It’s not an episode of Dance Moms if Abby Lee Miller doesn’t tap dance all over the feelings of her dancers, and it’s not the season finale if Lifetime doesn’t force an extra thirty minutes of the show on us. Last night was an emotional ride, with MacKenzie and Maddie Ziegler saying good-bye to their oldest friends and Melissa Gisoni peacing out on the ladies she has loved to hate for the last several years.
For the last week, Maddie wishes for good dances, fun times, and Abby keeping the yelling to a minimum. Keep wishing, kid! Jill hopes the mothers will remember to be on their best behavior, and Jill reminds the mini-moms that this isn’t the time to cause drama. So wise, that Jill.
After a poor showing at the last competition, Abby praises the minis for being her only winners, teasing them with the idea of head shots. Maddie makes the mistake of asking if she’s trying to replace the Zieglers, and Abby retorts that she’s not quitting just because Maddie’s a quitter. Maddie backs down, “It’s your team!” as Abby basically takes full credit for Maddie‘s success. Had she been dancing for anyone else, she’d still be living her boring, humdrum, middle class life. It’s awkward, and I feel both badly for Maddie that her teacher is being so hateful and glad that she’s getting the heck out of dodge.
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At pyramid, Brynn is on the bottom for her third place solo, followed by Kendall who doesn’t pay enough attention to the nuances of choreography. JoJo is next because lyrical isn’t her strong suit, and Nia rounds out the bottom for being “good.” I love that Nia hasn’t been able to hide her disdain for Abby for the entire season. MacKenzie is in the third spot for not dancing like a little girl, with Kalani placing runner up to Maddie’s top spot. Ashlee wonders how a fourth place soloist ends up at the top of the pyramid, but she’s going to pick her battles this week.
The elite team is thrilled to learn their group number will be hip-hop. Both Maddie and MacKenzie get solos, and Kendall is tasked with helping the minis learn the choreography for their routine as it’s an old routine of hers. Jill crosses her fingers that this means Abby sees Kendall in a leadership role in Maddie’s absence. The mini whose mom needs to tone down the make-up is given a solo to dance in her brother’s honor. Abby invites make-up mom to share her story, and she tearfully tells the studio that her son requires around the clock care and cannot walk or talk due to complications from open-heart surgery when he was an infant. There isn’t a dry eye in the room as she expresses her gratitude for being able to come to L.A. and watch her daughter succeed at her dream. Please, please don’t exploit her poor son for a story line, Lifetime.
Maddie’s solo is entitled The Hostage, and it’s based on the movie The Room. In the viewing room, the mothers reminisce about the good ol’ days by watching early footage of Maddie and MacKenzie. Ashlee decides to stir the pot, mentioning that Abby seems more emotional over the mini’s tribute solo than the Zieglers final week. The mini mothers chime in, and Melissa scolds them butting in their business. She cries to her friends, saying she’s not ready for this ride to end. The following day, Abby is working with the minis on their head shots, and Melissa silently seethes that Abby has neglected choreographing her daughters’ final group routine. Holly worries Melissa is going to snap soon.
As the mini practices her solo, her mom reveals that the her son, his nurse, and her parents are all coming to Los Angeles to watch her daughter dance. The mini moms are thrilled for her, while the veteran moms offer curt words of encouragement. And just as Holly predicted, Melissa blurts out that this week is supposed to be all about her daughters. She’s really sorry that make-up mom has had a hard life raising a disabled child, but really, this isn’t about him. The focus needs to be on Maddie and MacKenzie. Jill can’t hide her shock, and I will her to quickly muzzle Melissa. Of course, she doesn’t and Melissa keeps right on spewing about how she has been a dedicated part of the team. The mini moms are speechless. After the emotional day, the elite team moms head out for mimosas, and Ashlee feels lucky to be invited to join. The hens cluck about how Abby is being so horrible by not acknowledging the girls’ final week and encourage Melissa to confront her. The following day, Abby spends more time screaming at the elite team than watching them rehearse.
