*Wallace

2 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - "Bad Habits" (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “My Love” (Samba): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “River Deep – Mountain High” (Jive): 5 Shane Quigley Murphy & Laura Nolan - “Where Did You Go?” (Salsa): 4 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Come Away with Me” (Waltz): 4 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - "Cruel Summer" (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Killer Queen” (Foxtrot): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “True Blue” (American Smooth): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Hips Don’t Lie (Salsa): 5 Miriam Mullins & Montel Hewson - “Calm Down” (Samba): 3 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - "Cuff It" (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Good” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Shane Quigley Murphy & Laura Nolan - “All These Nights” (Jive): 5 Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne - “Show Me What I’m Looking For” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” (Paso Doble): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Dance the Night” (Salsa): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Queen of the Night” (Paso Doble): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Just Like Fire” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Tattoo” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Keep Holding On” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Dr. Wanna Do” (Charleston): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Lil Boo Thang” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Lady in Red” (Rumba): 6 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Galway Girl” (Quickstep): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “I Need You” (Charleston): 6 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “yes, and?” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Almost Like Being in Love” (Quickstep): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Paradise” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Take On Me” (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Everlasting Love” (American Smooth): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Quickstep): 6 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Whole Lotta Love” (Paso Doble): 6 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Levitating” (Salsa): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Wrapped Up” (Salsa): 6 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Monster Mash” (American Smooth): 5 Davy Russell & Kylee Vincent - “Never Tear Us Apart” (Viennese Waltz): 4 Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne - “Disturbia” (Tango): 3 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Make It Look Easy” (Showdance): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “I Am What I Am” (Showdance): 7 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “You Never Can Tell”/“Misirlou” (Jive) [Reprise]: 5 + Rosanna & Stephen Rumba - Shane & Laura Salsa

3 Jana Wosnitza & Vadim Garbuzov - “Felicitá” (Charleston): 10 Detlef Soost & Ekaterina Leonova - “Caruso” (Contemporary): 1 Stefano Zarrella & Mariia Maksina - “Via con me” (Charleston): 14 Gabriel Kelly & Malika Dzumaev - “Italodisco” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 85 + Gabriel & Malika - Detlef & Ekaterina

