Dylan Efron and pro Daniella Karagach are brushing off the judges’ feedback as they head into week two of Dancing With the Stars season 34.
The pair took on the dance floor early in the Tuesday, September 16, episode, performing a cha-cha to Kelis’ “Milkshake” and earning a score of two 5s from judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. By the end of the night, Efron, 33, and Karagach, 32, were tied for ninth place with Olympian Jordan Chiles and pro Ezra Sosa and Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and pro Rylee Arnold.
Despite the low scores, Kargach exclusively told Us Weekly that she and Efron were “still [feeling] good.” She added, “I mean, listen, 5s are not great, but it gives you room for improvement.”
Efron explained that he felt the judges’ notes were “pretty good” and “understood what they were saying” with their critiques — which included Hough, 40, wanting the Traitors alum to “step into that leading man role.”
Scores Stir Controversy During ‘DWTS’ Premiere: Which Couple Is on Top?
“That’s kind of what I hope to become like. I think it was Derek who was saying he wants to see me turn into that lead character type vibe and that wasn’t what we were going for week one,” Efron noted. “We wanted to go out there and have fun. So I hope our arc does look like that.”
With Carrie Ann Inaba absent from the judges table due to an illness, Karagach admitted it was “a little scarier” with just Hough and Tonioli, 69.
“To be honest, I was so locked in that I’m on survival mode,” Karagach noted, while Efron added, “The show missed her.”
While Karagach and Efron survived the premiere episode alongside the rest of the season 34 cast, the duo admitted they weren’t looking forward to two couples going home week two.
Dylan Efron Says Brother Zac Efron Is ‘Supportive’ of His Casting on ‘DWTS’
“I don’t want to see anyone going home. Everyone is working their butts off,” Karagach said, while Efron added, “It just felt like such a positive night, and then at the very end they’re like, ‘Oh, by the way, two of you guys are leaving.’”
As Efron laces up his dancing shoes, he reflected on what he hopes fans take away from him trying his hand at the reality TV show.
“I’m having fun out there,” Efron said. “This is what I love most in life is learning new things. It’s such a rare opportunity to get to do that.”
Dancing With the Stars season 34 airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
Prove your DWTS fandom with Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv! Compete against other fans and Us editors in the Bracketology DWTS fantasy league this season to predict which pairs will make it to the finale for Season 34. Get access to exclusive content, stats and a chance to win prizes. Join the league for free today!
