A plethora of Doom on 'So You Think You Can Dance'

I don't think I've ever seen so many Dances Of Doom on a single "So You Think You Can Dance" episode. At least half the dances  could submarine any couple at any time.

The Best Intro Award goes to Jason, Brandon, and Kupono. I liked Ade, Evan, and Phillip's intros too but not as much as the other guys'. Host Cat Deeley, looking very 40's Casually Fabulous, introduces our judges - staples Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe and Tyce D'Orio. What's great about that is it means he won't be choreographing this week.

1. Melissa & Ade
Style/Choreographer/Song: Disco/Doriana Sanchez/"Move On Up" by Destination
Seeing as Janette & Brandon were ridonkulous when they did it, these two have a high bar to reach. Melissa's hair is awesomely huge. Ade looks a lot more natural doing the moves. Not to say that Melissa looks unnatural, it's just that their styles aren't syncing up all the time. Both the lifts and the booty shakes were impressive. It was good overall. Nigel loved the energy and thought it was exciting. Mary dug it, it was fun and well executed. Tyce said it was "friggin' great."

2. Kayla & Kupno
Style/Choreographer/Song: Contemporary/Mia Michaels/"Gravity" by Sara Barielles
The subject of the dance tonight is addiction, Kupono the human representation of that and Kayla in the role of the addict. Having personal experience in that a friend was addicted to drugs, he's not looking forward to embodying something so destructive. All that emotional intensity paid off though. Both of them are FABULOUS. There's an extra gravitas to this number and it was very powerful. Bravo. A cut to Mia in the audience showed she was teary-eyed and clapping enthusiastically. Nigel said it was superb but wishes he could see Kayla's face more. He also complimented Kupono for playing the character so well. Mary called Kayla flawless and commended Kupono on his characterization as well. Tyce said he didn't feel like he was watching a dance, it was an experience.

3. Caitlin & Jason
Style/Choreographer/Song: Foxtrot/Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin/"Minnie the Moocher" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
I have to say that I used to watch Ballroom competitions on PBS growing up and Tony & Melanie were the gold standard. So great. And that's why they're such good choreographers. This style of Foxtrot is American style "with a jazzy twist." The lifts were great, very creative, and I liked the personalities the took on. They were both very charming. The only thing I'm not sure of technique-wise was occasionally the hold seemed a little close but I'll wait to see if Mary says anything about it. Nigel thought Caitlin made it look easy and likened her to Grace Kelly. Mary called Jason "smooth and suave" and said he made it look easy too. Tyce thinks they both looked like stars but feels they could've glided a little more.

4. Jeanine & Phillip
Style/Choreographer/Song: Kalinka/Youri Nelzine & Lilia Babenko/"Kalinka" by Barynya
Russian folk dancing is hard. Let no one tell you otherwise. The speed changes, heel-to-toe footwork (sometimes while spinning), doing moves while squatting, all those turns...it's no joke. I think they did very well though I don't know if it'll get a lot of votes. Each had highlight moments and Phillip got to do some breaking in an organic way that fit the number. Nigel thought it felt like little kids dancing, though it wasn't a knock on their dancing. It was a bit too folky for him. Mary said Jeanine made it look effortless and believable and complimented Phillip on his difficult manuevers. Tyce sort of disagrees in that they did the dance very well and was pleasently surprised the Phillip adapted so gracefully.

5. Randi & Evan
Style/Choreographer/Song: Hip Hop/Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo/"Halo" by Beyonce
The story of the dance is Randi & Evan are a couple and they just found out she's pregnant. When the number starts, Evan has a ring box and is looking all hopeful. Randi's a lot better than I thought she was going to be. I was honestly worried. Evan's very good too, though I could use a little more swag. He's a little too happy/shiny, though that is his character so I can't be mad at him for that. It was sappy but good overall, nice lifts. Oh, and I hate this song. Nigel liked that it was very natural to their personalities. Mary was expecting a train wreck but thought it was great. Tyce thinks Evan was good but he needs to find more.

6. Janette & Brandon
Style/Choreographer/Song: Argentine Tango/Leonardo Barrionuevo & Miriam Larici/"Libertango" from "Forever Tango" (Original Broadway Cast)
I'm really glad they got this dance. Janette's legs area a-maz-zing. The intensity was there and Brandon basically never took his eyes off her, as it should be. It was pretty much perfect. Nigel initially didn't say anything, he just stood up and started applauding. Mary and Tyce followed suit. Nigel then said that, for a Ballroom routine, he thinks it's as close to perfection as he's ever seen on the show. Mary thought they were both flawless and Nigel even started woo-wooing with her. Tyce called them a "power couple" and said it was "unreal."

