The season begins with a newly motivated Abby Lee promising to no longer overlook her remaining dancers now that her star, Maddie, is gone. Abby assigns Brynn and Kendall head-to-head duets with boy partners and Brynn struggles with the pressure. When Jess calls out Abby's favoritism for Brynn, Ashlee hits her boiling point.

Abby challenges Nia and Kendall with tough head-to-head trios but the group tribute to Madonna leaves the moms wanting more. Holly suspects Abby has a hidden agenda for Nia but, when she brings Nia's manager to the studio to investigate, her strategy backfires. When talk of the girls' technique erupts at competition, Abby abandons the team.