Season 8 Finale Part 1 Thoughts and Discussion
Tonight’s Part 1 of the Season 8 finale. I’m going to post my thoughts live and I hope you’ll join in the discussion. Let us know what you think?
Spoiler space, just in case…
I thought it was interesting that the Top 4 kinda dropped the “here’s your dancers” walk and just sauntered out.
Love that Kenny Ortega is back and I think Katie Holmes might be a good judge.
I love Melanie and Marko, but I really, really dislike disco. That being said, I think this is the first one this season and I’m okay with that and if disco must be danced, I have faith that Melanie and Marko can do it well. Except…it felt really frantic. I know I use that word a lot. It’s hard to put my finger on what felt so clumsy and messy about that. Was Melanie ahead of the beat in several places? The lifts were definitely awkward in places, as Mary said (finally, some honest criticism). And they definitely missed some beats. I agree with what Katie said about their faces because I really loved when Marko stuck his tongue out and made something of a stank face in the middle of the disco routine. Still, it’s the first routine and they have room to wow us tonight and again, I LOVE them. And I know I’m not alone.
Part of me really likes that Sonya choreographed to suit Sasha and part of me isn’t sure. But I really loved Sasha and Mark (and Mark’s mohawk!). Even if the beginning of the routine reminded me too much of Mia’s addiction piece, I got over that because it was very different later and Sasha’s quality of movement was entirely her own. I thought Nigel said it best when he said that Sonya’s choreography is particularly good when she’s working with Mark. He’s her dream dancer, I think, and Sasha may be the female equivalent.
I hate to say this, but I thought the Tadd-Joshua Lil C hip hop was a little boring, which disappointed me a lot because I was excited when Cat said before the commercial they were dancing together. I thought they were pretty well-matched, but I agree with what my mom said – Tadd was watching Joshua too much, trying to match him. The routine got really good for me when they were on the floor, gliding on their knees both smoothly and with style.
While I really liked the Melanie and Robert routine, I don’t think the choreography matched the “unrequited love” theme all the way through. I love both of them and there was a lot of great acting and they had chemistry, to be sure. I don’t think it was Stacey Tookey’s best choreography, but I really enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting that Cat brought up Kenny Ortega’s remake of Dirty Dancing with Melanie onstage and basically campaigned for her to be Baby (she said cast, but it was pretty clear she was saying “star”). Mostly, I think this was interesting for two reasons. First, several of the writers for this site were talking about a potential cast for Dirty Dancing after Marianya sent us this link. The article suggests Twitch as Johnny Castle and Melanie as Baby, which I loved the idea of earlier. Even so, I was a little grossed out by how much time they devoted to fawning over Melanie (who I love!) in the middle of the finale. Kenny essentially promised her a part… As much as I want Melanie to win, the judges are SO BIASED toward her that it could seriously hurt her chances. So even while I was enjoying Cat saying “nobody puts me in a corner” and acting as Melanie’s agent, I was also really uncomfortable.
LOOOOVED Sasha and Marko’s Broadway. I think that was the best Broadway of the season, though I’m no expert. Sasha really surprised me, as did Marko. Really hated Nigel’s remarks about the routine because I completely disagreed and I don’t know where he was coming from. They both had SO MUCH character and strength in the piece and it was so fun.
Melanie’s solo was absolutely GORGEOUS! Her best yet. It expressed her mood and what she’s feeling right now (I imagine) so well. I loved that she admitted to having a crush on Neil during her interview. It gave me an idea. NEIL as Johnny Castle in Kenny’s Dirty Dancing remake and Melanie as Baby. I would CERTAINLY watch that movie. Over and over again. We already know they have chemistry and I don’t doubt Neil can play a sexy bad boy. Come on, Kenny, we’re doing all the work for you tonight.
I think Cat nailed it when she said that Marko is so honest with his emotions. I’m glad he didn’t pick another James Morrison song for his solo, but Joshua Radin wasn’t much better. While I like both those singers and Marko’s solos, I just think they’re always too slow and too much alike.
