Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | October 28, 2026
I made fun of the idea of Dancing with the Stars for years, because I am a smug television critic. But this is my second season to watch — after the resurgence of viewership last year — and I am an absolute convert. I’m not really in it for the B-list celebrities — although, on DWTS, they get to be television A-listers for three-months — but for the actual performances. I don’t know that there’s a more technically difficult reality competition, and it is almost mind-boggling how much these celebrities can improve over the course of a season.
But also, some of these performances are brain-melting. Take, for instance, Harry Shum, Jr.’s Halloween night performance this week. He had the first perfect score of the season, all the more impressive because he fetched a 10 from guest judge Shirley Ballas (Mark’s mom), who doesn’t mess around (she gave a few fours and fives this week, which is unheard of at this point in the season). His partner, of course, is Jenna Johnson, who … just wow. You have to watch this Saw-themed number. It is magnificent.
I would also add that Jenna Dewan — who, like Shum, Jr., has a background in dance — probably would’ve gotten 10s across the board, too, were it not for a small almost imperceptible snag her dress had with her shoe.
But the real surprise of the night was Connor Wood, who has been up-and-down all season long but has become something of a fan favorite. I’m still not sure who he is — a podcaster and comedian? — but his Annabelle-themed dance with Rylee Arnold was likewise exceptional … and very creepy.
It was also a double-elimination night, which saw the eliminations of reality TV star Tyler Cameron and Savannah Bananas’ player Jackson Olson, who turned in a fairly remarkable Joker dance. But alas, it wasn’t enough. At this point in the season, the show has mostly excised its filler, although Tatyana Ali and Julia Stiles — as much as I like them — aren’t really contenders, but the millennial and Gen X votes are keeping them around for another week or two.
