Oh, right, television

[jlh]

After a long couple of weeks of nothing new, I got some Top Chef and I found this week to be incredibly interesting. I was never a Howie fan, as many of you know; I found him to be a bully and to have a wrong-headed approach to the competition. It isn't survivor; your only real competition is yourself until the very last rounds. So what I found wonderful in this episode was Howie finally, finally figuring that out because he was finally, finally on a winning team, with a leader who didn't let him get away with shit just because he wanted to be loud. His little leaving speech was so excellent. Personal growth is my favorite character arc—even more than romance, though my favorite romances are ones that reflect personal growth, hence my penchant for remarriage stories. So watching Howie Get It was probably the best way he could have gone out.

Final six and truly, I have no favorites. I would be satisfied if any of them won, as they've all had good weeks and bad weeks but are all inventive and talented chefs.

Comments

[toastoos.livejournal.com]

Over the last few weeks, Howie was growing on me. I guess I noticed he was trying to make an effort, and like you said, finally got it this week. I was so on his side. I don't know if it was the way it was edited or what, but the judges annoyed the hell out of me.

They demand an explanation when something isn't good enough about why they settled on serving it, and when someone does that knowing they aren't going to put out a good product, they then demand why you didn't even try.

And that whole, "Uh, it isn't your decision to leave, Howie. We decide." Since when don't they let someone bow out of the competition? Are they going to force that person to compete? And they knew at the time that they were going to send him home because of his dishes. It's like that "You can't quit! You're fired!" crap.

Whatev. I don't blame Howie at all for wanting to leave. This season is awful.