Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars wrapped up with one of the most entertaining finales the show has had in a while. After weeks of improvement, the Mirrorball Trophy went to Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Honestly, I think this win felt well-earned. Robert started the season as the sweet, wholesome wildlife guy, and by the finale, he was basically a full-on performer. Even with a rib injury, he still pushed through three dances and delivered every single time.
What made the finale even better is the intense competition that came with it. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy came in second and also had one of the strongest improvement arcs this season. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa brought crazy athleticism, and Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach shocked everyone by how much they grew. It wasn’t one of those seasons where you knew the winner by Week 2, and everyone really fought for their spot.
With this season being the show’s 20th anniversary, every episode was increasingly special. The themes, the choreography, and even the energy from the crowd were stronger than in recent years. This season reminded everyone why DWTS used to be such a big deal.
Overall, Robert and Witney’s win was wholesome, exciting, and honestly a perfect ending to a season that finally brought a lot of fun back. It’s one of those finales that makes you want to actually tune in again next season…I know I will! The question is, will you?