Dancing with the Stars: Viral Hits Night

Viral Hits Night has wrapped for Dancing with the Stars Season 35, and I fear nearly everyone got a week 2 reality check tonight. Watching these dances, I tried to be mindful of the fact that these stars had several weeks to prepare for the premiere and less than a week to get ready for tonight. This really throws the couples into the deep end as to what this show will demand of them if they stick around for the long run.

Unfortunately, I think it got the best of a lot of the cast tonight.  

This is your friendly reminder: I am by no means a professional ballroom dancer. All compliments and critiques are just my observations as an avid fan of the show. Everything is said with much love for all professionals and stars alike.

Jenna & Val

Jive to 'Animal' by KATSEYE

Something about Jenna doesn't quite grab my attention the way I want it to. On the surface, I think she and her performances are good, but the more I watch her, the more disconnected I felt from her as a viewer. She seems to really throw herself into the dances. While I appreciate that energy from a performance standpoint, I think it ultimately reads messier than anticipated. Watching it feels like she is just moving through the dance to do it instead of being purposeful with her movement.

The connection between her and Val still seems odd to me, like they are dancing next to each other instead of with each other. Their behind-the-scenes footage comes off as confusing, and it's hard to tell what kind of dynamic they're working with. It's hard to place where they are as a partnership, since many clips read as disjointed and awkward. Like they're both trying to tell jokes that the other person doesn't get.

I think the dance was fine overall, but it is hard to overlook the lack of judges' critiques. Scoring the first dance of the night can be tricky, and it seemed like the judges put themselves in a weird position to start the night off. As the dances progressed, they seemed to reflect and became more reserved with their scores regarding couples that performed later in the night.

Judges Score: 7 7 7 My Score: 6

Ciara & Brandon

Tango to 'No Broke Boys' by Disco Lines & Tinashe

Last week, Ciara seemed to be in her own head and holding back from showing us the elegance she is capable of. This week felt like a bit of an overcorrection: she seemed more relaxed, but I wanted her to take the movements and add more intention behind them. She almost seemed to jump into each move, and the lack of smooth transitions disrupted the dance's flow.

She has beautiful, long limbs that, without intentional positioning, can look messy very quickly. I love that she seemed more confident this week, and I hope that carries over in the next few weeks. When she opens up like that, she is just radiant, and it boosts her dancing along with it. When you can she is enjoying the performance element I think she improves overall as a competitor.

I love the connection between her and Brandon. As a pro, Brandon seems to have an innate ability to connect with a brick wall if that's what he's asked to do. I think that connection is still lacking in their dancing though. We see it in rehearsals, but once they take it to the floor, something feels disjointed. Once she has more comfort performing, she will be able to show off what she is capable of and impress the fans and judges alike.

Judges Score: 6 6 6 My Score: 6

Tyler & Sharna

Salsa to 'Girls" by The Kid LAROI

This dance hit exactly what I do not want to see from a male star doing a sexier dance style like the Salsa. The shirt's off, the abs are tanned, but the content of the dance itself does not read sexy; it reads buff Ken doll. I was disappointed because the actual dance content that showed off his Salsa capabilities was rather good, there just wasn’t enough of it. While impressive, the tricks were messy and took away from the performance as a whole.

Sharna is very smart as a professional dancer; she knows how to appeal to fans and get the votes she wants. Sometimes this comes with little regard for the judges and shows up in their critiques and scores. I got the vibe from this choreography that she was less focused on the content of the dance itself and more on getting the clip for fans to craze over. Even with the iconic Belmont Cameli dance, it didn't do it for me, and I think it unfairly made Tyler look awkward when we know he has more appeal than that.

There is a niche of stars within the Dancing with the Stars universe that I think get unjust treatment: the hot men who are expected to do nothing but be hot. Tyler has potential; I saw it last week, and I saw it in glimpses this week. I do not want to see him chalked up as a one-trick pony who gets out there and takes his shirt off to appeal to fans. I fully believe he can handle more technical content; he just needs to be pushed.

