RECAP: Project Runway Season 22, Episode 2
The Rest of Episode 1
And we’re back…because the producers like to play games suddenly. Who is it gonna be? The drag queen? The other drag queen? The beauty queen? The guy who designs for drag queens?
Ultimately, Jeffrey is in: beauty queens and drag queens can put everything they own in a box to the left. Plane Jane is delusional and gobsmacked forever with his fake tears, and being annoyed about this complete waste of time. Anyway. Goodbye.
We’re down to 16 designers.
Read on for my take on Episode 2. SPOILERS AHEAD!
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The Challenge
Challenge: Redemption Look (and I have questions…)
Budget: $500
Time: One Day
First question: What do you mean it’s a redemption look? A redemption look from what? They’ve not built anything on this show yet. This is a nonsensical theme for this challenge.
Next Question: Is this going to be a repeat of the “every challenge is a one-day challenge” from last season, because if it is: no thank you. That’s not why we watch.
And then we learn that FIVE DESIGNERS are going to be cut. It’s the Hunger Games up in here. Would that make Christian a Ceasar Flickerman or a Cinna?
And the immune designers get to save one of the eliminated five?
Let’s do the math shall we?
16 designers are in the competition, and 6 of them are immune. That means that 10 designers are at risk and HALF OF THEM are going to be cut by the judges, but one of them will be saved by the immune designers.
So we’re really losing four designers and will be down to 12.
The Work Room
Anna has the right idea…except it’s not? She brought a redemption look (cute backstory with making her parents play “Project Runway”) but Christian says it can’t be a reference they don’t know? But if it’s a redemption look…how do you redeem? Is it just that you’re redeeming yourself from not being safe? It’s a poorly executed theme by the producers.
Joseph FELT he could elevate felt and…what? I’m currently not seeing the vision, especially with felt.
We learn that Octavius is a man of many things: a former track and field gold medalist and tailor to the stars. What’s your rate, Octavius? I need some new threads.
Bryan hits on Christian, a man who has no power. He makes weird choices.
Bao also dresses celebrities and is weary of all the ready-to-wear. She’s loving this brocade, but Christian cautions her about these judges, which is such a good reminder that you need to be you, but also play to the judges. If Christian says they hate brocade, then pick any other fabric.
Christian is incredibly over Bi’s gay nonsense (but offers him a job if he can actually do what hesays he can).
I don’t trust Bryan. I love shady bitch, but only when it’s for the bit — not because you’re a bitch. He keeps talking about Bi, and honestly, I’m over him and this storyline, and I’m annoyed we have to deal with him for another episode after this (stupid immunity).
Naheim is being super ambitious with his design and doing this for his dad, who is his biggest support. And I don’t know about your household, but in this household, we love a supportive parent story.
Yangyang uses the same cutout bird fabric (that she apparently created and brought from home) from the last challenge, and Christian is over it. And honestly, who wants to be known as the cutout bird fabric girl?
Jeffrey is doing a modernized pinstripe tailored suit. Christian tries to get him to leave the drag behind and make this about fashion. And girl, yes.
Aaron is Minnie Mouse and needs to find the perfect fit for his jersey onesie
Dani (who is somehow still here) has all of the ideas again.
Jude is tongue-tied and twisted around Christian (and it’s adorable).
Christian gathers the designers to send in the clowns — I mean, the six eliminated designers from the beginning of this episode — and reveal that they’re also helping choose to save a designer. Too bad they’re not interns!
Everyone hates this twist of a jury of 12, because they’re just sure that the eliminated designers are gonna play games (and Plane Jane and Q immediately prove them correct).
Then, as the end of the day comes, Anna gives everyone anxiety by requesting her fabric from home and STARTS OVER ENTIRELY! Girl. What are you doing?
THE RUNWAY
As we go through these looks and the judges’ comments, let’s remember that they had a day to work on these looks. One day. For a redemption look. A redemption from nothing.
First off: we have no Nina. She has been increasingly absent from these recent seasons and it’s distressing.
Our guest judge today is Ice Spice of “Think U The Shit (Fart)” fame.
K.
First up we have our six immune designers, and we get them out of the way fast because honestly, these aren’t great looks.
Bryan (and model Briana): It’s another look in white, and to me it kinda looks like a papier-mâché art project. Good thing he’s immune.
Bobby (and model Anna): It’s a cute cut, but it just feels so safe. Keep moving, girl.
Chloe (and model Yu): Underwhelming. She didn’t even try. And she kind of admits it in her commentary. Woof. Should be in the bottom, good thing she’s immune.
Jude (and model Sarah): Very similar to his last look (which was more interesting). The buttons on the girl was a cute moment, but just a moment. I think this boy can only tailor, and tailoring is difficult, don’t get me wrong. But what else, Jude?
Elizabeth (and model Rebecca): Apparently we’re going to the Moulin Rouge in Paris with this burlesque pirate outfit…and ruffles again, Jersey Girl? She’s lucky she’s immune.
Andriy (and model Anastasiia): This tartan skirt with a bustle on the back was definitely a choice this man made.
