On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Dancing with the Stars celebrated the musical Wicked with a themed episode featuring dances inspired by its most iconic songs.
Standout Performances:
Some of the best performances of the night were Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten, Robert Irwin with Witney Carson, and Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy. Elaine and Alan performed a contemporary routine to “Defying Gravity,” showcasing her perseverance through her physical challenges at 54 years old. The emotional routine left Carrie Ann in tears, earning a 36/40. Robert and Witney performed a jazz to “Dancing Through Life,” also scoring 36/40, highlighting his growth, energy, and stage presence. Alix and Val danced a jazz to “What Is This Feeling?” earning 35/40, capturing Glinda’s character while keeping the audience engaged.
Who Deserved the 10s?
While Whitney Leavitt with Mark Ballas and Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa earned the first 10s of the season, did they deserve it? Both dances were amazing but I feel like Robert Irwin deserved one of those 10s. Robert’s performance was clean, energetic, and technically advanced. While Whitney and Mark are always amazing it didn’t feel as deserving as Jordan and Ezra. Ezra Sosa, after years in the background troupe and his first full year as a pro, earned three 10s with a score of 39/40 made it a night to remember.
Favorite Moments:
My favorite moment was Elaine Hendrix’s lift at the end of “Defying Gravity.” Seeing her rise into the air and embodying Elphaba was very empowering. This dance showcased the journey she’s made both physically and mentally throughout DWTS. It was a moment that truly made Wicked night unforgettable.
Elimination Thoughts:
This week, Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold were eliminated after their contemporary routine to “The Wizard and I,” scoring 28/40. Personally, I think Andy Richter and Emma Slater should have gone home instead. They performed a jazz to “One Short Day” scoring 32/40, their highest scores yet. While I love Andy Richter and it was his best dance so far, I felt it lacked the “wow” factor needed by week 6. If it were up to me, Andy would have been eliminated this week and Scott next. By week 6, I just think there should be more improvement by Andy Richter. This dance was in my opinion his best one yet, I just feel like it’s lacking the “wow” factor. If Scott were to stay one more week, I feel like he could’ve improved more and possibly proven himself after not a great week. If it were up to me, Andy would’ve been eliminated this week and Scott next week.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Wicked Night was one of the best episodes so far this season, blending Broadway storytelling with technical dance skill. Each couple brought creativity, emotion, and personality to the floor, making it a night to remember.
