Dwts Season 31: The Finalists Are Set! Which Duos Made the Top 4?

By Willie Neal On Nov 15, 2022

On Monday night, one of the most competitive Top Sixes in recent memory took to the dance floor, all vying for a spot in the season finale the following week.

The final six contestants, Wayne, Charli, Trevor, Daniel, Shangela, and Gabby, each performed two routines with their partners during the semifinal broadcast. This time, however, there were no team dances, relays, or dance marathons; instead, the six couples just performed their customary duets, first in the last ballroom style and then in a final Latin dance style that they had never tried before.

The fact that longstanding head judge Len Goodman announced he would be stepping down after Season 31 concluded the following week added an extra sorrowful note to Monday’s broadcast; read more about it here.

After Dancing’s second consecutive double elimination, which revealed the Top 4 remaining in the running to win the Mirrorball trophy, everything came to a close. After reading our recap of the semifinals’ performances and outcomes, leave a comment and let us know if you agree or disagree with our selection of the final four.

Table of Contents

Wayne Brady and Witney Carson Are Secure!

Wayne started with a paso doble that was emotionally affected by a point in his life when he came dangerously close to ending the romantic relationship he was in at the time. Although he missed a little bit of refinement in his technical execution, Wayne brought a realistic, imploring intensity to the dance.

The second performance was a Viennese waltz, which was initially lovely and emotional but ultimately one of Wayne’s most forgettable performances, especially for the crucial semifinals.

JUDGES’ SCORES: Paso Doble: 36/40; Viennese Waltz: 37/40

Mark Ballas and Charli D’Amelio are secure!

Charlie and Mark were first in line for a Viennese waltz, and holy crap, was it wonderful. Technically speaking, Charli was quite precise, as seen by a series of stunningly timed turns she performed with Mark near the top of the performance.

Her exceptional capacity for emotional transparency was matched admirably by the grit and snark she later brought to the paso doble. (Carrie Ann should perhaps tone down the compliments just a little bit. Hugs during a critique are superfluous!)

JUDGES’ SCORES: 40/40 for the paso doble and 40/40 for the Viennese waltz

Judges Rescued Shangela and Gleb Savchenko Who Was in Danger!

Shangela’s first dance was accented with a wonderful, impassioned solo flamenco piece, despite the fact that she has previously struggled with overly dramatic and exaggerated movements—a trap in which the paso doble could easily capture her.

Her Viennese waltz wasn’t quite as mesmerizing as Charli’s—hard to be!—but it was still magnificent in many aspects, particularly her breathtaking, whirling drop to the dance floor with Gleb’s assistance.

JUDGES’ SCORES: Paso Doble: 36/40; Viennese Waltz: 37/40

Safe: Val Chmerkovskiy and Gabby Windey

With an exquisite, romantic, and slightly spicy waltz, Gabby and Val started their evening. Maybe something did go a little awry with Gabby’s outfit in the last third? Was she concerned that something would come loose from her waist? Uncertain, but she handled it well.

In connection with that, Gabby deserves praise for maintaining her composure when lying on the ground with her dress briefly covering her face; two months before, Gabby would have undoubtedly burst out laughing. But throughout this dramatic dance, Gabby shows fierceness and tenacity, and she flawlessly executed the technical demands of Val’s extremely complex choreography.

Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart Were Eliminated!

Given the song’s odd time signature for the first half, Daniel’s Viennese waltz to “Surprise Yourself” by Jack Garratt was an extremely outstanding start to the evening. However, he expertly kept his rhythm and musicality, culminating in a magnificent performance as a whole.

To be quite honest, Len Goodman’s goodbye speech distracted me from paying attention to Daniel’s Round 2 samba; nevertheless, I do know that he rocked the heck out of this vibrant outfit. No easy task!

JUDGES’ SCORES: 35/40 for Viennese waltz; 34/40 for samba

Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater Were Eliminated!

Trevor finished fifth in the Round 1 performance lineup on Monday, which sadly only served to highlight how inadequate his technique is, especially during his cha-cha. But despite a few stumbles and shaky transitions, Trevor still managed to wow with his level of assurance and entertainment value.

Dwts Season 31 (3)

Round 2 of his Although it was unfortunate to witness Emma stumble and maybe lose her balance a few times during the Viennese waltz, which was intended to demonstrate the stability that she and Trevor offer to one another,

JUDGES’ SCORES: 33/40 for the Viennese waltz and 32/40 for the cha-cha