'So You Think You Can Dance': Season Six Finale, Part 1
We're down to the final six dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance," and in this odd season - in the fall, with a permanent third judge, without Mia Michaels - six dancers somehow equals finale time. Because they didn't realize when they were scheduling the season that they'd be bumping up against Christmas if they took it down to four dancers? Or because it's more important to make room for audition rounds than for Top 20 rounds? Or because they want to give America a multitude of choices? Whatever - let's just choose to see it as being gifted with an extra-large finale rather than being robbed of a week with the best dancers.
1. Kathryn & Ryan
Samba/Jason Gilkison/"Magalenha" by Sergio Mendes: I love the heck out of this song, first off. The routine is very primal, and features an absolutely insane throw where Ryan launches Kathryn backwards over his head, and she lands on his back. The judges praise Kathryn effusively for adapting to the style so well, and for being generally awesome. Ryan gets props for doing his style well, but my favorite comment was from Adam: "Ryan, you were just...so shirtless out there." Yep, that's not gonna hurt him one bit.
2. Ellenore & Jakob
Broadway/Tyce Diorio/"I Gotcha" from Fosse (original Broadway cast): Well, I guess it totally figures that my two fave dancers would get saddled with a Tyce Broadway routine. As Tyce routines go, this one was...a Tyce routine. It was good to see Ellenore take on a sexier role, and this routine was nice to watch solely in that it may have broken the record for most leaps given to Jakob, but I'm just not completely feeling the choreography. I mean, if you're going to rip off Fosse, it should be really, really fantastic, right? And this was just fine. But whatever, Ellenore and Jakob were obviously both great, and the judges agree.
3. Ashleigh & Russell
Lyrical Jazz/Sonya/"Angel Standing By" by Jewel: Jewel? Really? Well, music aside I obviously couldn't help but picture Mollee in the routine instead of Ashleigh, since by all rights she should've been there instead. I guess we'll never know how good it would've been, though, since instead we're stuck with Ashleigh, who disappears in Russell's shadow. Looks like her shoulder is better, at any rate. But seriously, Russell was amazing. The turns, the jumps, the living up to everything we hoped he would be and more...two thumbs way up from the judges (and tears from Mary).
4. Ellenore & Ryan
Jazz/Garry Stewart/"Kontact Me" by Boys Noize: This unusual routine definitely took advantage of Ellenore's unique style - lots of robot-ness, for lack of a better word. Unfortunately, all the robot stuff made Nigel want more emotion out of the routine. Argh, now is not the time to criticize the choreography without first emphasizing that the dancing was good! Mary and Adam were bigger fans, especially of Ellenore.
5. Ashleigh & Jakob
Foxtrot/Jean Marc/"Let The Good Times Roll" by Chuck Brown & Eva Cassidy: Ouch, first Broadway and now Foxtrot? They definitely aren't making it easy for Jakob. It's solid, but doesn't really show off the dancers as much as you'd want in a finale performance. Though again, Jakob gets to do a little leaping. Should we make that into a drinking game or something? Nigel thinks it wasn't the strongest of the night, but was perfectly serviceable. Ashleigh draws lots of praise from the judges, and Jakob gets props for improvement in ballroom.
6. Ellenore & Russell
Paso Doble/Jason Gilkison/"Village Attack" from Blood Diamond (original soundtrack): YES. If you're going to draw ballroom, this is a great one to draw. As Nigel points out, the technique wasn't spot-on in Russell's case, but the routine - and especially Ellenore - looked great. And Russell does get praise for his passion. Keep it up, kids!
