So You Think You Can Dance Review: No Surprises Here

It’s time to decide who will grace the So You Think You Can Dance stage in the finale, America. I know who I want. I think we all pretty much know it’s going to be Kent, Lauren, and someone else, despite last week’s hiccup that landed Lauren in the bottom 3.

The contestants didn’t dance with one another on Wednesday night, a wise move because it allowed the producers to pair them up for more traditional dances. It worked out well for all involved.

AdéChiké: First, let me just lay it out there on the line – I’d like him to be the one to go home. He doesn’t have the talent or personality of the other three, and he strikes me as a bit disingenuous even when making a big, emotional speech with tears running down his face. I could be completely off base but I feel like he’s playing to the audience. Wednesday he danced an African Jazz routine with all-star Lauren. She outdanced him. I don’t know a lot about African Jazz, but the people who have done it best dance it with an all out joyful abandon. AdéChiké does nothing full out or with abandon. It’s my biggest criticism of him, and also what the judges keep trying to say. He looks self-conscious when he dances, like he knows people are watching. You should always, always dance like no one is looking. Even I know that. His second number of the night was a Contemporary piece (that felt more like Jazz) choreographed by AdéChiké’s idols Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden. Kathryn joined him on stage for a number that the choreographer intended to “showcase AdéChiké’s many talents.” Instead, as so often happens with him, I watched it showcase Kathryn’s talents instead. She really is lovely. AdéChiké is an adequately technical dancer but there is no fire, no fight, no glow…nothing that makes him special.

Robert: This guy continues to grow on me. To be honest, his goofy charm reminds me of a guy I knew once that I now loathe with the fire of a thousand suns so it took me a minute to get past that. Ahem. What were we talking about? Oh yes, Robert. He’s passionate. He’s adorable. He’s earnest. Most of all, he has more than technical prowess, he has presence. He showed it off Wednesday night, first in a beautiful, moving Viennese Waltz alongside all-star Anya. I love the Viennese Waltz’s, first of all. Second, this choreography stood out more than normal. I watched it three times, something I’ve done with maybe…four other dances the entire season. Gorgeous. His second dance was bizarre yet completely suited him; he attacked an odd Nappy/Tabs Hip-Hop routine with Dominic. They were cast as unhappy, angry clowns (which I have to say, freaked me out a little). The dance went phenomenally well and Adam called out Dominic, telling him Robert just danced circles around him. Nice. Go Robert. You don’t have the charm or fan base to beat Lauren or Kent, but you deserve the final place in the finale.

Lauren: This girl is some kind of unstoppable force and I want to siphon off some of her energy and sell it in bottles. She began the night with a sexy, smoldering Tango with Pasha, who looks as enamored with her presence as everyone else. All the judges gave her high marks and seem to accept her place alongside Kent in the finale. Her second performance of the night was a traditional Jazz routine with all-star Ade, and she knocked it out of the park. She played a black widow and she did it like an adult. No one has matured as a dancer more than Lauren this past season. Adam said he would pay her the highest compliment possible to a dancer…   “I want to hire you.” We’ll see more of this girl, I promise, and not only in next week’s finale.

Kent: What on earth is there to say about Kent? I’m a fangirl. He’s adorable and honest in addition to being a moving, talented dancer. No one has doubted since Vegas week his ability to make it all the way. Still, he never took one thing for granted. He worked his tail off, he listened to the judges and integrated their feedback. He’s soared a cut above everyone the entire show, with the exception of maybe Lauren. The two of them will be the last two standing, as it should be. Wednesday night he danced a Disco routine with all-star Courtney, which was a little odd and maybe the most awkward I’ve seen him look onstage. Still, he powered through and charmed the judges and crowd alike when Nigel asked about the lifts and Kent replied, “I’m just not big, you know?” He ended the night in a redo of the eye-candy goodness of a Contemporary routine with all-star hottie Neil. This time they played friends whose friendship was ending due to a stab in the back. The routine was gorgeous (and not just because of the guys). I watched it twice. All the judges loved it, even Mia.

Results: If anyone was surprised by Thursday night’s results I’d encourage them to blink a couple times and try to reconnect with reality. AdéChiké isn’t in the same league as Robert, Kent, and Lauren when it comes to performance ability. This is the first reality show  I’ve watched in some time where America continues to get it right. We’ve lost a few people along the way to injuries, people I believe could have made it this far. Still, there’s no question in my mind that Kent and Lauren were always going to be the last two standing. Maybe they’ll kiss again.

One can hope.

Not enough So You Think You Can Dance?  Read Inisia Lewis’s review, “The Fab Four” here. Follow Poptimal on Twitter @poptimal.  Friend us on Facebook here.  More on So You Think You Can Dance here.

Season 7, Episode 20 & 21: Top 4 Perform & 1 of 4 Voted Off (originally aired August 4 and August 5, 2010)

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro