So You Think You Can Dance Watch: Top Seven Results

Alright, SYTYCD fans. I'm breaking the usual play-by-play format here, and shooting straight from the hip.

Here's what you want to know--last night, we bid farewell to Ashley, struck down tragically due to injury. For the second time in as many weeks, we lose a dance-testant to performance-induced trauma instead of the judges' assessment of talent. Last week, it was high drama when Alex was removed from the competition, pretty much because his performances, and the buzz around them, had sealed his fate as the heir apparent of today's pop dance scene. When the front-runner is pulled from competition, it changes the whole game; the loss of Alex-Freakin'-Wong turned this year's competition on its ear, while also inspiring a resounding, mournful cry of disappointment from fans everywhere.

See, the thing about last night, though? Ashley's removal didn't inspire that same sense of tragic loss in me--or, I'm pretty sure, any of us. Since the top of this year's show, she's been a cipher--remember when we saw her audition? Me neither. It's because we didn't. We also didn't see her run the grueling gauntlet of Las Vegas--the show was edited as if she just showed up, fully formed and ready to perform in the top 12. The mystery that is Ashley became almost laughable when it felt like the producers and costumers were in on it--she'd be shot from weird angles so as to keep her features nigh-unidentifiable, and her face would be oddly obscured by a kerchief or her hairdo or weird shimmery make-up. It got a little ridiculous how much we DIDN'T get to know Ashley--I kept expecting she'd explode out into the final four, ready to kick some butt and earn our love.

Well, it didn't happen. Her rib injury takes her out of the running for three weeks, and out of the competition as a whole. And we're down to one girl left, which makes me a little sad. But the real problem in seeing her go is that the bottom two-ers from last night--Billy and Jose--both deserved to be sent packing at this point. Jose's coasting on cuteness alone--and that clock's about to run out, if it hasn't already. His B-boy solo was yawn-tastic and flat, perhaps proving that his trademark natural charisma has an expiration date. And Billy...Billy spent most of both this week's shows asleep at the wheel, dancing in what sort of looked like a marked, half-assed fog. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt; the top seven all knew what an injury meant, after last week's outcome. I'm going to hope he's conserving his A-game for next week, when he knows he really has to compete to stay put.

The saving grace of last night's episode came OUTSIDE of the competitive aspects--the special performances rocked, and rocked hard. tWitch and Comfort brought back their unbelievable "Forever" routine, which made me nostalgic for a real hip-hop powerhouse on this stage (something this year is lacking). Also, I guess it's also finally ok to listen to Chris Brown again without awkwardness or irony. Or maybe not. Anyway, it was a hot routine.

Add to that a mind-blowing professional performance from two Alvin Ailey dancers, a gorgeous and clean Broadway routine that just oozed mirth, and a couple of uber-young ballroom competitors who just made me squee with adorableness and their eerie, beyond-their-years professionalism, and it was a pretty tight episode, all told. I've a feeling we'll see those kids back sometime around season 15, if you get what I'm saying. Also, something called a "Christina Perri" performed. Whatever.

So, I'm at the end of this recap, and I find myself thinking "who got sent home again? Oh yeah, Ashley..."--which is not a testament to her abilities, but to the bizarre storytelling and editing choices of the SYTYCD production team. Sorry to see you go out like that, Ashley. Maybe we'll see you back at Vegas next year.

So, what'd you think, dance lovers? Am I being too mean to Jose? Is Robert the next to go? Do Mia Michaels' tears cure shin splints? Sound off; I'd love to hear what you think.