UPDATED: OMFG . . . Adam Rippon, Tonya Harding and Mirai Nagasu are on the DWTS' all-athlete cast

I've watched about 3 episodes of DWTS in my life because....well....I just can't.
However, I did check in for the last half of the final last night and was absolutely shocked at the difficulty and athleticism in Harding's final dance. She risked some serious wipeouts. She threw it all out there so she gets a standing O from me. You can argue the lines weren't the best but girl went after it the hardest. Her freestyle was the strongest showcase of the authentic self than the other two.

She can have reason to believe after this show that there might be a little bit of opportunity for her to continue in the spotlight for a bit. That to her will be the win.

Adam did well overall but that last dance was an 8 at best. A concept dance with low difficulty. As I saw it, it needed real attitude and a sharpness to what movement it had. Adam seemed casual and fairly disengaged throughout...esp compared to his other dances. I thought he did an average job living up to what the dance was supposed to be.

So at least that last dance lended some intrigue to the final result that was otherwise never in question.
 
They tried so hard to make Tonya happen with the redemption narrative. It was as if she was the victim of the whack.

At the same time, I think she handled herself well here. Maybe it was the editing, but she definitely seemed much more sympathetic than she has in any interview she's had...
 
Willin said:
They tried so hard to make Tonya happen with the redemption narrative. It was as if she was the victim of the whack.

At the same time, I think she handled herself well here. Maybe it was the editing, but she definitely seemed much more sympathetic than she has in any interview she's had...
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Ya mean like when Carrie Ann LEFT HER SEAT to hug Tonya and blather?
 
Yazmeen said:
Still, Tonya proved she was a good dancer, and she didn't need either that ridiculous and false "victim/redemption" narrative nor the judges, especially Carrie Ann, falling all over her and over-blowing how life changing and wonderful she was to push that narrative. Tonya was great on the dance floor all on her own. And I think a lot of others (not just me) would have preferred if DWTS had just let her shine on her own without the manufactured drama.
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I agree with this. They should have just critiqued Tonya's dancing. She didn't need pity points. I still think Mirai should have been in finals instead of Tonya but Tonya did prove that she had real dancing chops. I would have liked to see Mirai, Adam and Tonya all in the finals, but that wasn't going to happen.
 
VIETgrlTerifa said:
It will probably be a while before another figure skater wins this competition, so I think whichever figure skater is next should think about that before entering unless they just want the publicity and don't care about winning, though I can't help but think one ends up caring even if one enters without caring about winning at first. Once you're in the middle of the competition and are doing all that prep and publicity, I can't help but imagine one's competitive instincts kick in. That said, it seems like with the exception of the likes of Kristi and Dorothy who are household names outside of the recent Olympics, most figure skaters won't be asked on this show until the next Winter Games.
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The only one I could see before the next Olympics is Michelle! :)
 
Rock2 said:
I've watched about 3 episodes of DWTS in my life because....well....I just can't.
However, I did check in for the last half of the final last night and was absolutely shocked at the difficulty and athleticism in Harding's final dance. She risked some serious wipeouts. She threw it all out there so she gets a standing O from me. You can argue the lines weren't the best but girl went after it the hardest. Her freestyle was the strongest showcase of the authentic self than the other two.

She can have reason to believe after this show that there might be a little bit of opportunity for her to continue in the spotlight for a bit. That to her will be the win.

Adam did well overall but that last dance was an 8 at best. A concept dance with low difficulty. As I saw it, it needed real attitude and a sharpness to what movement it had. Adam seemed casual and fairly disengaged throughout...esp compared to his other dances. I thought he did an average job living up to what the dance was supposed to be.

So at least that last dance lended some intrigue to the final result that was otherwise never in question.
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SPOT ON @Rock2

why would Adam come to a freestyle with little dance and content... just an interesting concept with no meat in between the bread??
 
To be fair, that would be the fault of Jenna since she choreographed it. Adam worked with what he got but I wish Jenna could have even chosen a different song (though I'm not sure how much input the pros have in determining the music)
 
miav9 said:
To be fair, that would be the fault of Jenna since she choreographed it. Adam worked with what he got but I wish Jenna could have even chosen a different song (though I'm not sure how much input the pros have in determining the music)
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My mom just told me she absolutely loved Adam’s freestyle. I see a lot of divergent opinions on Tonya’s too. To each their own I guess.
 
AngieNikodinovLove said:
SPOT ON @Rock2

why would Adam come to a freestyle with little dance and content... just an interesting concept with no meat in between the bread??
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Also there was very little actual paired dancing, just a lot of side by side stuff. And I didn't understand what the Japanese theme had to do with the music or the program (and I thought Adam's wig/costuming was questionable in terms of unflatteing racial stereotypes).

I'm not saying that it wasn't a good program because I didn't get it, but I was really disappointed because Adam and Jenna did much better programs earlier on.
 
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overedge said:
Also there was very little actual paired dancing, just a lot of side by side stuff.
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Yes, lots of separate but equal action. You gotta hand it to Adam's pro though. She knew how to make the most of Adam's strengths and his background as a "singles" skater and ability to adapt and perform choreography.
 
cmk said:
I was starting to wonder if Tonya somehow got Surya into the practices to help with the flips and cartwheels, but its more likely Sasha called Nastia.
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Sasha has done cartwheels and flips a few times in the shockingly few year's they've pulled their heads out of their asses and rightfully given him a partner). I'm kind of surprised he didn't give Tonya his trademark one-handed yet hand-holding cartwheel/flip thingie.
- With Snooki (who was one of the most underrated dancers in DWTS history IMO, and was really nervous for that move, IIRC)
- With Nastia
 
barbarafan said:
She is further slagged as she acts arrogant on the show and tries to act like a victim as specified by DWTS to get ratings. They put athletes in the same sport on the show to build up the friction routine. When you go on a show like DWTS you can (depending on their storyline)lose all dignity. She will get her money but she will always be hated.
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I don't think she acted like a victim on the show.

I would say she just wanted people to like her and for those who have always "hated" her like you to give her another chance. People like you who have always "hated" her.

Consequently, she did come across as defensive as time.

But she was also genuinely appreciative of the opportunity, so much so that she was in tears a lot.

Other people who did what Tonya allegedly did (the extent of her complicity or lack thereof has still not been firmly established) would have long since moved on, and no one would even remember what the person had allegedly done 25 years later. Heck, the public wouldn't even remember a person who had been proven to commit an assault and done time for it 25 years later, provided that the person had no reoffended and just got on with things.

I enjoyed watching Tonya on DWTS - was surprised at how well she can dance at 47, and in not the best of shape.

As to whether contestants on DWTS lose all their dignity, I get your point. But I don't think the contestants see it that way. I don't know whether they get paid directly to participate, but if not, just being on the show is going to open up a host of money making opportunities.
 
Japanfan said:
Other people who did what Tonya allegedly did (the extent of her complicity or lack thereof has still not been firmly established)....
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It's not what Tonya "allegedly" did - she copped to interfering with the investigation. And because of that, many of us will always wonder whether she was far more involved than she ever admitted to being. I think it's natural to believe that if she were innocent she would have been more forthcoming.
 
BittyBug said:
It's not what Tonya "allegedly" did - she copped to interfering with the investigation. And because of that, many of us will always wonder whether she was far more involved than she ever admitted to being. I think it's natural to believe that if she were innocent she would have been more forthcoming.
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Not to mention that her story wouldn't keep changing. As I said before, I could have possibly finally "let it go" until this year's ABC interview.
 
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