'Dancing With the Stars' finale recap: Did the right couple win Season 24?

Updated

The following recap contains spoilers for the Season 24 finale of Dancing With the Stars.

Just in case you were feeling anxious about who would win Dancing With the Stars' 24th season, the ABC series found a way to calm your nerves on Tuesday night: by stretching its finale across two-and-a-half hours.

Even though Dancing's three finalists brought their A-game during Monday's performance finale — and our highly scientific TVLine poll showed a very tight race between Normani Kordei and Rashad Jennings — Tuesday's season ender was less about naming a champion and more about reflecting on the highs and lows of the last two months. (And there's nothing to get your mind off a stressful, neck-and-neck finale quite like 150 minutes of filler.)

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See photos from the premiere:

Among the highlights of Tuesday's nostalgia trip: Charo's love-hate relationship with the judges' panel (which we all joked about, but was actually vaguely terrifying). Bonner and Sharna's off-the-charts chemistry that sparked a thousand relationship rumors. And, of course, the untimely eliminations of Simone Biles and Heather Morris.

But if you were among those who felt Heather got snubbed in Week 6, not to worry: She got her redemption during the finale, in which she was basically considered a professional DWTS troupe member for a number of group dances. (Weird? Warranted? Discuss in the comments.)

The finalists also performed their 24-hour fusion dances, which combine two styles in one routine and contribute to each contestant's cumulative finale score:

* David and Lindsay: Salsa/Foxtrot — 36/40
* Normani and Val: Argentine Tango/Foxtrot — 40/40
* Rashad and Emma: Cha-Cha/Tango — 39/40

See photos of Normani on "DWTS":

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In the end, though, Tuesday's finale was about crowning a Season 24 champion, after 10 weeks of high-stress rehearsals, emotional live shows and endless grumpiness from Len Goodman. So, which couple walked away with the Mirrorball?

Rashad and Emma!

Even though Normani and David gave Rashad a run for his money, it was the NFL pro who ultimately got to stand in that confetti shower. Normani and Val finished in third place, while David and Lindsay nabbed second.

See photos of Rashad Jennings on "DWTS":

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