Judges Score: 6 5 5 My Score: 5

Julia & Ezra

Tango to 'The Door' by Teddy Swims

Julia has real strength within her when she dances, but in a style like the Tango, if those sharp movements aren't properly charged and placed just right, it ends up feeling off. We get glimpses of the power she puts into her movements, and her lines are beautiful. Still, something feels confusing when it comes together and comes off a bit awkward. She is a lot stiffer than I would like to see and still seems to hold back during their performances.

The dance itself was very clean and straightforward content-wise. She and Ezra do complement each other well; I'm just looking for them to seem more in tune with one another during the performances. They give off the energy that Julia is too wrapped up in how she's doing, and Ezra is also wrapped up in how Julia is doing. I want them together  to trust the dance and feel confident enough to really shine in their performances.

This couple has a bump to push past to really wow the audience. I hope it comes sooner rather than later. Once they push past whatever is holding them back, I have high expectations.

Judges Score: 5 6 5 My Score: 5

Jackson & Emma

Foxtrot to 'That's So True' by Gracie Abrams

This was a pleasant surprise from Jackson tonight. Last week he was fun, but messy and lacking refinement that would really help him shine as a performer. Tonight, he brought elegance and grace to the table. This dance wasn't groundbreaking by any means, but it gave us a fair baseline to judge him against as the season progresses.

I hope we get to see more of this side of him in the upcoming weeks. He is a very goofy, fun guy to watch, but knowing he can tone that back to adapt to these more serious, slow styles will really be a testament to him as a competitor. The dance was straightforward and cute and, to be frank, impressive enough for what it was.

I am looking forward to Jackson toning it back even further and showing he can tackle more serious, intense dynamics. He took it from just cutesy to charming, and I think he's already showing the improvement we're looking for. Now I need him to step up into a leading man role and I think that would really bring him over the edge.

Judges Score: 6 6 6 My Score: 6

Giada & Alan

Salsa to 'Bella Ciao' by Becky G

Oh Giada, this was a hard watch. The tension between her and Alan was evident not just in their pre-dance package, but palpable throughout the dance itself. Whatever was going on behind the scenes had a huge impact on her performance, and after last week it was disheartening. Last week, I really thought she had true potential, but whatever glimpses were there weren't seen tonight.

Overall, Giada just felt disengaged and completely psyched out by the show’s process. It really came off as she wasn't having fun anymore, and after last week, that's what I wanted most from her. Something behind the scenes had a meaningful impact on her, whether just within herself or from an outside source. It hurt to see her so defeated this early on. Not to mention the edit and questions directed towards her during the episode were not friendly at all and left a bad taste in my mouth.

This feels like a good time for us as fans to remember that these stars are humans who have put themselves in an objectively uncomfortable situation. This show takes on celebrities who are used to being the best in their fields and asks them to risk making a fool of themselves to try something new. I don't blame Giada for getting emotional and turning in on herself. We as viewers cannot fathom what this experience is like for them.

Judges Score: 4 4 4 My Score: 4

Connor & Rylee

Tango to '12 to 12' by Sombr

This dance felt so close to being impressive, and yet it just missed the mark overall. Connor is really showing us that each time he dances, he is putting in the effort to fully immerse himself in whatever vibe is demanded of him. The more we see behind-the-scenes footage, the more promising he seems, but something falls short once they get to the ballroom and the flaws come out.

These two really show off their chemistry even through the mistakes. This dance had too many stumbles to excuse, but they consistently felt connected throughout. You can really tell how nervous Connor is, and I think that directly impacts his frame and ability to relax into the structure of the dance. I would hate to see him be unable to shake this anxiety and for it to continue to hold him back in the upcoming weeks.

The parasocial element of the fanbase is loud when it comes to this partnership. While they dance, they display an incredible connection, but that shouldn't prompt viewers to theorize about what's happening behind the scenes. Let's also remember that Rylee is in a public-facing, long-term relationship, and she and Connor have a ten-year age gap. Even disregarding these factors, it is still objectively creepy to speculate about any contestant's relationship dynamics.

Also, I'd like to say that when the judges are already short on time to give critiques, I find Derek using that time to make a cutesy joke kind of icky. They should avoid limiting them in the first place, but this did not do it for me.

