Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, Season 2 finale episode recap

Tonight's AUDC episode was a special two-hour event, which as you know if you have ever watched a reality show means "a lot of padding until we learn who won." Nothing new there! (I planned ahead and spent the commercial breaks folding laundry and playing Simpsons: Tapped Out.)

The episode began with the dancers talking for the first time about what the scholarship would mean for them. Something we hadn't really heard up until this point. It was interesting to hear the dancers talking in their own words, rather than dancing or standing on stage taking criticism.

There were a lot of surprises thrown at the four remaining dancers. The first was a pep talk from Brianna, the winner of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition season one.

The second surprise was that the initial challenge would be to pick a dance they had done before and give an encore presentation. And the dancer who performed the worst would be sent home.

This challenge tested not only their improvement since they had first performed the dance, but their ability to remember choreography. Choreography that they didn't realize at the time they would need to remember for several weeks.

And finally, the dancers only got ten minutes to prepare, including makeup, costumes, and any rehearsing they could squeeze into that time slot.

McKaylee chose her Le Mis solo, the first routine where she had really wowed the judges. Gianna picked her sassy zombie cheerleader routine. Trinity chose the hip hop routine duet from the "Divas" episode which she had performed with JoJo. And Kalani picked the Rhinestone Cowgirl.

McKaylee, Gianna, and Trinity all did amazing jobs. (Trinity's performance was even better without JoJo as a distraction.)

Kalani, who has been Abby's undisputed favorite for the entire season, had two major mistakes in her routine. She slipped and fell on her butt, and she had a minor disaster with the lasso prop. After agonizing over it, Abby finally made the decision to send Kalani home. (Cue a stunned silence from the crowd.)

More surprises for the dancers: the final performance would include a group dance. Featuring all the dancers from the entire season. It would have a "boxing" theme. And the Art Director for the Joffrey School, Davis Robertson, would be on hand to serve as a fourth judge.

Tensions ran high during the practice sessions. Not only were the dancers grappling with learning their difficult routines, but the moms were all thrown together again. Along with what looked like chilled white wine. Is alcohol really what you want to throw on that fire? (Yes.)

The final night arrived, and it began with several unrelated performances.

First, Maddy of the Abby Lee Dance Company performed a routine choreographed by Abby Lee Miller, with singer/songwriter Alexx Calise doing the music live on stage. Maddy did a beautiful job, and she was a dead ringer for Kalani. I can see why Abby wanted to add Kalani to her stable of dancers. (Is that still an option for her?)

Next was a hilariously weird routine by Richy Jackson and eight backup dancers, in which - if I was following it correctly - he defeated the Dance Devil with the power of hip hop dance. (???)

Finally, hot mama Rachelle Rak performed a sassy Broadway routine about being sassy and having amazing legs. I think that's what it was about.

Next, a series of emotional videos from the dancers' home towns and mothers. Even Abby got choked up. (I feel like that's an accomplishment.)

Finally we start getting down to business. The "boxing" routine puts the girls in awesome spangled prize fighter-style outfits (including capes!). Each dancer has been assigned two backup dancers (from earlier in the season) play the part of the coaches.

This routine was amazing, and all of the dancers did an incredible job. Even Abby admitted that everyone did a great job.

Mr. Grouchy Pants Joffrey Dude had some pretty strict criticism, but it was valid stuff, and well-spotted. He pointed out that McKaylee wasn't quite on the beat. (Something he would know about, since he explained that he started out as a breakdancer on the street and later became a ballet dancer. I think I might love him.) That Trinity had a nervous look in her eye any time she attempted a ballet move. And that he thought Gianna played it safe.

Time for the final performances. Trinity went first, with a flowing performance to show off her ability to dance more softly (something Abby has been harping on all along). I have to point out that the music was really weird. Like distractingly weird. It started out as classical music, then slipped into some dubstep riffs. Very strange.

Next up was Gianna, who looked pretty good to me onstage, but who fell apart once she got offstage, berating herself for not having performed better. Even her mom Cindy was taken aback by her self-criticism, and when Cindy thinks you're being too harsh on yourself, well.

Finally, McKaylee does her routine, which is about having to let go and admit to yourself that you can't be the perfect girl that everyone wants you to be. She had very nearly sabotaged herself in practice, because in order to keep herself from lip synching the lyrics, she had deliberately not listened to the actual song. Luckily Abby intervened, and once McKaylee heard the song, she was able to connect with it emotionally. Her performance is amazing (and she didn't lip sync once that I saw).

Trinity was eliminated first, although as her mom Tina pointed out, it wasn't really an elimination: it was coming in third place. A pretty high honor, all things considered.

Another long commercial break! More suspense!

Finally, the judges chose McKaylee as the winner of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition. Cue the confetti and the congratulations. It's an amazing accomplishment, and I have no doubt that she will go far.

All the dancers have done amazing work, and it was a fun season to watch all around. I'm sorry to see the end of it!

Image copyright Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition/Lifetime