Reality TV has never been our nation’s most aware institution of past days as the genre is inherently volatile and reliant on current events. But tonight, Hell’s Kitchen‘s past came to haunt Hell’s Kitchen‘s present. How did it all go down?
The Best Moments:
Beautiful food
Tonight, the challenge was to turn “ugly food into something beautiful” (Chef Ramsay). And by “ugly food” Gordon means lasagna, eggplant parmesan and tuna casserole. Elise, hated by everyone on the show and probably at home, impresses the judges. How did she turn home cooking into fine dining? It is never explained. We just have to trust the judge’s score. Will wins it over Elise though and takes Elise to Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant as the reward. The losers have to wash the chef’s uniforms the old fashioned way. Not really a punishment if you ask me.
Past chefs
Then, the final five chefs have to cook against five chefs from previous seasons. Every team has to concoct their own menu. The previous contestants seem to get along just fine while this season’s chefs, of course, fight like crazy in the hope to get the most camera time. Elise and Will have a big fallout and Will walks out on his team because he can’t take it anymore. Is he taking the highway or just following his way? We shall see.
Two menus compete
So each team has created a menu with four appetizers, four entrees and four desserts. Hell’s Kitchen opens and it’s game time. Which menu will prevail: previous contestants hoping for their second 15 minutes of fame or the current ones hoping for their first 15 minutes of fame? One thing is sure: the chefs on both teams are equally delusional. Chef Ramsay yells at previous and current contestants all the same. As Tennile puts it: “Hell’s Kitchen is exactly how I remember it to be and worse.” That’s exactly what audiences are thinking every season.
Who will stay?
So the top five have to pick someone to be eliminated. The contestants pick Elise but she, of course, won’t go down without a fight Finally, the nominees are Jennifer and Elise who nominates herself because she’s “overly abrasive”. In her own words, Jennifer has “so much more to show” Gordon and is “a better chef than Elise”. The latter, thinks that she is just nominated because the other ones are “intimidated” by her. Although they beg to differ.
And the loser is…
Gordon’s decision: “Jennifer, take off your jacket.” Not because she’s eliminated but because her jacket is dirty. “Get back in line!” And even Elise is not eliminated. So basically, this episode was pointless. Gordon tells them that they made him “proud” but really, Fox just wants Elise to wreak more havoc. See you next week to see how Elise’s ego can be blown even more out of proportions?
Jan Cee
Contributing Writer
(Image courtesy of FOX)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