Continuing on catching up. Week 8 Thoughts: Detlef & Ekaterina - Quickstep: Oooh I'm always HERE for an Aladdin "Friend Like Me" dance! While this wasn't one of the best "Friend Like Me" dances out there, I still enjoyed this. He did seem a little stiff/timid on the in hold parts of the dance at the start. He really came to life and became so animated and performative on out of hold/side by side parts. He nailed the parts and characterization there. He did a great job with the big lifts. I do wish some of his in hold dancing could have been a bit more at ease/effortless. I see this got a 26, so I'm assuming a mix of 8s and 9s which sounds fair to me. Ann-Kathrin & Valentin - Samba: LOL I am already "oh dearing" at the thought of an Ann-Kathrin + Samba combo. Well, I am glad that Ann-Kathrin finally gets challenged with a party Latin style. Sadly, this dance was as I expeced - where she wsa awkward and gangly here. She did lack the rhythm, flow and style needed for the Samba. Her lines were flailyl and all over the place. But she looked like she was having fun and she did cope with the routine. Maybe this wsa better than what she would have done early in the season but not strong enough at this stage of the season. Ooh wow, she got all 5s, which is fair - though I was expecting the harsh judge to score her even lower. Gabriel & Malika - Viennese Waltz: Oooh this is a Viennese Waltz to "Mad World"? I don't think I ever seen that before. This dance does seem to have a bit of a Contemporary flair to it but it was also more traditional VW than I wsas expecting. This was a dreamy, floaty and stunning Viennese Waltz. I really loved the fast/smooth under arm work they did while partnering each other in the middle of the dance. Gabriel did lead and partner Malika well through the dance, had good footwork and a good emotional connection to the dance. Very beautiful dance all around. Yayy for the 29 he got! Glad he returned to his frontrunner form with this dance and those scores. Jana & Vadim - Quickstep: Ahh a "I Want You to Want Me" Quickstep are always fun so I'm looking forward to this. And yay this did not disappoint. It was fun seeing Jana channel her rock side with this character. This was a really cute, fun and infectious dance! She had a great feame, danced and moved around the stage really well and with good speed. Oooh I loved the over flip/cartwheel move they did. That was fun! Some parts at the end looked a little shaky/wild at times? But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the dance as I thought she did a great job. And this was a lot of fun! Oooh niceee that she got all 10s for a perfect 30! Mark & Kathrin - Samba: Ooh dear I'm not too hopeful for a Mark Samba either but he got it the same night as Ann-Kathrin, which is a good time for him to get a Samba. His Samba was better than Ann-Kathrin's so that's nice. OMGG is he really singing at the start of the dance? I'm guessing so. So unfair. I do like how Mark let loose and had fun. He did attempt the hip action, rhythm and flow. He did have some awkwad moments and some of his footwok did look off and awkard to me. I did like the side by side parts and thought he had fun. This was a fun dance, a good effort for a difficult style. He didn't nail it but it was also better and more fun than I was expecting. Kathrin was a fierce showgirl here! The mix of and 7s seem fair and fine, though I would go more in the 7s direction. Tony & Anastasia - Paso Doble: Oooh this western cowboy theme for a Paso seems like a fun idea. I wasn't sure about the Paso for Tony as it doesn't seem like a dance that would suit him. But he really surprised me here. He showcased strong, sharp and powerful lines. He had good shaping and did a great job on the side by side parts. But not to mention, he did really well with the partnering work there too, where he danced with precision and sharpness. I also applaud his characterization as he nailed the serious character here as well. Wow, well done to Tony on getting a 10. Lol a 10-9-8, scores all over the place but I can't fault it as a 27 did seem fair here - maybe would have even gone with a (another 9 for a) 28. Lulu & Massimo - Contemporary: Oooh wow, this is such a different and interesting vedrsion of "Crazy" here. But oh wow, this was quite an intense, powerful, risky, daring and dare I say kinda sexy kind of Contemporary? I love how they did a much different Contemporary than what I was expecting. Lulu performed this so well and I love the intensity she brought to the dance. She had great technique and lines here. She was so good and powerful here and really commanded the dance! I love how powerful and dominant she was here - she reallly controlled and let Massimo have it! So intense. I think this is her best dance yet. Yayy for them getting a perfect 30! Jury dances: Team Motsi Mabuse - Jana & Vadim and Gabriel & Malika: Oooh I love that Motsi got to dance at the start of the dance. She was so fierce there! Oooh a Gabriel and Jana dance is a great dance combo!This dance had a strong futuristic feel to it. I was getting Jazz/Contemporary vibes from it. I wasn't expecting them to bust out some Cha-Cha but that was so fun to see! I also love how Gabriel and Jana had quite a good moment of dancing together in the dance. There werre a lot of different dance styles fused together but it was all great and fun to watch. Team Joachim Llambi - Lulu & Massimo and Ann-Kathrin & Valentin: Oooh this dance is giving me Moulin Rogue, maybe even Chicago vibes/feels here. Ooh but then I see Cabarey in the background lol. But oh this pairing of Lulu and Ann-Kathrin - Lulu is gonna absolutely slay and crush this huh? And yeah.... this dance went how I expected. Lulul slayed it, was so hot and fierce in this and was quite a natural in this. Oooh dear, Ann-Kathrin was so behind and out of it on the side by side parts with Lul and the male pros - that was tough to watch her there. Ann-Kathrin danced this too softly and was quite timid while Lulu danced with every naunce and style to her movements. She was also great and matched well with the backing dancers at the end. Team Jorge González - Detlef & Ekaterina, Mark & Kathrin and Tony & Anastasia: Interesting seeing the all guy trio in this dance. But oooo a dance to "Thriller"? I am already here for this! This was a lot of fun with the Thriller moves at the start. Detlef was really owning that part while Mark did look off and out of sync. Oooh the Cha-Cha section to "Dance & Shout" was a lot of fun. LOL Jorge was hamming it up and had a blast there. That was fun. Ooh wow, on the Rumba section part, once again Detlef & Ekaterina dominants and commands my attention. He was so smooth there. There seemed to be a mix of Argentine Tango & Cha-Cha on the "Bad" section of the dance. OMGG THAT solo Detlef had. He's just showing off and crushing Tony and Mark at this point. Yeah this dance was pretty much all about Detlef with Tony and Mark as backing characters, lol. Rankings: 1. Lulu & Massimo - Contemporary 2. Gabriel & Malika - Viennese Waltz 3. Jana & Vadim - Quickstep 4. Tony & Anastasia - Paso Doble 5. Detlef & Ekaterina - Quickstep 6. Mark & Kathrin - Samba 7. Ann-Kathrin & Valentin - Samba Jury dances: 1. Team Motsi Mabuse - Jana & Vadim and Gabriel & Malika 2. Team Joachim Llambi - Lulu & Massimo and Ann-Kathrin & Valentin / Team Jorge González - Detlef & Ekaterina, Mark & Kathrin and Tony & Anastasia Not really sure how to rank the jury dances but will place Team Motsi first as both Jana and Gabriel equally shone in that dance. While the other dances, it seemed like one celeb (Lulu and Detlef) shone over their partners. I see that Ann-Kathrin & Valentin were eliminated after this week's episode, which I thought was a fair and right elimination at this stage of the game. Then the next week's events happened and they were brought back.... so I don't know what to say, lmao.

