As Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong took the floor for their final freestyle, viewers couldn’t contain their excitement. Many flooded social media with reactions to their performance. The excitement was palpable as “Dancing with the Stars (DWTS)” Season 33 reached its grand finale on November 26. Five couples returned to the ballroom, each hoping to claim the ultimate prize: the coveted mirror ball trophy. After last week’s shocking twist, where no one was eliminated in the semifinals, the stage was set for an all-star showdown.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten, Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, and Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold delivered their final routines in a bid to take home the win. As the winner was revealed, viewers flooded social media to share their thoughts on Kinney and Armstrong’s finale performance. “Way better than Joey’s dance imo she deserves to win,[sic]” one fan remarked. Another called their routine “one of if not THE best jive I’ve ever seen!![sic]” Meanwhile, another viewer described it as “literally the definition of redemption.”
Social media remained lively as fans analyzed Kinney and Armstrong’s finale performance and placement. One critical viewer wrote, “She took the easy way out. No bounce in her steps that’s why she didn’t get tired at the end. Judges gave her a pass.[sic]” Another praised her effort but noted, “There was a moment when the choreography slowed a bit.” The judges also came under scrutiny, with one commenter questioning, “Give me a break Carrie Ann, saying she’s been the most challenged? Explain please.” Still, not everyone was impressed by the freestyle routines. One fan called them “a little disappointing this year overall” and another suggested, “Stephen’s was the best.” Kinney’s third-place finish sparked mixed reactions. “I hope Chandler knows that she’s number 1 in the Reddit community 
,” one supporter shared.
Another viewed it positively, writing, “Blessing in disguise that Chandler didn’t win because those comments are brutal already.” Others believed she deserved more, with one saying, “Chandler deserved at least 2nd place.” For their final Freestyle routine, Kinney and Armstrong aimed to honor the legacy of Black artists who paved the way in entertainment. Armstrong highlighted the significance of their moment in “DWTS” history, explaining that as the first black couple to reach the finale, they wanted to celebrate the performers who came before them. He emphasized how black artists are “at the root of entertainment today,” a sentiment Kinney echoed, calling the performance both “important” and “really special” for representation.
Kinney expressed her determination to make their dance unforgettable, saying she was pouring “every fiber of my being” into perfecting it. She shared that winning the mirrorball trophy as the first black couple would be special. When the time came, their performance dazzled the audience with breathtaking leaps, seamless lifts, and tricks. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised their effort as “a truly incandescent, spectacular celebration” of Black artists’ contributions to dance. He declared it “a grand performance for a grand finale.”