A multi-part series in which we look at the remaining Dancing with the Stars finalists as the season finale approaches.
Highlights:
Week 3’s superb salsa
Week 5’s crazy pirate paso doble
Week 9’s Julianne-assisted Argentine tango
Lowlight:
Week 7’s confusing cocktail of a quickstep, themed around the 1920s and baseball, set to Jason Derulo’s “Wiggle”
Riker is fortunate that this season’s stars did not arrive with pre-existing fanbases, which allowed him to win over the audience through the weeks with his likable personality and quality dancing. It helps that he is by far the most relatable of the guys on the show – he is not a war hero with a body like a Greek god’s, he is not a billionaire, and he did not have twenty-five women fighting to marry him. He does not tug on viewers’ heartstrings like the others, but his earnestness is endearing, and may be enough to get him the trophy.
Riker came out of the gate as a strong dancer, and has not really faltered since, topping the leaderboard every third week. He has expanded his range beyond fast and frenetic, and has delivered several classy ballroom routines. He also has a good sense of fun, as evidenced by his star turn as Captain Jack Sparrow.
The problem is, Riker has not really grown through the competition. After the aforementioned Disney Night in Week 5, none of his routines have really wowed. The freestyle round is all about wowing the voting audience, which is what usually makes or breaks potential winners, so Riker and Allison need to somehow up their game next week to get that trophy. Simply good dancing no longer suffices.
The pro: Allison is the newest pro in the entire season, let alone the finals. This is only her second season on the show; last season she placed in a disappointing ninth place with Jonathan Bennett. Witney won last season on her second go-around, but that is rare, and she had much less stiff competition. Allison, frankly, is not a good fit for DWTS. Her insistence on disregarding the rules of the ballroom dances, her posturing over song choices and judges’ critiques, and her over-reliance on Riker’s existing dance experience have not won her many fans. While the freestyle, with its lack of constraints, is right up her alley, she is still Riker’s biggest disadvantage going into the finals.
Biggest advantage: Good dancing and high energy
Notable precedents: It’s tough to say who makes a good comparison for Riker, a not-too-famous musician and occasional actor. In fact, the best parallels are probably Kellie Pickler and Zendaya, who went up against each other in season 16 and claimed the top two spots (Kelie won). Going off of the Glee connection, since Riker plays Warbler #5, we look to Glee star Amber Riley, who walked away with the trophy in season 17. On the whole, Riker’s predecessors have done well for themselves.
Odds of winning: Riker doesn’t have Rumer’s fierce dance technique, nor Noah’s tendency to tearjerk, but he could be the happy medium between the two and take it all. Odds of victory: 25%
Related: Dancing with the Stars finalist analysis: Noah Galloway
Related: Dancing with the Stars finalist analysis: Rumer Willis
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