The Voice: Adam Levine Steals Brandon Diaz During the Season 30 Battles
Queen Latifah kept Bryan Jaymes after their duet of Stevie Wonder's “As.” The show is giving up Tuesdays to the NBA as it heads toward Cut Week, which will determine who reaches the live shows.
Brandon Diaz lost his Battle but left the stage with another chance. On Monday, October 19, Queen Latifah chose Bryan Jaymes after the two performed Stevie Wonder's “As” on The Voice. Adam Levine then used his Steal to bring Diaz onto his team. The decision kept both singers in Season 30 and shifted the balance between the coaches as a much larger round of eliminations approaches.
The episode produced six Battle winners, one stolen artist and five departures. It also marks a change for viewers: starting this week, NBC is concentrating the show on Mondays, with Tuesdays going to the NBA. The next stage, Cut Week, will narrow the teams before viewers take on a decisive role in the live shows.
One Battle Strengthens Two Teams
The showdown between Jaymes and Diaz opened the night and presented a familiar challenge in this format: preparing a duet that works as a joint performance, then separating its singers. Queen Latifah worked with Patti LaBelle as her rehearsal advisor. Once the song was over, her choice of Jaymes did not end his teammate's run, thanks to Levine's intervention.
Give Me My Remote reported Levine's enthusiasm for Diaz's energy and his confidence that the singer could become one of his team's strongest voices. That is Levine's assessment of his new artist, not a prediction that he will win. A Steal prevents elimination at that particular moment; it does not guarantee a place in the competition's final shows.
That distinction will matter in the rounds ahead. Each coach has just one Steal during the Battles and can use it to take an artist dropped by a rival, even as their own decisions mean saying goodbye to other singers. Team lineups change, and the competition begins anew in the next round.
Riley Green Keeps Allie Rae
Riley Green chose Allie Rae over Harmony McKee after their rendition of Bill Withers' “Ain't No Sunshine.” McKee was eliminated without another coach stealing her. The result drew a different assessment from the entertainment press: TVLine thought McKee had delivered the more compelling of the two performances, while praising the duet as a whole.
That disagreement illustrates a feature of The Voice. Other coaches' comments, a critic's grades or the preferences of some viewers do not decide these Battles. Advancement depends on the coach leading the team and, when one is available, the opportunity for a Steal.
On Levine's team, Owen Uffens beat Wade Turner, and Amanda Mikkel prevailed over Julia Clark. Recaps noted a brief stumble by Uffens during his performance, from which he recovered before his coach chose him. A momentary mistake was not enough to decide the outcome.
Kelly Clarkson's Choices
Kelly Clarkson kept Kyle Davis after his Battle with Matthew Chiu on Phil Collins' “Take Me Home.” In her other decision of the night, she chose Brianna Cameron, who performed Duffy's “Mercy” with Saade. Chiu and Saade left the competition.
Those choices completed an episode spanning different repertoires and singing styles, from Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers to Phil Collins and Elvis Presley, whose “Can't Help Falling in Love” was the song for Mikkel and Clark's Battle. Sharing a song invites a comparison of voices, but also a judgment of how the singers listen to and support one another.
The coaches do not prepare these performances alone. This season, LaBelle is advising Queen Latifah; Carly Pearce is working with Green; Alex Warren is helping Levine; and Ariana DeBose is supporting Clarkson. Their role centers on rehearsals and guiding the artists, while the decision about who advances remains with the coach.
What Changes With Cut Week
The season premiered on September 21 with Clarkson and Levine returning and Queen Latifah and Green joining as new coaches. After the Blind Auditions and Battles, NBC is introducing Cut Week in place of the usual Knockout Round.
Each team will enter that stage with seven artists: six Battle winners and one Steal. The coach will send two straight to the live shows. The other five will compete for a third place on their team. Once the twelve qualifiers have been chosen, viewers will select one additional artist to complete the Top 13.
The schedule puts the end of the Battles on Monday, October 26, with Cut Week following on November 2. Beginning on that latter date, the show moves to a 9 p.m. Eastern start. NBC has also announced same-night results during the live rounds, rather than spreading performances and their outcome over two nights.
For Diaz, Jaymes and the other artists who advanced on Monday, staying in the competition is only the first step. Their team is no longer just the group that chose them at the auditions: it is also where they will have to compete for the few places that will take them to the public vote.