1 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - "Bad Habits" (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “My Love” (Samba): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “River Deep – Mountain High” (Jive): 5 Shane Quigley Murphy & Laura Nolan - “Where Did You Go?” (Salsa): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Come Away with Me” (Waltz): 4 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - "Cruel Summer" (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Killer Queen” (Foxtrot): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “True Blue” (American Smooth): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Hips Don’t Lie (Salsa): 5 Miriam Mullins & Montel Hewson - “Calm Down” (Samba): 3 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - "Cuff It" (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Good” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Shane Quigley Murphy & Laura Nolan - “All These Nights” (Jive): 5 Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne - “Show Me What I’m Looking For” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” (Paso Doble): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Dance the Night” (Salsa): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Queen of the Night” (Paso Doble): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Just Like Fire” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Tattoo” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Keep Holding On” (Viennese Waltz): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Dr. Wanna Do” (Charleston): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Lil Boo Thang” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 Rosanna Davison & Stephen Vincent - “Lady in Red” (Rumba): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Galway Girl” (Quickstep): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “I Need You” (Charleston): 6 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “yes, and?” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Almost Like Being in Love” (Quickstep): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Paradise” (Contemporary Ballroom): 5 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Take On Me” (Tango): 5 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Everlasting Love” (American Smooth): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Quickstep): 6 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Whole Lotta Love” (Paso Doble): 6 Katja Mia & Ervinas Merfeldas - “Levitating” (Salsa): 5 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “Wrapped Up” (Salsa): 6 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Monster Mash” (American Smooth): 5 Davy Russell & Kylee Vincent - “Never Tear Us Apart” (Viennese Waltz): 4 Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne - “Disturbia” (Tango): 3 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Make It Look Easy” (Showdance): 5 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “I Am What I Am” (Showdance): 7 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “You Never Can Tell”/“Misirlou” (Jive) [Reprise]: 5 + David & Salome Salsa - Rosanna & Stephen Waltz

