Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap delivered exactly what fans want from an early-season episode: surprise breakthroughs, tough judging, and an elimination that narrowed the field. With Viral Hits Night bringing social-media-famous songs into the ballroom, the competition felt more current, more unpredictable, and far more revealing than the split premiere.
After last week’s separate men’s and women’s debuts, all 14 remaining couples finally competed in the same live show. That gave viewers a clearer sense of who is rising, who is stalling, and who may already be emerging as a real contender for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap: Viral Hits Night highlights
The central gimmick of Week 2 was simple but effective: every pair danced to a song that recently found major traction online. That theme gave the episode a youthful energy, but it also created a challenge. Viral songs can boost audience excitement, yet they do not automatically make ballroom routines stronger. In several cases, the judges praised performance value while criticizing weak technique or a mismatch between choreography and dance style.
Another wrinkle this season is the tightened judging format. Because the panel ran long during the premiere, one judge each round now has to summarize feedback in a single word. It keeps the live show moving, but it also trims useful critique from a competition where detailed notes matter.
Top scorers of the night
The top of the leaderboard reflected a balance of polish, emotional control, and technical growth. Three celebrity contestants stood out:
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy earned 21/30 with an energetic jive to “Animal,” showing stronger partner connection than in Week 1.
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach scored 21/30 after a cha cha that impressed the judges with both adaptation and execution.
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov also landed 21/30, with Bruno Tonioli calling their tango the best of the night.
In any Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap, Frech deserves special mention. His routine was framed as one of the toughest assignments of the week, yet he and Karagach turned it into one of the most memorable performances of the night.
Who improved the most in Week 2?
Week 2 is often where contestants either absorb the judges’ notes or repeat the same mistakes. Several celebrities clearly took criticism seriously and returned stronger.
Jenna Dewan found her rhythm
Dewan’s Week 1 feedback focused on fully dancing with her partner rather than around him. In Week 2, that chemistry clicked. Her jive had sharper intention, stronger energy, and more confidence, suggesting she could become one of the season’s more consistent performers.
Jackson Olson showed real growth
The Savannah Bananas star was pushed hard on technique in the premiere, but his foxtrot showed smoother movement and better control. Carrie Ann Inaba’s surprised reaction said a lot: the improvement was visible.
Guillermo Rodriguez got serious
Rodriguez may still sit lower on the scoreboard, but one of the biggest storylines from this Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap is that he proved he can be more than comic relief. His paso doble showed discipline and commitment, even if the score did not fully reflect the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Standout performances and judge reactions
Several routines became defining moments of the episode, either for their quality or for what they revealed about a contestant’s ceiling.
Amber Glenn delivered the dance of the night
Glenn’s tango was controlled, sharp, and dramatically convincing. The judges praised her frame and authority, with Tonioli going as far as to call it the best tango of the evening. That kind of endorsement this early in the season matters.
Ezra Frech continued to look like a frontrunner
Frech impressed in the premiere, and Week 2 confirmed that was no fluke. What stood out most was how he and Karagach approached necessary accommodations not as limitations, but as part of the performance strategy. The result was dynamic and deeply impressive.
Maura Higgins stayed steady under pressure
After tying for the top score in Week 1, Higgins entered the ballroom with expectations on her shoulders. Her cha cha may have played slightly safer, according to the judges, but it still showed control and strong potential for the weeks ahead.
Harry Shum Jr. showed promise, but not perfection
Shum remains one of the season’s most watchable contestants. His Viennese waltz had elegance and control, but the judges wanted smoother transitions between emotional performance and technical frame. In other words: high upside, but work to do.
Who struggled on Viral Hits Night?
Not every routine hit the mark. A few celebrities entertained without fully satisfying the ballroom brief.
- Tyler Cameron brought crowd-pleasing lifts, but the judges questioned how much actual salsa content was in the routine.
- Connor Wood had a few visible mistakes, though the panel appreciated his effort and flashes of quality.
- Taylor Hanson showed enthusiasm in his cha cha, but his movement remained loose and unfinished.
- Giada De Laurentiis struggled to add enough power and confidence to her salsa, leaving her vulnerable at the bottom of the leaderboard.
That tension between performance and technique is at the heart of this Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap. Audiences may love personality, but the judges are clearly taking a stricter approach this season.
Who was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars?
The elimination at the end of the night sent Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten home. While she brought humility and charm to the competition, her scores never gave her much protection. On a season where the judges are refusing to hand out easy points, lower-ranked contestants will likely find themselves in danger quickly.
With Giada’s exit, 13 couples move on to next week’s Yacht Rock Night.
What Week 2 tells us about Season 35
If this Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap proves anything, it is that the competition is still wide open. No one has run away with the season yet, but a tier of early favorites is beginning to form.
Right now, the contestants with the strongest momentum include:
- Ezra Frech
- Amber Glenn
- Jenna Dewan
- Maura Higgins
- Harry Shum Jr.
Still, the middle of the pack is crowded, and one breakout routine can change the entire leaderboard. That makes the next few episodes crucial.
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Final takeaway
This Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 recap shows a season settling into shape fast. Viral Hits Night gave fans flashy music and big moments, but the most important development was the judges’ continued insistence on real technique. Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech, and Jenna Dewan look especially strong, while others will need major improvement to survive. If Week 2 is any indication, Season 35 could be one of the show’s most competitive in years.