7. Kathryn & Jakob
Contemporary/Dwight Rhoden & Desmond Richardson/"At This Moment" by Michael Buble: I love these two together, and seeing them dance in their genre is just something else. The piece is gorgeous, but it's the dancing that truly makes it extraordinary. Beautiful, evocative, and standing ovation-worthy: from the choreographers, the crowd, and the judges. A complete show-stopper, as Nigel puts it. He calls Kathryn his favorite girl, and tells Jakob that he needs to join a company to be pushed by similarly brilliant dancers. Mary simply calls it one of the best performances she's ever seen, and Adam calls it a "game-changer" and is lost for words beyond that. Seriously, I can't describe how great it was, but it's dances like this that make me love this show and elevate it above almost all other reality television, because "So You Think You Can Dance" creates real art, and this dance was a perfect example of that.
8. Ashleigh & Ryan
Contemporary/Travis Wall/"I'm There Too" by Michelle Featherstone: Of course. Of course Ellenore and Jakob get a Tyce Broadway routine, and Ashleigh and Ryan get a Travis Wall contemporary piece. Whatever, it's very romantic, Ashleigh is crying at the end, and Nigel basically says this makes up for them getting into the finale undeservedly. At least, that's how I interpreted it. The judges pretty much all just talk about how Ashleigh and Ryan are married and dancing together, and oooh how emotional and touching, and they don't seriously comment on the dancing itself. Stop it! I know a bunch of you guys were looking forward to seeing these two dance together, but after watching it overshadow the dancing I feel like they're being given an unfair advantage, right?
9. Kathryn & Russell
Hip Hop/Tabitha & Napoleon/"I Can Transform Ya" by Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz: There are definitely some pretty sweet moves in here, and I like Kathryn and Russell's chemistry. Kathryn does an admirable job keeping up with Russell, too. Nigel loves it, calling Russell's performance tremendous, and Adam says Kathryn tore up the dance floor.
I can't believe that's our last performance show! And no solos, even. I'm very curious to see if tomorrow will be Jakob's seemingly inevitable coronation, since he's clearly been the strongest dancer all season, or if the voters will go rogue as they did last week, and vote for Ashleigh and Ryan out of emotion. Kathryn and Russell definitely gave very strong showings, though, so one of them could be a dark horse. I'm worried Ellenore didn't do quite enough, even though I love her to death. The dances she drew were more to blame than her dancing, which really sucks. But basically, though I think Jakob would walk away with the title of America's Best Dancer, I'll be happy if any of the contestants is named America's Favorite Dancer as long as it's not Ashleigh or Ryan. Don't disappoint me again, America!
Who do you want to win? Who do you think will win? How did you like the six-dancer finale?
we share the same sentiments...
This would been a great finale if it wasn't an hour, my mind was all bum rushed with dance after dance after dance. I really would be happy with any of the contestants winning except Ryan and Ashliegh of course. I think Russell, Jakob, Ellenore, Kathryn have all had such a strong season overall and if we gad a final 4 these 4 would definately be it. Solos would've helped determine the winner more like it did last year because Jeanine's solo last year crowned her the winner.
Liz, we have completely divergent opinions of the show. To me it was completely geared for Jakob, the broadway wasn't great (IMO - at least not by SYTYCD and especially SYTYCD Finals' standard) but the audience wouldn't know that based on the judges' comments. They love Jakob despite his lack of emotion.
His ballroom number - no mention of lack of close hold from Nigel despite the fact he mentions that for everyone else when they get a ballroom number.
Jakob has had a completely lacked chemistry with everyone (despite the fact that Ashleigh tried her best to make it appear that they did have chemistry the first 5 weeks and again tonight).
I'm sorry Liz, the conspiracy is in effect to MAKE Jakob win, not to give the others a chance to "steal his title" which is how I read your recap/review. If that was not your intent well perhaps you shouldn't have railed on the choice of routines that were "given" to couples tonight.
Once again lack of video packs will help Jakob - as he is completely devoid of personality.
I'm sticking with Russell winning it - and if he doesn't you can damn sure give 100% of the credit to the judges/producers to give Jakob every opportunity to win it.
I wish they had given the show 2 hours that way we could have had the video packs, the judges comments wouldn't have been clipped (I think that was apparent based on the way there were certain rough jumps in the show) and we also likely would've got the all guy and all girl routines (and perhaps even solos also).