Ouch. The Mark Ballas cha cha with Sasha and Tadd kinda wobbled. The worst part for me, since I’m not technically familiar with Ballroom, was that there was NO connection. I blame Sasha (and the choreography) because whenever Tadd was looking at her and trying to connect, she was looking into the audience. ALL of her energy was going into the audience – and this is precisely what I don’t like about Sasha in some routines. I felt like she was dancing with Alexander again.
Marko’s Tessandra Chavez contemporary (?) with LoFro was EXCELLENT! It was so good. I wasn’t taking notes because I was just in it.
Didn’t enjoy Tadd’s interview. I can see that he’s introverted, so he’s projecting a lot of what people perceive as cockiness. His solo was more of his usual, but what I really like about them is that he always picks interesting music that I don’t expect and builds a routine around it. It was really cute when he pretended to fall into the audience.
Enjoyed the Melanie-Tadd Broadway a lot, but I’m not exactly sure why she would be tearing off his clothes (even angrily) after catching him cheating. Especially right on the heels of Tadd’s interview with Cat where she brought up the shirtless Tadd website. Also, I hated Melanie’s pants for her and it seemed like she was waiting for Tadd a lot. However, they have really good chemistry and it was fun. I agree with that.
Sasha’s solo was so her and so fierce! I loved that she used a really soft, feminine song and paired it with her really strong dancing. Also, has anybody noticed that Sasha clearly has a crush on Cat? Can’t say I blame her. 🙂
Stacey’s routine with Melanie and Sasha was EVERYTHING I didn’t get from their Sonya routine. She heard us when we said that they’re strong enough for lifts, so she put them in. There was so much connection between them, which I was starving for in the Sonya routine. I loved the props, the picket fence cages/thrones. Considering how many times they put their hands over their mouths and their chemistry, I wondered if this wasn’t about two women who aren’t allowed to love each other in the 50s, not just repressed housewives. But there was also the innocence and connection of sisters. It was remarkable.
Well. Marko and Tadd’s gumboot stepping routine was awful and I disrespect the judges (except for Nasty Nigel) for not saying so, especially Katie. Their movements were weak, boyish, unfinished and out of sync. But, it was kind of an awful style/routine to give the two guys in the finale, especially when they’re already the underdogs. HOWEVER, did y’all notice that Marko and Tadd were the ones that got the All-Stars who’d WON their seasons? I wish they’d ended on the girls’ routine because the boys’ routine sucked.
Working on the Power Rankings now. OH! And I gotta go vote! Y’all, talk to me, tell me what you think and help me out. There’s going to be a fun poll in the Power Ranking post, so look for it.
I was shocked with the disco routine. I didn’t like the choreography or melanie and marko didn’t pull it off. It made my heart sink because I love then both (specially Melanie) Fingers crossed that it all works out.
wow. Thank goodness! That dance with Robert and melanie was spectacular. I think that Melanie is at her best with dances that have emotion in them. Maybe that disco routine didn’t work for me because disco in general is so unemotional, it’s all fun and moves and funny faces.
I think the disco was just a bad routine. It felt off, too many lifts + too little dancing, and I think it wouldn’t have mattered who danced it. The music also didn’t seem to suit it.
I just wish we couldn’t have seen a Mel & Marko waltz, now that would have been beautiful!
Yes thank god she did well in her own style that she has practiced her whole life but sucked at what this show claims its about. Adapting to every style. I remember brandon doing a really great disco his season
I think that the routine with Tadd and Joshua was well choreographed, but it would’ve suited Tadd better had he done it himself. I wasn’t feelin the chemistry between the two men. In my opinion, there was too much synchronization that fell through.
@lauren…wow cool down bitter person…jealous of talent? I didn’t say she sucked,…I said I don’t think they (Melanie & marko) pulled it off as a collective couple…
Are Sasha and Mel just trying to cry their way into the top 2? What happen to the beasts? And what was Nigel smoking during Marko & Sasha’s number? Marko had character all over the place and the two were awesome!
