Dancing With the Stars: The Finale!

Oh, how far we’ve come. It seems like only yesterday we were dealing with Charlotte McKinney’s drama and enjoying Patti LaBelle’s shuffle, and yet here we are, about to find out the winner for this season. But not before one more dance. 

Actually, make that two more dances. Now that there are only three couples left, there’s not enough time to fill an hour of show, so the remaining partners: Riker and Allison, Rumer and Val, and Noah and Sharna, each had a re-do for a dance they did earlier this season (sure, ok), as well as a “freestyle” routine, which Carrie Ann told me last night is where many contestants have fallen before. Not so the case for last night, where the 10s flowed like the river flows into the ocean (so did the tears). Let’s take a look at the stars’ last chance at the crown.

Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess reprised their Argentine Tango from Week 3, and although it was definitely improved, it was nothing to write home about, which is probably why it gained the only non-perfect score of the night, a 32 out of 40. I do like Noah and Sharna a lot, but this whole time I have felt that their dances have simply not been up to par with everyone else, and sure, he is differently-abled and that should come into play, but if we are supposed to judge the dancing, then is it fair that he is still there?

Well, let me tell you, I ate all of my non-posi feelings during their freestyle performance because Noah danced in a way that he had not danced in any of the previous weeks. Sharna encouraged him to express the feelings he felt when he woke up from his accident, and wearing just a pair of shorts with a print that was subtly reminiscent of a camo print, Noah just KILLED it on the dance floor. His movements were subtle, his range of emotions broad, and in the end it was wholly deserving of the perfect score the judges awarded him.

Riker Lynch and Allison Holker, meanwhile, chose to reprise their Pirates of the Caribbean Paso Doble, which I’ll admit was one of my favorite dances this season. It was perfect of course, and it gained the pair the first perfect score of the night.

For their freestyle, Riker and Allison dressed up in white tuxes and danced a medley of modern choreography with some jive thrown in for good measure. There was a top hat, a cane, and a weird barre thing inexplicably placed on top of a piano from where Riker and Allison swung around like monkeys. Still, even with the weird elements, their dance was perfect. But aren’t all their dances perfect? It gets to a point where you need a little bit more than just perfection, and after the incredibly emotional performance by Noah and Sharna, their playful little romp through the 1920′s was just, like, child’s play. They received another perfect score for it (appropriate!).

And then there’s Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy, the golden couple that has stolen my (and America’s) heart this season. For their re-do, they went with the foxtrot they did the very first week, which although Rumer felt that she was still shy and slightly uncomfortable, it quickly established them as one of the top contenders for the season. Whereas the first time they scored a 32 – the highest score of the night – last night it garnered them a perfect score.

As for their freestyle? Rumer and Val decided to take it next level, Val has been in the finals three times and has not yet won, and they were determined to pour all their energy into their last-ever performance. Set to a super sultry cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” sung by Rumer herself and with a violin accompaniment played by Val, the two left the audience breathless. It was romantic and probably more sexually charged than the whole of 50 Shades of Grey, starting with Rumer’s beautiful costume, a black sheer leotard with lace accents and a sweeping back skirt with burgundy lace appliqués. My favorite part was definitely the black satin ribbons that criss-crossed all over her calfs, over her bare feet. Maybe I almost cried a little because it was just so beautiful, and the judges were brought to their feet as well, granting them the 5th and final perfect score of the night.

So now we wait until tonight when they reveal the winner. My favorite (and Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria’s) Rumer has a real chance of winning, but America loves a hero and the truth is that last night Noah put in one hell of a performance. But anything is possible, tell us below, who do YOU think should win?

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Carrie Ann Inaba on Being a Fly Girl with J.Lo & Hanging Out Topless with Madonna
Julianne Hough on Blogging, Body Image, and Returning to Dancing With The Stars
Dancing With the Stars Week 8: America’s Choice