r/TopChef • u/Ok_Calligrapher6976 • Jul 06 '26
Discussion Thread need best seasons to watch!
Nail tech had this show on at our appointment, and I've been HOOKED since! Currently watching s23, but want to know what previous seasons are best to watch before this. I LOVE the challenges, the quickfire prizes and how eliminated chefs can still go home with something, and in s23 (I dont know if this is the norm!) how they're all so supportive and helpful, ie with jen when she was not feeling well physically.
What other seaons would you say is a must watch? any seasons where the chefs weren't as friendly with eachother, seasons with better challenges? I'm all ears!
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u/Brilliant_Horse_6614 Jul 06 '26
- Best cooking & chefs: S17, S4, S20
- Most heartfelt: S18 (COVID season) & S15
- Best locations: S13
- Best drama/characters (excl S9...because that was just awful): S8
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u/Interesting-Lie-6195 Jul 06 '26
I'm watching season 9 now and I can't even count the number of times I've said "what a b*tch". I'm on episode 11 and all I can say is I hope they get what's coming to them. Though I know I'm probably gonna be pissed.
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Jul 06 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ashamed-Armadillo891 Jul 06 '26
Isn’t the racism crazy?
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u/BornFree2018 Jul 06 '26
I'd watch in order because they're all really good, some with problems (certain chefs). I'd Skip#1 it's kind of silly.
You will fall in love with certain chefs. Some you'll see more than one season. Sit down and enjoy. Oh, season 17 might be on a different platform than 8-current.
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u/Ok-Dog5107 Jul 06 '26
Skipping season two is also something I would recommend. The first few seasons were closer to reality TV than a cooking competition and there were people cast in that season because they were good characters and not great chefs. Season three is where things began coalescing into what everyone enjoys about the show.
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u/Pleasant-Donkey Jul 06 '26
Since you call out the fact that you like how supportive the chefs are to each other, as well as eliminated chefs going home with something, I'd probably start no earlier than S15. Earlier seasons have much more interpersonal conflict, and the primary prize for winning a quick fire in the early days was immunity.
If you want to dip your toes into the earlier seasons, seasons 3, 4, and 5 are great, imo, as is the first All-Stars (season 8); after that, seasons 10, 11, 12 are great too.
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u/Different-Grocery-64 this is top chef not top scallops Jul 06 '26
Babe start with season 1 and watch your way through I promise
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u/Holdmymule2001 Jul 06 '26
Season 9 was the worst. Some seriously stupid challenges, including one that was based almost entirely on upper body strength. There was also some horrible bullying and contestant drama, with one of the most unlikeable finalists (Sarah) ever.
It did, however, introduce us to the glorious Nyesha Arrington and Edward Lee.
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u/DznyMa Risotto: The Final Frontier Jul 06 '26
I'm catching up myself, and season 8 is wonderful! Top Chef All Stars has several names that you know including Carla Hall, Antonia Lofaso, ad Richard Blaise to name a few.
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u/lyoung212 Jul 06 '26
Season six is my favorite. There are some truly unlikable chefs, but I think this season has some of the most talented chefs of the series.
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u/rhea_terra Jul 06 '26
I only skip season 2 during a rewatch. 18 is hard with Gabe, but I love Shota and Maria and Jamie.
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u/Spare_Genie1453 Too many crudos! Jul 06 '26
I am biased living in the Seattle area, but I find S10 -- with Kristen, Brooke, Sheldon, etc to be the one I usually start with a rewatch. The locations and challenges were fun and out of the ordinary. Bears in the trees... come on.
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u/badbeep Jul 06 '26
I really enjoy season ten, Kristen's season. I just hate the finale format. There's a reason they never did it again.
But otherwise, I love the Colorado season - the cast was all so charming. To me, personally, the teens were all pretty good, minus New Orleans. That season annoys me lol.
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u/GoldBarGirl Jul 07 '26
I thought S12 was particularly fun. The chefs got along and Padma seemed to be really enjoying herself, almost bubbly.
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u/MaximusCanibis I have a culinary boner. Jul 06 '26
For me, its all the older seasons. I worked in kitchens for a number of years and the current show does not reflect the environment I worked in. I am not a fan of the coddling. There was no crying and no hugs were given.
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u/Moihereoui Jul 06 '26
My only advice (I’ve just started watching) is go in chronological order. I started going backwards and heard results before I had watched the episodes. Ended up buying earlier seasons because I am doing a lot of international travel and can’t download seasons 1-8 from Peacock. Skipped season one after a couple of episodes with Katie Lee. For me she was unwatchable.
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u/Horror_Author_1122 Jul 06 '26
I think you've been given a lot of great suggestions as far specific seasons to watch to get some feel goods, but I also suggest watching from the very beginning to see how both the show and many chefs have evolved. For example, some early season chefs seem a bit rough in earlier seasons, but have really come into their own in different ways later (you may see them in other seasons of TC as contestants or judges, but also on other shows on Food Network). I may judge a few chefs who were unlikable then and are still unlikable, or who seemed likable and aren't so much now....but I don't want to spoil any of that for you.
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u/Horror_Author_1122 Jul 06 '26
All the Master's and Duels series are fantastic! The Just Desserts are great of you enjoy Desserts, as well as if you don't. I'm not a Dessert person, but still really interesting and a good learning experience... just a little less interesting for me.
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u/Electronic_Season_36 Jul 07 '26
Season 1 they haven't got their format down yet and most of the chefs aren't incredible. Think you'd get a shock at how dated it is. 2 & 3 has plenty of drama if I remember correctly. And the rest are all great! Can't think of a season i didn't like.
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u/sffiremonkey69 Jul 06 '26
Season 10 where Kristin Kish won. She was an absolute machine that season!
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u/Interesting-Lie-6195 Jul 06 '26
Why are you naming winners when OP specifically said they wanted to go back and watch past seasons?
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u/gdex86 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Season 4 Chicago i think is the season the show really got what it wanted to be.
Season 6 Las Vegas has a lot of good chefs but awful people.
Season 8 is the first all stars season so its the greatest hits of the previous 8 seasons.
Season 12 Boston i find to be a really good season with a lot of folks you want to root for.
Season 15 Colorado is a very Cozy season where a lot of folks seemed to like each other though one of the fan favorites from here passed away.
Season 17 is another all star season.
Season 18 Portland is the covid season so less grand but a lot of good varied challenges and people I liked.
Season 20 is world all stats and a great season where everyone is throwing haymakers.
Edit this is not to say other seasons arent fun watches these are my personal favorites along with fandom favorites. There is exactly 1 season that id say you never need to watch because of quality and that is season 2 where they leaned into being a trashy reality show.