THE NEXT STEP returned to Family Channel last night after a three-month hiatus and the premiere didn’t disappoint! Emily and Michelle are still at odds and the teams’ fate at regionals is yet to be determined.
With tensions building as the big competition looms closer, Michelle approaches Emily and asks if things between them are OK. She says she wants to be friends – an idea Emily does not respond to well, exclaiming that there is absolutely “no chance” after what Michelle did to her.
Meanwhile, tension is also high between Tiffany and Stephanie. Stephanie is still upset that Tiffany didn’t side with Emily during the struggle for the captain title; she is very clear about the fact that the two of them aren’t friends anymore. Uh oh! Looks like more than one friendship is starting to crumble here…
Next, the scene cuts to James and his mom, who showed up at the studio. James announces to everyone that he is being pulled from the A-Troupe as a consequence of having failed his most recent math exam. She proclaims that he won’t be returning to the studio any time soon.
Michelle isn’t standing for this! She goes into full-on persuasion mode and tries her best to convince James’s mom to let him stay until regionals. She gets down on her knees and pleads, then gets EVERYONE down on their knees with her! With the entire dance team supporting her and showing their love for James, his mom is convinced and agrees to give him two weeks. After two weeks, if he has improved his math grade, he’ll be able to practice and then perform with the team at regionals.
Emily is jealous of the ease with which Michelle handled the situation. Despite her best efforts to deny it, she knows Michelle is actually a pretty good captain.
James talks to Riley; he apologizes for letting her and the team down. She knows she has to think of a way to motivate him to do well on his math exam – and offers to go on a date with him if he receives a 70% or higher on the test! James agrees, excited, and claims it’s the “best deal he’s ever made.” Hmm, let’s hope so!
The team gets back to practicing, and Emily lets each person come up with their own moves instead of doing all the choreographing herself. Everyone loves this approach – except Emily, who sits out the practice and sulks. Daniel’s ankle starts bothering him again and he has to take a break.
Stephanie and Emily talk about Steph’s encounter with Tiffany; they both agree that the E-Girls are done and over with. Chloe and Tiffany feel they’re on the “outside” now and miss the times when they were all friends.
Riley then tries to talk to Emily, as sisters. Emily gives her the cold shoulder and tells her “they aren’t sisters anymore.” She feels Riley betrayed her by siding with Michelle. Riley is extremely upset by this and the episode ends with her in tears. She’s lost her sister and worries their relationship will never be the same.
Regionals are fast approaching and things are definitely heating up with the A-Troupe! Do you think Emily and Michelle will ever be friends again or that Riley will reconcile with her sister?
Tune in to THE NEXT STEP on Family Channel on Friday at 7 p.m. ET to see what happens!