Here’s my deal at this stage of the competition:
- At the beginning of the season, I would never have believed Christine to be at the level she is currently … and against the likes of Frank and Becky. To be able to snag an Elimination Test from beneath the both of them — and with sashimi no less that needed to be recreated visually as well as palpably and doing so virtually blind — is a pretty amazing accomplishment. Joe was right when he discussed her tasting abilities and being able to see things in her mind and reproduce them — it’s an amazing talent she’s blessed with.
- Frank has got it going on. Rarely does he disappoint. And he didn’t do it this round, either.
- She may have been whining about everyone expecting her to live up to the standards she’s set for herself as well as those she’s set during the season, but for Becky it’s a good place to be … regardless of the fact she’s getting her hand slapped. That’s indication the judges are on her side and believe in her.
- Josh? Solely on the weight of him being eliminated previously, that’s reason enough for me to believe he shouldn’t be in the Top Four. And wow … what a fail when he had such a huge advantage going into the challenge. Yes, it was ballsy to believe he could improve on Graham’s dish, but that would have worked only if the dish had worked. The fact his creation was one of the two worst in the judges’ eyes took away additional points and put him in a hole he won’t be able to climb out of.
- And Monti has seen it all, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. I agree with Gordon: She has nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of given the talents she possesses. I would have rather seen Josh get the boot, but Monti was neck and neck with him as to who was leaving based on their creations.
Note: I’m still sticking with Frank as the one to beat. But I know Becky is nipping at his heels. There’s not much time left and everyone needs to be at their best. Any slip up spells doom.
Photo Credit: FOX
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If you have a chance to watch episode 1 of this season, which shows clips of some of the episodes throughout this season, you will see Frank dressed in suit standing behind the judges in the final episode. There’s a woman contestant standing to his right also behind the judges. That woman’s face is largely blocked by Ramsey’s right shoulder but looks to have the same hair style as Becky’s. So, if last season’s final episode can be our guide, Frank does not win. Becky may be out, too. If that is so, then it leaves Josh and Christine. And in an recent NPR interview, the interviewer congratulated Christine on taming the beast. He did add: “at least for now” after that.
*POST AUTHOR*
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Dave? Stay tuned …
One thing I have learned from watching those MasterChef previews is that they are very, very, very (channeling Joe B. here)edited and manipulated to make you think one way when something else occurs. They recycle a lot of shocked looks in those edits. I rewatched that premier and it goes by very fast. Hard to really tell if that is really means Frank or Becky get eliminated. It could be just a promo for the final with everyone who was on the show standing behind him so that you cannot tell who actually won.
The only clips I take with a measure of truth to them are the ones they put up on Hulu. They often show what happens to one person’s dish, a challenge, or something else. For instance, the clip on Hulu showed them judging Christine’s sashimi dish before the episode aired (they also did this for many of the others as well for past episodes). But they put nothing up about Monti or Becky (except that she screwed up putting the chicken skin on her dish), Frank or Josh. Tali’s infamous crab dish segment was put up before the episode aired.
I agree Frank is still the one to beat here. Josh really disappointed in the last one as did Becky. Becky is still a favorite for one of the top two but Christine could very well snag a spot if one of the others is sent home. Even if she does not get into the top two or loses in the finale, she has made a remarkable impact. I suspect there is something out there for her that will continue her food journey.
Just as aside, I would rather eat dishes (with a few exceptions) by most of the amateur chefs on this show rather than those “cooks/chefs” on Hell’s Kitchen (you hear me Clemenza-I would run away from any dish you cooked!).
I think Frank’s a top contender as well, and I’d love to see a final between Frank and Christine. Call me sappy, but they are just two of the nicest, non-egotistical people. They are a pleasure to watch. I don’t dislike Becky and Josh, but they both have their moments.