Thank you Lynn….I said the same thing when Nigel commented on Marko & Sashas number….but honestly I think Marko outdanced Sasha on that routine….sorry Sasha lovers…don’t throw things at me
ooo that tadd and sasha routine was rough. At least all four have had a not so good routine tonight. still even playing field.
Emilie…I love the way you think……Just add Mark in there somewhere & i will have to buy multiple copies of that dvd. Please Kenny read this casting idea…..Melanie, Mark & Niel….omg I think I need a cold drink.
I wish Katie Holmes would stop commenting on the fashion… it’s starting to irritate me…I haven’t heard anything particularly inspiring from her all evening.
Ouch… that last piece was rough. Why would they put that type of dance in the final? So didn’t work! Poor compared to the Marko/Ricky “Super Mario” routine. I miss Ricky!
Oh and Emilie – TOTALLY agree with you on the Sasha/Mel routine! And I also was getting a little “forbidden love” vibe from it.
OMG what the hell Nigel….that was so totally wrong to say that to the guys…..HOW RUDE!!!!!!!!!
It was rude and not only that those kind of comments always have backlash. i.e. a whole mass of people incited to vote for the boys as retaliation…
Lovely watching the finale with you all lol.
When Nigel said that, I figured that Marko will win. Everybody will vote for him now.
IM going for the UNder dogs tonight. I Know Mel is strong and God Bless her, dont like Sasha now, I wish caitlyn was in the top 4 cause sasha can’t with her partners, Now I understand why some people say somehow sasha strategically chooses people she would want to connect in dancing, you guys might disagree with me on that its just my opinion… To Nigel saying those ..hmmmm it could spoil everything… that’s what im saying…
Oh..i have one final casting suggestion for Dirty Dancing redux….for the Cynthia Rhodes character…Ellenore.
Sasha totally played to the audience during the cha cha & missed several of her connections with Tadd…I really feel that she made that routine a train wreck…but Nigel is so in love with her that he placed the blame on Tadd. And, explain just how was Katie Holmes was even necessary tonight???? She was useless as a judge….but Kenny Ortega ROCKED!!!
Something about this season leaves me a bit disgusted. I don’t feel connected to any of the dancers. And the finale was very anticlimatic. Where are all the really good choreographers? Where’s travis, mia, wade, nappytabs, and even though he had some troubles shayne. It was a mixture of bad choreography poor choice in music and the dancers not fully commiting that ruined it for me.
I definitely think that the “regular” choreographers would have produced much better choreography this evening. I especially missed Nappytabs, Travis Wall, and Tyce! In reference to the dancers, I think they all did a great job considering that they each danced one routine out of their comfort zone.
Agreed Lauren – it was a bit of a letdown for the season finale.
The disco felt to me like like I was watching two people dancing with a different soundtrack dubbed over top. The music and the movements didn’t seem to have much to do with each other.
@lauren, I’m kind of going to have to agree… everyone keeps saying what great dancers there are this season, “the best dancers ever!” “such strong dancers!” and yet… something just feels WRONG. I haven’t loved nearly the number of dances I did last season – Mad World, How It Ends, Fix You to name a few, not to mention even the not super stand out ones like Dom & Robert’s circus clown balloon one. I don’t know, the finale was just… unsettling. It wasn’t amazing. There were some crappy dances and the one standout for me was the piece with Marko and Lauren. I just am left kind of blahed out. Wanting more…
@Lauren, Shane hasn’t been on the show since he ran into some pretty serious legal trouble about 2 years ago.
I wish i knew why wade hasn’t been back, I’ve missed his choreography this season, esp bc brandon and janette have both been all-stars and he choreographed my favorite routine they did (Ruby Blue)
This was never mentioned on the show, but Travis hasn’t been able to choreograph in a few weeks because he is the main choreographer for Step Up 4!! He’s been in Miami preparing for the shoot. Bummer that we couldn’t get a Travis routine tonight 🙁 I’m just beginning to watch the show out here on the west coast but I’m a little worried!!
