SYTYCD
Pretty strong finale for just about everyone, I'd have to say. I was skeptical about the finale format, and although I did miss seeing solos, I did like seeing each dancer partnered with each dancer. I am sad that we didn't get the all girls and all boys routines, since those have been quite inventive in the past, but maybe they'll do some tonight to fill those two hours.
Kathryn and Ryan's samba imo was the best samba we've seen on the show to date. A big part of that for me was the use of actual samba music, but an even bigger part was Kathryn just relaxing into it yet keeping it high energy. She's one of the few dancers on the show doing samba that has made the shoulder shimmy with closed fists look natural and not tense, but at the same time not at all sloppy. Ryan was a little too technical and closed off for my tastes, but she was the shining star in that routine anyway.
Jakob and Ellenore are such a pleasure to watch together. I wasn't crazy about the Broadway routine itself but they made it fun and exciting. I think it was Adam Shankman who commented on how Jakob just gives selflessly to his partners. I agree, and would also add that means when he gets a partner who is at or close to his level, the duet becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
Ashleigh and Russell's lyrical jazz was moving, but that was all Russell, who just grows and expands every time he dances. All she had to do was waft about and look ethereal, which she managed (in all her routines I think things were reworked to avoid putting much pressure on that shoulder. Gee, *Mollee* could have danced all the routines as choreographed...). Russell totally carried the emotion of the routine for me. And he did indeed have excellently pointed feet ;-)
I actually quite liked Ellenore and Ryan's robot thing. Nigel just doesn't get techno in any form. As M observed, routines like that are about finding the human in the machine, not exhibiting the machine in the human. I guess that subtle distinction is lost on Nigel. I especially loved Ellenore in this as it was right up her interpretive alley, but I would also like to give Ryan his just due for executing the routine *and* the feel of it very well.
Ashleigh and Jakob's foxtrot. Oh look, all of Ashleigh's fakeness and smarminess is back again. Guess that must be her ballroom persona. It completely rubs me the wrong way and ruined the routine for me.
Russell and Ellenore's paso doble was hot hot hot. I don't care if the technical details weren't all there, I loved it for exactly what it was, which was a whole lot of passion and spirit. Manly man, womanly woman, rawr.
Kathryn and Jakob's contemporary piece was gorgeous, the best routine of the night and probably the season. I think Nigel essentially told Jakob that he was better than this show, and I think Nigel was right. It would be wonderful for Jakob to win, but win or lose, that boy has a guaranteed future. Looked like the choreographers were ready to hire him right into their troupe. Kathryn was so lovely as well. See above about surpassing the sum of the parts.
I was spitefully hoping Ashleigh and Ryan would get hip hop or crunk for their routine, but I have to admit that their contemporary piece was moving. That's about all I can say for it, though, coming right after Jakob and Kathryn's true artistry.
Finally, there was Russell and Kathryn's hip hop, which was pretty hard hitting for a Nappy-Tabs routine, no doubt to showcase Russell. I agree that Kathryn was again awesome, but I do not agree that she outshone Russell. She was executing the moves well, but he was executing the *feeling* well, I would say deeper even than the choreographers might have intended. Nothing lyrical there!
So who will win? As I noted last night on FB, I voted for four dancers and Russell twice. In other words, Russell is my slight favorite, but I would also agree that Jakob, Kathryn or Ellenore have earned a win as well. I think the top three in the voting will be Jakob, Russell and Kathryn. If pressed I would probably say Jakob and Kathryn are the best dancers, but I just plain like Russell, plus he's our local hero. If Ashleigh or Ryan should win, I swear I will hunt the show producers down and bitch slap them silly. Although I do respect the progress each of them made over the season, I don't think either of them strongly deserved to be in the finale, and probably wouldn't have been there without the injury fiasco.
Anyway, I guess tonight we'll see!