'DWTS' Competition Tightens After Long-Awaited Elimination in Night One of Season 25 Finals

By Zach Seemayer‍ 7:23 PM PST, November 20, 2017

*Caution: Spoilers ahead!*

The two-night Dancing With the Stars finale kicked off on Monday with a slew of amazing redemption dances, freestyle routines and emotional performances.

However, only three couples can compete in the second night of the season 25 finals, which means fans had to say goodbye to one pair who had fought hard to get to this point in the competition.

At the end of the night, Drew Scott and partner Emma Slater found themselves in jeopardy alongside Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson.

Despite a night of good scores -- and getting the title of "most improved dancer" from judge Len Goodman -- it was finally time to bid farewell to the Property Brothers star.

Scott and Slater joined co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews after the elimination and shared some parting words of appreciation.

"There's no way I could have done anything I did out here without her," Scott said of his talented partner. "This has been such a ride. I mean, look at the amazing talent. I can't even believe I'm here with these guys. Thanks to the judges and the crew and everybody. You made this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Scott and Slater also opened up to ET's Cameron Mathison after the show, and the HGTV star said he's proud of how far he made it and of the performances he shared with his partner.

"Words don't even describe how I feel right now. I'm blessed to be in the finals, the final four, and to be up against such amazing talent," Scott marveled. "I couldn't have done it without this gal right here. This has been an experience of a lifetime."

The pair danced their hearts out on Monday, and earned some of their highest scores of the season, including a near-perfect 39 out of 40 for their wild freestyle routine.

"I feel so good about everything that we've done [and] everything we've accomplished," Scott reflected. "We did everything we wanted to do in that freestyle."

The reality star made sure to credit his talented partner for any and all improvement he's shown throughout the season.

"Going from never dancing before -- like, no experience -- to what she's pulled out of me, it's been phenomenal," Scott explained. "I didn't know I had it to make it to the finals, I honestly didn't think I would make it to the finals, but it's a testament to what she did with her choreography and her positive energy getting me here."

According to Slater, dancing with Scott has been mutually beneficial.

"I learned so much from my partners, but from Drew I've really learned. He's such an inspiration on how to attack life in the most selfless way," she explained. "There's not enough he can do for you and the people around you… He's a visionary to me. So when I watch him do that and tackle all the things he does every day, without a complaint, that makes me want to be the type of person that he is."

At this point in the season, every contestant has earned their share of fans, so people were going to be disappointed no matter who got the axe.

However, after weeks of mediocre scores and beating out performers who many felt were objectively better, Scott's departure means the second night of the DWTS finale is going to be a real nail biter.

Muniz and Carson will be facing off against Jordan Fisher and his partner Linsday Arnold, as well as Lindsey Stirling and her partner Mark Ballas, when the second night of the Dancing With the Stars finals kicks off on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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