So we've got a top 20! Sort of! And that means America needs to get a good look at them — the ones who said yes and didn't get injured or whatever the excuse might be, at least — so we can pick our favorites. Here's my take as the competition gets underway:
Legacy: Leave it to Tabitha and Napoleon to start their routine off with steps that looked like those nothing moves Legacy did between stunts in his auditions — but going somewhere and changing levels, transitioning and expressing the music. I noticed Legacy hitting the moves in the opening number, and while he still seems like the weakest of the men in terms of flexibility and technique, I'm willing to be proven wrong.
Kevin: His popping and locking doesn't thrill me the way Twitch's did back in the day, but damn if he didn't throw everything out onto the stage during Vegas week. I thought he looked comfortable on stage, and I'm going to scream the first time he nails a Sonya routine.
Russell: Big strong dude, but not quite strong enough to throw Legacy around his shoulders three or four times … that particular stunt almost didn't come off, but Kevin saved it with his jumping-of-the-stage topper bit. Again, I was impressed by his work ethic in Vegas, and I'm pulling for him all the way.
Nathan: Now that Billy's gone, he might be the front-runner among the men. The quickness of his turns and flourishes, combined with a deceptive strength under his grace, is pretty remarkable.
Ariana: Of the group that did Tyce's "Crying" routine, I was most captivated by her. Easy to overlook because she's small, but appeared fearless and dynamic in this number.
Jakob: There's nothing wrong with his dancing — those lines he created with his legs during jumps and kicks, wow — but I worry that he doesn't show quite as much personality as the other men, at least so far.
Channing: She's the big blond, and she's certainly got chops, but I still was seeing her more as a technician than an expressive artist during this number. The "acting! thank you!" veneer was a bit more visible than with any of the others during Tyce's number.
Phillip: We didn't see much of Peter or Philip in Boston or Vegas, compared to Bianca and Evan's brother. But here they all in the top 20. The smooth suave style suited Philip with his big smile and compact movements. I imagine that will serve him well in other styles, too.
