"Dancing with the Stars" has a strong set of contenders heading into the finals next week.
On Monday night's show, the pairs set to compete in the Season 21 finals were revealed at the end of the night.
(Spoiler alert! This story reveals the results of "DWTS.")
Tamar Braxton had to withdraw from the competition last week due to health reasons, and it paved the way for all four couples who competed on Monday – Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough, Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold, Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson, and Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess – to continue on to next week's two-night finals.
No one learned the news until the end of the night, and so Monday night's show, which featured three rounds of competition – one regular partner dance, a dance off and a trio dance – saw the competitors churning out strong performances.
Round 1 belonged to train hero Alek, who danced a moving waltz with Lindsay to a perfect score from the judges. After his performance, host Tom Bergeron took a moment to reflect on last Friday's Paris tragedy. Tom noted Alek's connection to the city since he and his friends stopped a gunman on a Paris-bound train back in August.
"I think it's safe to say that all of our thoughts and prayers have been with the people of Paris this weekend, and I couldn't help but think that for you and Spencer [Stone] and Anthony [Sadler] that had to be even more vividly true," Tom said, mentioning the friends Alek stopped the gunman with. (Alek's friends spoke in his video package before his first performance on Monday night's "DWTS.")
"France has had a tough year, ever since Charlie Hebdo, obviously. … My heart just goes out to everybody in France," Alek said.
Carlos and Witney came in second during that first round, scoring 28 points for their contemporary routine, which judge Bruno Tonioli said was like "Tarzan doing Cirque du Soleil with a little Thunder from Down Under."
Bindi and Derek were one point behind, netting 27 out of 30 for a salsa Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said was "uplifting" and "really fun."
Nick and Sharna finished the opening round with 24 points for their tango, which Bruno noted had some mistakes. He told the pair to "just forget about it, come back, and be better."
The dance off round then took two pairs, and had them each perform the same dance. Alek and Lindsay, and Carlos and Witney, performed their own cha cha routines. Carlos and Witney edged out their competitors and took home an additional 3 points. Bindi and Derek and Nick and Sharna then tackled the samba, with Bindi and Derek earning the bonus 3.
The leaderboard shook up again in the final round, which featured trio routines.
Bindi hit the "DWTS" ballroom first, performing a fascinating jazz routine with Derek and his longtime pal Mark Ballas that earned them a perfect score and the top of the leaderboard. Bruno was so impressed with their number, he called it "a totally compelling and intriguing work of genius."
Alek took to the floor next with Lindsay and Emma Slater for an Argentine tango that brought them straight 9s from the judges.
"One thing is for sure, it takes three to tango, and you handled the threesome like an expert," Bruno said, as Alek and Lindsay brought their total to 57 for the night.
Alex and Witney tried out the Charleston for their trio dance with Karina Smirnoff, and managed to add 29 points (only Carrie Ann gave them a 9) to their score. Their overall total for the evening tied them at the top of the leaderboard with Bindi and Derek.
It was a strong round too for Nick and Sharna, who did their trio dance with the help of Peta Murgatroyd. Their salsa impressed the judges, who gave them a perfect 30.
"You came back," Carrie Ann said. "This was the most solid you've ever been on your feet."
Monday night's leaderboard was:
Bindi & Derek: 60
Alex & Witney: 60
Alek & Lindsay: 57
Nick & Sharna: 54
