MovieChat Forums > Project Runway (2004) Discussion > Where do the judges draw the line?

Where do the judges draw the line?

posted 7 years ago by cacceb83
5 replies | jump to latest

As far as the collections are concerned, how do they justify their double standard decisions? They change their minds with EVERY challenge and with EVERY season.

Specifically: they have said in many seasons past how they chose this collection over that one because it was a fashion SHOW, not so much because the collection was better but because the designer put on a SHOW. Which is fine....if that's how you're going to judge each season, but you don't.

Seth Aaron won because he put on a SHOW; but because Mondos collection was (to quote Nina) "a cousin collection of Seth Aaron" they choose Gretchen. Gretchens collection was ready to wear; as was Anya's the following season.

They will rake a designer over the coals for making ready to wear; yet in certain circumstances they ignore that 'awful' term and grant a win to someone undeserving. So I'm confused why they would eliminate Laurence for making ready to wear even though they've awarded designers in the past for doing the same thing?

Naturally, we're going to assume it was the producers who made the final decision. Especially, when this is the 3rd year in a row we've watched the judges praise designers for their talents then 2 or 3 episodes before the finale the judges yawn and call them repetitive, which scares them into changing things up and therefore they lose all their strengths, giving an undeserving victory to a poor contestant. (Candice and Edmond. Kini and Amanda. Anyone?)

Every season has its theme. Sean Kelly's was the season of fringe. Last season was season super-size me. This season.....season of the banana.

[–] Dreamsville 7 years ago

This season.....season of the banana.

Or season of the bedazzle. Especially when Zac made that totally wtf comment about how Rik's denim pieces needed more "sparkle".

I just get the feeling lately, especially these last two seasons, that the decision of who is going to win is made almost at, if not right at, the beginning of the season. From there on out the show becomes about manipulating the "story" to ensure that that person wins, while trying (and failing, mostly) to make the predetermined outcome not look obvious.

[–] OKCRay 7 years ago

I know what you mean about the fringe. Wasn't fringe one of the OUTDATED FASHION TRENDS (along with shoulder pads, cutouts, underwear as outerwear, etc.) that was part of a team challenge during Season 4?

[–] Moonlighty 7 years ago

They don't draw lines which is obvious for a regular viewer. Sometimes they wildly praise very crafty things, sometimes they praise things very similar to famous designers that surely someone on the panel would have noticed, sometimes they praise fairly basic things to pretend to justify keeping drama in the competition.

I don't really know if every season has a theme. Yeah Sean did fringe a few times but it's not like everyone was doing it. Last season was super size me? Because one designer was plus sized and did her final collection plus sized? And a banana because I guess Erin did a dress with a banana print and used yellow a lot? I don't think the winner having a recurring motif constitutes a season's theme.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

[–] cacceb83 7 years ago

Okay. To be fair, I was reaching with the super size me comment. That wasn't a theme last season and I made an unfair assessment. But, Sean's season was definitely season of fringe. Not only did he use it repeatedly as a crutch- so did Amanda. And Char used it once, too. It seemed like every time fringe was added that designer won a challenge. But I could be remembering wrong.

An earlier poster said this season was more about embellishments than bananas and I'd have to agree to that, too. The judges leaned towards the bedazzling when critiquing. Even Posen was pushing Rik to add sparkle into his finale.

[–] sisterlove_2003 7 years ago

You could argue that that's the way the fashion industry works. What is popular one minute goes out of fashion the very next and when a winner is chosen the powers that be may pick the one they assume move the fashion needle forward. Some designers don't live up to that aspiration though which is why they fizzle out quickly.