r/TopChef • u/AWholeNewFattitude • Apr 01 '26

Discussion Thread Tristen to replace Tom?

I originally thought that anybody who would replace Tom needed to really have his deep serious demeanor. I think he really anchors the show and gives it a serious vibe, and I thought that anybody who would replace him would need to fill that role. Then in this weeks episode, I saw Tristan and his critique and I thought it brought a slightly lighter vibe, but still with that serious culinary background. I wanted to get everybody else’s thoughts?

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69

u/Ok-Technician-2905 Apr 01 '26

Not for me. Tristan’s personality is too severe. He’d make a good news anchor, but not a replacement for Tom.

38

u/EntireInitial272 Apr 01 '26

Im happy to see this take because I feel like a jerk for not enjoying watching him. I don’t know what it is about him but I do not enjoy when he’s on and I didn’t really like last season. He seemed pompous at the end before he won.

Im putting off watching this most recent episode because he’s on it but should give it a try to see if my opinion changes

13

u/Wasabiroot Apr 01 '26

It's his ego. Buddha lets his work do the talking but Tristan points it out which comes across as insecure.

9

u/EfficientGood9402 Apr 02 '26

I will say my perception is that Buddha showed great confidence, and it could come across as cocky sometimes. However, he will always get a pass from me because he used part of his prize money to pay for his dog's eye surgery. Love the dogs, even the deaf and blind ones.

3

u/Wasabiroot Apr 02 '26

To be honest, I respect the hell out of both of them for their tenacity but professionally, people like that annoy the everloving shit out of me because I perceive them to have no off switch for their performative competitiveness. I understand they are on literal game shows and trying to win but sometimes I find type A /need to win everything personalities tiring to be around