Critic Girl

Will was shockingly eliminated.

 

On Thursday evening, we were treated to the most shocking elimination on the show this year. This season has been marked by unremarkable performances, dull personalities, and weak choreography. It was a nice change to see something exciting and unexpected; the elimination of Will, as horrible as it sounds, breathed fresh air into the show. I had been growing more and more perturbed by the judges’ incessant fawning over Katee and Will, and I started caring more about the underdogs. This excessive heaps of praise plus the annoying “IV Real” thing that everyone talks about on the show were really starting to bug me. Cat and the others repetitively saying “for real,” making that arm gesture, and wearing “IV Real” T-shirts without actually mentioning what it means excludes the audience from their little in-joke. It hurts our feelings! Not really, but it would be nice if they stopped doing it. We get it, you’re part of season 4, and you can make clever little puns. Good for you. It was funny and intriguing the first time. Now it’s getting old. And I think that’s part of the reason that Will was eliminated; he was consistently praised to death, and he was one of the originators of the “IV Real” movement.

There are, of course, other reasons that could have played a part. He was reminiscent of last year’s Danny in that he was probably a little too talented and a little too arrogant for the show. The judges’ realized his talent and quickly began reaffirming his greatness at every opportunity, not thinking that the audience could deduce this independently. His early partnering with the unmemorable Jessica didn’t help. His James Brown solo on Wednesday night was gimmicky and as far as you can get from humble and honest, and I was shocked to see a standing ovation from the judges. Really?! His routines with Courtney were well choreographed, and they got the one better options of dances, yet they performed sloppily on their first routine. The second routine could have blown the world away, but the chemistry, emotion, and sharpness wasn’t there. This didn’t stop the judges, especially Nigel and Mary, from saying how absolutely amazing they were.

Anyway, Will, Twitch, Comfort, and Courtney ended up in the bottom. The choice of girls was expected, and Comfort finally went home, which was a shock to no one. She has routinely dragged down her partners into an abyss, yet she has always came back somehow. I was shocked, however, that Twitch ended up in the bottom. He’s not overpraised, so what gives? I was definitely glad to see him stay. Here’s hoping next week we get a better guest judge (the ever bitchy Mia Michaels or eloquent Lil’ C), some better choreography (Wade Robson, where are you?! Paging Shane Sparks! And please, I’m so sick of NapTab), and some pairing that looks less like evil manipulation from the producers (How about Courtney-Joshua, Twitch-Chelsie, Mark-Katee? Doesn’t that seem fair?).

I recommend this place for the most thorough footage of SYTYCD this week, including results footage. Tell me if Twitch’ reaction to being the bottom two wasn’t sad.

My Rankings of the Remaining Dancers:

1. Chelsie: She’s never been in the bottom, she creates magic with any partner she’s with, and she’s got a bubbly personality. I’m sure I’m not the only one dreaming of a reunion with Mark next week.
2. Katee: Arguably the most technically adept dancer left, she is so reminiscent of last year’s winner Sabra. However, Will’s elimination this week proves that the audience isn’t fond of fawning judges.
3. Twitch: Yes, he was in the bottom this week, but I think his fans have been jolted to vote for  him next week. He practically carried Kherington to the top 10 on his personality alone.
4. Joshua: His video package this week certainly helped his cause, but I wonder how he’s faring with the teenage girl demographic. They usually go for the shirtless hotties.
5. Mark: He’s in deep trouble. I expected him gone this week, even though he’s my favorite. He needs a miraculous week, and I think that will happen if he is paired with Katee or Chelsie. He’s a wild card though.
6. Courtney: No chance of moving beyond next week. The top two girls are pretty much sealed. Courtney just doesn’t have the oomph to attract more voters.

On Thursday night, we were left with the top 4 girls, consisting of Courtney, Chelsie, Katee, and Comfort, and the top 4 guys, consisting of Joshua, Mark, Will, and Twitch. I was certainly shocked at the results. The bottom two girls and guys were right on the money, but the guy and girl eliminated were not.

Kherington and Comfort landed in the bottom two, a place they deserved to be placed in after their below-par performances on Wednesday. Kherington performed a country two-step and messed up her arms so much during her turns that it became a disaster. She was basically blamed for the failure of the dance, letting Mark escape the heat because of all of her mistakes. The jazz routine they performed was not poorly danced, just boring and lifeless. Her solo was also the weakest of the girls.

Comfort, on the other hand, rocked a futuristic hip hop routine with Twitch, though to be fair that is their speciality. I quite enjoyed their smooth waltz, but the judges tore it apart. Comfort performed a solo that was one of the best she’s done on the show.

In the end, Kherington was sent home. Considered a fan favorite in the previous rounds as a couple with Twitch, it’s now obvious that Twitch was carrying the couple. As for the boys, Gev was sloppy on the jive with Chelsie, but their other routine was solid, and his solo was spectacular. Mark had the terrible country two-step and jazz numbers, plus a weaker solo. I am a Mark fan, but I kind of wanted Gev to stay because I love cheering for the underdog. Alas, he was cut, mostly because I don’t think he had a fanbase.

Here are my dancer rankings: 1) Will, 2) Katee, 3) Chelsie, 4) Twitch, 5) Mark, 6) Courtney, 7) Joshua, 8- Comfort. Next week I’m hoping for some some new dances on the stage. I greatly enjoyed the Bollywood routines, the disastrously bad country two-step, and the beautiful pas de deux. Another wish: that the judges quit pushing their favorites so hard. Will and Katee, in whatever couple they are with, always get the best genres and the best routines. I hardly think it is randomized. Furthermore, the judges feel the need to hype them endlessly, as if the viewers are a bunch of uncultured idiots who cannot recognize good dance. WE CAN! And we like them because we can see that they’re talented dancers. So don’t make me not like them.

My favorite dance this week was Katee and Will’s pas de deux. See it here. My favorite solo happened to be Gev’s, available here.