The drama intensifies in “Dance Moms” Season 2 Episode 9, aptly titled “Return of the Candy Apples,” as Abby Lee Miller and her dance team head to enemy territory: Ohio, home of Cathy Nesbitt-Stein and her Candy Apples Dance Studio. This episode is packed with rivalry, questionable judging, and the ever-present pyramid of doom, ensuring that Dance Moms Nation remains glued to their screens.
Abby kicks off the episode by expressing her dissatisfaction with the previous week’s group performance, deeming it unworthy of national champions. The pressure is on as they journey to Columbus, Ohio, where Cathy Nesbitt-Stein – Abby’s long-standing nemesis – awaits. Chloe aptly describes Cathy’s unwelcome presence as a persistent “cold sore,” setting the stage for the inevitable clash.
The infamous Pyramid of Doom reveals the weekly hierarchy. Newcomer Kendall finds herself at the bottom, a predictable placement given Abby’s penchant for drama and the strategic advantage of having Jill, Kendall’s outspoken mother, in the mix. MacKenzie also lands in the bottom row, seemingly for not being her older sister Maddie. Brooke joins them, penalized for the grave offense of showing emotion, and Paige rounds out the bottom tier for inattentiveness on the bus. Kelly’s reaction to Paige’s placement is, as always, dramatic and underscored by a theatrical heartbeat sound effect.
Moving up the pyramid, Nia occupies the second row, not for her dancing, but seemingly due to her mother Holly’s continued commitment to her career outside of the dance world. Chloe shares the second row, paving the way for Maddie to claim the top spot, despite Abby’s critique of Maddie’s performance being “slightly problematic by Maddie standards.”
In a strategic move clearly designed to provoke Cathy, Abby announces the group dance theme: “Bad Apples.” She envisions a routine that is “a little bit ’40s, a little bit Andrews sisters, a little bit Katy Perry,” but mostly a vehicle to antagonize Cathy. The message is clear: they are going to turn Candy Apples into applesauce.
Upstairs, the Dance Moms continue their initiation of Jill into their tumultuous group dynamic. Christi, ever the instigator, cleverly exploits Jill’s defensiveness about Kendall’s pyramid placement. Christi suggests Jill confront Abby, knowing full well the explosive reaction it will provoke. As Jill marches off to face Abby, Christi’s sarcastic request for popcorn perfectly encapsulates the manufactured drama that is a Dance Moms hallmark. Abby’s response to Jill’s complaint is classic Abby: she compares the Abby Lee Dance Company to Harvard, where only one person—Maddie—can be valedictorian.
The scene shifts to Ohio, portraying Candy Apples Dance Studio as situated in a rural, almost stereotypical setting, complete with farm animals and rustic decor. Cathy, in her signature style, declares last season’s Hollywood defeat “humiliating” but promises Abby that this time, things will be different. Abby Lee is now firmly entrenched in Cathy’s “repertoire of enemies.”
During lunch, Christi labels Jill a “studio hopper” and reveals her supposed “books-ful of evidence” proving Maddie and Chloe’s consistent competitive victories over Kendall. The moms’ competitive undercurrent simmers constantly beneath the surface.
Abby works individually with Brooke on her solo, “Garden of Eden,” which also incorporates the “bad apple” theme. The pressure mounts as Abby reveals that Cathy has entered a dancer, Erika, to directly compete against Brooke. Brooke’s solo needs to be flawless. Cathy, meanwhile, expresses a desire for Abby to simply acknowledge Candy Apples as a “good dance studio too,” and for her own dancer, Vivi, to “Earn your puppy,” adding another layer of bizarre Cathy-isms to the rivalry.
On the bus to the competition, Melissa and Jill present Abby with a lavish, gaudy ring – a gift that Christi hilariously mocks in a confessional. Abby’s ungrateful reaction, complaining she has nothing to wear with it and demanding a husband instead, further cements her larger-than-life, demanding persona.
Upon arriving at their Columbus hotel, the Dance Moms receive a mysterious invitation to a “soiree” in the Presidential Suite, hosted by none other than Cathy. The moms, dressed in cocktail attire, walk into Cathy’s trap. Cathy, in stark contrast, is casually dressed, emphasizing her attempt to portray Candy Apples as superior and more relaxed. She tries to lure the moms to her studio, located “an hour-something away,” conveniently omitting the fact that her dancers often lose to Abby’s. The moms, however, seem more entertained than tempted by Cathy’s overtures.
Competition day arrives, and the girls are styled in ’40s-inspired hairstyles for their “Bad Apples” routine. Chloe’s reflection in the mirror evokes a Nellie Oleson comparison, highlighting the often-forced and sometimes comical styling choices on the show. To divert Abby from a snood-related meltdown, the moms reveal Cathy’s soiree. Predictably, Abby erupts, her anger encompassing everything from being excluded to Cathy’s poaching attempt and supposed trash-talking.
Adding insult to injury, Cathy interprets the “Bad Apples” routine as an homage rather than an insult. Candy Apples’ flamenco-flavored group dance appears technically stronger than the “Bad Apples” routine. Abby acknowledges the possibility of being outdone and criticizes her dancers for underperforming what she calls a “baby dance”—a dance she choreographed herself, of course.
In a surprising turn, “Bad Apples” wins, much to Cathy’s dismay. The apple idioms fly as Abby revels in the victory. Cathy, refusing to accept defeat gracefully, heads to the judges to scrutinize the scores, discovering Candy Apples lost by a mere twelve points. This fuels her determination for her soloist, Erika, to defeat Brooke.
Brooke’s “Garden of Eden” solo is described as “ethereal and acrobatic,” and her costume is praised. She performs well, even earning Abby’s rare approval. Then Erika takes the stage and also delivers a strong performance. Abby worries about Erika’s perceived maturity compared to Brooke. The Dance Moms, however, suspect Erika is not just mature, but also older than Brooke and possibly competing in the wrong age division. Kelly even snidely remarks that Erika “doesn’t look like she’s from Cathy’s studio at all.”
Competition officials then arrive, searching for Erika’s mother and Cathy. It turns out that suspicions about Erika’s age are valid. Officials confront Cathy and Erika’s mother with evidence suggesting Erika has competed in the 14-year-old division previously. Erika’s mother admits Erika is indeed fourteen, confirming she’s in the wrong age group. Cathy, in a desperate attempt to deflect, points out Brooke’s age as irrelevant. Despite Cathy’s protests and odd “dance-math,” Erika is disqualified, and Brooke wins first place.
In a display of questionable sportsmanship, Erika’s mother and Cathy console Erika by blaming jealousy for the disqualification, rather than acknowledging their own misrepresentation of Erika’s age. Erika, clearly upset by the situation, understands the real reason for her tears.
The episode concludes with a final confrontation between Cathy and Christi. Cathy initiates a petty argument over the red and black color scheme and resorts to name-calling, dubbing Christi “Nose.” Christi dismisses Cathy with a theatrical “Be gone, witch,” foreshadowing their continued rivalry as they head to New Jersey. The preview for the next episode confirms that the Candy Apples saga is far from over, promising more drama and dance-offs in the episodes to come.
