The ballroom lights dimmed, the confetti cannons primed, and 32 million viewers held their breath as Dancing with the Stars Season 33 finale exploded onto ABC and Disney+ on November 26, 2024—a three-hour extravaganza that crammed more drama, glitter, and gut-punches than a dozen soap operas. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, with judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli perched like sequined sentinels, this wasn’t just a wrap-up. It was a whirlwind of redemption dances, freestyle fireworks, guest star galas, and a voting frenzy that shattered records. Five couples—more finalists than ever—vied for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, but only one walked away shining. Spoiler: It was a Bachelor who stole the show. Here’s the unfiltered recap of the chaos that made history.

The night kicked off with a bang: the opening number, a high-octane mashup choreographed by Mandy Moore to Disney’s “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin, featuring the pro troupe and eliminated dancers shimmying alongside Broadway’s Genie himself, Michael James Scott. It set the tone—pure magic with a side of mayhem—as the finalists reflected on their journeys in pre-taped packages. NBA vet Dwight Howard and Witney Carson reminisced about his early foxtrot fumbles; Olympian Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten bonded over rugby-inspired lifts; gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold geeked out on pommel horse parallels; actor Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong celebrated breaking barriers; and The Bachelor Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson teared up over Graziadei’s zero-dance-experience glow-up. “I came in terrified,” Joey admitted. “Now? I’m all in.”

First up: the Redemption Dances, where judges picked unlearned styles to “redeem” past critiques. Bruno assigned Howard and Carson a quickstep to The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You”—a nod to Friends and Howard’s bromantic energy. Clad in pink power suits, they pranced with piston-like precision, nailing syncopated steps that had Bruno hollering, “Running on top gear!” Scores: 29/30 (Inaba docked for “tiny hesitations”). Next, Derek chose Maher and Bersten’s Viennese waltz to “Moon River,” a dreamy redo of their Week 2 stumble. Ilona’s ethereal spins evoked Audrey Hepburn, earning Derek’s misty-eyed “You waltzed into my heart.” Perfect 30s across the board—total 59/60 after their prior 29.

Nedoroscik and Arnold tackled Inaba’s freestyle redemption (a wildcard twist), transforming their Week 4 contemporary into a pommel horse-inspired aerial spectacle to Coldplay’s “Fix You.” Stephen’s flips and Rylee’s lifts soared, with Bruno dubbing it “gymnastics gone glamorous.” 30/30—another perfect punch. Kinney and Armstrong, assigned Bruno’s samba to Anitta’s “Funk Rave,” infused Afro-Brazilian fire with hip isolations that screamed joy. As the first Black couple to reach the finale, their routine pulsed with heritage, earning Inaba’s “You’ve redefined rhythm.” 29/30. Finally, Joey and Jenna’s cha-cha redemption to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”—Derek’s pick—bubbled with Bachelor-esque charm. Joey’s hips didn’t lie, Jenna’s footwork flawless; Derek gushed, “Pure positivity!” Straight 30s, totaling 60/60 with their prior score. The crowd erupted—perfect scores were raining like confetti.

But the real tears flowed in the emotional tributes. Each couple’s package hit like a therapy session: Howard honored his late mom with a freestyle nod to her gospel roots; Maher dedicated hers to women’s rugby warriors; Nedoroscik choked up over his vision-impaired journey (he competes blindfolded on pommel horse); Kinney reflected on imposter syndrome as a Black dancer; and Joey, fighting tears, thanked fiancée Kelsey Anderson for “believing when I couldn’t.” These weren’t filler—they amplified the stakes, turning votes into valentines.

Then, the freestyles: unbridled canvases of soul. Howard and Carson exploded into a hip-hop/jazz hybrid to OutKast’s “Hey Ya!”—Dwight’s b-boy breaks meshing with Witney’s voguing, a crowd-pleaser that Bruno called “supersized swagger.” 29/30, total 58. Maher and Bersten channeled Rugby World Cup glory in a contemporary explosion to Dua Lipa’s “Houdini,” with aerial silks and power lifts that left Derek speechless: “Athletic artistry!” 30/30, season total 119. Nedoroscik and Arnold’s freestyle to “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay was a fan-fave revelation—Stephen’s acrobatic vaults into Rylee’s contemporary waves, earning Bruno’s “Olympic odyssey!” 30/30, total 118. Kinney and Armstrong’s ode to Black trailblazers—a lyrical hip-hop fusion to Andra Day’s “Rise Up”—honored icons like Debbie Allen, with emotional partnering that had Inaba weeping: “Historic and heartfelt.” 30/30, total 118.

Joey and Jenna closed with a showstopper: a contemporary/jazz freestyle to District 78’s “Gravity,” blending Bachelor romance with aerial theatrics. Joey’s vulnerability shone in lifts symbolizing his “fall into love,” Jenna’s choreography a masterstroke. Derek: “You’ve defied gravity!” Unanimous 30s—total 120, the night’s pinnacle. As scores tallied, guest performances lit the floor: Season 32 champs Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy vogued to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”; pros Mark Ballas and Derek Hough tangoed to “Libertango”; and a troupe medley hyped the hype.

The twists? A mid-show “judges’ save” tease (ultimately ceremonial), a voting glitch rumor squashed by ABC, and Bruno’s chair-flip during Nedoroscik’s flips. Emotional peaks: Alan Bersten’s onstage sobs waiting for results, Joey’s “This is for Jenna” speech. Then, the moment no one saw coming: After a nail-biting wait—Ilona and Alan second (119), Stephen and Rylee third (118), Chandler and Brandon fourth (118), Dwight and Witney fifth (58)—Alfonso announced: “The Season 33 Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy goes to… Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson!” Confetti stormed as Joey lifted Jenna in a tear-soaked dip, Kelsey rushing onstage for a family hug. “I feel like Jenna deserves this fully,” Joey beamed. “This is all for her.”

Ratings soared to the largest in three years—up 22% in the 18-49 demo—fueled by 32 million votes. Fans flooded X with #DWTSFinaleChaos, praising the diversity (first Black finalists, gymnast glow-ups) but debating “vote fatigue” from Joey’s Bachelor fanbase. Derek called it “the most inspiring season yet.” As the troupe’s finale waltz faded, one truth lingered: In a world of scripted perfection, DWTS thrives on the mess—the stumbles, scores, and soul-baring spins. Season 33 didn’t just crown a champ; it reminded us why we tune in. Until next fall, keep dancing.