Season 34 of Dancing With The Stars came to an end with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Recap:
The finale featured five couples: Robert and Witney, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten. The show featured three sections, a Judges’ Choice, Instant Dance, and Freestyle (each couple performed three different dances).
Final Standings:
- Robert Irwin and Witney Carson with an 89/90.
- Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy with a 90/90.
- Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa with an 89/90.
- Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach with an 88/90.
- Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten with an 87/90.
Fans Reactions:
The finale sparked a wide range of reactions from fans, which was expected given how close the competition was. Many viewers agreed that Robert and Alix were going to be the top two, but no one knew who would win.
However, the results stirred a lot of controversy since Alix earned a perfect 90/90 while Robert earned an 89/90. In the end, it was the combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes that secured Robert’s win, leaving some fans disappointed.
Many Alix Earle fans have argued that Robert’s journey was a “sob story” while Alix was following the true purpose of the show. Others felt the Irwin family’s larger public recognition may have given Robert an advantage. Still, many viewers were proud of Robert’s improvement throughout the season and felt he embodies what the show is about.
Personally, while I would have been happy to see Alix win, I also think that Robert grew tremendously throughout this season and I’m glad he took home the Mirrorball Trophy.
