It felt like a fever dream when the news broke. For seventeen years, we all knew where to find the glitter and the spray tans: ABC, Monday nights, right after the local news. Then, everything changed. Dancing with the Stars Season 31 didn't just switch nights or change hosts; it packed up its entire ballroom and moved to Disney+.
Think about that for a second.
A legacy broadcast show, the kind your grandmother and your teenage niece both watch, suddenly required a monthly subscription and a high-speed internet connection. It was a massive risk. People were skeptical. Honestly, I was skeptical. But looking back, that move defined a very specific era of the "streaming wars" and gave us one of the most technically proficient seasons in the show's history.
The TikTok Effect and the Charli D'Amelio Dominance
You can't talk about Dancing with the Stars Season 31 without talking about the elephant in the room: Charli D’Amelio. Before the season even started, the "pro-dance" corners of the internet were in an absolute tizzy. Why? Because Charli wasn't just some random influencer. She was a trained competitive dancer with millions of followers.
It felt a little bit like bringing a professional ringer to a high school talent show.
But here’s the thing—she was actually good. Like, scary good. Partnered with Mark Ballas (who made a triumphant return after a long hiatus), Charli delivered performances that didn't just look like "celebrity dancing." They looked like professional ballroom showcases. Their "Simpsons" themed Jazz routine? Surreal. Their contemporary piece to "When the Party's Over"? Genuinely moving.
Some fans complained that the competition was "rigged" because of her background. But if you watch the footwork, the technicality was undeniable. She didn't just win because of her TikTok following. She won because Mark Ballas is a creative madman who pushed her to do things no other celebrity could've handled.
Selma Blair and the Heart of the Season
While Charli was winning the scores, Selma Blair was winning the world. This is where the season got real. Selma, who has been incredibly open about her battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), showed up to the ballroom with her service dog and a level of grit that made the usual "I'm doing this for my kids" narratives feel a bit thin.
She danced. She thrived. And then, she had to leave.
It’s rare to see a reality show handle a medical withdrawal with such grace. When Selma told her partner Sasha Farber that her body just couldn't take the physical toll anymore—that her bones were literally at risk—it was a sobering reminder of what these stars put themselves through. Her final dance to "What the World Needs Now Is Love" wasn't about the scores. It was a masterclass in vulnerability.
Why the Move to Disney+ Actually Worked (Sorta)
The shift to streaming changed the literal DNA of the show. If you've watched since the early days, you know the frantic pace of live TV. Commercial breaks are usually when the judges scramble and the crew resets the floor in thirty seconds.
Without commercials on Disney+, the show breathed.
Host Tyra Banks—who remained a polarizing figure for many—was joined by co-host Alfonso Ribeiro. The chemistry was... interesting. Alfonso brought that "insider" energy since he's a former Mirrorball champ, which helped balance out Tyra's high-fashion, high-energy approach.
What the fans loved about the new format:
- No commercial breaks. You got two hours of straight content. It felt more like a live event and less like a product pitch.
- The return of the Troupe. We finally got those big, sweeping professional numbers back in a way that felt grand.
- The "After Party" vibes. Because they weren't restricted by a local news lead-in, the show could run a few minutes over if a judge got long-winded.
But it wasn't perfect. Older viewers struggled with the tech. If you weren't "plugged in," you lost your favorite show. That’s a heavy price to pay for "modernization."
The Technical Standouts: Beyond the Winner's Circle
Let's get into the weeds of the talent. Dancing with the Stars Season 31 was stacked. Usually, you have two frontrunners and a bunch of people who are just happy to be there. This year? Wayne Brady was a powerhouse. Gabby Windey proved that "Bachelorette" contestants are often the hardest workers in the room. Shangela made history as the first drag queen to compete on the US version of the show, and honestly, her "Crispy Chicken" finale routine might be the most entertained I've ever been during a freestyle.
Shangela and Gleb Savchenko's partnership was a revelation. It pushed Gleb out of his "hunky lead" comfort zone and into someone who had to choreograph for two "leads." It was funny, it was camp, and the dancing was legitimately tight.
The Bittersweet Goodbye to a Legend
If you want to know why this season matters in the long run, look at the judges' table. This was the final season for Len Goodman.
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Len was the grumpy grandfather we all loved to hate and then just plain loved. He stood for technique. He hated "mucking about." He wanted a proper hold and a clean fleckerl. When he announced his retirement during the semi-finals, it felt like the end of an era. Knowing now that he passed away shortly after, his critiques in Season 31 carry a different weight. He was the show's North Star, and his presence ensured that even in the flashy world of Disney+, the "Ballroom" stayed in Dancing with the Stars.
Actionable Takeaways for the Superfan
If you're looking to revisit this season or understand its impact on the franchise, here is how you should approach it.
Watch the Mark Ballas Masterclass
Don't just watch the dances for the celebrities. Go back and watch Mark Ballas’s choreography for Charli D'Amelio. Specifically, look at their Argentine Tango. It’s a lesson in musicality and risk-taking. It’s arguably some of the best choreography in 32 seasons of the show.
Consider the Streaming Shift
Season 31 was an experiment. It proved that live voting can work on a global streaming platform, which paved the way for ABC to eventually bring the show back to both network and streaming simultaneously in later years. It was the bridge between the "old" way of watching TV and the "new" way.
Support the Pro-Am Connection
The real "magic" of Season 31 wasn't the stars; it was the teaching. Watch the rehearsals. Pay attention to how Britt Stewart worked with Daniel Durant. Daniel is deaf, and the way they navigated rhythm and timing through physical touch and visual cues is some of the most educational content the show has ever produced. It changes how you think about "hearing" music.
Find the Full Performances Online
While Disney+ is the official home, many of the standout routines are still available on the show's official YouTube channel. If you only have ten minutes, watch Selma Blair’s first dance and the Shangela finale. It’s the perfect encapsulation of what the show can be at its best: heart and spectacle.
The legacy of this season isn't just that a TikToker won. It's that the show proved it could survive a total transplant. It stayed relevant, it stayed flashy, and most importantly, it stayed obsessed with the "ten from Len."