‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: Nyle DiMarco lands season’s first 10 on ‘Switch-Up Night’

Let’s not pull any punches here, fellow “Dancing With the Stars” fans, and just agree to call “Switch-Up Night” what it really is: kind of brilliant and sort of sadistic.

On Monday night’s show, as has happened about half a dozen times on the series before, the competing couples got shaken, stirred and mixed. For one week only, each celebrity danced with a different pro, someone every bit as capable in the ballroom but just, you know, new.

Change is good! Wait, change is good?

When “DWTS” first introduced this stunt back in Season 18, fans reportedly did not like it one bit. In fact, the word “meltdown” often came up in media coverage of the viewers’ reaction to seeing their favorite couples torn asunder.

But it’s only for one week, and nobody goes home.

Armed with that information, everybody involved seemed to get over the trauma enough to carry on, probably after seeing that it can produce both highs and lows, which is good drama and no doubt good for ratings. Congratulations, producers. And yes, most of us still suspect that you’re pulling the strings here, despite that social media voting for the repaired couples. Did my tweet even count?

”Switch-Up” can shake some middle-of-the-pack performers out of their doldrums and, on the other hand, it can just discombobulate a star so much that he or she can’t find a groove.

On the plus side, there was Derek Hough and Alexa Pena Vega last fall earning the first perfect 40 of Season 21 for their stylish tango. So it can happen that throwing two unfamiliar contestants together is both suspenseful and satisfying.

And sometimes, well, a cruel joke. (See: Paula Deen and Mark Ballas last season. Poor Mark).

The current season presented the usual issues: disruption of great chemistry between a number of existing couples (Paige and Mark, Ginger and Val) and a safety blanket removed for a rhythm-challenged competitor (already hanging-by-a-thread Doug Flutie and his deft teacher, Karina Smirnoff).

And there was one unique wrinkle in that deaf contestant Nyle DiMarco, an out-of-the-gate front-runner, had to try to communicate with a different partner after four weeks of honing his skills with the incredible Peta Murgatroyd.

The pros on this series can go toe-to-toe with anyone anywhere. The stars? They try to adapt for our amusement, and that pretty much sums up this show anyway. Dance, we said!

So how did it all turn out for the remaining nine “DWTS” contestants? Aside from an underwhelming turn by Wanya and Witney, who really should’ve been a raise-the-roof super-couple, the night held some pleasant surprises, and I’m not just talking about The Return of Maks. Read on for details:

Wanya Morris and Witney Carson

Tango to “Hold Back the River” from James Bay, with Bay performing it live in the ballroom

Maybe expectations were unreachably high for these two, or maybe Witney just couldn’t get enthused about this punk’d-style night. “Switch-up kinda sucks, in my opinion,” she said during the rehearsal video. “You have to completely start new.” She might not have been feeling it for that tango with the affable Boyz II Men singer. They probably would’ve had more fun in a different style with different music. Wanya talked about the difficulty of adapting to someone else’s teaching style in four short days, because the only ballroom instructor he’s known so far has been Lindsay.

But he soldiered on, and he was his usual dedicated and focused self. But there wasn’t much connection between the two performers. The crowd loved it anyway. Len Goodman said he “hit turbulent waters,” because it was “hectic” with “too many moving parts.” Boos all around. Bruno Tonioli noted his “incredible ability” in mastering complex choreography. Carrie Ann Inaba missed the “natural chemistry” he has with Lindsay. But he “brought it,” nonetheless.

Score: 30

Kim Fields and Keo Motsepe

Viennese waltz to “These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding

During the pre-taped video, Kim admitted she missed Sasha. Who wouldn’t miss sweet little Sasha? The former “Facts of Life” star was riding high from “Disney Night,” and thought it felt weird to have someone new up in her personal space. And the waltz really required some intimate holds and poses.

Kim looked beautiful in that floaty dress and seemed more comfortable during the number than the rehearsal video would’ve suggested. But the dance itself was merely pretty movement. That’s about it. Maks Chmerkovskiy found it “lovely, but “half-a-step” of Viennese waltz (because he’s Len’s brother in arms on the purity front). Bruno thought she was “on the money,” and Carrie Ann loved it because it brought out a “steamier, more sensual side of you.” Len wagged his finger about the lack of hold, forcing Keo to defend his choreography. (His explanation: He was adjusting for their height difference). The judges clearly didn’t agree, and they started bickering among themselves, bringing up precedents of mismatched couples and all manner of dance jargon. Oh settle down, guys.

Score: 28, 6s from Len and Maks

Doug Flutie and and Peta Murgatroyd

Tango to Sam Sparro’s “Black and Gold”

Doug has a tough time remembering things, he said during rehearsal. But Peta seemed to be exceedingly patient with him, and despite his frustrations, he kept trying. That’s why fans have continued to vote for him this season. Nobody’s kidding themselves that he’s a dancer. He’s improved, though, and Peta made the most of his limited ability. Bruno said he could see his effort, but told him to embrace the music. Carrie Ann said he “didn’t miss a step,” and Maks voted it a proper tango, though a “bit pedestrian” in spots.