Some thoughts on the latest episode: - Not gonna lie but I'm kinda here for feisty Cara-Maria. Def curious to seeing how the Cara-Maria/Jasmine/Brandon dynamic will go. - Loving the Kam & Leroy scenes as always. - Oooh goodness.... this scene of Nicole & Laurel being all playful and play wrestling and all with each other. Lol loved Cara's and Veronica's confessionals on it. But yeah.... I.... do not know how to feel about all of this with their history with each other. Though I like seeing them on good terms, at least. - Lol I love this show's music playlist. First "Hit 'Em Up Style" and now "Case of the Ex"? They play nothing but THE JAMS! - Lol Leroy trying to be the mediator peace maker but of course Cara Maria and Kam blew up in their argument. - Lol Brad being so confident in this challenge but flopping so hard was sending me! I loved how mad everyone was at him too. But ughh this messes up Leroy's chances of safety so I don't appreciate that. - lmaoo Jasmine's comments on Veronica's bottom. - Oh wow, Cara Maria's group had a pretty good strategy. I wonder if that will help them out. - Oooh wow the Orange team won.... okay because it's factored in with the most liquid and fastest time combo. OK so that helped Kam's team and hurt Cara Maria's team. But yayy Kam winning! But ugh then I realize she can't protect Leroy now. - Oh dear, Cara Maria in the middle group. Gah yeah, she's gunning hard at Brandon and Leroy now. Ugh poor Leroy when he wasn't even the one to betray Cara. - Aww the segment with Brandon and his adorable adorable was so cute! - Oh dear.... more Laurel & Nicole scenes. I have a feeling that this may not end well but I really hope I can be proven wrong. And lol then comes the scene after their bedroom scene with Nicole putting a distance between them. And now Laurel is crying about their past (which I do feel bad for her on). Gah I knew this would all be such a bad idea. I just want this storyline to end....so I'll need Nicole to go soon, lol. - Wow that vote deliberation went pretty easy and fast - with it being Brandon vs. Leroy. Really hoping the best for Leroy but with his challenge performance this season..... I am not too hopeful for him. - Danng this is a challenge that takes a lot of patience and calm energy, which I feel may not work in Leroy's favor. - Lmao I'm shocked about Cara Maria rooting moreso for Brandon here but her comments make sense why she's doing so. - Wow Brandon was smoking Leroy at the start of this and thought he was going to have a runaway win. I love how Leroy slowly but surely came back and was able to tie it. OMGG WHOA, Leroy pulled out a very close and tight win, yayayyyyy!!! He got that win when he most needed it and just like that, he got his golden star right when he needed it! I'm just glad he did something to prove himself rather than Kam carrying him and their game, lol. Oh wait, I forgot he could also steal a woman's star for Kam, which I could also see him doing. - Aww I do feel bad for Brandon going out like this. If he was up against nearly any other guy, I could have rooted for him. I loved his comments of being proud for Leroy. But yeah Brandon turning against Cara, that did him no justice. - I understand and thought Leroy would take Adam's star. It makes sense as he has to preotect his own game. If he did that with the girls, it could hurt and make Kam a target.

2 Jana Wosnitza & Vadim Garbuzov - “Felicitá” (Charleston): 11 Detlef Soost & Ekaterina Leonova - “Caruso” (Contemporary): 5 Stefano Zarrella & Mariia Maksina - “Via con me” (Charleston): 14 Gabriel Kelly & Malika Dzumaev - “Italodisco” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 80 Lulu Lewe & Massimo Sinató - “Voglio ballare con te” (Samba): 0 + Gabriel & Malika - Lulu & Massimo

I never did a full ranking of the cast but I realized that I really like most of this group. I like everyone except my #12, whom I don't even mind that much. 1. Asher Havon 2. Nathan Chester 3. Maddi Jane 4. Serenity Arce 5. Madison Curbelo 6. Zoe Levert 7. L. Rodgers 8. Bryan Olesen 9. Nádege 10. Karen Waldrup 11. Tae Lewis 12. Josh Sanders

1 Jana Wosnitza & Vadim Garbuzov - “Felicitá” (Charleston): 11 Detlef Soost & Ekaterina Leonova - “Caruso” (Contemporary): 6 Stefano Zarrella & Mariia Maksina - “Via con me” (Charleston): 14 Gabriel Kelly & Malika Dzumaev - “Italodisco” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 78 Lulu Lewe & Massimo Sinató - “Voglio ballare con te” (Samba): 1 + Gabriel & Malika - Lulu & Massimo