7. Melissa & Ade
Style/Choreographer/Song: Waltz/Ron Montez/"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Mary J Blige
This is like the 15th Dance of Doom on tonight. Good grief. That being said, it was performed very well. Melissa was very graceful and the lifts were effortless as usual (for both of them). Ade isn't looking as comfortable here as he did in the Disco number but still danced well. Nigel thought it was beautiful and the choreography played to their strengths. He wanted a little more rise-and-fall from Ade though. Mary agrees that it was beautiful and gave technique tips to Ade. Tyce thought it was well danced but, for the future, thinks Melissa should connect to the music more and Ade should've elongated his lines.

8. Kayla & Kupono
Style/Choreographer/Song: Broadway/Joey Dowling/"The Dance At The Gym" by the New Broadway Cast of "West Side Story"
In your face Tyce. Joey's dance is "love at first sight on a rooftop" and really wants to see it on their face. I liked it a lot. It had a Gene-Kelly-daydream quality to it, very authentic to the time period. They danced it well, it didn't seem like there need to be twenty more people on the stage, and it didn't look like it was a straight jack from the source material. Nigel didn't feel like they connected to the characters enough and lacked a toughness from the period. Mary, despite relating to Nigel's opinion, said it was danced extremely well. Tyce said they needed to get down into the floor more but they did dance well.

9. Caitlin & Jason
Style/Choreographer/Song: Lyrical Jazz/Mandy Moore/"Show Me Heaven" by Maria McKee
This is the first time they've been able to dance in their own styles. The lifts, lines, and synchronization were all on point and it looked like they were so at ease. The choreography was interesting and they performed great...but I didn't love it. And not for any real reason. I may have to re-watch to get a better feel. Nigel didn't exactly see the chemistry but thought it was technically great. Mary loved it but there wasn't any magic for her. Tyce said their lines were beautiful and they did a great job but they need to not play it safe.

10. Jeanine & Phillip
Style/Choreographer/Song: Jive/Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin/"Stuff Like That There" by Bette Midler
The story of the piece is that Phillip is a sailor coming home to his girl who teases him a bit. Phillip is much better at this than that Tango from Week 2. Perfect? No but he's definitely stepped up. He even covered almost falling in character. Jeanine is faboo as always. Is was saucy and flirty and fun. And that's why I love Tony & Melanie. Huzzah! Nigel loved the choreography, told Phillip it was the best he's been outside his own style, and says Jeanine proved she should be in the Top 10. Phillip pleasantly surprised Mary and said Jeanine was on fire. Tyce said to call "1-888-Fan-Friggin-Tastic."

11. Randi & Evan
Style/Choreographer/Song: Samba/Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis/"Ritmo De Bom Bom" by Jubaba
Yay Pasha & Anya! Holy cow, that lift sequence at the beginning was crazy. The choreography was fantastic but I think they both needed a little more motor in the back of their Hondas, if you're picking up what I'm putting down. Overall it was good. Nigel thought it was good but not nearly as hot as Pasha & Anya would've been. Not an entirely fair comparison, but I relate as I was guilty of imagining it as well. Mary said it may not have been hot but it was a "slow sizzle." She wanted more commitment from Evan but said Randi was a hot tamale. Tyce agrees about Evan, saying he should've studied the character more, and says Randi carried the routine. Pasha did not look happy when they cut to him.

12. Janette & Brandon
Style/Choreographer/Song: Jazz/Wade Robson/"Ruby Blue" by Roisin Murphy
The concept is two thieves, Brandon being the calculated one and Janette being kind of crazy. Sort of exactly like real life. Evan though this was a Jazz piece, it felt a lot more like Hip Hop to me. I'm not sure anyone else would've been able to do this choreography so well. It was pretty darn fantastic. It was a really great number, which galls me to say since I have a love/hate thing with Wade. Nigel says they've shown there's nothing they can be given that they can't do brilliantly, adding if they don't get the biggest vote of the night he'd be shocked. Mary said it was "spontaneous combustion" from the very beginning. Tyce says that they have "that thing" and that it was "technical excellence."

Favorite Numbers: Both of Janette & Brandon's pieces, Kayla & Kupono's Contemporary, and Jeanine & Phillip's Jive.
Stand-out Individuals: Jeanine, Brandon and Janette absolutely rocked it tonight, Kupono was stellar in Mia's piece, and Randi and Phillip impressed me by conquering styles I suspected would trip them up.
Disappointments: Sadly, Evan didn't quite kick it up a level like seemingly everyone else did this week. It's going to be a tough elimination tomorrow.

Your thoughts on tonight? Were you surprised there were so many "Kiss Of Death" dances? What were your favorites/least faves? Who do you think will be in the bottom tomorrow?

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