Ezra Frech and Amber Glenn have dominated the first two weeks of Dancing With the Stars Season 35, and fans are already calling them the ones to beat. The two Olympic champions have scored perfect 21s out of 30 for both nights, and their performances have earned them some of the strongest reactions online.
Frech is a 21-year-old track and field athlete and Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA. His partner, Daniella Karagach, brought out a cha-cha to “Low” by Flo Rida during Week 2’s “Viral Hits Night.” Glenn, a three-time U.S. National Champion in figure skating and a 2026 Winter Olympics gold medalist, danced a tango to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison, made popular by Heated Rivalry, with her partner Pasha.
Both teams scored 21 points, tying for the top spot with Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy from The Rookie. The leaderboard-topping scores came back to back, giving Frech and Glenn the highest position for the second week running.
Why Athletes Excel
Athletes have always had a strong entry point on Dancing With the Stars, and this season is no exception. Rigorous training, discipline, and a competitive spirit cannot be undervalued in any contest. Fans are watching closely as Frech and Glenn establish themselves as early frontrunners.
The first two weeks of the season saw viewers complain about the show’s casting, targeting TikTok stars and reality personalities who were unfamiliar to them. Frech was singled out as someone whose name and face they did not immediately recognize, but his performance has silenced those complaints.
The Fan Reaction
The comment sections and viewing numbers tell the story. Fans have called Frech and Glenn two of the most promising dancers of Season 35.
One YouTube viewer commented on Ezra and Dani’s Week 2 dance, which has already reached 100,000 views. “The fact that I can’t take my eyes off Ezra when Dani is his partner is CRAZY! SO GOOD!” the viewer wrote.
Another commenter praised the synchronicity of the routine. “He hit that split and I gasped out loud at my TV. They’re so in sync that they even fall to the ground at the same time after the dance ends,” they added.
The praise for Amber and Pasha’s tango was equally enthusiastic. One user wrote, “How on earth did they not get an 8!? Best dance of the night for me.” Another commenter referenced Daniella and Pasha’s real-life love story: “Best of the night!! We want 2 Olympic gold medalists and husband vs wife for the final 2!!”
Judges also praised the pair’s performance, calling it “one of the best of the season.”
What Comes Next
The first three episodes of Dancing With the Stars Season 35 are now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. local and stream the next day.
Frech and Glenn have already set the bar high. Whether they can sustain this momentum through the season remains to be seen, but the early signs are strong. Longtime fans of the show want to see Dani and Pasha go up against each other for the Mirrorball Trophy, and the performances so far suggest that could happen.
Could Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech be the contestants who take them all the way and bring Dani her second win or Pasha his first? We think so.
Key Facts Box
– Frech and Glenn both scored 21/30 for their Week 2 dances
– Their scores tied Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
– Both are Olympic champions: Frech is a Paralympic gold medalist, Glenn is a 2026 Winter Olympics gold medalist
– New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. local, stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu
– First three episodes stream now on Disney+ and Hulu
– Hulu basic (with ads) is $11.99/month, ad-free is $18.99/month
– Disney+ Bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported plans, up to $32.99/month for ad-free Disney+, Hulu, and Max
The competition is only just beginning, but Frech and Glenn have already proven they belong at the top of the leaderboard.
See the video the story is built around at Decider.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.