DWTS Finale Recap: Who Won Season 34?

It all comes down to this! The five finalists on Season 34 ofDancing With the Stars performed three more dances during the Tuesday, November 25, finale before a winner was announced.

Robert Irwin, Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Elaine Hendrix, and Jordan Chilesall made it to the Finals, and at the end of the night, the contestant with the highest combined judges’ scores and viewer votes won the Mirrorball trophy. Scores and votes were based off of the night’s three routines: a freestyle dance, an instant dance (song and dance style revealed just moments before the performance), and a previously unlearned dance style chosen by the judges.

Scroll down for a recap of the episode, including scores, judges’ remarks, and the final leaderboard.

Alix Earle — 30/30

The first dance of the night was Earle’s samba, a dance style chosen for her by Carrie Ann Inaba.

“Way to start the finale with that incredible samba! You put all the content in. You developed your own signature style, I call it refined fierceness. You’re doing the technique perfectly. You got so much content in that dance. It was just brilliant,” Inaba gushed.

Derek Hough said, “Whatever Carrie Ann told you it worked. That was so good. The samba is one of the hardest dances to do on this show … it was so filled with content. It was fantastic.” Bruno Tonioli closed out the commentary by adding, “She cranked up the heat to full blast. You were not good, you were incandescent!”

Earle earned a perfect 30 score, with three 10s from the judges.

Dylan Efron — 28/30

Tonioli chose a paso doble for Efron’s first finale dance. After finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard in the Semifinals, Efron came into the finale wanting to prove himself more than ever.

After commenting on Efron’s perfectly sculpted torso, Tonioli said he was “speechless,” adding, “Good job. Beautiful shapes. I could watch that all over again, actually.” Inaba added, “To think back to how far you’ve come is really incredible. And tonight, showcasing it’s really vulnerable.” She told Efron his hands got a “little flat” at parts, but called the routine “fantastic” overall.

“Your improvement has been remarkable just to watch. You are just amazing to watch,” Hough commented, but added, “I have to agree a little bit with the shaping.” Efron received 9s from Inaba and Hough, and a 10 from Tonioli, for a score of 28.

Elaine Hendrix — 30/30

Hendrix received her finale dance, a rumba, from Hough. “That was exquisite,” Hough raved. “You have been on the hero’s journey. You’re an amazing dancer, an amazing performer, you had a difficult experience in the middle of the season, but you came back resilient.”

Tonioli said the routine was “pure class” and the “perfect balance of sensuality and elegance.” Finally, Inaba told Hendrix that she’d been “waiting and waiting” for her to do a dance like this. “Dance is more than just the steps, it’s what you do in between the steps,” she confirmed, calling the dance “beautiful and exquisite.”

The scores rolled in, and Hendrix received a perfect 30 from the judges.

Robert Irwin — 29/30

Irwin hit the dance floor with a quickstep, selected for him by Hough. After dealing with a rib injury during rehearsals, Irwin still came out and absolutely crushed it.

“Robert quickstep KING!” Hough confirmed. “It was crisp and clean, the frame was strong, you were moving across the floor, it was fantastic.” Tonioli commented on how fast the dance was, adding, “It had the exhiliration of a cheetah. The footwork, nimble and light like a gazelle, and the power of a lion!”

Inaba said the dance was “amazing, wonderful,” but also had to point out a “little stumble” at one point in the routine. In the end, she gave Irwin a 9, while Hough and Tonioli scored him 10s, for a 29 out of 30.

Jordan Chiles — 29/30

Chiles closed out the first round with a paso doble, a dance style selected for her by Inaba.

“I love that you attack every movement full out. I think when you first started, your attack was a little too strong, and it disconnected you just a tiny bit,” Inaba said. “Just the beginning felt like it didn’t quite come together.”

Hough raved, “Jordan, you did the dang thing. It was strong, fierce, powerful … it had it all. Fantastic.” Tonioli concluded, “I think it was a kick ass paso doble. Your power, your focus … it really was like watching an old conquering invincible warrior. You just go for it with so much determination.”

Inaba gave Chiles a 9, while Hough and Tonioli gave her 10s, so the final score was a 29/30.

Alix Earle — 30/30

For her instant dance, Earle randomly selected a cha-cha-cha, which she danced to “Where Is My Husband?” by RAYE. Her last cha-cha-cha on the show was during Week 1.

Tonioli praised Earle for her “transformation” from Week 1 to now and said the routine was “brilliant,” while Inaba said she was “blown away” by the “fantastic” routine. Despite Earle feeling unsure about how she did, she earned another perfect score!

Dylan Efron — 30/30

Efron randomly selected a foxtrot, which he danced to “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. He hasn’t done a foxtrot since Week 3, but admitted in his rehearsal package that it’s the dance he’d feel most comfortable with.

“That was unbelievable and a true testament to how far you’ve come. I don’t even think you know how amazing that was. You brought me to tears in that dance,” Inaba gushed. Hough could not believe how good the dance was. “The fluidity, I’m just going to go out on a limb and say that, to me, was one of the best foxtrots from a man ever,” he confirmed.

