Last night’s Dance Moms brought the drama, but Abby Lee Miller managed to stay slightly above the fray. You know that means it’s bad! As the episode begins, Abby is as unhinged as ever as she lectures the mothers on not respecting how busy she is as Ashlee lobbies for a pyramid to prove to the other moms that Brynn is worthy of the ALDC jacket. She’s still fuming that the team refuses to accept her daughter as its newest member, and I’m fuming that I get riled up and forget this a scripted mess.
At the studio, JoJo inquires to the whereabouts of Ashlee’s friends, and Ashlee retorts that she has no friends. Meanwhile, Melissa drives her daughters to practice, and Maddie admits that she love Brynn, but her addition to the team was awkward thanks to the mothers. MacKenzie chimes in to say how sad it was that the moms accused Brynn’s win of being rigged, and Melissa quickly shuts her down. “We don’t say that word.”
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Back at the ALDC, the veteran moms give Ashlee the cold shoulder. Jill doesn’t believe that Ashlee fits in…plus she has to put down the other girls to make her daughter look good. I can only assume that Jill is upset because Ashlee is trying to steal her signature move…any other reason would be the height of hypocrisy! At pyramid (which never actually happens), Abby applauds Brynn for leading her trio to victory and the girls welcome their new teammate.
As the moms serve up major side-eye, Ashlee interrupts to ask Abby how she feels about moms who are bitter that her daughter has had a better season than Kendall. As Kendall bursts into tears (sweet JoJo is always there to support her friends), Ashlee dismisses Kendall with a snide comment. Kendall screams at Ashlee about how hateful she is, and Holly is saddened to see that the girls are now becoming their mothers. Brynn cries because Kendall was mean to her mother, and Abby chastises Kendall for letting Ashlee get under her skin. How is she going to react to a negative comment on her next job? This show is my nemesis, yet I can’t not watch. Great.
Holly lectures the crew on the importance of being role models (isn’t it a tad late for that?), and Melissa predicts the soloists…the trio winners. Abby hopes that this week’s competition in Las Vegas will provide some fun in the midst of the drama. MacKenzie comforts her friend Brynn in light of the moms’ nastiness. Abby reminds the group that the subject of the fight, Brynn, has stuck around to be a part of the team while Kendall and Jill ran out on the girls. The group number is a tribute to David Bowie, and Brynn’s solo is inspired by Princess Lea. Jessalyn can’t believe that Brynn was gifted yet another solo. What about Nia? Preach, says Holly.
Abby is excited to have some down time over lunch with Maddie. She needs some quality conversation with her protege…and she needs to make sure that Maddie isn’t going anywhere. They reminisce about Maddie’s rise to fame as Abby cries about how proud her mother would be of Maddie’s shining star. Abby hopes that together they can squash any rumors about Maddie leaving the ALDC. Um, Maddie can’t quite make eye contact with her teacher upon hearing that statement.
The following day, when the mothers start to bicker, Holly calls a tribunal in the parking lot. Clearly Kendall was modeling the behavior they’ve taught her, and the moms need to be more aware of how they speak to one another in the presence of their girls. Jill and Kendall are rejoining the group, and Jill gives her daughter a pep talk about not letting Ashlee push her buttons. Holly leads the charge to remind her cohorts that they need to be careful with their words. Ashlee isn’t upset about pissing off Jill, but she hates that she caused Kendall such pain. Sure she does…Jill can’t let a sleeping dog lie, so she keeps poking the bear while MacKenzie rehearses her J-Lo-esque number. Kira is thrilled about Kalani’s solo, and she hopes her daughter’s talent will be enough to shut Ashlee’s mouth when it comes to bashing the dancers. Ashlee realizes that she’s got to do something to alleviate the hate pouring down on her, so she issues a seemingly sincere apology to the mothers.
At competition, the ALDC is met with their usual throng of adoring fans. Holly hopes the girls can put their mothers’ differences aside to dance as a team. Haven’t they been practicing that skill for years? Abby reiterates the importance of being a loyal member of the ALDC by reminding everyone of MacKenzie’s residency with the studio. JoJo (I love this kid) jokes that it’s like Monopoly, “If you’re not just visiting, you’re in jail.” Ashlee wonders if Abby’s speech was intended to guilt MacKenzie to stay with the team as the rumors of Maddie’s departure from the ALDC run rampant. A teary Melissa admits she’s not willing to deprive her girls of future opportunities, although she’s not going to say they are quitting…just yet. Her counterparts wish that Melissa would just be honest with her intentions so they could move forward as a team (even if it means moving forward without the Ziegler girls).
MacKenzie performs first, and I’m not going to lie…I wasn’t floored. Her technique was good, but her costume was awkward and she didn’t seem very committed to the dance. Kalani, on the other hand, knocks her solo out of the park. The force was also with Brynn as she danced, but, as a total Star Wars geek, I think I loved how much the music mimicked the real deal much more than Brynn’s routine. Backstage, Abby dotes on all of her soloists, drowning them in praise. Gia notes that Brynn was very nervous about her performance. Before the group number, the girls are getting ready sans mothers and relishing in a few minutes free of drama. These girls have more maturity in their silly fauxhawks than the mothers have tenfold as a collective group. JoJo even entertains the crowd with a well timed fart. Again, I LOVE that child.
The ALDC’s homage to David Bowie is pretty amazing, even though I am pretty sure none of the girls have any clue who David Bowie was or how amazing his legacy is. I’m sure they enjoyed the 80’s make-up and colorful blazers though. Regardless of the scripted drama and the mother’s unpalatable behavior, this group is supremely talented. At the awards ceremony, MacKenzie scores the second place spot in her solo division, with Brynn taking the top spot. Kalani also places second in the teen division. For once, Abby isn’t screaming that second is first loser. Instead, she believes that Kalani’s ability may have her dancing back-up to J-Lo one day soon. Not shockingly, everyone celebrates when the ALDC group routine wins first prize. I won’t bore you with the fact that the episode concludes with the mothers clucking about which one is the meanest.
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[Photo Credit: Lifetime]
