t think they’ll go anywhere. At least I hope not.
7. Karen and Kevin are in danger. Not only did all three judges call it, but they danced second and their Broadway was the closest thing to an “off” note we had tonight, the weakest routine. I personally enjoyed seeing Karen doing something besides sexy tonight, but I could see that there was something a little off about it. Kevin is my least favorite guy at this point and I think after their bottom 3 status last week, if they land there this week…
Who’s gonna Go:
They’ll be the ones to go. Karen and Kevin, I believe.
This only gets harder and harder. What do y’all think?
Yeah it’s going to be a close call this week. Which means their solos better be amazing to stay in the show.
I agree, I think it will be Karen and Kevin’s night tomorrow. I’m really sad that Spencer Liff’s routine ended up being the evening’s “sour note.” I hope he doesn’t feel like he’s to blame, but I can’t imagine that, as a first-time choreographer on the show, he wouldn’t feel like Kevin & Karen’s weak performance was somehow a reflection of his choreography. I thought it was a great routine, and the pre-performance clips of Karen doing a few of the steps with Spencer looked unbelievable.
I would replace Noelle and Russell with Jakob and Ashleigh based on performance alone…even though I don’t like Ashleigh. I would also swap Ellenore and Ryan with Legacy and Kathryn (despite the abs, oh mannn…). Other than that, I totally agree with you.
It’s going to be a difficult week but I agree with how Kevin and Karen are in trouble.
I still think Ryan and Ellenore’s Travis Wall contemporary was best of the night. I’m not a big Kathacy fan, so I only though the Paso was okay. I also felt that the Hip Hop was better than the foxtrot, although Noelle and Russell did dance that with energy!
The choreographers do have a tough job on this show, and I kind of think that Spencer Liff could’ve helped out his dancers when it became clear that the choreography was too difficult for them. I don’t think he “dumbed it down” at all, and I think that was a mistake. The best choreographers do craft their piece around the dancers they have. I don’t think the choreographers have a lot of time with their dancers, so I don’t know how realistic it is to expect major re-writes, but Kevin and Karen were clearly out of their league. That piece was CRAZY hard – they were clearly thinking about the moves and not their characters.
Plus, he told them that their character was a sad boy and an optimistic girlfriend trying to cheer him up, but that wasn’t the feel I got from that dance at ALL. “If My Friends Could See Me Now”…that sounds more like defiant pride. If that had been the emotion their choreographer gave them, maybe they could’ve done a little better.
I like both Karen and Kevin, and I’ll be sad to see them go…but it is clear that they were the one routine that wasn’t great. And someone’s gotta go.
@Robin & Stephanie: My thoughts are mostly these:
-Yes, Spencer Liff could’ve made a Broadway routine more accessible to his dancers (and maybe to his audience), though I enjoyed it.
-He’s in no way responsible for them being in the bottom 3 if they are. I think they’ve been struggling to find chemistry together and get “wow” routines though they have little shining moments here and there. It’s *likely* their time to go and maybe his routine just made that an easier decision.
Does anyone else hate having the judges pick out their “bottom couple” before voting begins? It seems to me like it`d cause a voting surge for the couple(s) they pick, messing up the voting in the process. Thoughts?
Youre right Scott, I don’t like the “bottom couple” prediction either. I don’t know if that was what kept Nathan/Mollee out of the bottom last week, or just their fanbase, but I really really hope it doesn’t save Karen/Kevin. I would be SHOCKED if they don’t go home this week
Emilie, I do agree with you, actually. I liked Spencer Liff’s routine, and I usually don’t like the Broadway routines. There were so many moments where I felt that the choreography was really fun. It is just too bad that Karen and Kevin couldn’t pull it off. My comments before were just musings on how Spencer might’ve made things easier for his dancers.
And I also don’t like the bottom couple prediction. We can all see who has had a bad night. The dancers know it, too. Don’t put them on the spot like that; it’s unnecessarily cruel.
If Dialidol.com, which has a SYTYCD section, has any predictive power, then we may be in for a strange bottom 3.
I don’t think Victor and Channing are going to be in the bottom 3 anytime soon. I have a feeling (based partly on Dialidol’s predictions from last week and this week) they have a large fanbase which will keep them safe at least until the top ten.
I expect to see Karen/Kevin in the bottom and see them go home, but the judges picking them last night has me worried. Previous history seems to show that making a prediction like this energizes a voting block which leads to safety. I really hope Cat stops asking this question.
We may see Mollee/Nathan in the bottom this week. Compared to the rest of the dances, they just weren’t as engaging. If this happens, I really want Mollee sent home and want Nathan paired with someone else. I still don’t see enough maturity or sharpness from Mollee, and I think its bringing down Nathan’s potential.
I fear that either Jakob/Ashleigh or Ryan/Ellenore are going to fall into the bottom 3. Neither pair belongs there, and certainly all four of those dancers deserve to stay longer.
