Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars delivered a captivating season filled with memorable personalities like Ilona Maher, Dwight Howard, and Reginald VelJohnson, fostering heartwarming friendships, particularly between Rylee Arnold and Ilona, and Alan Bersten. The season successfully revitalized the show, making it a joyful experience for viewers. However, despite the overall positive journey culminating in Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson’s win, the finale felt somewhat lacking in its celebratory conclusion.
Expectations were high for the finale after such a strong season. The dances were indeed spectacular, especially Stephen and Rylee, and Chandler Kinney with Brandon Armstrong’s freestyle performances. The typical judge’s drama, like Carrie Ann Inaba’s “underwhelming choreography” comment, was present. Yet, the entire night felt rushed and poorly paced, diminishing the overall impact of what should have been a grand celebration.
Was the Recap Really Necessary?
Dancing With The Stars judges panel during Halloween episode.
Many viewers were left puzzled by the finale’s opening. A significant portion, nearly thirty minutes, was dedicated to a recap of the season’s events. While revisiting the contestants’ journeys and hearing their reflections was enjoyable, dedicating such a large chunk of time to it felt excessive. A concise five-minute recap could have served the purpose effectively, allowing fans to reminisce without sacrificing precious finale time. Furthermore, the judges’ revisiting each couple’s weakest dance, with comments identical to those from previous episodes, felt redundant. Instead, the judges could have offered insights into dances they wished to see again during the redemption round, making their feedback more impactful and time-efficient.
The Winners’ Celebration Was Too Short
Interview shot of DWTS winners Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson.
The finale, while still entertaining, undeniably felt hurried. The most significant disappointment was the brevity of the winners’ celebration. After Alfonso Ribeiro announced Joey and Jenna as the mirrorball champions, the credits began rolling almost immediately. Viewers barely got under three minutes to witness their celebration. Many hoped to hear speeches from both Joey and Jenna, and even from finalists like Ilona and Alan. Ilona’s journey, in particular, was inspiring, consistently overcoming being labeled the “weakest link” to reach second place. Giving her and Alan a moment to speak would have been a fitting tribute to their achievement. The finale should have prioritized celebrating the winners and finalists, allocating less time to repetitive segments like the extensive recap and rehashed judge commentary.
Despite the finale’s pacing issues, Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars was largely a success. The core issue was time management during the finale episode, dedicating too much time to already-covered ground and too little to the most crucial moment: celebrating the champions. For future seasons, allocating the final five minutes specifically to the winners and their celebration would significantly improve the finale’s conclusion.
Dancing With The Stars remains a popular show, and for fans looking to Stream Dancing With The Stars, Season 33 and previous seasons are available for streaming on Disney+ in the US. For those who missed the finale or want to relive the entire season, stream Dancing with the Stars on demand and enjoy the dance competition from the comfort of your home. Check out Disney+ to stream Dancing with the Stars and other exciting content.
