Switch-Up week on "Dancing With The Stars" brought mixed emotions to the dance floor, as it always does. Some struggled to keep up with their new partner, and earned their lowest scores of the season, while others thrived with their new learning experience, dominating the scoreboard.
Former pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy came back to guest judge, and he was extremely honest, making sure to hold absolutely nothing back, and even threw his own brother, Val, a 10. With the first 10 of the season happening last week, the judges threw out a few more last night, and one lucky couple even got four well-deserved 10's across the board.
Married couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega stole the show with their perfect and near-perfect dances with their new partners for the week.
Alexa stunned with a 10 from each judge, becoming the first contestant this season to earn a perfect score. She and fan-favorite Derek Hough danced the Tango to Bastille's "Pompeii" in matching black and grey leather outfits with the help of some other pro dancers. They didn't miss a step, and they knew it the second they stopped dancing. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba told them it was "incredible" while Derek's own sister Julianne couldn't get over how unbelievably "authentic" it was.
Alexa praised Derek for really pushing her to try hard and be confident.
"I knew that we had worked really hard," she told People backstage. "But you just never know what the judges are going to think."
"I cannot even begin to explain tonight," she captioned a photo of their dance following the show. "It still doesn't feel real!!! @derekhough THANK YOU for pushing me and encouraging me all week. Making me say my 'I AM's' and reminding me of the strong woman God made me to be!! You lit the fire this week. Beyond thankful for your patience, your love and your incredible encouragement."
A photo posted by Derek Hough (@derekhough) on Oct 12, 2015 at 7:05pm PDT
Carlos wasn't far behind, as he scored his highest score of the season, and the second highest of the night, just one point lower than his wife. He and Lindsay Arnold dazzled in purple and earned 39 out of 40 points for their quickstep to Elvis Presley's "Bossa Nova Baby (Viva Mix)." Once he received his scores, Carlos couldn't stop thanking the judges, but he really credited the high score to his new partner for the night.
"Lindsay taught me a lot this week about how to prepare for a dance," he also told People while he was backstage. "Those three 10s and that 9 are a testament to how awesome of a teacher she is."
WHAT A NIGHT! Thank you to the judges for the amazing scores. Much love and thanks to all the fans for keeping me on the show!! And MOST importantly thank you to @lindsarnold for an incredible and fun Dance!! You are such a light and always so positive. DONT CHANGE! Loved every second of this week! I'll miss you!! GOOD NIGHT!!! #Godisgreat VOTE!! #teambrownsugar A photo posted by Carlos PenaVega (@therealcarlospena) on Oct 12, 2015 at 10:35pm PDT
This season's shining star Bindi Irwin remained near the top, coming in third with 37 out of 40 her partner Val. Val's actual partner Tamar Braxton just couldn't connect with her new partner Louis van Amstel in the same way, though, and struggled to wow the judges while Amstel's partner Paula Deen scored her highest score of the season so far - even though it was the lowest of the night - thanks to Mark Ballas.
A photo posted by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin) on Oct 12, 2015 at 9:46pm PDT
One couple who really stood out, though, whether the judges though so or not, was American hero Alek Skarlatos and his new partner Emma Slater. The two seemed to be crushing on each other as they performed a steamy, sexy and romantic Rumba.
Everyone could feel the chemistry between the two from the moment she broke his nose in rehearsals to their awkward, yet adorable, interview with Erin Andrews following the dance. The judges felt it, the audience felt it and so did everyone watching at home - these two seriously need to date. Skarlatos never seemed more comfortable or happy on the dance floor, and even though the dance wasn't perfect, Andrews did convince them to agree to go on a date.
"She's just too hot," Skarlatos said about feeling distracted during rehearsals. "I can't keep my cool under those circumstances."
"This is a happy partnership for the switch up," Slater told reporters following the show, according to Fox News. "When we found out we got each other we knew it was going to be awesome. Chemistry is so valuable in this competition."
As for their undeniable chemistry, they seemed to have a feeling it would be that way. "I kind of knew it would be like that and now I want to watch it back," Slater told People of their Rumba. "From the first day of rehearsal, we were really comfortable with each other. Some people just have that energy that you can have a laugh with straight away and just do normal stuff with."
Thanks to @emmaslaterdance for this fun switch up week not to mention the amazing dance #dwts #sexydance #hotboynation #dance #toketeefalls #toquitofalls A photo posted by Alek Skarlatos (@alekskarlatos) on Oct 12, 2015 at 10:06pm PDT
"I am really lucky with the partner I got for Switch-Up Week," Skarlatos added. "I think it's the most fun week I've had on the show yet."
Next week, the stars will go back to their original partners, but we all hope this very new love story continues on. Nobody was eliminated last night, but their scores from last week and their votes and scores from this week will determine who is sent home next week.