@megan- yeah I heard about the shayne thing(its a real shame honestly) I really miss mia and wade though. Some of the best routines were choreographed by them
I believe that the judges have historically shown a great deal of favourtism towards Melanie this season. I think they want Melanie to win. I think Nigel’s comments about Sasha’s broadway routine is intended to sway voters Melanie’s way. The way they focused on Melanie tonight was really inappropriate and inconsiderate towards the other dancers. I hope Sasha wins but I know she wont. I think she has done better with the various styles and has been challenged far more with different genres than Melanie. I am sure their favourite Melanie will win.
Agreed….
But honestly, as much as I love Katie Holmes, she’s my least favorite of any guest judge. ..
I felt like she was there just to look pretty… but her comments were graded so holistically, and I feel like she doesn’t know how well each dancer has done on the show.. (but that’s just what I think from listening to her critics)
Dang, but Sasha def worked it in her routine. Melanie too, but I haven’t seen a softer side to some of Sasha’s solos… I probably have forgotten if she had done a very soft contemporary/lyrical solo, but I really liked Sasha’s solo tonight.
I felt like Melanie’s was too short AND I WANTED HER TO KEEP DANCING.. it’s always like a breathe of fresh air when she dances.
But HELLO, Marko? He makes me cry every time he puts so much emotion in his dancing. Every. Single. Time.
What a lackluster finale. From Lil C’s boring hiphop to Mark Ballas’s “ambitious” (difficult to watch) cha cha. There wasn’t even a single group number like past seasons. These dancers are WELL SPENT. I would have rather seen another cool bollywood routine over the only disco of the season which was just okay. Sorry, Jeanette and Brandon’s disco is still the big poo. A Samba or Argentine Tango would have probably been a lot more enjoyable from Tadd and Sasha. (Stupid hypothetical hat)
AANNDD…I KNOW…after Melanie and Sasha’s duet and the mic went to Katie Holmes you all were thinking she was gonna say, “…Story of my life.” HAHAHA…you know it’s funny.
Too bad I had forgotten about Robert and Joshua by the end of the show…and I LOVE them. Laurenfrodie and Kanemura’s All-Stars shone the brightest. ‘Ography from Mia Michaels and Wade Robson were truly missed this season.
If Melanie wins it will be the first time in SYTYCD (US) history that the clear obvious favorite from the start of the Top 20 wins the competition. I LOVE SEASON 8. I would not be surprised if Tadd and Marko are the top 2 left standing after Nigel’s final comment of a girl winning this season. If there is something America loves to do is to prove Lythgoe wrong. Good Luck final four it has been AMAZING. Can’t believe it’s almost over…(heavy sigh) one more show. See you on the tour.
Wade has his vegas show and NappyTabs’ “mobbed” starts tomorrow, so I think they’ve been busy with more “important” things. 🙂
On to the finale. Lackluster! I HATE HATE disco, and especially this routine. It was horrendous. Worst routine of the night. Choreo, music, execution…I think they put it at the beginning bc Marko and Mel are their favs. That bummed me out. For me, three best routines of the night were Sasha/Marko’s broadway (pissed at Nigel for giving them ridiculously inane criticism and withholding criticism earlier in the season), Sasha/Mark’s sonya routine (ah-ma-zing), and the girls’ Stacy Tookey routine (which was chill-inducing). I normally don’t care much for Tookey-routines, but this one was much better. I also got the tender love vibe, but also with a taste of innocent sisterliness. Loved it. Perfection.
The Lil’ C routine was unreal…if only Joshua danced it. Tadd is not half the dancer Joshua is, and I felt bad for him trying to keep up. Joshua is an all-time fav of mine and of my husband and we couldn’t take our eyes off of him. The choreo was complex, music was bangin’…ahh, sigh.
Didn’t care much for the Melanie/Tadd broadway…didn’t feel the theme and hated the clothes ripping. What was that about? Grr.
Worst routines of the night: DISCO by far, the cha-cha and the stepping routine. The step routine? The choreographer’s expression said it all: “you took my awesome routine and made it suck”. And they did. The boys couldn’t keep up.
