Warning: Here be spoilers. Because I can't very well talk about the finale without mentioning who won. So I'm not going to try.
Because I was so curious (and hopeful) about the end of this season's finale, I went ahead and watched it live last night. Well, sort of live....I let the DVR get going for 20 minutes and then went in to watch. And even with a 20 minute buffer I still ended up having to watch 15 minutes live-live at the end (most of which was commercials.) I'm guessing that because they split the finale between this week and last they didn't really have enough material to fill a whole hour. Usually on the DVR you watch a 60 minute show in 40 minutes (or right around there)...not so much with Hell's Kitchen lately. *sigh*
I was worried with the teams from last week - I'm not sure why they went back to guys vs. girls, but all things considered, I still think Rock had the better team. Any team without Melissa was going to be the better team, honestly. Though we did see that he made a slightly huge tactical error with Josh on the crabcakes - but he rectified it and managed to do it without humiliating the guy, which is just one more reason that Rock makes a good kitchen manager. Add to that the fact that he did a fantastic job encouraging the team to be a team and helping out as needed and just generally doing what it took to make his kitchen work - even when they hit a huge hurdle and got 30 minutes behind.
Contrast this to Bonnie. Or Berating Bonnie the Bossy B-word as I referred to her. She gripes and moans about how they need to be talking to her, and then because they didn't, she gets all two-year-old and stops talking to them even when they're trying to ask her a question. Yeah. Real mature. Definitely head chef material right there. Then she tries to assert her authority with Julia and, well, she just was way too bossy and manipulative and immature.
As for the menus, I think Bonnie really played it safe - seriously, who can't cook pasta with prawns? (Apparently the girls in Bonnie's kitchen, but that's beside the point.) Rock showed some creativity and I think it paid off.
In the end, Rock won. Which is absolutely as it should be. I was a teensy bit worried when they stood at the doors, but I think Ramsay has too much integrity as a chef to choose Bonnie simply because she's cute (because that's the only way she could have won when put up against Rock's skill in the kitchen.) It was nice to see him make a bee line for his wife and kids - very warm and fuzzy and just served to, in my mind, prove the character that he'd shown throughout the entire show. I hope he kicks some butt in Vegas (baby).
1 day ago
It was a great episode. To me, Bonnie made a serious mistake when she ran out of pasta and prawns. Poor planning. Rock had his kitchen down to a fine science. He was trying to show his faith in Josh, but Josh just can't handle pressure. At least the switch let Josh keep his dignity.
ReplyDeleteI thought for a moment there that Josh was going to get tossed out. Good save.
ReplyDeleteI think Bonnie knew Rock should win. She seemed absolutely thrilled. She has time and room to grow and more potential than was apparent early in the season, so good for her. She just didn't quite have the planning and management skills as honed as he did.
This was the first mention there has ever been of how much money was attached to winning. The salary is about double what I had assumed.
Rock is my favorite of the winners so far, despite what a weird crew of contestants this was. I didn't like Michael at all the first season; it'd be as if Josh had enough skill to win, while still being, well, Josh.
Michelle, running out was definitely not a good thing - it seemed v. early in the service, too.
ReplyDeleteJay - this is only the 2nd season I've watched, so I didn't see Michael, but I definitely like Rock way more than Heather. For all her ability, she was still a mongo b* - reminded me of a marginally tamer Melissa, honestly. Yeah, the salary was staggering.
I am so going to miss Hell's Kitchen. What am I going to do on Monday nights now?!?!
ReplyDeleteRunning out of pasta was a hugh mistake. I too like how Rock with straight to his family. It was a great show and now I'll just be waiting for next season :)