This week’s episode of Dance Moms delivered its usual dose of drama, but thankfully, the shining star, Mackenzie Ziegler, kept us hooked. While the episode felt a bit heavy on Cathy’s antics and mom squabbles and light on actual dancing, Mackenzie’s presence was undeniably captivating. Here’s a breakdown of the most AWESOME and AWKWARD moments.
AWESOME: Pyramid time kicked off the episode, and in a refreshing turn, Chloe was at the top, despite not securing first place the previous week. It’s heartening to see Abby finally offering Chloe some much-deserved encouragement. Adding to the excitement, Abby announced solos for Chloe, Asia, Maddie, and Kendall! While we have to wait until next week to see these performances, the anticipation is definitely building.
AWKWARD: The ongoing saga of “The View” spot took center stage, creating unnecessary tension. Abby declared that Asia would fill in for Mackenzie on the show, immediately upsetting Mom Melissa. Then, in a questionable parenting move, Abby instructed Mackenzie to tell her mom to fight for her spot. It’s absurd to put an 8-year-old in the middle of adult drama. Unsurprisingly, the kids seemed unfazed, while the moms, particularly Kelly, escalated the conflict, somehow making it about themselves and their children. It feels like Abby is deliberately prolonging this NYC trip drama for viewership, and honestly, it’s becoming tiresome.
Mackenzie Ziegler looking excited during a Dance Moms episode
AWESOME: The moment of truth arrived – Mackenzie was chosen to perform on “The View”! Even though it was somewhat expected, seeing Mackenzie’s face light up with joy was genuinely heartwarming. Asia handled the rejection gracefully, showcasing maturity beyond her years. The kids delivered a fantastic group performance, and surprisingly, Abby refrained from her usual post-performance criticism. A rare moment of pure success!
Mackenzie Ziegler quote about returning to dance in Dance Moms
“As soon as I did my cartwheel over the seat, I was like, ‘I’m back.’ ” —Mackenzie, Dance Moms star
AWKWARD: Cathy and her Candy Apples took the awkwardness to a new level. Cathy announced auditions for a new dancer, implying her current team wasn’t up to par – hardly inspiring for her students. The audition process itself was cringeworthy. She dismissed a girl simply because her name was Maddie, misnamed another child “Had” instead of Hannah, and repeatedly questioned a talented, slightly chubby boy about his dancing abilities. Adding to the absurdity, Vivi was a judge, offering minimal input. Cathy’s judging was less about talent scouting and more about creating manufactured drama.
AWESOME: Despite Cathy’s questionable methods, she did find a promising new dancer, Victoria. Victoria, from Larkin Dance Studio, is clearly talented and visually striking. Anthony Burrell’s choreography for Victoria looks intriguing, and it will be interesting to see how this newcomer shakes things up in the Candy Apples studio and potentially in competitions against ALDC.
AWKWARD: The cheesecake scene with Cathy and Vivi was bizarre. Vivi casually mentioned eating five pieces of pizza in a day, and then Cathy interrogated Vivi about the new dancer, Victoria, trying to push Vivi into admitting she wanted Jalen to be her boyfriend. Again, Vivi remained mostly silent, seemingly unfazed by Cathy’s strange line of questioning. These forced, awkward interactions feel more staged than genuinely entertaining.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Mom Cathy: “This is hard work auditioning people.”
Vivi: “I’m hungry.”
The episode concluded with a promise of solos next week, which is what we’ve all been waiting for! Hopefully, next week will feature more dancing and less of the manufactured drama. What were your thoughts on this week’s episode? Let us know in the comments!