Now for the not-immune designs:
Jeffrey (and model Amanda): From the collarbones up it’s fine, but she looks like she’s wearing a sleeping bag that has been barely cinched at the waist, and she is on her way to audition for a new Roald Dahl musical. It’s so incongruous. I absolutely hate this look. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
Octavius (and model Rain): Keep the coat on, please. It’s so cute. It’s the best part of the look. The two-tone backless tuxedo underneath, though, is strange. Heidi thinks it doesn’t fit correctly. But also, this is the first challenge where they’ve built it on location for a new model.
Bi (and model Sarah): I really don’t hate this look. That top is stunning; the high waist on the pants is gorgeous. But he’s nervous and blames Bryan for anything the judges might hate.
Joseph (and model Isaiah): I don’t hate it, but why does Joseph keep hiding the shape of every model? Why is everything so bulky? The jacket is fun; the pants give me flashbacks to the long pants of my high school days. I just wish Joseph wouldn’t run away from his model’s bodies.
Bao (and model Jessica): This is confusing as hell; there’s too much fabric but also not enough some how? Everything about this look is weird and fighting with another part of the dress. But maybe I just don’t understand high fashion?
Anna (and model Janine): Good. Pivot. Anna! This is gorgeous. The colors of the lace could be too much, but somehow it feels so tasteful.
Dani (and model Roberta): This Pirate Queen from the late 90s is also off to the Moulin Rouge to watch Elizabeth’s model dance.
Aaron (and model Badu): He had to pivot because he ruined his original look. I’m not usually one to comment on the styling, but I hate the boots with this. There’s just nothing about this look that intrigues me in a good way.
Yangyang (and model Friday): I do love the colors, but it feels so…safe. Maybe I miss the birds?
Naheim (and model Eric): Yet another pirate, but this time he’s French and on vacation in Scotland. On the second watchthrough of this episode, I’m more intrigued by him than I am by almost any one else. I don’t think I like this look, but I wanna see more from him.
JUDGING
The Top Three looks are not from the immune kids, and they should be happy with immunity.
Jeffrey - in tears; Tyra took her breath away; Ice Spice would wear it; Heidi thinks it’s sophisticated; I remind you that I absolutely hate this look. DISAGREE!
Anna - Law says phenomenal and luxury and she has somewhere to go and wants it; Heidi wants it. VERY MUCH AGREE!
Joseph - Ice Spice loves colors; Law loves the bomber; Tyra thinks Paris fashion week; Heidi thinks it’s fresh. OKAY I’LL ALLOW IT
Winner is Joseph McRae, and he’s immune for the next challenge. I really think it should have gone to Anna, but this is fine.
The immune designers are dismissed and I wish we could have heard thoughts about their looks. Some were so much worse than the seven designers in the bottom. And now I’m just salty for the rest of this episode. Bryan and Bobby and Chloe absolutely should be heading out the door instead of (almost) any of these designers in the bottom. It’s trash.
A quick rundown of the seven bottoms:
Octavius - Heidi likes the suit; Ice Spice thinks the tailoring needs work; Tyra thinks the two colors aren’t original; Law throws shade at Tyra about fast fashion, he loves the coat
Dani - Law sees a “look for less” McQueen, he hates the styling; Ice Spice hates the styling; Heidi has this jacket
Bi - Heidi liked this look; Law thinks the top is incredible but hates the pants; Tyra hates the color, but honestly who cares; Ice Spice says this is “Project Runway” not “Project Personality,” but girl, you’re just meeting him, what do you mean?
Naheim - Ice Spice loved this vibe and is her favorite look; Tyra likes the risks and that it gives men permission to go beyond what’s usually on the rack; Heidi thinks this is Robin Hood meets Sherlock, but make it street; Law thinks it’s overstyled and has him remove that terrible hat
Bao - Ice says it’s gorgeously tailored; Law is mad about the seam in the back, and I would like to ask where that seam would go, Law? I’m sure she could make an invisible seam if she HAD MORE THAN A DAY; Heidi sees the Borat swimsuit, unflattering, and she’s not wrong
Yangyang - Ice Spice thinks it looks like a tablecloth; Law needs it lined; Tyra agrees; reminder, they had a day to do this; but Yangyang probably had the time, to be fair
Aaron - Heidi thinks she looks like a plugged-in girl, but hates the waist; Tyra loves the history Aaron talks about and loves the neck; Law hates this look but wants to keep Aaron for his knowledge; Ice doesn’t like the texture or the sparkles.
So to sum up, Law really needs to be on a show called “Project Stylist” because I think he misunderstands what this show is.
After all that, the judges decide to save Naheim and Aaron, which honestly surprises me. Bi or Octavius would have been preferable to me over Aaron’s look.
So our eliminated five are: Octavius, Dani, Bi, Bao, Yangyang. But who will be saved?
Back in the Work Room, it’s deliberation time. Chloe seems to be voting for Dani, Bryan made a case for Bi (and cried about it because he’s not a serious person), and Bao will be getting Plane Jane’s vote.
I’d save Bi from this group (and honestly, so would the producers, to give us more drama). Who do you think should be saved? Which looks did you love?
What do YOU think of “Project Runway” Season 22? Who are you rooting for? Drop your comments below!