The cha-cha looked awkward, but part of that was the horrible music choice and horrible choreo. Thing Ballas was only invited on because DWTS gave us Chelsie Hightower? Was that the agreement? That their “rising star” would get a primo finale choreography? Because he did exactly what I thought he’d do. Made it all about his avant-garde-ness and not at all about the dancers he got. I dislike him even more now, and that’s not easy to do. A casual fan like my husband reacts strongly to the music, and he was like, “please mute that awful song!” Great job, Ballas. Also, Sasha looked much more injured in heels. Wonder what is going on with her? She was ginger all night. Hmm. Kenny noted that she was injured, and I could tell something was up, but not exactly what it was.
Anyhow, worst finale yet. Some great dances, but Nigel screwed some of the dancers by introducing foreign styles and choreographers in the finale. From following his twitter, you can tell he knows it too.
Sasha has been my hands down favorite all season and still is. Most memorable dances of the season for me. I get a nasty taste in my mouth with all of the Melanie love (though she’s fabulous and adorable) and I don’t feel she’s improved at all this season–while Sasha has developed in unexpected ways. But Nigel may have inadvertently (or not) boosted Marko to theh top with his “girls” comments at the end.
Grr.
I think Nigel *wants* Marko to win. After 8 seasons, he is fully aware of how his comments sway the voters. I think he made those comments so that people WOULD vote for the boys.
@Beth, I completely agree with you about Mark Ballas, especially after seeing some of the pieces he did for Chelsea Kane this season on DWTS. When he first got on the show, with Kristi and Shawn etc, his pieces were still wacky, but still had the tradition to them and looked like they were fun!! That cha cha did NOT look fun last night, and isn’t the cha cha supposed to be cheeky and upbeat? I mentioned this earlier, but SYTYCD viewers are very different from DWTS viewers. We watch because these are people we can connect to and admire, these kids who have been working their whole lives to achieve their dream of becoming of professional dancer. DWTS is about the spectacle, SYTYCD is about the journey, and Mark Ballas totally missed the mark on that last night
I agree with Alo and Lauren – what a disappointment! An utterly lackluster show from performance to choreography to music. I’m tired of all these angst-ridden, slow music, dramatic pieces. The only dancers that drew me in were the all stars. Mark, Joshua and Lauren – thank you! I really think that this show had the most painful to watch pieces of the whole season. The whole season has been plagued with dancers who have great technical ability but can’t “connect” with their partners. Boo hoo!
“DWTS is about the spectacle, SYTYCD is about the journey, and Mark Ballas totally missed the mark on that last night”- Margaret
I so Agree with YOu, this Finale was so unworthy for us fans to watch… I cant believe after 8 seasons of watching this show… SYTYCD will end up with such an episode and Katie Holmes… its like what? I would have wished they just had Christina Apple Gate back again or lady Gaga or that Marshal guy or better Yet Travis or give us a surprise Like Mia Micheal Being on Panel but Katie Holmes? the manner she ended in the judging panel draws me to the same question… What the Heck happened in the Finale?….I know I may sound bad but playing back the episode again…I feel like i’m watching the Gopak Philip and Janine performed in season 5
I was wondering if anyone else saw the connection between the sasha/melanie dance and the book/movie The Help that is coming out next week?? i thought that the deeper longing might be racial- if they really were 50’s housewives, they would not have probably been able to associate with each other, let along hug and touch, and each would have had to deal on a daily basis with racism and sexism, and I thought maybe the dance was showing their internal desires to break through the social and legal ties…… beautiful, whatever it meant!!
@Megan (#1): Good point about disco and Melanie. Which is why she’ll be a good actress, because she dances/performs better with intention and emotion.
@Lynn (#3): Yeah, I would’ve liked to see the Mel/Marko reunion be a better routine. But then I’m biased (like @beth) against disco regardless.
