Reality Round-up: “Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 Episode 10

Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” has come to its dreaded end with a three-hour finale where the five remaining couples battled it out once and for all.”

After last week’s episode, it was revealed as a twist that no one would be going home during the semi-finals, and all five couples would move on to the finale.

The final episode began with the judges reminiscing on each celebrity’s journey throughout the season, highlighting particular dances and wow moments along the way.

After the long introduction, the pros opened the show with a number similar to their dance during the premiere, featuring all of the now-eliminated stars of season 33, along with hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.

The first round of the finale was the redemption round, where each celebrity was assigned by one of the judges to redo a dance style that they may not have succeeded in the first time around.

Stephen Nedoroscik was tasked by Bruno Tonioli with a redemption quickstep, which he and his partner Rylee Arnold first performed during “Soul Train Night.”

The Olympic gymnast wanted to work on his musicality in order to redeem himself. He and Arnold earned a 29 out of 30 for their fun and fresh quickstep to “I’ll Be There for You.”

“The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson were assigned a Cha Cha by Derek Hough, which they did during week one.

Graziadei definitely redeemed himself with his electric performance to “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” earning them a perfect score from the judges.

Danny Amendola’s redemption dance was a tango, which was also his dance from week one. He and Witney Carson performed “I Had Some Help” and received a total of 27 out of 30 for their powerful routine.

Between dances, Season 32 Mirrorball Champions Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy performed a gorgeous routine to “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, reminding the viewers why she was so deserving of winning.

Ilona Maher brought the audience back to the competition with her redemption jive, assigned to her by Tonioli.

She and Alan Bersten performed an amazing routine that earned a 27 out of 30, showing everyone the amazing bond that they built throughout the season. It’s clear that the Olympian has truly had a blast, and Bersten is the perfect partner for her.

Chandler Kinney closed the redemption round with another jive, given to her by Carrie Ann Inaba.

She and her partner Brandon Armstrong performed a truly perfect and fast-paced routine that was praised by the judges. They of course earned a 30 out of 30.

To transition viewers from the redemption round into the freestyle dances, D. Hough and former pro-Mark Ballas performed a never-seen-before tango together.

The duo, who have been dancing together for about 30 years, choreographed a powerful and intense routine that had everyone in awe.

Nedoroscik and Arnold then kicked off the freestyle round with what was probably the most memorable freestyle of the night.

Arnold combined her partner’s love of gymnastics with her professional dancing dreams for a freestyle to be forever remembered.

The pair danced to “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, dressed in red white and blue to symbolize the star’s Olympic journey. Arnold also incorporated choreography for Nedoroscik’s teammates to perform alongside him.

The beautiful showcase of passion and talent earned them a perfect score from the judges, which was Arnold’s first-ever perfect score as a pro and their first and final perfect score as a partnership.

Graziadei and Johnson performed their routine next, which was a freestyle inspired by the celebrity’s tennis-playing past.

The theme throughout the dance and the tennis racket props were refreshing and different from season prior, but Inaba said that the routine was underwhelming as a whole.

They earned two 10s from the boys and a nine from Inaba for their routine, landing them second on the leaderboard for the semi-finals and finale combined.

Next up was Amendola, who channeled his inner Ryan Gosling for a freestyle routine inspired by the Oscar-winning movie, “Barbie.”

He and Carson brought the theatrics with their unique and fun routine to “Pink” and “I’m Just Ken” from the blockbuster film.

Inaba didn’t give any critiques but gave the NFL star a nine alongside two 10s from D. Hough and Tonioli.

Maher and Bersten performed their freestyle next to the hit song “Femininomenon” by Chappell Roan.

The rugby star used her girl power as inspiration for the routine, as she has been an inspiration to girls everywhere throughout DWTS and throughout her whole time in the spotlight.

Dancing in a sparkly silver bodysuit with her partner who sported a rugby shirt reading “Maher” on the back, the duo earned a perfect score for their upbeat freestyle.

The final star to perform her freestyle routine was Kinney. She and her partner wanted to pay homage to black performers and culture, due to being the first ever black couple to be in the DWTS finale.

Their dance was spunky and entertaining, featuring only black dancers to back them up. The pair truly made history with their amazing freestyle that will be remembered forever, earning them a perfect score.

The most anticipated moment of the season was finally here: the reveal of the winners of Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Amendola and Carson got fifth place, Nedoroscik and Arnold got fourth place, and Kinney and Armstrong got third place.

The final two were Maher and Bersten and Graziadei and Johnson.

Graziadei and Johnson were revealed to be this season’s winners of the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy.

The trophy was handed off to Johnson by her husband and Gomez, making her a two-time mirrorball champion as a pro, but a first-time mirrorball champion in a regular season.

Graziadei made history by being crowned the first ever male Bachelor/Bachelorette star to win “Dancing with the Stars.”

Don’t worry, the dancing doesn’t have to stop there.

Many pros from this season will be going on tour in 2025, with tickets on sale now.

Joining the tour in select cities will be Graziadei, Kinney and Maher, with Nedoroscik co-hosting at every show date, so make sure you grab those tickets while you still can. -Sarah Gavlak

Sarah Gavlak is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, please email sng5393@psu.edu.