Judges Score: 5 5 5 My Score: 5

Ezra & Daniella

Cha Cha to 'Low' by Flo Rida

The ballroom wasn't ready for Ezra to not just match but surpass his absolute electric energy from last week. I was legitimately stunned watching this dance unfold. He approached this dance with pure power and attack that we do not see too often. His ability to entertain is off the charts, and he's an incredible match for Daniella. Watching the two of them collaborate behind the scenes to adapt to Ezra's capabilities is an admirable dynamic, and I think it really shows what a strong partnership they have.

While no one was without fault, I had a hard time finding anything to critique in their performance. The only thing that came to mind was concern over how they'll tackle slower dance styles that demand more fluidity. When his movements have room to be big, they are explosive and impressive, so the idea of him reeling that in while maintaining the same performance quality is intriguing.

Tonight Ezra and Dani showed what ringers they are this season. If the judges hadn't limited themselves to scoring based on viewers' opinions, I think this dance could have easily scored above 7s and would have within past judging structure. Keep an eye on this partnership; personally, I'm already excited for what their freestyle will be.

Judges Score: 7 7 7 My Score: 8

Tatyana & Jan

Foxtrot to 'What Was I Made For' by Billie Eilish

I wanted Tatyana to shine tonight, and while she improved, it still felt like she was holding back. Something about the way she dances doesn't feel like Tatyana on the dance floor; it feels like she is acting as a dancer and isn't embracing being a dancer herself. I can see so much untapped potential and emotion inside of her, I now want to feel it along with her through her dancing.

There were some really pretty moments in this number where I think we got to peek not just at her heart, but at her capabilities. When she dances, I can see her and Jan's connection, but it feels like there is a barrier between her and the audience. I know she has more to offer but need her to break free of whatever makes her feel the need to be more reserved. Overall, this dance was underwhelming, like we were consistently on the verge of getting more from it before it fell short.

I love watching this pairing behind the scenes. They feel like they complement each other not just in a fun, joking way, but with legitimate trust between them. I just need that to extend to how the performance reads to the audience and isn't confined between them. Something about their connection feels so endearing and heartwarming, I want them to get the chance to grow before we see them sent home.

Judges Score: 6 6 6 My Score: 6

Amber & Pasha

Tango to 'All the Things She Said' by Harrison

There are no words for what beautiful storytellers these two are when dancing together. Amber brings such a fierceness to her performances that I think people underestimated at the start of the season. They play off each other so well, and I find myself captivated by them and their performance. Seeing Amber’s emotions come out in such a powerful, artistic way is such a testament to her as a performer.

It is absolutely heartwarming to see Pasha get the credit he deserves this season. He is pulling out all the stops choreography-wise and is doing a beautiful job at highlighting Amber while not holding back on challenging her. The tricks they pulled off were some of the cleanest I have seen in a while and integrated wonderfully without taking away from the content of the dance.

The Pashkov-Karagach household and their Olympians are taking this competition by storm, and I anticipate a house divided come the finale. Amber is a competitor, and with Pasha's training, she is not holding back on showing off what she can do this season.

Judges Score: 7 7 7 My Score: 8

Guillermo & Witney

Paso Doble to 'Where Have You Been' by Rihanna

You know what, I am here for these two! We've discussed that the bar he is expected to reach is lower than what is set for other competitors, but even so, this wasn't the weakest dance of the night. Guillermo might be this goofy guy, but the more we see him, the more I believe he is invested in this process and putting in the work.

Once again, Witney fills the dance with intentional, skill-level-appropriate content to show us Guillermo isn't just to be written off this season. She maintains such a good balance of keeping us entertained while fulfilling elements of the dance style.

Forget Val's knee walks from last season; we have a new Paso Doble king. Guillermo absolutely kills me with the way he is okay with and embraces being the butt of the joke while still putting effort into his performance.  I hear and understand the discourse around his run on the show and concerns over how far he may go. While he is here and honestly within range of some other performers, I am not mad about it.

