Did Sentimentalism Contribute to Results on 'So You Think You Can Dance' Top 8?

Last night's episode of So You Think You Can Dance saw some "surprising" eliminations. They were surprising in the sense that no one would have expected Mollee Gray and Legacy Perez to leave before Ryan and Ashleigh Di Lello especially given the fact that Ashleigh had been injured and unable to perform last night. Yet in retrospect, I really wasn't surprised by the results.

So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 Results: Ryan's Tears

When Ryan had started crying on Tuesday, I knew that Ashleigh (and possibly Ryan himself) would make it to the finale. To his credit, Ryan was kind and selfless when he encouraged the audience to vote for Ashleigh over himself. Of course, fans were going to eat that up. Who would be cruel enough to send her home when she was injured, especially after her husband cried on television on her behalf? And who would be cruel enough to send a husband home while putting the wife through?

To be sure, fans did not respond when Nathan Trasoras cried on television last week, but there's an important difference. Nathan's tears were perceived as a plea for sympathy votes while Ryan's tears were seen as a selfless act from a loving husband.

So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 Results: Mollee Gray

Last night, I had predicted Mollee's departure, though I wasn't confident in my prediction. It really could have gone either way between her and Ellenore Scott. On the one hand, Mollee has more star power and seems to have a much larger following than Ellenore. And she had Adam Shankman firmly in her corner throughout the season.

On the other hand, I really wasn't surprised by the Top 8 results. Mollee peaked unbelievably well the past two weeks, but it may have been too little too late. She may have incurred backlash by being Nathan's partner as they really held each other back in the early weeks of the competition.

So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 Results: Legacy Perez

If it had been up to me, I would have kept Legacy and Mollee over Ryan and Ashleigh. Legacy has more spark and his solos are much more exciting. Ryan is a very likable individual and a wonderful partner dancer, but his solos haven't been up to the level of other dancers in the competition.

Legacy's case might have just been luck of the draw. He and Ellenore had one strong performance followed by a weaker routine (which arguably could have been blamed on choreography). The Baltimore Sun suggested that Nappytabs were to blame for Ellenore and Legacy's bottom two showing last night because of their routine. Legacy and Mollee, however, are talented and will have many more career opportunities in the future.

Sources:

'So You Think You Can Dance' results: Top 8 turn to 6, The Baltimore Sun