3 Laura Fox & Denys Samson - “Make It Look Easy” (Showdance): 1 David Whelan & Salome Chachua - “All That Really Matters” (Showdance): 78 Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena - “I Am What I Am” (Showdance): 1 + David & Salome Showdance - Laura & Denys Showdance

4 Jana Wosnitza & Vadim Garbuzov - “Felicitá” (Charleston): 12 Detlef Soost & Ekaterina Leonova - “Caruso” (Contemporary): 7 Stefano Zarrella & Mariia Maksina - “Via con me” (Charleston): 14 Gabriel Kelly & Malika Dzumaev - “Italodisco” (Cha-Cha-Cha): 73 Lulu Lewe & Massimo Sinató - “Voglio ballare con te” (Samba): 4 + Gabriel & Malika - Lulu & Massimo

Looks like a clear Top 3 (and Top 2) and Bottom 3 this week. 1. Angie & Danny (+1) 2. Amber & Vinny (-1) 3. Rod & Leticia (=) 4. Ricky & Cesar (=) 5. Juan & Shane (+1) 6. Yvonne & Melissa (+1)

I'm fine with a TAR break in the fall and just having one season this year. I agree with your comments on this season and the whole 60/90 minutes stuff. Hopefully these 90-minute episodes will work better for the next season as it becomes a struggle with less teams (aka the fun teams going out early).

Welp this post aged well. I sure did! Nearly was gonna remove my fan card for Angie. LOL JK. She's so fun when she gets feisty. Ugh it really is. It doesn't seem fair. But with Alex's post on it, I get it and makes sense, I guess.

Finally got the time to sit down and watch the episode. I didn't expect to write so many thoughts but I did so towards the second half of the episode. - Aww I was so happy for Ms. Angie getting a tennis challenge on this episode. And seeing her slay that roadbloack! - Oooof dangg how much I wish Rod had done the tennis roadblock over Letiticia. She struggled at first but happy that she did eventually get through it. - Loving the Rihanna mentions now that they are in Barbados. And insane that they got to visit her hometown/home. - OMMGGG I died at Angie asking "who's Rihanna?" Don't make me remove my fan card, Ms. Angie! But shammee on Danny not being able to sing one of her songs to her. I know he could do so! - Dangg it's so sad and unfortunate how Angie & Danny lost their crew and they could do nothing but wait about it. It would be really messed up if this gets them eliminated when they were doing so good this leg. - Also it wasn't fun seeing the more fun teams like Rod & Leticia and Amber & Vinny struggling at different spots in the episode. - It's very interesting how Juan & Shane wee the only team to do a different detour from the other teams. But ugh I think this was a good decision on their parts which could save them from last place. And dangg.... seeing how they went from 6th to 2nd with them doing that detour was INSANE. Ugh not a fan of that as they were one of the teams I was wantingto go, lol. Oh well, always next week. - Ugh nooo, now Yvonne & Melissa beat Rod & Leticia and Angie & Danny in this detour. Guess gotta hope for them to get lost in traveling to the pit stop. - Ugh Rod & Leticia are doing so bad with this detour. I bet this is the end for them. Happy they figured out their problem but not a fan of this Bottom 2. - Aww I felt so bad for Danny in that scene where he looked like he knew it was over even though he was trying to remain positive that it isn't over. - Ugh Yvonne & Melissa got 4th so it's officially over for one of Rod & Leticia or Angie & Danny. Gonnna be sad no matter who goes. - Dang Rod & Leticia got stuck in mud. Not good for them. But okay, I'm happy that didn't affect them to much and pleased for them making it through. - Ughh I am so sad for Angie & Danny coming in last this episode. Yayy another favorite of mine goes this week. They were doing so good in this leg. It's real messed up and unfortunate how they lost their crew / their crew lost them and they had to stop for awhile... ughh. Sad for them, but I LOVE their positive and uplifting attitudes with how they did on the race. They have such a sweet mother/son relationship... and they were a cute and fun team to watch and root for. I'll miss them.

This is gonna take some time and will be A LOT to go through!