‘The Voice’ Season 26 Episode 10 Recap

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘The Voice’ Season 26 Episode 10.With only so many steals left, we’re back to the part of The Voice where going later in the Battle Rounds does not bode well for artists who are seeking a second chance at life. There is no Coach Replay Button this time around. With Gwen Stefani using all of her steals already, it’s down to the three other coaches. How will they utilize theirs? The Battles Rounds rage on in night four.

But first, that cliffhanger! We have some unfinished business. With Austyns Stancil having three coaches hoping to steal him, it’s now down to Austyns to select a modern coach. He rightly selects Snoop Dogg. It was the obvious decision, but it does beg the question: did we even need the cliffhanger? I suppose it was so obvious it wouldn’t have been a great ending to the previous episode. But, alas. Now that that’s out of the way, back to the competition at hand.

Snoop Dogg Makes a Shocking Decision — Is It the Right One?

With Snoop Dogg adding to his team with a steal, he is about to lose a coveted contender when he pairs Dreion against Georgia Starnes. Their song is “Perfect Combination” by Stacy Lattisaw and Johnny Gill. The face of utter confusion from Georgia Starnes was right in line for many people watching. But for Dreion, he and his wife love Johnny Gill as he was their wedding song. He’s already got an instant connection to the track. During their session with Coach Snoop, Georgia is suggested to lose the runs to aid complement when Dreion comes in. Would this be her fatal flaw? Georgia attempts to say that she and Dreion complement each other like peanut butter and jelly in hopes of respecting Snoop’s vision. Snoop will offer his most sound advice thus far, the 5 P’s: Proper preparation prevents needy performance. Georgia says she’s going to get that tattooed. Let’s just hope it’s a transient tattoo.

In the battle of the two four-chair turn singers, the song favors Dreion immensely, which means that he has much more to prove. Georgia Starnes has a attractive voice, but Dreion’s aged soul is what this song calls for. Still, Snoop selects Georgia Starnes as his winner. It’s a shocking decision, but it’s the right decision. Starnes is the full package and now has the ability to say she can sing outside of her wheelhouse.

‘The Voice’ Season 26 Episode 10 Skimps on Full Performances

Gwen Stefani has two wonderfully youthful voices on her team, so it is time to see which one has the staying power. To match their vibe and energy, she gives BEYA and Kay Sibal “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter for their battle song. It’s modern, it’s pop, and it gives them the ability to form a newfangled identity, as Gwen shares. Rather than present a full performance, The Voice jumps right into the chorus of the song, which is unfortunate; not being able to hear the full flavor of the performance makes it complex to truly understand any decision about to be made. Despite that, both artists have exceptional stage presence and knock the song out of the park. Gwen is in a tough spot as they are both equally talented. The coach selects Kay Sibal as Filipino representation continues to shine on The Voice Season 26. Sadly, BEYA doesn’t even get a chance to thank her coach on screen.

Reba McEntire pushes two of her vocalists to find a higher love in their battle. She has Jaukeem Fortson, the youngest singer in the competition, against Tsola, the singer-dancer. Performing “Higher Love” originally by Steve Winwood but later made eminent by Whitney Houston, both vocalists have a beast to tackle. Jaukeem is taking in everything that Reba tells him; he’s a sponge for her advice. Tsola has a thinner voice than Jaukeem, and the Queen of Country knows that. She warns us that this decision will come down to their ability to sell what they’re singing. Once again, we catch only part of their performance, missing out on the complete story. Let me rephrase that. We enter at the tail end of the song, where Jaukeem Fortson and Tsola are simply left to trade riffs and runs. Jaukeem, decked out in a suit and sneakers, is adorable. On a show like this, that package sells. That’s what gets audience votes, so Reba will utilize him as bait in hopes of retaining her title. It’s difficult to stand by her decision when it’s not fully there. Tsola is done soiled. Again.

A Celine Dion Song Offers an Exceptional Battle

Before his battle even begins, Michael Bublé asks who has steals left. Since he can’t steal his own person, he butters up the D-O-Double G and the Queen of Country to steal one of his upcoming singers: Sofronio Vasquez and Aliyah Khaylyn. Prefaced that they’re two of the biggest singers in the competition, Bublé pairs the powerhouse performers together knowing that they both will not be leaving. The Canadian crooner once again pays homage to his homeland as he gives his artists a massive power ballad, “The Power of Love” by Celine Dion. This song is a true test of skill. No one can sing like Celine Dion, but they can utilize the song to display the colors of their instrument.

Aliyah Khaylyn brings a natural emotion to her performance; she has an innate control over the song. Sofronio Vasquez, who Bublé likens to Bruno Mars, is unafraid to riff and run. Thankfully, Bublé tells him, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” If we were to rank Battle Round performances this season, this would rank as one of, if not the best. Both Sofronio and Aliyah have their moments, but when they soar together, it’s magic — the harmonies are hauntingly attractive. Aliyah is not as pitch-perfect as Sofronio, but her conviction as a performer is admirable. Michael Bublé decides to keep Sofronio Vazquez on his team. Another victory for Filipino talent! Aliyah Khaylyn gets to stay in the competition as Snoop Dogg slams his button down to steal.

There is an immense difference between the Monday and Tuesday shows. The Monday night episode, which is two hours, seems to feature the varsity roster. The Tuesday night episode, which is only an hour long, seems to have what is perceived as the leftover artists — the ones that may not have much more longevity after this round. It’s unfortunate not to give each artist equal time; surely it’s more exhilarating to watch the performances than the coaches coaching and the artists doubling down on their backstories. As the rosters continue to shrink, hopefully, each artist gets their fair shake.

‘The Voice’ Season 26 deviates from the music to focus on the coaching, unfortunately skimping on performances.

Pros

• Two powerful Filipino artists continue to stand out as top contenders.

Cons

• Two Battle Round performances were not shown in completion.
• Some of the coaches’ decisions feel confusing.

The Voice airs Mondays on NBC in the U.S. All episodes are available to stream on Peacock.

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