( continues...) back? Yeah, she did. Work! And then did he just drop her? Oh, no. I do not think that lift was supposed to look like that. Yeesh. That was not a good outing for young Ricky. That could be his ass.

And now my Fox went out so sadness descends on the kat perez household.

And now we’re back and I missed Jess which I can’t say I’m broken up by that. It sounds like it wasn’t all that? Mixed reviews from the judges at least. Tadd and Lauren/Jazz/Mandee Moore/Another One Bites the Dust – Ok, I’m loving MJ Tadd. And it’s TBC. Aww. I missed her. And look at Tadd work through the loss of that hat. That’s a pro, ladies and gents. I do enjoy Prop!Mandee. This routine is cute and tons of fun. Tadd has a synchronization problem with his partners and I get that because he probably hasn’t done a lot of partner work, but it is noticable and he needs to fix it and I think he can because he’s fierce. And TBC, what? She’s sick. Thank you, Rob Marshall. Losing that hat would’ve thrown a lesser dancer, but Tadd just came through it like a champ.

Marko and Alison coming up? Bring it!

Marko and Alison/Contemporary/Sonya/I Know It’s Over – Alison is just exquisite. That run across the stage into splits is just not even possible! So much strength from both of them to do that. And Marko is really keeping up. He’s so strong. Such a good partner. And again tension and intention and passion. That turn in kind of a side arabesque from both of them was better than great. And they could give classes on synchronization. And Marko's mom in the audience? So cute! Poor Marko. Why is he in tears every week, y’all? What can you even say about that performance? That was everything. Everything.

Caitlyn and Tadd/Foxtrot/Jonathan Roberts/Top Hat, White Tie and Tails – Tadd is working that tux. He needs more stretch. She’s gorgeous. Lovely back. Not bad closed hold work from the pair of them but again he’s lacking as a lead. The side by side work actually exposes him more because she is really nailing it, the look, the feel, the technique. He is doing well for a bboy, but she’s just doing well period. Nice last lift. It’s always good to leave ‘em with a pretty picture. She was lovely there. Just lovely. He got through it pretty well, but his weight was wrong and he needed more stretch through his upper body. Oh, Technical Mary. Be still my heart! And Gaga calling out Caitlyn on the competition kid habits was genius. She’s growing on me on the panel. Still a little too over the top and long winded, but she knows what she’s talking about.

Marko and Ricky/Hip Hop/NappyTab/Bad Boys for Life – Oooh, a same sex pairing already? Nice. Great music choice. How is Marko such a crazy good hip hop dancer? This fool is ridiculous. I would put him in a video right now. He is schooling Ricky. Oh my god. Marko is shutting it down. He’s a straight up killer. Was Ricky even there? I don’t know. I would watch that over and over and over again. Great choreo from NappyTab. It was sick. They are so good when they are not trying to do lyrical hip hop. Nigel’s not wrong. Ricky was too pulled up and he really didn’t get the vibe the way Mark did. I hear Gaga on the contrived bit, but that’s the nature of this show in general. Anyway, Marko slayed it. I think Ricky’s going home this week, but then again I haven’t seen Jess dance at all tonight.

Jordan and Jess/Rumba/Jason Gilickson/Set Fire to the Rain – Yes, let’s just keep throwing Jordan in the sexy dances, shall we? Really, show? Really? And barefoot? Damn short dancers. She’s lacking hip action, which is weird because she’s all about the hip action. He is kinda lacking everything. He is so bad in this. He doesn’t have the feel AND he doesn’t have the technique. He finally did a decent job with the lifts, especially the last one, but that was a horrible Rumba. Yes, the sway back. Good job, Nigel. Jordan’s sway back was horrific. I think shoes would’ve helped her with that. Gaga hating on the choreo? I disagree. I think the dancers didn’t match the level of the routine. Listen to Technical Mary. She won’t steer you wrong.

Melanie and Sasha/Jazz/Sonya/Game On – Love the opening. Love the middle. Love the end. The two of them together are tremendous. The little crab walk was genius. Out of synch on that last turn, but otherwise that was fire. I wanna see that again on Finale show night. And every other night. Shut up. The two of them destroyed worlds with that dance.

Bottom Four:

It seems clear that Ricky, Jess, Caitlin and Jordan are going to be the B4. How could it be otherwise? As for going home, If it were now in the hands of America, I would say Ricky for the boys, because my sense is that Jess has a bigger fan base and both of them struggled. And I think the Judges will follow that lead. Jess is on a growth arc storyline and Ricky is just a lesser version of Danny Tidwell. As for the ladies, I think Caitlyn will go home. Nigel loves Jordan, and really she’s a better dancer than Caitlyn, though Caitlyn had the better night tonight. Great show again. A couple of clunker dances, but no real train wrecks. These kids are just really, really talented.

That was a helluva episode. That is what you show new people. I'm not in love with any of the pairings this year, but this is a super-good group.

I am stunned how awkward Jordan was in that rumba. Surprising!

Sasha and Melanie killing Sonya's choreography is the opposite of surprising but oh so very satisfying. Ahhh.

Sasha and Melanie blew me away. It was raw, it was brutal, and it was beautiful. I love them both.

Marko crying ... eh, he waits until he's done. And he told his mother he loved her on national TV! seriously, how sweet was that? (his mom was crying, too - maybe it's hereditary BUT it's better than Ryan and the perpetual smile)

Okay, my reactions of SYTYCD. I had a helluva Wednesday so I am just getting to the show now. I agree with previous comments. You all seriously are on point:

Rob Marshall is way too orange, Gaga is really contrived, but I agreed with every single one of her negative statements, but didn't always agree with her positive statements. Homegirl paid attention and did her job. I loved how much she obviously dislikes NappyTabs. Funny shit. Unlike kat, I didn't like either of their routines last night. The second was better, but I didn't care for it. I thought the first routine was fucked up. Tyce - WTF did he do to Ade? Ade is one of my favorites and he had him mostly standing around? There ought to be a LAW against treating Ade that way.

Neil is not one of my favorites, but he looked good last night!

Where was Mark? That is not right.

Oh, and the part where Sasha was petting Gaga's shoe cracked my shit up.

Oh, yes, that was hilarious!

I am crossing my fingers for some Mark tonight! That is the treat we want, SYTYCD producers.

-t, oh that didn't cross my mind. Maybe we will get Mark tonight.

On first watch, I actually didn't love the Sasha/Melanie dance. I found the music distracting, somehow. I think I'll try again with the sound off.