At the competition, the veteran moms arrive dressed in black with veiled hats, claiming they are in mourning. Holly requests that the mini team allow the original ALDC members to do their final walk together…without them. In the dressing room, Holly questions how Abby is feeling. Jill wants to know if she’s sad that the girls are leaving. Abby dismisses the inquiries and gives a pep talk that basically drives home the point that Maddie and MacKenzie are easily replaceable. Maddie is understandably hurt. The mini’s solo is first, and Abby gushes to her brother about how glad she is he’s here to see his sister dance. Her routine is beautiful and emotional, and the mini gives a heartfelt speech about her her brother before giving him a hug. He is smiling from ear to ear, but Phil Collins should feel ashamed of himself. MacKenzie then takes the stage for her last ALDC solo, and Abby couldn’t look more bored. Even though she does a great job, her choreography is nothing compared to the mini’s. The entire row of mourning moms, as well as Abby, burst into giggles when the Australian judge compares her to a pocket rocket. Maybe it means something different Down Under?
Before taking the stage, Nia, Kalani, and Kendall give their bestie a pep talk. Maddie’s solo is flawless and stunning and emotional. Melissa is sobbing, and Abby looks like she’s having a stroke she’s trying so hard to contain her feelings. Maddie is met with tearful hugs from her friends. Backstage, Abby fawns over the minis while totally ignoring her elite team. The mothers are appalled at her actions. The minis and elite teams prep for their group routines, and Abby wants to give her original team some words of wisdom. Abby says, while Maddie and MacKenzie’s future may not be bigger or brighter, it’s not sad they are moving on. It may even be a blessing in disguise for some of the remaining dancers. As Melissa complains about how disrespectful Abby is being, make-up mom speaks up to assert she’s felt disrespected as well. Kira interjects to say she is very sorry for her situation with her son, but the mini moms need to realize that Maddie paved the way for their daughters to be here. Melissa loses it and storms out of the room swearing up a storm. Is it me, or is her anger a bit misplaced?
The minis group routine is cute enough, and the ALDC teammates pump themselves up before their hip-hop number. Even I’m getting a bit teary. This show may be unbearable at times, but these girls’ friendships are the real deal and they have managed to stay sweet in light of their mothers’ nastiness. Their group dance is fun and energetic, and I know the team desperately wanted to perform a hip-hop number. However, I would have loved to see a routine that leaves everyone speechless, like some of their more dramatic numbers in the past. At the awards ceremony, the mini’s solo earns second place with MacKenzie not placing. A deserving Maddie ends her ALDC career with a winning solo. The minis group number takes first place, as does the elite team’s dance. The emcee recognizes the Ziegler sisters who are showered with flowers by her teammates and gives a touching speech about what gifts the girls are to the dance community. Melissa gets called up to the stage, and bursts into tears thanking Abby, Gia, and her fellow dance moms. Maddie and MacKenzie follow suit. Am I seriously crying? Too bad the emcee said what Abby should have!
The veteran moms have decorated the dressing room to celebrate Maddie and MacKenzie’s last competition. As the elite team laughs and hugs, Abby interrupts to welcome the minis as official members of the ALDC. Holly invites Abby to speak on the next chapter of the ALDC, and she ticks off techniques and reminds the girls to practice without so much as mentioning Maddie and MacKenzie. When she goes to address the sisters, my DVR recording ceased. However, since I’m a consummate professional (cough, cough), I stayed up until midnight to watch the last thirty seconds when the show aired again. I wish I hadn’t. All Abby does is share her critiques with Maddie and MacKenzie about their solos…and they are copious. Downtrodden, the girls leave, and Melissa stays mum. Jessalyn urges Abby to communicate with Melissa. After all, they were once such great friends. Nope.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SEASON FINALE? WAS ABBY OUT OF LINE WITH HER TREATMENT OF MADDIE AND MACKENZIE?
[Photo Credit: Lifetime]
