SYTYCD: I loved loved the Stacey Tookey routine. I may have been hormonally vulnerable at the time, but it made me really cry. I thought it was beautifully crafted and the two of them did a really nice job. I said to my television the exact same phrase as you, kat, Kathryn was a revelation. I can't even reconcile high crying her with dancing her. She is gorgeous and wholly committed and it shows through her movement. Agree that there was a lot of b-boy in there but I thought it was used well and didn't detract from the overall structure.
Also loved the Kevin/Karen routine. Karen is a little ball of fire. I can't wait to see her do some of the slow elegant stuff. She's just got so much there there, you know?
I liked Ellenore/Ryan's Argentine tango. Yeah, there definitely could have been more fire and focus there, but since the wardrobe malfunction happened so early and for so long, I'm not too worried about it. Also, can I just say that when Leonardo moves, he is dead sexy. Also, also! I don't think of Argentine tango as reserved. It's hella passionate and intricate and fast.
Jakob. So glad Shankman is there to call out stuff like the choreo, though. Usually the judges just pander to the choreographers in their commentary and I think it's helpful for the choreography to be critiqued too.
And for the bad: agree that Russell (wisely, but to his detriment probably) toned it down to match Noelle. Phillip/Channing was really painful to watch. I disliked the Bianca/Victor piece but most of what I disliked was the choreography. He's just so derivative.
I thought Phillip and Noelle should have gone, but that would have put Russell with Channing, another weak partner. I just want Noelle gone.