Well, another season of sequins, sambas, and suspiciously specific spray tans has drawn to a close. “Dancing With the Stars” crowned its latest champions, and frankly, even I didn’t see this one coming. Joey and Jenna, he of Bachelor Nation fame and she of the perpetually encouraging smile, waltzed away with the Mirrorball Trophy, leaving a trail of glitter in their wake.
Tuesday night’s finale featured the remaining five couples battling it out one last time, each performing a redemption dance chosen by the judges and a freestyle routine. Redemption dances, eh? As if anyone’s past foxtrot faux pas could ever truly be redeemed. Still, everyone gamely gave it their all, with Joey and Jenna snagging three perfect 10s for their Cha-Cha, proving that sometimes, a redemption arc actually works.
Chandler and Brandon, the first Black couple to reach the DWTS finals, also delivered a flawless redemption Jive, scoring a perfect 30. Their overall performance throughout the season garnered them the highest score from the judges, a hefty 118, yet oddly, it wasn’t enough to clinch the win. They finished in third place, proving that on “DWTS,” popularity often trumps pure talent. Ah, the cruel realities of reality TV.
The freestyle round, as always, was a mixed bag of brilliance and bewilderment. Ilona and Alan’s powerful and celebratory freestyle earned them a perfect 30 and a well-deserved second-place finish. Their routine was a tribute to body positivity, a welcome message in a show often obsessed with physical perfection. Stephen and Rylee, with their perfect-scoring freestyle, landed in fourth place, while Danny and Whitney’s fun, “Barbie”-themed routine secured them the fifth spot. Let’s be real, though, fifth place on “DWTS” is like winning the “Most Improved” award in high school. It’s nice, but it’s not the Mirrorball.
Amid the competitive chaos, the finale sprinkled in the usual dose of “DWTS” extras: a nostalgic judges’ segment (Carrie Ann, Derek, and Bruno reminiscing about the season’s highs and lows – we’ve all been there), a group number featuring the cast, Julianne Hough, and Alfonso Ribeiro (set to Kylie Minogue’s “Holiday”), and a performance by former winners Xochitl and Val. Even Derek Hough took a break from judging to perform a special Argentine Tango with his best friend Mark Ballas. It was all very… festive.
But let’s get back to the shocker: Joey’s victory. He joins the ranks of Bachelors who have successfully transitioned from rose ceremonies to rhinestones, proving that sometimes, the journey to true love leads through a ballroom. While his win might leave some scratching their heads (Chandler and Brandon’s third-place finish certainly raised a few eyebrows), it’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of “Dancing With the Stars.”
