Halloween Week review: aka the first time the budget cutback really showed itself 🤭

As always it's one thing to disagree, but tell me why you disagree in the comments.

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay lots going on irl. I was getting ready for vacation, getting a second job lined up, and on top of that I've been going to physical therapy. Then on top of that I woke up today feeling under the weather. It's been hard to really get these weekly reviews out in the meantime. I did manage to get some thoughts recorded on this week, so of its a bit shorter than usual I do apologize. Anyway on with the review.

One thing I want to discuss before I get into it is the covid thing, I'm genuinely surprised less people got it since Val was at team rehearsals, but I have a theory that someone on set had it and that's how Val got it. It just doesn't sit right that he did the team rehearsals and then had to withdraw for the rest of the week, so that's why I'm thinking he possibly got it from a crew member before the team dance rehearsal, and that's why the timing is the way it is. It's quite lucky that Gabby didn't get it, but the thing is that Val is pretty hands on with team dances so it's a miracle no one else got covid.

Another thing I wanna touch on is that the costumes seem very Spirit Halloween this week, but other than that it wasn't awful.

JORDIN AND BRANDON

First I want to thank Jordin and Brandon for playing the game their way, nothing every struck me as manufactured or forced versus the other couples which I genuinely appreciate. Footwork was nice, she really gained a sense of direction with her feet that wasn't quite there before tonight, and to harp on that a bit she had a fabulous contra check that just blew me away personally.

My Score: 10

CHARLI AND MARK

This was exquisite, the timing was off the charts, even in the lifts, and when she flipped herself over and did that inverse crabwalk I damn near lost it. There's a few things that kept it from being perfect, one of which is just like her mother's Argentine Tango the legs where a tad subdued. Not weak like Heidi's, but it just needed more power in the legs, and despite the great timing the middle felt unpolished. Like there was more she could've done, so it had a few to many moments of stillness. The biggest issue she has going forward is her ability to let things go, like there needs to be an element of abandon that we haven't seen yet, and if she can work on her legs a bit more and garner a touch more strength she'll fare well.

My Score: 9.5

DANIEL AND BRITT

If there is one thing that Daniel can always deliver on its the precision and intent of his dancing. I enjoyed his Spanish line, but he needs to really get more height in this dance, it felt too low in the chest, and if he lifted his upper carriage more he would've had a more fuller looking line. Breathe from the diaphragm and stand at your tallest. The footwork wasn't as unusual as it has been. But it has to do with the heel leads. There's not too much sideways footwork in this dance, but in the future I still think he needs to work on his inner foot muscles. The way I can best describe is if he's doing a pivot it comes off as a step by step pivot rather than a fluid one. His exterior foot is not an issue though thank goodness as a few of his remaining dances it is possible to have more out to inward movements versus inward to out.

My Score: 9

SHANGELA AND GLEB

I just wanna say it was twisted and funny in the best of ways. There was a slapstick element that I really enjoyed, and she's holding herself side to side which is majorly impressive. One thing I do wish there was in the grand scheme of things was a more softer section right before that end lift, but other than that it had the synchronization I was looking for. The detail in her characterization was executed with aplomb. I wish that Charli had a bit more of that similar detail in her characterization, but then again the Argentine Tango doesn't allow that type of stylization or the whole dance just looses its integrity. From now on I need more synergy between these two and I know it's a lot to ask when Shangela is quite a vivacious personality and Gleb is more laid back, but I think they can make a running start to that finale by simply meeting in the middle.

My Score: 10

VINNY AND KOKO

This dance was his best latin dance to date, and if I could I would give Vinny a huge pat on the back because he's been taking the judges notes and Koko's teachings to heart. The shaping wasn't horrendous, and it had that right length in the spine versus Daniel's, but he has this issue where you could also see in his Quickstep and Viennese Waltz. He hasn't quite figured out how to keep his upper body in a good calm manor that could immediately elevate some of his dances. He needed more power in his legs, but that comes from the footwork. In this dance it's a heel lead, and he kept his heels on the ground. That created this stompy section in the middle, but if he was more frontheavy and leaning on the balls of his feet for practice he would've had a more smooth flow in his leg/footwork. I'm not sure if he'll make it past this week, but if he does I need him to really focus on his spacial awareness, quite a lot of his remaining dances need more room to be taken up, and if he can really cover bigger space I think things could come a bit more naturally.

My Score: 7

HEIDI AND ARTEM

There's quite a lot happening at once in this dance, between the lighting and the body paint it felt like Pinhead punctured a Tango. The legs where a bit too soft more often than not, and her footwork was scuffed for once which I'm a bit shocked at. However, after reading a few posts directed at her demeanor this week, and Val having covid is it possible she's feeling unwell herself this week? It would explain why things haven't been as good as they have been, but again my biggest critique is just like with Charli: she needs to let things go and show us more levity on the dance floor for her to make it through this week. I will say as well that she needs to firm her leg muscles as well, and that can really help her besides the non emoting issue.

My Score: 8

GABBY AND ALAN*

This is dangerous, like the sharp edge of a hot knife, so much precise power unlike Charli's. It has more impact and intention, those legs alone should be registered as lethal weapons, the ganchos and adornos are extremely hard to ensure the placement, but Gabby was practically matching Alan in every move. The interplay was hot and exciting which I prefer to see in an Argentine Tango, and to those who are crying about Charli not having to show the same degree is absolutely incorrect. It's called acting, and she's not an actress. Neither is Gabby, yet she still made a huge effort in faking a romantic and sensual interest in Alan. Is it gross seeing a young person getting hot and heavy with an older person? Depends on what the scenario is, in a dance competition it's completely fine, and mind you Willow Shields at 14 made it appear that there was an element of sensuality in her Argentine Tango. My critique for her going into the next few weeks is to be mindful of her mistakes, and really hone in on that unlearning she's done thus far. I think what the judges saw was a curved toe, which made a weird shape, and that comes out more in dismounts.

My Score: 10

WANYE AND WIT

This was about as much of a Contemporary as it was a mambo, but it's the fault of the music. It genuinely had no business being on this show in its state as a Contemporary song choice. The lack of quiet moments really took me out of it as well, but again it's more the music and possibly the costuming to blame in this instance. The one thing I will say is that the intensity in the movement was very much what made it very un-Contemporary, for me at least where there should be very solid movements there should be a grace to them as well, but everything felt too high octane and even messy at points. In the future I really want him to just work on his elbows, sometimes they are a tad forward or behind and that comes from his natural groove. Unlearn the natural groove and things will come together much easier.

My Score: 8.5

TREVOR AND EMMA

If you told me seven weeks ago that Trevor Donovan and Charli D'Amelio would be tied for the top spot I'd have laughed off that notion. However I think his breakthrough came with working with Mark Ballas, having a Man's perspective on where you should be positioned and such can make a huge difference. As far as his contemporary was concerned I think the softness but near reckless movement gave it that tenderness I was looking for in Wayne's dance. The lifts where inhuman in the best way, but executed with such a natural ease that really caught my eye. This performance had a distinctive amount of light and shade, and my only real critique is some moments could've been stretched a tad rather than hurried. Now this is where he needs to really tap into his raw power, and in that I mean every ballroom dance needs a grace and every latin dance needs fun. If he can get those down I think the footwork will come second nature at this point.

My Score: 10