DWTS S024, And the Winner of Season 24 Is...

I don’t wanna spoil it all for you... But...

Let’s go back and just walk through the final show step by step... Let’s see... Starting with this.

(Sorry, can’t find a photo of David and Lindsay walking out.) But first the final three came out. Then the judges, looking spiffy.

Hostess with the mostess, Erin Andrews.

Len gave a chivalrous cheer to all three, wishing them all luck, and off we go.

We go through each contestant and their journey to get to the finals. First, with David and Lindsay. They show a clip of Julianne saying that they "are the heart of this competition."

Then, Sasha and Simone dance a jive as segue into the next segment. It was wondrous, and made me wish they were in the final three.

Next, Rashad and Emma take us through their really memorable dances of the season. Erin states that Rashad and Emma put in 100 hours MORE rehearsal time than anyone else.

ONE HUNDRED HOURS MORE.

Witney choreographed this women’s dance called “Like a River.” They added “star” Heather (“I’m not a dancer’) Morris.

Then, we have former Oscar®-nominated actress, now inspid pop star Hailee Steinfeld singing about
“I didn’t know I was starving till I tasted you.” Well, alright then.

Dance assist by Alan and Brittany.

Then, it’s Normani and Val’s turn. Normani says that she “became a woman” through this competition. Val calls her one of “the best female ballroom dancers this competition has ever seen.”

Val: “This show is about people, it’s not about dancing.”

Then, the “super-hot guys” of #DWTS (minus Sasha and Val) dance for us.

Which only goes to prove two things: Gleb has a bright future as a Chippendales dancer, and none of these boys holds a candle to Maks’ steaming hot sexiness.

Then we have past Mirror Ball champions talking about the final three. No one knows who is going to win.

(As you can see, there is always a lot of hooha and blah blah on this final show. JEEZ.)

They inexplicably have a ferris wheel in the middle, and try to do a segment with Tom and Erin, going around on the ferris wheel. It doesn't work. They can only get a lame shot from the side.

Then they do what is essentially an opening Mandy Moore number in the middle of the show, introducing all the people who were on this season, and featuring the three finalists. It's actually quite fun.

Then, they show some highlights from last night’s show (including backstage moments, like one where ever-charming Len says to crew members, ‘Coming through, don’t touch me.’). Wow.

The first of the “who was in this season?” dances: Bonner and Sharna.

A look back at “the first half” of the season.

Oh yeah. Charo and Chris Kattan were on this season (*shudders*). Chris got 4s in his first dance. (*super shudders*). Really? Do we HAVE to remember this?

Nancy Kerrigan, who was actually a pleasant memory of those first few weeks, performs a samba with Artem.

A comedic bit about a “bromance” between Maks and our Bachelor, Nick, who was dancing with his wife, Peta.

And just when we are counting our lucky stars that we got out of seeing Charo have to dance again, they announce that she’s doing a song. Ugh.

But first, Peta and Nick do one of their “favorite” dances from the season.

Then, David and Lindsay do one of their most crowd-pleasing numbers (see above).

Why they have the final three do other numbers as well, I just don’t understand. But who didn’t love this Magic Mike number?

That leads into a hilarious bloopers reel (always my favorite part of finals night).

She’s a thousand years old. She must have it in her contract that no one talks about her age. Usually how old a competitor is is played up. Not this time. No mention. Cause, you know, Charo is ageless. Except she’s not. And she’s also obnoxious.

Keo and Whitney dance while she plays.

Then some cha cha bumpers.

This was the first song they ever did, and it's so great to see them dance this cha cha again.

Then, back to the “middle” of the season.  Maks and Heather come back and dance to “Waterfalls” to celebrate their booting. TLC sings.

Hailee Steinfeld is back to perform.

And this dance... well, let’s just say that it was pretty darn sexual.

Tom after says: “To paraphrase a famous quote, you go to a dance show with the army you have.”

Then OneRepublic performs (”No Vacancy”). Gleb and Sharna dance.

Normani and Val perform with Len and Bruno (the infamous construction worker salsa).

Let’s just say this was better the first time around... Len was so cute at the end, though.

Then a look at the rest of the season. Just a reminder. This is how the judges looked when Tom announced that Simone and Sasha were going home.

Yeah. Yeah. Me too.

Then, blissfully, Simone and Sasha dance again.

*SWOON* So wonderful.

Lady Antebellum performs. Dance assists from Artem and Witney and Gleb and Brittany.

Then, some damn fool video from Mr. T. *eyeroll*

Some preview dance of Dirty Dancing with former winner Nicole Scherzinger.

OH FINALLY! We get back to the three finalists.

Oh no. Just the judges and pros talking about who they think will win. Who? They have no idea. Any one of the three can win.

Then really bad camerawork where half the troupe is cut out for a minute. Jive bumper. The ending was amazing. (HINT: It had Sasha doing some flips. Very cool.)

FINALLY. The last round. The three finalists have a “fusion” dance, where they combine two dances.

David and Lindsay combined foxtrot and salsa. This is also the moment where the team visits their rehearsal space for the final time, and they see their own photos hanging on the wall. Always a pivotal moment.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 36 (out of 40)

Normani and Val are dancing an Argetine tango/Foxtrot fusion. And oh, Val’s choreography! Sweet Jesus. So great.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 40 (out of 40)

(It is pretty clear that the judges want Normani and Val to win.)

Rashad and Emma have a cha cha/tango fusion.

Yup. Miss Emma doing some pretty snazzy choreography there too.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 39 (out of 40)

According to the judges’ scores at this moment:

1. Emma and Rashad with 119
2. Val and Normani with 118
3. Lindsay and David with 109.

This is without America’s votes, which Tom Bergeron said “count for half” of the scores.

Then OneRepublic comes back to play, while images of the final three’s season flash on the screen.

Pretty great dancing, all in all.

THIRD PLACE: NORMANI AND VAL. Judges and Tom are “stunned.”

Congratulations, Miss Emma Slater and Mr. Rashad Jennings, on your first Mirror Ball trophy!

SO so so very happy for Miss Emma and her first Mirror Ball. Thank you to all three finalists for giving us such amazing, memorable dances this season. And to Sasha and Simone too. Truly incredible and mesmerizing to watch all of you.

YAY EMMA!!!!!! (SO HAPPY)

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