Tonioli said that Len Goodman would’ve “adored” the dance and the judges could not even take their seats because they were so excited about the dance. Needless to say, it was a perfect score!

Elaine Hendrix — 27/30

For Hendrix, the chosen dance was the quickstep to “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Her last time performing this style was during Week 4.

“That is a very hard dance to do in such a short time!” Hough confirmed. He called Hendrix the “quickstep queen,” although he noted a “misstep” toward the beginning of the routine. Tonioli said Hendrix did “very well in spite of” the “missteps,” while Inaba praised Hendrix for carrying herself well through the dance, despite the small mistakes.

With three 9s from the judges, Hendrix scored a 27/30 for her instant dance.

Robert Irwin — 30/30

Irwin’s instant dance was a cha-cha-cha to “Cake by the Ocean” to DNCE. The last time he did this dance was in Week 4, and it was the one style he would’ve preferred not to do.

“So much cleaner. Your placement was so much better, your finish was better. You were on fire,” Tonioli said. Inaba agreed with “everything” Tonioli said, while also praising Irwin’s partnership with his pro partner. Hough pointed out how “difficult” the dance was and raved over the performance.

All three judges gave Irwin 10s, giving him a perfect score for the instance dance.

Jordan Chiles — 30/30

To close out round two, Chiles danced an instant tango to “I Like It” by Alesso and Nate Smith. She previously did the tango during Week 3.

Inaba told Chiles her performance was “fantastic,” praising her hold and body contact. “Everything about that, I applaud you,” she concluded. “I have so much respect for you.” Hough added, “That honestly … couldn’t have thought of a better dance for you for that challenge. That was strong!”

Finally, Tonioli had just one word: “FABULOUS!” The routine brought another round of perfect scores.

Alix Earle — 30/30

The freestyles kicked off with Earle’s “anything goes” dance, which incorporated many different styles of dance. Hough called Earle an “absolute superstar” and praised how she’s built confidence week after week. “Phenomenal freestyle,” he concluded.

Tonioli said Earle was a “dominatrix” in her routine. “Nothing can stand in your way,” he commented. Finally, Inaba said, “I’m just really touched by you. The way you’ve learned how to do all of these details … you deliver the most exquisite dances every time you come on this dance floor.”

Earle got her third perfect score of the night, putting her on top of the leaderboard for the evening.

Dylan Efron — 30/30

For Efron’s freestyle, he performed a gorgeous contemporary routine. The judges gave Efron a standing ovation, and Tonioli called it “beautiful and poetic,” adding, “You really captured the elusive quality of a dream. Beautiful images I will never forget.”

Inaba said the dance was a “perfect representation” of whatDancing With the Stars is, specifically praising the “emotionality” of the dance. “You embody this beautiful, sincere, kind, masculinity,” Hough said. “It was so tender. It was so present. You were such a beautiful partner. I love you.”

Efron got his second perfect score of the night for the contemporary dance.

Elaine Hendrix — 30/30

Hendrix returned to the dance floor for her final dance of the season, a freestyle to “I Hope I Get It (A Chorus Line).” The dance brought back Hendrix’s friend Lisa Ann Walter, as well as Andy Richter and more.

Inaba cried as she gave her commentary. “It was wonderful, and you know it, and everybody knows it,” she said. Tonioli said it was “deliciously crafted theatrical treat,” and pointed out how well it played to Hendrix’s strengths as an actress.

Unsurprisingly, after the rave reviews, Hendrix earned herself a perfect score for the dance.

Robert Irwin — 30/30

Irwin’s freestyle was danced to “Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii. Tonioli called it a “solid gold 24 carat performance,” and Inaba was moved to tears over how Irwin connected the dance to his late father.

“There is so much love in this room for you and there has been since day one,” she said. Once again, the freestyle earned a perfect 30.

Jordan Chiles — 30/30

Chiles closed out the night with her freestyle, which included a portion to “Motivation” by Normani, which Chiles previously performed a floor routine to in gymnastics. She even brought Normani, a previous contestant, back to the ballroom to perform in the dance!

The dance received rave reviews from the judges. “You showed them how it’s done! That’s the best freestyle I’ve ever seen in 20 seasons, hands down,” Inaba said. Hough was speechless. “You’ve been waiting to do that for 10 weeks, haven’t you? That was so incredible,” he said. Again, a perfect 30 for Chiles.

Dancing With the Stars Season 34 finale leaderboard

Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy — 90/90
Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa — 89/90
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — 89/90
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 88/90
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten — 87/90

Who wonDancing With the Stars Season 34?

Finally, it was time to read the results. Finishing in fifth place was Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten. In fourth place, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. Third place: Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa.

So, it came down to Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, and Alix Earle and Valentin Chmerkovskiy. And the Mirrorball champions are … ROBERT AND WITNEY!