So You Think You Can Dance Finale Recap: Did the Right Dancer Win Season 18?
So You Think You Can Dance‘s unconventional 18th season came to a close on Monday night, with a finale that actually did feel more like the show we used to know.
Although the Fox competition has largely traded in its usual format for a pre-taped, weekly-industry-challenge approach — I previously wrote about why that pivot hurt the show more than it helped — Monday’s finale went back to basics, asking finalists Dakayla, Anthony and Madison to perform regular duets that might help them clinch the big win.
For those duets, each finalist was paired with a previously eliminated member of this season’s Top 10, beginning with Madison’s jazz/funk performance with Braylon. If you’d turned off the finale episode after that routine, you’d be left to assume Madison would likely win the whole shebang; all three of the judges gave her glowing reviews, with Allison calling her “the most consistent dancer” of the season, while Maks said she was “ready for any job, any opportunity and every spotlight.”
But Anthony held his own in a hip-hop duet with Mariyah, leading Allison to remark that he’ll be “someone people will fall in love with.” Lastly, Dakayla performed an emotional contemporary routine with Top 10 alum Easton, which brought the judging panel to tears. “I’m so in awe of you right now,” Allison told her, and Maks agreed that Dakayla has revealed herself to be “passionate, soft and emotional” in her performances.
And with that, despite the high praise she received for her jazz/funk performance, Madison was eliminated after the duet round, leaving only Anthony and Dakayla to perform solos for the final victory. In this round, both remaining contestants left everything on the stage — including some blood from Anthony, who cut up his feet a bit during his solo — but the judges appeared to lean toward Dakayla, given her remarkable growth throughout the season. (“I’ve never seen someone go through a 10-week transformation such as this,” Maks told her.)
But after some spirited discussion at the judges’ table — “It’s the closest result we’ve ever had!” said Cat Deeley, a fairly meaningless superlative when it’s only three people choosing the champion — the Season 18 winner was revealed to be… Anthony! Confetti rained down; last season’s victor, Alexis Warr, handed Anthony his trophy; and Maks remarked that Anthony is in for a “long career, man; it’s going to be big.”
That’s a wrap on SYTYCD Season 18! Do you agree with Anthony’s victory, or would you have liked to see Madison or Dakayla triumph? Tell us below!
Boo!!! Madison and Easton are clearly the best. Dakayla Is a close third and would deserve it if going by growth.
Anthony is a distant 4th
Also please go back to the original format – so much better. And NO jojo!
And no Raining Hot Tamales Lady
All of this! Easton is already dancing with Derek hough so he’s doing ok for himself!
NO JOJO!!!
The new show format was horrible. Please get rid of JoJo. Thank you.
I loved Anthony but thought Dakayla shoud have won the night and the competition.
Didn’t watch the show but I wonder if this will be the last season. The ratings couldn’t get any worse
Anthony is so fake and disingenuous it’s hard to watch, and he can’t dance every style and didn’t show as much progress as dakayla did
I like the old way that SYTYCD was. Live, in a better place.And where the fans could vote. More dancers to start with.Season 18 was terrible. Hope season 19 is back to the old way.
I doubt this will be back. Hated this format; I couldn’t get into the dancers or the challenges. I’d like to see more variety of Dance, and “Live” voting.
Sytycd should go back to their auditions ans show from season 1 until this past season.
I am a diehard fan od SYTCYD but this season was a disappointment.
Sincerely
Cheryl
Definitely Anthony deserved the win
Anthony all the way!
Stick a fork in it SYTYCD is done. Clearly this new format was done to cut down costs – filmed totally in GA for the generous tax credit. Filmed with small audiences. No public or audience voting. As stated in the article, the closest results we’ve ever had – I suppose that’s true – whether 3-0 or 2-1 for Anthony, I bet no result was ever 1 or 3 vote difference between 1st and 2nd place. SYTYCD was a great show, but never had the ratings than AI did and still doesn’t have the ratings of ABC’s AI or the Voice. I can’t see Fox bringing it back. And if they do, I see it being similar – pre-taped and smaller. While I suppose they can keep this production model but go back to the partner dances instead of the “real life” dance situations, with the ratings, I doubt Fox will feel a need to bring it back. Sadly, I’m sure the Quiz Show With Balls will have better ratings. It was fun while it lasted. All good things must come to an end and I think we’re at the end.
