The show frames this as a celebration of excellence, highlighting Harry Shum Jr.'s historic perfect score and the high-level artistry of the horror-themed routines, downplaying the stress of the accumulated scoring system.
Insiders say the double elimination felt like a punishment for the audience's patience during Dedication Night. Tyler Cameron's visible disappointment and admission that he 'let Sharna down' suggests the pressure cooker of combined scores broke the former Bachelorette contestant's spirit.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson received a 40/40 for their Contemporary routine to 'Toxic.' Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess scored a 26/40 for their Viennese Waltz. Jackson Olson and Emma Slater scored a 35/40 for their Contemporary piece. Scores from Tuesday, Oct 27, were combined with previous week's totals.
Harry Shum Jr. proved heโs a dance powerhouse, but the mechanics of the game turned Horror Movie Night into a bloodbath for the bottom two couples.
The atmosphere at the ballroom was thick with suspense, not just from the horror movie-inspired costumes, but from the looming threat of the accumulated scores. Since the previous Dedication Night saw zero eliminations, the judgesโ scores from Tuesday, October 27, were stacked with the couples' totals from the prior week. This created a high-stakes environment where one misstep meant immediate exile.
The night opened with Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa delivering an Argentine tango inspired by *The Omen*. While the performance had its moments, guest judge Shirley Ballas wasn't buying the technique, critiquing Stiles for needing "sharper, controlled legs." Carrie Anna Inaba echoed the sentiment, noting that the *Save the Last Dance* star appeared more "tense" than in previous weeks, a subtle dig that likely didn't help their combined score standing.
However, the real story of the night was made by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson. Their Contemporary routine to 2WEIโs "Toxic" wasn't just good; it was undeniable. Bruno Tonioli declared the number "perfection," a rare praise from the judge.
Shirley Ballas added that she has "never seen anything quite like that," cementing the performance as a season highlight. The couple made history by receiving the first perfect 40/40 score of Season 35. This historic moment served as a stark contrast to the anxiety felt by the couples at the bottom, proving that in *DWTS*, excellence is rewarded, but mediocrity is ruthlessly punished when the safety net is removed.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy also delivered a standout performance, earning a standing ovation from Derek Hough. Hough went so far as to call their Argentine tango to "Uninvited" one of "the best Argentine tangos I've ever seen on this floor." Despite Dewan tripping on her dress mid-routine, the judges applauded her recovery, awarding them a strong 37/40. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas closed out the night with a Contemporary piece inspired by *The Lost Boys*.
Higgins was praised as a "phenomenal performer," with Shirley Ballas even bringing out her iconic tiny shoes to demonstrate proper foot pivoting, a sign of the respect Higgins has earned despite the chaotic night. But for Tyler Cameron and Jackson Olson, the horror theme became a reality. The double elimination took out Cameron and Sharna Burgess, who scored a 26/40 for their Viennese Waltz to "Love Song for a Vampire," and Olson and Emma Slater, who scored a 35/40 for their Contemporary to Frank Sinatraโs "Thatโs Life." The emotional fallout was immediate.
Olson expressed that he had wanted to be on the show since last year, calling the "journey" amazing despite the abrupt end. Cameron, visibly disappointed, admitted he felt he had "let Burgess down." With *DWTS* airing on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, viewers now face a field of fewer competitors, but the drama has only just begun.