Judges Score: 4 4 4 My Score: 4

Taylor & Britt

Cha Cha to 'Cake by the Ocean' by DNCE

First and foremost, who cut this man's hair? At this point, I am undecided whether I prefer this new look to the ballroom slick back, but for now, I miss the boyband swoop! Once again, he shows off what a natural performer he is. This pairing just complements each other beautifully and really performs as a strong unit.

They had a lot of work to do coming off the Quickstep last week as they set fan and judge expectations pretty high. When it comes to this week the  technique capabilities dipped more than I expected. His hands and arms felt a little all over the place and disrupted the sharpness of the rest of the dance. He has good body awareness but, within the thrill of performance, loses intention behind his movements. Based on their reactions to the judges' critiques, I think this is a flaw highlighted in their rehearsals as well.

Taylor really just reeks of boyband when he performs. What I would love to see is more restrained strength in his energy. We have gotten two fun dances from him; now I am ready for him to dial it back and show us a more serious side.

Judges Score: 5 5 5 My Score: 5

Harry & Jenna

Viennese Waltz to 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls

Harry is a performer through and through. He has an impressive quality in how he goes out and displays not just his skills, but his vulnerability as well. I think the key to appreciating Harry's dancing is realizing that he is a very theatrical dancer; his movements are sometimes overexaggerated, with a lot of impact behind them. While this displays his natural talent, it looks out of place in classic ballroom styles. It comes off as a lack of elegance we expect from the ballroom structure.

This dance did feel like a Viennese Waltz that really wanted to be a Contemporary. His freestyle habits are very evident, and while I can imagine how hard it would be, I would love to see him take a step back and focus more on the ballroom techniques the dance demands.

I am really interested in what their progression will look like in the upcoming weeks. Starting off so strong can sometimes feel like a little bit of a curse for these highly skilled dancers. What the judges want and what the fans want might conflict here, but I can imagine their performances won't lack substance overall.

Judges Score: 6 6 6 My Score: 7

Maura & Mark

Cha Cha to 'September' by Earth, Wind & Fire

Maura really shocked the audience with her stunning dance last week, and to be honest, I think she shocked herself. Best-case scenario, this boosts her confidence in the coming weeks. Instead, I think we saw her really get in her head regarding her performance. Even when she delivered the moves, she had an energy that seemed hesitant, like her mind was somewhere else besides the ballroom.

The dance overall was clean and neatly performed, but I couldn't help noticing how slow it felt. I think this was very intentional on Mark's part, and he's very wise when it comes to making his partner look their best. While it looked good, I would have been more interested to see how she could keep up with a more upbeat tempo like we are used to seeing in a Cha Cha. I was missing the fun hips and energy I look for in a dance like this.

Mark is incredibly skilled at making his partners shine, but Maura obviously has talent all on her own. What I would hate to see is that, in his desire to make her look good, he doesn't push Maura and challenge her to take on risky choreography. Week one really set the bar, and I think people are looking for more than we got tonight.

Judges Score: 6 6 7 My Score: 6

The Elimination

This was a rough night for Giada to go out. While I would not have minded another dance from her, I do think her performance was the weakest of the night. Her energy throughout the night seemed defeated, as if she had already resigned herself to going home before the votes were even tallied.

MY FAVORITE DANCE

My favorite dance of the night has to go once again to Ezra and Daniella. Every element of their partnership and performances is enthralling to watch and I am absolutely ready to be stunned by them week after week. Amber and Pasha do come in close second for me for all of the same reasons and honestly, I see them vying back and forth for my top spot for weeks to come.

This week, having some surprisingly subpar dances leaves me really questioning who we could see going home in Week 3. The fans we are seeing this season are loyal to who they love, and I think it blinds them to the actual quality of the performance at the end of the day. I think we have maybe a week or two of eliminations left before they really start to hurt. After that, I expect each elimination to be more devastating than the last.

Let me know in the comments what you think of my takes and your thoughts on the latest episode. You can also check out @theeveningarchive over on TikTok for more of my niche thoughts on the season so far!

I will see everyone back here next week to recap Yacht Rock Night!

Any predictions for Week 3?