Madison deserved the win. The producers obviously wanted the couple to go to the end for the story aspect of it. I want the original format back or not at all.
Go back to the old format PLEASE. Dekayla was the winner based on her bringing two judges to tears with her emotional routine.
Loved Anthony! Wish the show would go back to original format. Miss Nigel and Mary!
i wish this site would do an interview with the producers to find out exactly why they completely changed the format.
i am sure it has to be for cost reasons, but would there really be a difference? i mean they had to rent a freaking house this time, they still had makeup and costumes, jojo siwa is probably more expensive than, like, mary murphy . . . . i feel like there is more to it and i would like to hear what the people behind the show have to say.
Dakayla is is best dancer!
I think that Easton was unfairly assessed because he was OBVIOUSLY
The most accomplished dancer.
Also,I agree with many of the comments that call
For a return to the original format……
I actually like the original format better. This new format was very weak. Before the dancer was selected by voters. Everything just seemed rushed and thrown together. The show different allow dance styles to show cast. I appreciate Max as a judge but not impressed with Jojo and Allison at all. I don’t know if I would watch the show if it’s renewed. I was very disappointed 😞
I enjoyed the original format of pairs dancing different forms of dance and people calling in their vote. If they continue with this format I will not watch.
Dakayla should have won, she was phenominal.
Highly disappointed in the show – format, content wasn’t nearly as good as in the past. Madison was robbed! She was by far the best dancer!
This season was ridiculous. They leaned into the soapy “reality tv” trope WAY too hard, and forgot what made the show popular in the first place. We don’t want to see producer-manufactured relationship drama, we want to see awesome dancing! The irrational hate (esp. Maks) for Easton – who should’ve won the whole thing, but was instead unnecessarily criticized and cajoled into plastering on a fake smile – and over-effusive love for Anthony & Dakayla made no sense, and bore no relation to what we could see with our own eyes.
Of the 3 put through to the finale, Madison pretty clearly danced the best in the duets. The crying for Dakayla’s? I’ve bawled my eyes out for dances on previous seasons, but I got absolutely nothing from any dance this season. And I still can’t understand why the 3rd best dancer of the episode won the whole thing.
I was a professional dancer myself (for 5 years), and have watched every episode of SYTYCD, but I think I’m officially done. It’s become a joke.
Much better finale than the rest of the season with the duets! The group number at the beginning was better quality than all the others all season. Loved having the All Stars perform with them! Dakayla’s duet was mesmerizing, and her solos have been on point all season! Why didn’t she win??? But regardless of the winner, the finale was much better than the whole season since it was back to the norm. I hope this isn’t the end for So You Think You Can Dance, and I hope they can get back to their origins as well as audience voting because the judges deciding the winners isn’t really fair.
I do believe he deserved this title. He grew as a dancer and shows great heart
Dakayla deserved to win for sure!!
Very disappointed. One of the last shows where the win was based on talent, not talent with a story. Only lesson learned is that you can be the best & not be chosen due to the life experiences of another. So sad. Will not be watching in the future.
I wasn’t especially happy this season with who the judges eliminated when. I couldn’t figure out their reasoning at all in most cases. I gave up trying.to be honest. I will say this I think Easton and Madison were given the short ends of the stick this season. It was inconceivable that Madison only ended up in third place, compare to the other two. Really don’t understand that. And Easton, well, I think the judges handled his critic really badly. It broke my heart in the branding episode when he revealed that what they said completely broke his confidence. Good for him that he figured it out on his own. Although, then after praising him completely above the others, the judges then proceeded to cut him. Bizarre.
Easton reminded me in a strange way to Kent from season 7. Kent was all bubble gum and wide-eyed innocence, but with a bucketload of talent. His journey was incredible, not just because he was an amazing dancer, but because they gave him a gift of turning him into an artist. It really was remarkable. For Easton, I’m not entirely sure that SYTYCD was that positive an experience. He got conflicting criticism, he was punished when he performed the best. And mostly the new format just threw him into the deep end, and let him try to save himself. It really wasn’t pleasant to watch.
My main issue is still with the format. They were trying to do something new, while stlil clinging to the old, doing neither well. They could transform the show into a casting call for something (ex. a broadway show, or Taylor Swift tour), then focus the entire journey into the selection process. it’s not SYTYCD, but it would work. At least it would be clear, and it would be obvious what they want from the contestants. Or they need to go back to the old way, trying to find the diamonds in the rough, and showcasing dance for dance.