Dancing With the Stars Season 35 began with plenty of attention surrounding its biggest names, but just two weeks into the competition, the early storyline has already started to change. Several contestants who were not necessarily viewed as the obvious favorites have quickly turned themselves into couples viewers are watching closely.
Among the biggest surprises have been Maura Higgins and Harry Shum Jr., who have both attracted significant attention for very different reasons. Their early performances have demonstrated that the competition may be much less predictable than some viewers expected when the season began.
Higgins, partnered with Mark Ballas, immediately showed that she could handle the pressure of the ballroom. Her performances have earned strong reactions from the judges and viewers, helping establish her as one of the couples capable of making a serious run as the season progresses.
Her partnership with Ballas has also created plenty of conversation outside the actual scores. Higgins has embraced the demanding rehearsal schedule, while Ballas has worked to bring out her performance abilities and help translate her personality into ballroom choreography.
Shum Jr. has taken a very different route to becoming one of the season’s most discussed contestants. Paired with Jenna Johnson, the actor entered the competition with substantial performance experience but still had to adapt to the technical demands of ballroom dancing.
His Week 2 Viennese waltz to “Iris” became one of the most talked-about routines of the season after Shum suddenly screamed near the end of the performance. Johnson later explained that the moment was deliberate and connected to a deeper emotional idea they had explored during rehearsals.
That unusual moment helped demonstrate why Shum could become an intriguing contender. He has shown that he is willing to take creative risks rather than simply relying on his existing performance background, while Johnson continues to shape choreography around his strengths.
The early results have also shown that a contestant’s popularity and performance ability can quickly change the conversation. DWTS combines judges’ scores with audience voting, meaning couples must connect with viewers as well as deliver technically strong routines.
That makes the emergence of unexpected contenders particularly important as the season moves forward. A couple that begins building momentum early can potentially turn that attention into continued audience support, while contestants who entered the season with considerable hype still have to prove themselves week after week.
With the competition continuing to develop, Higgins and Shum Jr. have already demonstrated why the phrase “dark horse” can change quickly on Dancing With the Stars. Their early performances have added another layer of uncertainty to Season 35, and the coming weeks will reveal whether their momentum can carry them all the way toward the finale.
Compiled with information from various sources.