The lack of the guy group and solos also was likely a plus for Jakob and Russell would've destroyed him in the solo and unless the routine featured Jakob pretty much regardless of style (incl. contempory) Russell likely would've outshined Jakob - just has that "it" factor that Jakob lacks.
Sorry my mini anti-Jakob rant is over. I have nothing against Jakob except that the judges/producers are pushing him and I'm always anti-push regardless of who is getting it (not confined to SYTYCD).
I agree with Liz's assessment of the evening and do feel that the judges went over the line in praising certain dancers (Kathryn and Jakob) while nitpicking others (Ellenore and Russell). Plus, the insertion of random jumps and splits in all of Jakob's routines is almost laughable. The choice of music and choreography is such a huge factor in whether a routine is a crowd pleaser. How can a dancer show more emotion when conveying a techno-robot style? Aaargh. All of the dancers were pretty great, with Kathryn as the most outstanding last night. Ashleigh and Ryan were disappointing. Too bad they didn't get a Latin ballroom number. Of the girls, Ellenore infuses every dance with so much personality -- even lackluster Broadway choreography (Tyce!). Her routines are some of my favorites from the season. I don't know how America is going to choose among the top four. Russell is just awesome and also has the creativity and personality that make him so much fun to watch. Why in the world did they make the show only one hour? Even Cat seemed too rushed. I missed having some context of the dances and seeing the behind the scenes interaction of the couples.
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The one-hour finale was laughable. All season long, we get 2-hour performance shows, but when we get to the "most important" show of the season, it's only 1 hour? Why, so we could watch Gordon Ramsey? Horrible scheduling. And, how awful that Ryan and Ellenore should get such a bad routine in the middle of the other great ones. I wasn't as blown away by Kathryn and Jakob as the judges were. I've never been blown away by Ellenore, b/c I think that she doesn't connect very well with the audience during her solos; the judges told her at one point to stop being so quirky and try to connect more, and I don't think she ever did that; she never seems to look at the audience in her solos, she's just dancing with herself.
I didn't miss the videos and backgrounds of the dances (if someone has to tell me what it's about so that I get it, what's the point; shouldn't the choreography and dancers do that for me?), but it was still too rushed. Since we're voting for America's favorite dancer, and not America's favorite dance partner, I think the finale should really just be the final contestants doing solos in their own styles. Let them each do two dances in their own styles for more than 30 seconds each, because in the end, that's really what we're voting on -- a single dancer. (Okay, that would put the ballroom dancers at a bit of a disadvantage, I suppose.)
This fall has been a mess. Summer only, please.
I agree with Jeff, the fall schedule is too busy for a show like this to be successful. And please go back to the old stage...
Actually if there was a conspiracy (which I mostly believe) it was blatantly pro-Russell. I was so excited about him at the auditions and he has merely been entertaining and like Rishi I'm anti-push so I find the judges fawning over Russell offputting. Throughout he could have used some more constructive criticism and less gushing.
As for personality and video packs, the stories (which doesn't include Jakob or Kathryn) get more face time so its hard to say if they don't have personality, they just don't have a drama to reference. Though, if you're right maybe they were clipping Jakob to minimize the highlighting he's gay. The gay vibe cost the win for Danny in season two and possibly Brandon in five.
The placement of and choice of routines for Jakob and Ellenore were pretty clearly attempts to torpedo. Russ gets hiphop in the pimpslot. Clearly an attempt to support.
Anyway, even ignoring the antipush sentiment, clearly the best dancers are Jakob, Kathryn, Ellenore, Russell and presumably Ash then Ryan, but I really can't bother paying attention to them.
However, given history I think Russell may join Joshua, Janine, Benji and Sabra as 'favorites' despite better- dancers the other top 7, Brandon, Travis and Danny, respectively.
Definitely, didn't like the logistics of this season. Some great dancers and dances, but the 6 person finale, the protecting of the wounded, the one day weeks.