The Geek Girl's Recap of 'DWTS' Season 27: Week 2

Big city lights bedazzled America’s Ballroom as October’s primetime television season began. Monday night, the Big Apple was brought to the ballroom as the twelve remaining stars danced to NYC-titled tracks, or against NY city-fied set pieces portraying hotspots like Grand Central Station, the Statue of Liberty, or the skyline in general. Tuesday night traded east coast for west coast with Las Vegas ambiance, a luck of the draw free of elimination this week, and special guest performances from Vegas favorites like Donny Osmond, Boyz II Men, and Blue Man Group. Having just unpacked metaphorical travel bags and the performances on the whole, here are the details from this week’s trip of two shows:

Monday Night - Dances

• Foxtrot: Demarcus and Lindsay, Joe and Jenna, Bobby and Sharna
• Charleston: John and Emma, Milo and Witney
• Cha-cha: Danielle and Artem, Nancy and Val
• Tango: Alexis and Alan, Tinashe and Brandon
• Viennese waltz: Mary Lou and Sasha
• Quickstep: Juan and Cheryl
• Samba: Evanna and Keo

Monday Night - Scores and Standings

• First Place: Tinashe and Brandon, Milo and Witney, Juan and Cheryl (26/30)
• Second Place: Alexis and Alan (25/30)
• Third Place: Demarcus and Linsey, Evanna and Keo (24/30)

• John and Emma (23/30)
• Mary Lou and Sasha (22/30)
• Nancy and Val (21/30)
• Bobby and Sharna (20/30)
• Danielle and Artem (18/30)
• Joe and Jenna (17/30)

Geeking Out

Monday’s three-way tie for first place is courtesy of the first nine’s of the season, which actually isn’t rare so much as it’s not happened in a proper season since season 21 (in the fall of 2015). While Alexis and Alan were the first this season and in the show to earn one nine score, the top three contenders were not far behind in the running order, and each earned two nine’s of their own. Yet for the nine’s coming this early, those receiving them haven’t always been the season’s winners. Neither Rome, New York, nor Vegas were built in a day; much less is this season still young and and full of possibility.

Last week’s top four didn’t change much, and they were joined this week by Evanna with Keo and Milo with Witney, making half the current lineup top-scorers. Each individual, performance-wise and score-wise, has improved between the couple shows, as they have seemed to have conquered “first night nerves,” taken judges’ advice when necessary, and gained comfort in the ballroom and in their routines. Put these individuals against one another, and we are starting to see the more natural performers, like the six couples in the top three to John and Mary Lou, versus the budding performers, like Bobby and Joe. Either of them have a lot of room to grow, with the room depending largely on Monday’s voting support.

Tuesday Night - Scores and Standings

Cumulative totals are the the sum of judges’ scores between Monday and Tuesday night; list is organized according to Tuesday night scores, not cumulative scores.

• First Place: Juan and Cheryl 26/30 cumulative total= 52/60
• Second Place: Milo and Witney 26/30 cumulative total= 52/60
• Third Place: Tinashe and Brandon 26/30 cumulative total= 52/60

• Mary Lou and Sasha 24/30 cumulative total= 46/60
• Alexis and Alan 24/30 cumulative total= 49/60
• Evanna and Keo 24/30 cumulative total= 48/60

• Demarcus and Lindsay 23/30 cumulative total= 47/60
• John and Emma 20/30 cumulative total= 43/60
• Nancy and Val 20/30 cumulative total= 41/60
• Danielle and Artem 19/30 cumulative total= 37/60
• Bobby and Sharna 19/30 cumulative total= 39/60
• Joe and Jenna 18/30 cumulative total= 35/60

Eliminated: Danielle and Artem

Tuesday Night - Dances

• Foxtrot: Juan and Cheryl
• Tango: Milo and Witney
• Quickstep: Danielle and Artem, Demarcus and Lindsay, Bobby and Sharna
• Salsa: Alexis and Alan
• Jive: John and Emma, Evanna and Keo
• Jazz: Joe and Emma
• Paso Doble: Nancy and Val
• Cha-cha: Tinashe and Brandon
• Samba: Mary Lou and Sasha

Geeking Out

The aforementioned "budding performers" are planted by their voting fanbases for another night to dance! I imagine I didn't mention Danielle in the previous commentary because she was rightfully in a league all her own between Monday's leaderboard extremes. She was the best for who she is and for what she accomplished in a few short weeks, to the point of being praised as inspiration every night! At least she couldn't have gone out on a better note: after dancing her routine to Donny Osmond's own live performance, and Donny even briefly pairing up with her and Artem towards the end of the dance. Luck be this lady as even Len praised the collaboration as complimentary. All that said makes her elimination difficult. I thought I even heard some tears off camera as Carrie Ann gave her final remarks after the announcement.

What's next?

The remaining stars will set a significant time of their lives to dance in the upcoming Memorable Year theme next Monday and Tuesday, October 8 and 9. Catch up on who’s who of who’s left with my cast guide, see who ranked where in last week’s post, and geek out with me by sharing my posts and commenting on Writer’s Block social media!