Episode Report Card Lady Lola: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pie Hard
By Lady Lola | Season 9 | Episode 8 | Aired on 08.09.2011
Ramsay calls Jonathon into the walk-in fridge room to ask him what the problem is. Jonathon fiddle-faddles about being in pain but not wanting to be a bitch. Ramsay says someone two years ago broke his damn arm during service and went on to win the whole shebang. (Point of fact, it was a torn ligament/fractured wrist, but close enough.) He tells him, "If you've given up, get out!" Jonathon insists he will fight, so Ramsay exits, slamming the door behind him. Apparently it's just what he needed, and Blue gets back in the groove.
But will it be enough to catch up with Red, who seem to be working well together (despite their unabated hatred for one another)? No, sir, it will not. Blue goes straight back into the weeds. Natalie is particularly annoyed when Tommy laughs at her for nearly tripping over an oven door he opened. Ramsay gives him a stern talking-to for his nonchalance. Back in the Red kitchen, the meat station is slammed with orders for New York strip and Wellingtons. Elise worries this might be the night she goes down, but her Wellington's are deemed perfect.
Their success signals Blue Team's failure as they fall yet farther behind. Paul is flustered because he thinks the cooks on Blue are individually better than those on Red. Tommy alternates between buzzing around Ramsay's head and plating cold/undercooked meat, and Jonathon actually screams at Ramsay at one point.
Red, on the other hand, is nearly finished with its service. Quoth Elise: "I am so impressed with my team... and they allowed me to lead us to victory tonight." Back up the bus now. What? Elise, is your definition of leading you team to victory not pissing off your teammates and/or screwing up tremendously? If so, then great job! Then again, that's more than most of the people on Blue can claim.
Eventually, both teams complete their services, and the patrons leave. Ramsay easily declares Red the winner and singles out Elise for a job well done. As for Blue, he tells the teammates to nominate two of their own for elimination. They head upstairs, and the chief contenders are again agonized Jonathon, appetizer disaster Natalie, and ever clueless Tommy. The teams head downstairs, where Paul announces the nominees will be Jonathon and... Natalie. At the end of the day, it was the appetizer station that brought the ship down.
Jonathon and Natalie step forward to state their case. Jonathon says he's no quitter, nor is he over his head. He says he learns from his mistake. Ramsay accuses Natalie of crumbling under the pressure. She admits she was frustrated, though mainly because Jonathon wasn't there 100%. Ramsay counters that one person should be able to handle the app station. She admits she isn't proud of her performance but promises to step up. That she chokes up while saying this is not a good sign. Ramsay calls out here name, and she cries as she steps forward. Ohhhh, but it's all a big fakeroo. Jonathon is actually the one going home. On his way out, he predicts Natalie will be the next to go. Back inside, Ramsay echoes this idea and tells Natalie she has one last chance to prove herself. He again calls out to Elise, complimenting her good job. Jennifer worries it will only amp up her diva attitude.