So, I guess the point of this rambling is comment is that I really can’t predict what is going to happen. The fanbases for each couple are still difficult to pinpoint, and the judges making safety predictions throws a monkey wrench into the whole process. My prediction is that the bottom 3 will seem strange and unintuitive, leaving the judges with a tough decision.
By far I think that Ryan and Elleanor were the strongest last night. I thought the hip hop was great!! I didn’t think the Paso was anything to talk about…….(who cares if Legacy has great abs??)!!! I felt that Mollee and Nathan were certainly better than last week, but not up to par. I am on board with everyone not liking the Karen and Kevin Broadway routine. I find watching Victor dancing quite irritating. He is dancing with the camera – never with his partner!!! He has to go!!! I would like for the following results:
Goodbye to Victor and Mollee!!!
Placing Nathan and Channing together for next week!!!
However, what I think is going to happen is that Karen and Kevin will be going home!! That is really sad because they should really stay in the game!!!
My bottom three couples are:
Karen & Kevin
Russell & Noelle
Victor & Channing
I don’t think BOTH Kevin and Karen will go. I think they’ve said, time and time again, how amazing Karen is. I definitely think they will be in the bottom three but when it comes time for the judges to choose, I think they will try to keep Karen in. That being said, it depends a lot on who else is in the bottom. If my bottom 3 prediction is correct, then it really could be any of the females in danger. All three have impressed and FAILED to impress the judges, but none more than Channing. Noelle has marks against her for being out due to an injury and that bad tennis routine.
For the guys, again if my prediction is correct, then Kevin is gone. The judges like Victor and Russel too much.
I thought that Mollee and Noelle have very similar style of dance, but now Noelle is much better than Mollee, I don’t think Mollee deserve to stay more..and unfortunelly She and Nathan were the worst couple of the night to me..
OK, Here is my bottom 3 list..
(It’s not about predict, it’s just my opinion)
Kevin and Karen
Nathan and Mollee
Jakob and Ashleigh
Of course I don’t think that American teenager girls will let Nathan and Mollee go..:-( I just hope judges will make right decision!
@Emilie and Stephanie:
If you watch Karen and Kevin’s rehearsal again, you’ll see a very difficult-looking overhead lift that was missing from the final routine. I think Spencer tried to simplify it for them.
Channing and Victor just left me completely cold, as always. Beautiful lines, nicely danced, no personality. Send ’em home
@stophead, that would be my preferred bottom three also. I think Kevin should definitely be the man to go, but I like Karen and would like to see her stay around.
@James, if Mollee and Nathan are in the bottom, I wouldn’t mind seeing her go home. But that would produce a Karen/Nathan pairing that I can’t imagine not being awkward.
@Mayor, I haven’t noticed Victor dancing with the camera, but you must have noticed Kevin constantly performing to the audience/judges and ignoring his partner every chance he gets.
I don’t like the calling out of the couples in trouble either, but I think last night I was a little more bothered by the judges (or really just Adam) telling people they’d make the top 10. He told Legacy, Jakob, and Ryan that they should have no problem making the top 10. And since Russell, they all agree, is a star, does that mean Kevin, Victor, and Nathan are all vying for the one remaining spot before next week even happens?
Ann, I think Spencer kept that crazy lift in. I saw something sort of like it, only instead of lifting Karen directly over his head, Kevin lifted her to about 45 degrees.
I’d like to pipe up in defense of Victor, Channing, and Tyce. I loved that routine, and I liked the music, too. Yeah, it was strange, but it painted the picture that the choreographer wanted. He wanted them to be alien, to leave their humanity behind. I thought the piece was interesting to watch and utterly engaging.
But then, I find Travis’ “relate-able” love stories boring, so perhaps I’m just strange.
@Scott: Yeah, that’s irritating me, too.
@Mayor: I think Channing and Nathan would’ve been a strange couple. Though, I do think Mollee and Nathan would both benefit from a more mature partner. If they have good chemistry.
@Ben: Good call! Not that I like it anymore than I did when you first suggested it. ;”)
@Ann: I can see what you mean about them leaving you cold. They’re really technically strong, but I don’t think they benefit from the partnership. They each need a quirkier, less technical partner, I think.
@Stephanie: I agree with you that the music suited what Tyce was trying to achieve. It was great with the odd movement he was having them do. But, I don’t think it did them any favors because it was distracting and odd. Beautiful, though. I liked it a lot. However, I think based on the speed bumps they’ve had, they both would’ve been better off with something with a story (and not so much alien/animal characters) that people could really fall into.
I didn’t like it either. Channing has been my favorite since auditions. But the judges love Karen. Ah well.
[…] week. :’( If you feel especially brave, maybe you’ll risk predicting the Top 10 in a power ranking type fashion. (Amanda? Here’s your chance!) John will post the music, though it may be later […]