Ryan smiles inappropriately, has no personality, and is being inexplicably protected by the judges to the detriment of better dancers.

Okay, I rewatched the videos, at least those that mj had up. Boys' routine: Chris was painful. He needs to go. Marko did great.

Enjoyed Melanie and Marko, but felt there were some places they could have been stronger. He needed to trust her for her partnering bit. And there were just places where the leaps and such, which were perfectly nice, could have been bigger, more exuberant.

On rewatch, the Sasha/Alexander choreo was cuter. But really, weak overall. They'll be in the bottom.

I liked Jordan and Tadd all right, but Jordan's hairpiece was weird. She wore it like a veil. Love that Travis is around to give specific, clear feedback.

Watched Clarice and Jess. Meh. I would like to see her apart from him, but right now I just feel like there's no there there.

The salsa wasn't up yet, but I wouldn't have rewatched it anyway. They'll be in the bottom as well.

Liked the choreo for the Ryan/Ricky number much better on rewatch, but I maintain my problem with Ryan. I figure the inappropriate smiling is maybe nerves? I have that problem with laughter. But my issues with her are way more technical. And she was off timing the entire routine. Enough to make me wonder if she's not having hearing problems a little. It wasn't just falling out, although that was bad enough on its own. It should put her in the bottom, because nobody else goofed like that, even if they weren't great, but it won't. Anyway, the other big thing is that she won't emote, she keeps her own emotions bottled away from the dance, and for me, that makes her a bad dancer. Which is why it's maybe not that surprising that she was successful with a zombie number. What she was called on to do in acting was the opposite of emoting.

I liked Caitlyn and Mitchell, but I also don't have a visceral hatred of the Dion, so...

But overall, there just aren't stunners for me. Rewatch has let me back off the "I hate everything" but it's still not breathtaking for me. No dancers have made me point my toes. No one makes me gasp or wonder if they'll make it to the end of the routine with perfection intact. They're dancers, and they're perfectly fine, but I've seen better out of this show.

I wonder when they'll break up the partnerships if it's going to have to happen before the format change to all stars?

yes. I have noted that they put her dance on in the latter half of the show (this week and last week) - which traditionally has a higher likelihood that dancers will NOT be in the bottom 3.

I'm telling you, I think the producers promised her that they would be on the show for X number of episodes and/or promised she'd make the tour.

Traditionally they keep the couples through the top 10, and mix from there on out.

Boys' routine: Chris was painful. He needs to go.

so glad someone else feels this way. he continues to distract me during group numbers. he is always just slightly behind everyone else. almost as if he's forgotten the routine and is watching them to see what he's supposed to be doing.

SYTYCD: Do they ever break up couples? it's always struck me that it would be ... unfair? discouraging? ... if they matched someone who really was good with someone who just wasn't up to the level of competition, and the better dancer was sent off because their partner wasn't good enough.

And Ryan ... is it possible that when she was younger she had a teacher who insisted that she smile all the time she was on stage? the smiling is annoying, as is the constant praise and protection by the judges.

Toddson,

in the early seasons, it was far more typical to see couples split. They have not done this as much in the later seasons.

There are some people who need new partners like nobody's business.

he is always just slightly behind everyone else. almost as if he's forgotten the routine and is watching them to see what he's supposed to be doing.

Yeah, exactly. There was a point where he clearly did forget what he was supposed to be doing and instead did the next move, then he had to wait for everyone to catch up. So bad. I know it's super hard to get these routines nailed down each week, and I couldn't do it. But all these other dancers can, and if he can't, he needs to go.

Do they ever break up couples?

for as long as i've been watching(season 2 FWIW), they've broken couples up at the top 10 point. last season was goofy because of the All Stars. this year they've said they're bringing the All Stars back once they get to top 10. so they'll all be dancing with different partners at that point each week.

I know it's super hard to get these routines nailed down each week, and I couldn't do it. But all these other dancers can, and if he can't, he needs to go.

absolutely on all accounts.

Yes, I long for the methods of the first season, when they really did pick their partners and dances from the hat each week.

The non-variety for most couples is ridiculous: both Melanie/Marko and Ryan/Ricky have only done jazz (2), contemporary, and "lyrical" hip-hop and Sasha/Alexander have had only contemporary (2) and hip-hop (2). Are these couples ever going to get ballroom?

I don't love Ashley/Chris, but at least they've done 4 different styles (hip-hop, broadway, jazz, salsa) and Jordan/Tadd have done African jazz, hip-hop, Viennese waltz, and smooth waltz.