And somehow the guy with the injury comes out on top! Can you say Dra. Ma.

I have been pretty accurate with the elimination prognostication so far, but I don't know if I'll get it right this week. This due to a crop of mostly strong performances, and a group of judges who seemed to be seeing very different performances than I did.

Let's dig in:

1. Kristi and Mark

First they danced the Quick Step. This looked pretty near perfect to me. It was quick, it was precise, it was charming. Given Kristi's skills I was secretly hoping for something even harder, even more flashy, but what they did doo seemed perfectly executed to me (and I'm sure it was quite hard...she just makes it look easy.)

Second they danced the Samba. I don't know what Len and Carrie Ann were talking about here. I thought this was great. Mark is a bit more flamboyant than Kristi, which I suppose I would have curbed given the choice, but I didn't see that as forced or awkward, just a slight energy mis-match. I actually enjoyed Kristi's energy a lot. To give Mark credit, he choreographed this like a master, making amazing use of her spinning skills, She was out there doing things no other star on Dancing with the Stars has ever attempted.

Bottom line: The judges seem to want to make this more competitive by knocking her down a peg, but she is still head and shoulders above anyone else out there. It's manufacture drama all the way.

2. Mario and Karina

First they danced the Viennese Waltz. I thought Mario had some footwork issues, but other than that this was lovely. There was a real sense of romance, and the lift was a wonderful climax to the routine. Karina did a very nice job with the choreography all the way around. I enjoy watching Mario dance, he has a really well-proportioned body for a dancer. I've always thought his posture and bearing were quite elegant, so again, I think the judges have always been a bit harsher on him than he deservse.

Second they danced the Jive. Everything that worked about the lift for Mario and Karina in round one, didn't work in round two. They tried something really hard, and it was really awkward. That being said, Mario, to me, is one of the most fun to watch. He has great personal style, and seems to dance with a sense of fun and joy that the other guys lack. Even in a serious ballroom dance Mario bring a sense of joy to it, and that means more to me than a few footwork problems.

Bottom line: I think they're at risk, and I continue to think it's a shame. They're next in line after Kristi on my favorites list.

3. Marisa and Tony

First they danced the Foxtrot. This was a bit simple, and a bit stompy, just as Bruno said. She hit every step, but in a very flat-footed way. There wasn't a lot of the smooth and debonair about it. She has improved, and they certainly have gotten kinder with the hair and costume, but this didn't do it for me.

Second they danced the Mambo. This was a failed attempt to up the ante difficulty-wise. It's better to add more difficult things she can be good at, or to skip it. There was lots of leg-flinging, but her passes weren't tight (when she lifted her foot to her knee, her foot didn't actually sit right against her knee, it was kind of flopping away from it) and her kicks weren't elongated with properly pointed feet. And if you're going to try that "pepper pot" spin (who knew it was called that?) like Carrie Anne said: better be able to at least d it smoothly, if not quickly. Having just seen Kristi execute it well, Marissa's version stood out...in a bad way. She looked really cute, but that was about all that worked well on this.

Bottom line: Defintely in danger...possibly going home?

4. Jason and Edyta

First they danced the Tango. He has great intensity and posture, but let's face it: She did all the work here. He stood around a lot and had some footwork issues when he did try to do the tougher stuff. We are all being blinded a bit by their god-like proportions :)

Second they danced the Samba. This was a tough one. There was an air of sex about it, but it's totally true that he was looking down a lot, thinking very hard, and had some issues knowing exactly what to do with his free arm. The lift looked too dangerous and was off-kilter, and he just didn't have the loose, fun style required. They look good together, but Edyta is surely working her butt off this season.

Bottom line: They're safe, I would guess, but he needs to regain some of his previous poise.

5. Cristian and Cheryl

First they danced the Tango. This was nervewracking for me, given Cristian's injury. I thought it was fine, well-executed, but lacking a bit in a real sense of flair. The Tango to me always seems like a dance-off between the two dancers, each seeking dominance. Cristian couldn't really try to keep up, so Cherly did all the dominating.

Second they dance the Mambo. Again, he didn't do much at all, while she was great to watch. The judges gave them a total pass on how little he did in both numbers, and I suppose I might have too, because it was amazing that they figured out how to make it work at all.

Bottom line: I think they're totally safe because of the injury factor.

Bottom line for the Bottom 2:

If it were me, the Bottom 2 would be Marisa/Tony and Jason/Edyta, and it would be Marisa's turn to go home.

Probably Mario and Karina will be in the Bottom 2 instead of Jason and Edyta, but I think I'm right about who will go home.

But what did you think?

Related Posts:

• Dancing with the Stars Recap: The Top 7
• Dancing with the Stars Recap: The Top 6 Tackle Two Dances
• Dancing with the Stars Recap: The Top 8 Go Latin

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