Finale Format
So, how does that work? They have five people, only one winner. In effect, they are eliminating 4 instead of 2, so obviously they have to do it differently than a regular episode.
shareI wish the season was longer, and it seems to make more sense to have three in the finale than five. So I'm not sure why they crammed five people into the finals.
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I thought they did the same last year, eliminating two in the first round and the three remaining go to the finals.
They added the taste off this year, so not sure what's in store for this evening.
I have my preferences, but honestly would be happy in any of the remaining five win.
I want almost all of the win, but Eric - regardless of my feelings about his personality - has really been under-performing lately, making me question whether he even deserves it. He blew everyone away with his "perfect pasta" earlier in the season, but he barely won the first Taste-Off (even though it was supposed to be a sure thing against Tom), then ate up every word of advice from Ben as though he had no idea how to win on his own in the last one. (Not to mention how awful the judges said his jalapenos were in the first place).
I have a feeling he'll be one of - if not the - first to go home tonight. He seems to be pretty hit-or-miss, and greatly overestimates his skills. Even Jen has been doing more consistently well lately. Anthony apparently only put her in the bottom because the food was too refined and/or not spicy enough, whereas the judges reamed Eric's dish.
He's been bitter the last two weeks, yet he also produced his team's only Master Class early in the season. Whether or not he brings it is debatable, but Eric does have the ability to win, especially if you expect the unexpected.
shareIt's possible, but it seems Gabe and Tristen are the only two to consistently get gold stars and never get red stars, let alone more than one.
The way they've hyped up Jen as being the "Freddy Krueger" of the competition, I wouldn't be surprised at this point if she won. Though it's unlikely, it would be nice to see the underdog win for once, even if it wasn't a home cook (Khristianne was freaking Charlie Sheen's and the Saudi Arabian royal family's personal chef or whatever, and Louise seemed to have a pretty cushy gig as a food stylist - though I do want the contest to be based on merit, it would still be nice to see someone who also really needs it, win).
Tristen and Ben are tied for golds and Ben also has no red stars. But more so, all of Ben's gold stars were won without the aid of a Master Class, where as most of Gabe's and all of Tristen where won with the aid of the guest chef.
I think you could be right. I wouldn't be too surprised either if Jen won, giving them the change to prove that a home cook could win. Still, it would be sort of a miracle, for I don't think Ben's going to be helping her out during the final.
I don't think Gabe, simply because he's the obvious choice to win.
Oh well, we'll know soon enough.
I think the master class thing isn't necessarily fair to dock Gabe and Tristen for. It's sort of a tree-falling-in-the-forest situation. We don't know they would have done significantly worse without the guest mentors' help. It seems like usually they don't offer much, just a suggestion to fry the chives rather than leave them raw, etc.
And keep in mind that Jake still got red stars with Eric Ripert's help, which the mentors said was horrible and shocking, but I took more as an insult to Ripert, not Jake. He should have been able to make the dish less awful, whether through suggestions or just steering him in a different direction.
But yes, it is still admirable that Ben won without almost any help.
Can't wait for the finale! Yet I'm bummed now it'll be over. I wish there was only one elimination a week and the show ran for twice as long.