Score: 28

Ginger Zee and Mark Ballas

Salsa to “La Malanga” by Eddie Palmieri

“Good Morning America” meteorologist Ginger had a truly breakout week as Belle on “Disney Night,” which was a chipper, quirky role perfectly fitting her sunny personality. Mark intended to bring out her sexy momma side with a salsa, which made her husband kind of nervous, according to the video package. Not only did she look fantastic in that tiny yellow-gold outfit, she rose to the occasion when, honestly, I wasn’t sure she had that sultry gene. Carrie Ann declared her “someone to watch,” and Len found it “fantastic.” Bruno said it was “hot, hot, hot.”

Score: 32, highest of the night so far

Antonio Brown and Karina Smirnoff

Cha-cha to Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man”

Antonio killed it last week with his modern pimp version of Aladdin, but Karina was intent on pushing him harder to keep the momentum going. She even followed him onto the football field to get in some extra practice. Their cha-cha was plenty showy, but it wasn’t very technically proficient. Len didn’t care for the “bump-and-grind stuff” because it was short on technique, and Maks said Antonio was getting away with what he already knows rather than pushing himself to learn anything new. Bruno liked his charisma but thought he and Karina were “dancing in different time zones.”

Score: 26

Paige VanZant and Sasha Farber

Rumba to “Perfect” by One Direction

Paige is much more accustomed to punching and kicking – she’s a UFC beat-down gal, after all – and she’s not naturally too trusting, she said during the video. Sasha said he needed to bring out her softness and vulnerability. She arrived at the “DWTS” ballroom already a strong dancer, and she’s had some memorable performances (“Toy Story,” her cage match with Mark). This one didn’t make it to that league, though it was solid. Stickler Maks found no rumba in that rumba, but Bruno thought it had amazing flow, movement and reach. Carrie Ann called her “multi-dimensional,” and loved the new partnership. Len said she was “clean, precise” but, completely out of character, that he wanted to see more emotion from her. Wha? OK, I kind of get it. There was more character and less real feeling in that number. It’s just that Len would seem to be the last person to point that out.

Score: 31

Von Miller and Lindsay Arnold

Jive to “Hips” by Beans and Fatback

Lindsay is a huge football fan, she said during the video, and then she wasn’t sure if her new partner was a Super Bowl winner. (Not only did his team win, but he was the big game’s MVP). Oh well, she knows now. But she did know how to play to his strengths, letting him do some line-dancing and vertical leaping. Bruno loved the swagger, but said the kicks and flicks needed to be more precise. Carrie Ann saw the strategy involved in that country-vibe dance (smart choreography, Lindsay!). Len said it was “full of fun and full of energy,” and Maks wanted him to “kick it up a notch.”

Score: 29

Nyle DiMarco and Sharna Burgess

Viennese waltz to “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle

Toughest job of the night: Sharna had to learn to communicate with and choreograph for the deaf model, Nyle, in one week. He and Peta had quickly established an amazing rapport and some of the best scores of the season. Talk about big shoes. Tyra Banks to the rescue! The TV personality, Nyle’s “America’s Next Top Model” mentor, stopped by to motivate him. (She cried watching him in rehearsal. And then she smized. And then she…crized?). Nyle was concerned that he’d slipped down in the rankings and wanted to boost himself back into leader contention. Did he ever. There was not one misstep, nor a dry eye in the house. Even if you’re not a dance aficionado, you may want to hit YouTube for that entire performance because it was stellar. I intend to rewatch it about a thousand times.

Carrie Ann said, “You take my breath away,” and opined that his perceived disability was no such thing because he can so successfully speak with his body. Len called it “a total eclipse,” and Maks said it was “the best dance of the night.” A person would have to be made of “granite” not to “fall head over heels in love with that performance,” according to Bruno.

Score: 37, with the first 10 of the season, from Len, and 9s from the rest. There was a bit of a kerfuffle when Bruno and Maks held up their 10 paddles when, in fact, they meant to score 9s. What a tease!

Jodie Sweetin and Val Chmerkovskiy

Paso doble to “Under Control” by Calvin Harris and Alesso

Val guest starred on Jodie’s series, “Fuller House,” dancing with her in a short scene, so this wasn’t entirely new. But then again, it was. Val confessed in the video package that he learned English by watching “Full House” as a kid and that he had had a massive crush on Jodie. He wasn’t too in awe to crack the whip, though, and he brought out the best in his partner. It was surely her response to a disappointing round last week, and it’ll no doubt boost her confidence and put her back in the game as a real contender. “Full of attack, full of purpose,” Len said, and Maks said she could make it to the finale.

Score: 35

No one went home, but the “Switch-Up” scores do count. Top of the leaderboard from Monday: Nyle. Bottom: Antonio. Scores from this week will be added to the scores from “Disney Night” to see who gets sent packing next Monday. Also next week: Routines will be based on an iconic piece of entertainment, not necessarily of the Disney ilk.

MORE:

Paige VanZant's 'Toy Story' dancing success tied to her UFC training

'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Marla Maples no longer part of that world after Disney Night

'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Mischa Barton forgotten in 'Most Memorable Year'