@Leilei (#10): I’m not going to argue with you about adding Mark. LOVE HIM! I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to find a role for Mark. 🙂
@Lynn (#13): That’s what I liked best about it. They could’ve been neighbors or lovers or sisters playing on their lawn, discovering their limitations/restrictions. There was so much in the choreography that could back up any of those readings. One of my favorites of the season.
@Megan (#16): TOTALLY agree, you said it perfectly. Even though I’m only now responding to y’all, I was reading your comments last night and I really enjoyed the back and forth. 🙂
@Lola (#17): I love Marko, but I hope not. He and Tadd had a poor night. It wasn’t the best night all around, but the girls outdanced the boys and one of them should win.
@Leilei (#19): I love Ellenore, so I’m down. She could totally play Penny. 🙂 We should cast Dirty Dancing. Sound like fun? 🙂 (#20): Agree with ALL of that.
@Margaret (#25): That’s cool that Travis is choreographing Step Up 4. Good news. But WHY were you reading the thoughts/discussion post before watching the show?!?! :)-
@Alo (#29): “Stupid hypothetical hat.” Lol. Favorite quote this season. And good point that the clear favorite never wins, though Melanie looks well placed to change that.
@beth (#30): I hate disco, too. And, you mentioned something I meant to, but left out. I texted my mom after that routine, “Choreographer’s face was priceless. Poker face.” He looked like he was struggling not to show how pissed he was. 🙂 I love Mark Ballas and his quirky choreo, but I have to admit that was all wrong for the dancers and this moment in the competition.
@Demon fao (#34): Interesting you should mention the gopak. While it was awful on the show, what I liked about it was that it showed SYTYCD/Nigel’s ability to change and make fun of themselves since they trotted out the gopak during the tour and made a GREAT running joke of it and then later brought on somebody to dance a real gopak.
@lora: That is an interesting reading into the dance. I don’t think Stacey Tookey would’ve tied into the release of the movie, but maybe she was inspired by the book/movie in part. And because the choreo was so layered and deep and our two dancers happen to be a black girl and a white girl, it adds a whole new possible depth to the piece. That’s a really cool idea. 🙂
time for best guest judges of the season!!! (and worst…)
top 3
1. jesse tyler ferguson- he was so funny, gave good critiques and really connected with the dancers. plus, it was fun to see one of my fav characters on modern family up there!
2. neil patrick harris- same reasons as jtf, except he was a little less funny.
3. lady gaga- she was funny, real, and emotional (except for that *ew* comment about what nigel said to caitlynn- what was she thinking?) and it probably didn’t hurt the shows ratings to have the most popular singer alive, either.
4. kenny ortega- he was positive, but not overly gushing about particular dancers, and made a nice substition for nigel, who was totally out of whack last night.
5. christina applegate- very personable, funny and gave ok critiques.
worst
1. carmen electra- everything she said were throw-away lines and it appeared she didn’t know anything at all.
2. katie holmes- again, ratings were probably better cuz they had a hollywood a-lister, but everything she said was floaty and light and normal, not deep and personable. she seemed nice enough, though.
can’t really think of any more bad ones, but reply if you do!
whoops meant ‘top 5’!
@maddy: I love your breakdown of the guest judges and I completely agree! I might’ve put Christina Applegate higher, but that’s about it.
Writing this after the fact, so no one will probably read it, but I have to comment about this because it made me so mad. I agree with you, Beth and Margaret and Demon about stupid Mark Ballas’s choreo. I watch DWTS, too, and he does the same things to his partners there as he did to poor Sasha and Tadd. The choreography is all about Mark Ballas! Mark Ballas! Mark Ballas! Isn’t he edgy, isn’t he taking ballroom diffferent places, isn’t he throwing his acrobatics in the judges’ faces! It’s horrible that he doesn’t take into consideration the fate of the poor dancer he is charged with making look good. That cha cha was horrendous. I can’t stand that guy and his ego. I love Dmitry’s choreo so much better, if you’re going to take someone from DWTS (and an alumnus from SYTYCD). ANyway, I agree totally about Mark’s choreography and I was upset when I heard he was doing it even before I saw the dance. I was right.