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"East Meets West" is the 11th episode in Season 5 of The Next Step and the 145th episode overall. It aired on October 13, 2017. It is the mid-season premiere and the first episode of Season 5.5.

Synopsis[]

"TNS East and TNS West face off to see which troupe will get to represent The Next Step at Regionals."[1]

Plot[]

Screenshot (73)

TNS East rehearses.

TNS East and TNS West simultaneously rehearse their routines for the dance battle in their respective studios under their respective studio heads' watches. Both Michelle and Emily are fixated on having flawless routines, but Emily also confesses that she needs somebody special to be the tenth dancer on her team. The following day, the teams will finally face off against each other.

Emily allows her troupe a break. When the other dancers have left for Neutral Grounds, Josh asks Zara how her math club took it when she told them that she couldn't make it because of the dance battle, but Zara admits that nobody other than them knows about the clashing events. Zara reveals that there is an hour between the competition and the battle and that she will just take public transit to get to the latter. Josh doubts that Zara's plan will work and decides that if Zara won't tell Emily, he will. Meanwhile, Jacquie approaches Noah in Neutral Grounds with her competitive streak on full display, to the extent that Noah is extremely intimidated.

Screenshot (19)

Zara looks on sadly.

Emily enters the locker room where Danielle, Jordan, and Zara are. After the former two hurriedly leave, Emily approaches Zara about the math competition. Realizing that Zara is unable to make a decision which, in turn, could jeopardize the team's chance at winning, Emily informs her that  she is pulling her from the dance battle, but nevertheless wishes her luck at the math competition. Zara is left feeling betrayed by Josh. Emily approaches Michelle in her office, and tells her that one of her dancers has become unavailable; however, she dismisses the idea that she should forfeit, and suggests that they have a quintet battle instead; realizing she needs to play her cards right if she wants Michelle to agree to this, she proclaims that if her team wins, she will give Michelle a spot on TNS East. Michelle concedes, but assures Emily that she would never join her troupe and only wants the chance to beat her fair and square.

The members of TNS West stretch as Emily enters Studio A with her dancers in tow. A few members of TNS East confess that a surprise dancer will be filling in the fifth spot of the quintet. Noah wishes Jacquie luck, but is met with her competitive iciness once again. Noticing that only four TNS East dancers are warming up, Piper asks Richelle who their fifth dancer is. Just then, Elliot enters the studio, answering Piper's question. Michelle and her dancers are disgusted by the fact that Elliot has joined TNS East, with Elliot confessing that his knowledge of TNS West's weaknesses means he is even more prepared to crush them.

Kate enters the studio with James and Riley, who will be helping her judge the competition. Riley thinks that Emily's team will win, while James thinks Michelle's will, resulting in a bet; if Emily wins, James will have to wear his dad's powder blue suit with a ruffled shirt to her business school mixer and if Michelle wins, Riley will have to bring a sign to his concert that reads "JAMES IS A BUBBLY BABE". Henry, Noah, Piper, Heather, and Ozzy perform first; their routine is upbat and includes lots of separate performances. While Emily admits that their dance is better than she expected, she still feels confident about winning.

Screenshot (59)

Kate prepares to reveal the victor.

Jacquie, Richelle, Elliot, Lola, and Amy then perform; their routine is extremely technical and synchronized. Midway through the performance, Zara rushes in; she confesses that her math competition overran, meaning she probably would have been late for the dance battle after all. When the performance ends, Kate, James, and Riley tell the dancers that they will deliberate and go into the office to do so. With the dance-off over, Jacquie approaches Noah and addresses him normally; Noah is relieved that she is being nice to him again, and they agree that next time they go up against each other, they just won't talk to each other at all while Jacquie is in competition mode. As Josh talks to Zara, Adam enters the studio and beckons him, telling him that their parents are waiting in the car to drive them to his hockey banquet. Despite the banquet being four hours long, Josh assures Adam that they can leave without him. Josh is unsurprised by his family prioritizing hockey over dance yet again.

Amy and Piper congratulate each other on their performance and the two hug, only to be left in simultaneous worry upon watching Kate, Riley, and James deliberate from afar. In the office, Riley and James both vie for their respective teams. Kingston notices Lola biting her nails, a habit that he does when nervous as well. He advises her to find a distraction from it, such as hoverboarding. Both Michelle and Emily nervously pace; each express hope that their team will win, but neither of them are certain what the outcome will be. Kate, James, and Riley finally make their decision and re-enter the studio, and Kate announces that TNS East is the winner. As Emily celebrates with her dancers, Michelle and her dancers are forced to accept defeat.

Trivia[]

  • This is the first season or mid-season premiere to have a "Previously on" segment.
  • Elliot is now a member of TNS East.
  • TNS East has won the dance battle against TNS West, meaning they will be the team attending Regionals.

Continuity[]

Production Errors[]

  • When Riley and James are initially setting their bet, in one shot, Riley has her hands behind her back, but in the next one, she is playing with her promise ring.
  • When Riley and James are joking about their bet at the side of the studio, watching TNS West perform, Noah can be seen marking choreography in front of them and Heather crosses behind them; in the extended version of the dance, it can be seen that neither Noah nor Heather is in the correct place where they should be at the time that Riley and James are talking.

Cultural references[]

  • The title of this episode refers to a song of the same name by Frankie Valli and the Beach Boys.

Cast[]

Main[]

Recurring[]

Absent[]

Featured music[]

Featured dances[]

Quotes[]

Main article: East Meets West/Quotes

Aftershow[]

Main article: East Meets West/Aftershow

Gallery[]

Kathy Riley season 3 episode 13 "Look at that painting!"

To view the East Meets West gallery, click here.


References[]

  1. TV Listings Grid, TV Guide and TV Schedule, Where to Watch TV Shows - Screener. Zap2It (September 9, 2017). Retrieved on September 9, 2017.
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