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Episode Title: “We’re on a Boat”
Synopsis: After saying goodbye to their loved ones, the chefs receive an ominous gift from Tom, who tells them to get up early and meet him at the docks; for their elimination challenge, each chef must create two fresh fish dishes; another contestant is eliminated from the competition.
Discuss.
ReplyCopy URLThe Baker’s gone! That’s too bad for Nick, but his fish cake blunder was apparently too major for the judges to ignore. My gut feeling from before was perfectly accurate that there was no place for both Nick and Damarr in the finals. Only one black male quota allowed. Sarah winning the elimination challenge is wild. Good for her, I guess. She needed the redemption arc and had the most to prove returning to the competition, but she cooked her ass off in “LDK” to earn her spot back. Too bad she’s so obnoxious personality-wise, but this is supposed to be about the food, after all. Not sure how many chefs will be in the finale. The “fan favorite” online vote is happening as well, and it’s the final four minus Sarah lol. Strong final four overall. If one chef goes home next week, maybe Evelyn or Damarr? I feel like there would have been no point to have Sarah go through all of this not to go all the way. Buddha’s had the fewest missteps and seems destined to be in the finale. Damarr showing rare emotion was refreshing. A winner’s narrative could be made in his case, I think. I’m predicting Evelyn to win “fan favorite” though. Let’s go!
ReplyCopy URLEpisode Title: “Cactus Makes Perfect”
Synopsis: For their last Quickfire Challenge, the chefs make the trip to El Charro in Tuscon, Ariz., the oldest family-run Mexican restaurant in the country, where chef Carlotta Flores challenges them to create a dish featuring her carne seca; another contestant is eliminated from the competition.
Discuss.
ReplyCopy URLTough break for Damarr. Not the best look for the show to eliminate its only two black males consecutively right before the finale, but it is what it is, I guess. Anything’s possible next week, but the momentum really seems to be with Sarah right now, which is whatever. The narrative of a “LDK” winner being the season champion has already been accomplished previously and isn’t a pressing narrative. I’ll root for Evelyn to emerge as the victor. Buddha should never be discounted, but his try-harding might be his downfall. However, being the last man standing is never a bad thing here. Only six female winners in nineteen seasons. Sorry, ladies! Especially if you’re black.
ReplyCopy URL“Top Chef” should be renamed “LMS: Last Man Standing”™ at this stage lol. I had a gut feeling that Buddha had the edge here, and if you study every single episode of the series to learn every winner’s edit and every mistake made, chances are that you’re setting yourself up in a perfect position to win outright. Sad for Evelyn, who I was rooting for hard and thought her hometown advantage would help her out. Not really the case since the finale was in Tuscon and not Houston, but still. Buddha will carry the torch of season winner well, and this does a lot to erase the sour taste of dirty Gabe’s victory last season. But yeah, being female is a tough road historically for the show. In my mind, I think that Dawn’s prominent placement during the season as hometown advantage Houston judge made her a de-facto/phantom winner, which is nice considering the eye-rolling history of no black female victors yet. I think she could have won if she had only plated her dishes on time. Gabe could have totally been featured this season if TPTB dictated so, since he’s a Texan chef too in El Paso and Austin lmao. But enough about that creep. Evelyn’s crystal dumplings seemed like her best course, and Sarah’s acorn cake wowed everyone. When Eric Ripert says that he’s never had this kind of cake before but now loves it, that’s high praise. I think both had some missteps with seasonings on Evelyn’s scallops, and Sarah’s over/under rabbit dish. Buddha received the most effusive comments throughout the four courses. It seemed like the worst things said about one of his dishes were from Tom C. that it was “too neat,” or Ripert’s comment that he was bogged down by oppressive 80s and 90s cooking techniques. I found the tuiles in every single dish as pretty showoff-y and too ornate, but Padma loved that he was going all out for the finale. Another season for the books! Loved the talented cast and mostly drama-free tone. The only real stirrings of controversy were Jackson’s TasteGate antics and Sarah’s huge winning streak on “LDK.” They’re totally setting Jackson up for a future “All-Stars” run, b/c of course they are. He’s white, male, and pops on camera. Sarah, no. #SorryNotSorry. Never need to see her on my television EVER again! In closing, I propose an ALL-WINNERS SEASON for the landmark 20th anniversary season! Come on, Bravo, make it happen! Until next time…
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