(double rant update)

Season #33 is the best! Hands down!

It was the first time on this show of watching it for a long time, where I was happy with anyone winning because they were all good! I was happy to see everyone shine and show how far they came.

My faves:
I was mainly rooting for Stephen Nedorosick and Rylee Arnold. They had their bumps, BUT OH MY GOSH! That freestyle where she nods before he starts showing his passion! And how this experience for him allowed him to enjoy her his passion too!!? It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. And I'm a crier so I did shed a few tears since the song Vida La Vida was making it more stunning. Their dynamic was just breathtaking all season! They just made me so happy even when sometimes their routines weren't perfect.

My favorite dances from them was:

1. Freestyle (Vida La Vida)
- the choreography was just perfectly balanced! And the emotion was at it's peak!

2. Vietnamese Waltz (Glimpse of Us)
- this is were they had to recreate Charli and Marks from a past season, and they ATE. They delivered it beautifully and it's also the dance you could tell Stephen was falling in love with dance.

3. Contemporary (Halloween/I Ran)
- my jaw dropped the first time I watched this one! I LOVE how they had Stephen as a zombie and him walking on his hands made it more creepy. Then the dancing itself was just captured so well.

4. Jive (Don't Stop Me Now)
- therapy is great, but this dance is cheaper. It makes me smile and I have even have it memorized so when I hear this song I can see Rylee and Stephen.

5. Tango (Sweet Disposition)
- Stunning. It was such a great execution and again show Stephen's progress well! And the fact Rylee had to take off his glasses and he STILL did so well!? Yeah he's amazing!

finale results and thoughts:
I think Joey and Jenna deserved that win! Especially when Val got to be the one to hand it to them because that is just couple goals!

Chandler is VERY good and I enjoyed her freestyle. Howshow, while I do think she deserved to be on the show, I'm okay that she didn't win. I'm not one of those complaining that she has dance experience, which it wasn't ballroom in her defense, but I feel like Joey winning was a fresh of breath air since the past few seasons have been younger celebrities. (Xochiti and Val deserved it. Charli was good but it bothered me that she was on the show because I'm not a fan of tiktokers being celebrities. BUT I adore Mark Ballas so I'm glad he won with her.) Anyways, Chandler also was good! But I felt like she just remained at the level she was at. For me, it get boring when someone is already good at something but their isn't a way to tell if they improve. Which is why I do like Stephen the most.

I know everyone loves Ilona, but I felt like she shouldn't have been 2nd. And while she has shown improvement, I felt like Stephen showed a tad bit more. And in comparison to freestyles, his was more focused on his journey and partnership rather than just on him. Which I liked Ilona owning it, but it felt like the dance was just her and I forgot Alan was there sometimes. Danny's was fun, but there was no dancing. If it weren't for the Barbie theme, I would have said he didn't need to be at the finale.

I could go on and on. But if the final results were up to me, here would have been my ranking:

1. Joey and Jenna
2. Chandler and Brandon
3. Stephen and Rylee
4. Ilona and Alan
5. Danny and Whitney

Overall, I honestly was too worried who won because EACH of the top 4 in my list would have deserved it and I would walk away happy either way.

I also don't know how they will top this season next year because everyone was so good and likeable!! (Except for Brooks and Anna)

..