The Season 34 finale of Dancing With the Stars featured an intense Judges’ Choice round, where the five remaining couples were assigned a final new dance style by the panel. The judges personally worked with the couples in rehearsals to push them toward the mirrorball trophy. The round set the stage for a tight competition, with scores that would significantly impact the final leaderboard.
The Judges’ Assignments and Perfect Scores
For the Judges’ Choice round, each judge selected a dance style they felt would best challenge a specific couple. Two pairs managed to achieve a perfect score right out of the gate.
Carrie Ann Inaba assigned social media personality Alix Earle and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy a Samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas. Inaba worked closely with the couple in rehearsals, with Earle describing the judge’s teaching style as “relentless.” The effort paid off. After their performance, Inaba told Earle, “It was just brilliant,” while Bruno Tonioli declared her “incandescent.” They received a perfect 30 out of 30.
Derek Hough tasked actress Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten with a Rumba to “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall. This was a notable challenge for Hendrix, who had been navigating injuries throughout the season. Hough called their performance “exquisite,” and Tonioli noted its “perfect balance between sensuality and elegance.” They also earned a perfect 30 out of 30.
Near-Perfect Scores and Close Calls
The other three couples in the finale came very close to perfection, with minor critiques from the judges holding them back from a perfect score.
Derek Hough also chose a Quickstep for wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson. They performed to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. Irwin was dancing through a rib injury, but it did not stop him from delivering a dynamic routine. Hough dubbed him “the quickstep king,” and Bruno Tonioli compared his movement to “the exhilaration of a cheetah.” However, Carrie Ann Inaba spotted a slight stumble, leading to a score of 29 out of 30.
Carrie Ann Inaba assigned Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa a Paso Doble to “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna. Inaba wanted to showcase Chiles’ fierceness. While Derek Hough praised the routine as “strong, fierce and powerful,” Inaba felt the “attack was too strong at the beginning.” This feedback resulted in a score of 29 out of 30.
The Paso Doble That Divided the Judges
Bruno Tonioli selected a Paso Doble for reality TV star Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach. Their powerful routine was performed to “Stampede” by Alexander Jean featuring Lindsey Stirling. Tonioli was left nearly speechless, admiring Efron’s physique and saying, “Michelangelo himself could not have sculpted a better shape.” However, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough agreed that his hands “got a little flat” at times. This consensus led to a score of 28 out of 30, the lowest of the Judges’ Choice round.
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Final Judges’ Choice Leaderboard
The first round of the finale established a clear, though narrow, hierarchy on the leaderboard. Below is a summary of the scores from the Judges’ Choice round:
| Couple | Dance Style | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | Samba | “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas | 30/30 |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | Rumba | “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall | 30/30 |
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | Quickstep | “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet | 29/30 |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | Paso Doble | “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna | 29/30 |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | Paso Doble | “Stampede” by Alexander Jean ft. Lindsey Stirling | 28/30 |
The Judges’ Choice round was just the first of three challenging dance segments in the finale. The couples then moved on to an Instant Dance Challenge and the fan-favorite Freestyle round, where all five couples earned perfect scores. Ultimately, the combination of judges’ scores and a record-breaking number of viewer votes crowned Robert Irwin and Witney Carson as the Season 34 champions. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place, while Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa took third.
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