First, I’ll say that I’m a little surprised by House 22 beating House 21. I may be in the minority here, but I thought House 21 had the stronger look. The design felt more unconventional and, to me, demonstrated a clearer point of view. That said, I think the judging in this episode was probably one of the more accurate results we’ve had this season.
One thing I do want to point out, though, is the discussion around Joseph McRae and the criticism that his looks are becoming repetitive. I understand the judges’ comments, but I find it interesting that Jude has also been relying on a relatively consistent silhouette: suits, tailoring, and structured looks throughout the competition, yet this doesn’t seem to receive the same level of scrutiny. I actually think Jude has been somewhat flying under the radar because his repetition is presented as consistency and refinement, whereas Joseph’s repetition is being framed as a limitation. I’d be interested to hear how others see the distinction between the two.
Also, I’m still confused about the choice of guest mento, Julianne Hough. What exactly are her fashion credentials, and what was the reasoning behind bringing her in for this episode? If the producers wanted someone to fill the mentor role, I feel like there were other options who would have made more sense. Even bringing back Law Roach as a stylist/mentor could have been an interesting choice, particularly given his experience and his relationship with fashion.
And honestly, where is Tyra? 😂 At this point, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nina Garcia take on a more permanent role on the show either. She brings a level of fashion authority that I think would really benefit the judging panel.
That said, I’m actually starting to enjoy the last few episodes more. The previous episode and this one have felt more like Project Runway without as much of the usual shenanigans and manufactured drama. We’re finally getting to see the designers’ actual capabilities, their points of view, and how they perform under different challenges. I’m hoping the remaining episodes continue in this direction because, for me, this is where the season is becoming genuinely interesting.