"DWTS" Week 7 Recap: This Is Halloween

October 30, 2017

“Dancing with the Stars” was basically designed for Halloween episodes, what with its emphasis on stage fog and amazing-bordering-on-insane costumes. But while we were expecting lots of delectable treats from last night’s Halloween spooktacular—including the first round of team dances, always a good time—we weren’t expecting the ep’s final trick: a double elimination that actually managed to shock the heck out of us. [Cue evil laugh from the “DWTS” producers.]

Before we get to that flaming poo-bag of a trick, though, let’s talk about the candy. And let’s begin with Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s paso doble, whose theme appeared to be a zombie-ish hybrid of Little Red Riding Hood and Twilight. Thanks to Jordan’s brilliant “Mess” video, we know just how fantastic a hip-hop dancer he is, and it was fun to get to see him show off some of those skills at the top of this number before diving into a very passionate paso.

We can’t remember the last time we were legitimately scared by a “DWTS” routine. But Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson’s contemporary piece, about an intruder who may or may not just be in Witney’s mind, gave us allll kinds of chills—and earned a perfect score from the judges.

We are such, such suckers for all things Phantom of the Opera, so we were rooting for Team Phantom of the Ballroom’s paso-tango-waltz medley from the start. And the four couples involved—Drew Scott and Emma Slater, Frankie and Witney, Vanessa Lachey and Maks Chmerkovskiy, and Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy—didn’t disappoint: They paid homage to the iconic musical with a tightly choreographed number that was dramatic, well-rehearsed, even elegant. (Could that be the first time we’ve used the word “elegant” to describe anything that happened during a “DWTS” Halloween episode?)

At the end of the night, Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke, Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev, Drew and Emma, and Vanessa and Maks all found themselves in jeopardy. Then things got really scary: Both Nikki and Artem and Vanessa and Maks were sent packing. Booooo!

Off to drown our sorrows in fun-size Milky Ways. Until next week…