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All of the designers seem fatigued from the beginning. This the challenge where they get to design a textile! That's not all though. It has to be inspired by their cultural heritage. Mondo presents the challenge, because it was so freaking powerful when he created a textile on his season. Also, Heidi's hair was really beautiful in the flashback clip.
They get "cultural dossiers" delivered by their loved ones. Elena's mother is seriously gorgeous, but... she gave birth to Elena. I'm torn. Fabio and his boyfriend are so cute together. Gunnar decides to make a print based on his history of being bullied while he was in school. It's fairly touching, especially considering he's so persistently positive when that kind of past can make a lot of people a lot harder.
Dmitry makes separates! I repeat, Dmitry does NOT make a dress. Christopher has problems. He's not a fan of prints and this challenge is... challenging for him. When they go home from work, the designers families and friends had cooked dinner for them. The day, they get to work with their fabrics. Christopher still doesn't know what he wants to do. Fabio's print is legit penises and vaginas. I thought it was an accident at first, but it wasn't. Christopher really doesn't know what to do, however, he and Gunnar are becoming better friends and that's awesome. Christopher tells us that he experienced similar bullying as Gunnar.
Oh my God, Tim tells Ven that his print looks like an "homage to a menstrual cycle." Maxi pads that have soaked up blood. Out loud. Tim says that out loud. He cries about it and Ven looks exactly the same when he's crying as when he's not crying, which is unusual. He's like Demi Moore in Ghost. Gunnar makes a jacket that looks a little tortured, even though his pattern is pretty interesting. The loved ones sit beside the designers at the fashion show, which is sweet.
Sonjia rocks out some pants, which I think look pretty cute. Fabio makes a cute little jacket of penises and vaginas. Dmitry's print seems a little like a national costume, which Mondo had warned was a mistake. However, he designed the HELL out of this little jacket over his print. Anya is a guest judge with Mondo! Poor Gunnar gets smacked for his design. It's so sad because his message is really lovely. Mondo is the meanest judge that we've had in quite some time. Christopher is in the bottom two with Ven and Gunnar. The judges call Tim in to ask why he didn't say something to Ven about him repeating his fan effect. He relays to them his frustration about the period dress. Gross, ya'll. Dmitry wins the challenge! Gunnar and Ven are in the bottom two. Gunnar is... out. Poor guy. He and Christopher hug!
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: The designers had to beg for money for fabric. Dmitry, Alicia and Elena were one of the worst groups ever. Sonjia bounced back from her low and won her second challenge. Poor Alicia, who never really got to show her stuff, got caught in the middle of Battle of the Breadbasket of the USSR and was eliminated.
It's morning at the Atlas Building. Isn't it always? As alarm clocks are screaming and designers are wishing they had never been born, Christopher tells us that he can't believe that the competition is half over. Funny, I feel like this has lasted for a year. Also, Ven always seems to be hitting Christopher with a pillow in order to wake him up. Logic tells me that they're probably already awake because the film crews don't sleep there and they have to set up and everything, so you'd have to be a crazy sound sleeper in order to make it through that REM's intact, but I'd still get pissed if some dude kept hitting me with a pillow. Or maybe I just don't like Ven. Or maybe I have rage issues. At least I'm searching.
Christopher says that they have lost a lot of people and he's scared about who is going to leave . We see a little ink drawing of 12 of the designers on some poster board with "Project Runway 10" at the bottom. Is that Dmitry or... Mary Kay Place? They're all very talented people.
In the Gunnar, Fabio and Dmitry apartment, Dmitry says that the challenge was very difficult. Fabio agrees and says that he was not happy at all. Gunnar interviews that this competition is the most grueling thing that he has ever done. He says that it takes all of you. This is how I feel about my dancing. Dmitry says that he doesn't want to see Elena and Gunnar feigns surprise that he's not ready for another fight with her. Dmitry responds and I don't understand him. It's "just unfair"? It's "Tammy Faye"? I don't know, he doesn't want to fight with Elena is all. He interviews that he knows he is a good designer and he's just going to do whatever he wants to do and the chips will fall where they may. Also, he says that he's going to win.
Meanwhile, Elena is saying that she's going to stay away from Dmitry because he annoys the shit out of her. Well good. That's handled. She interviews that staying positive has been difficult because there is so much stress in the competition. Melissa asks her if she thinks that Dmitry will make another dress for this challenge. Elena reminds them that Heidi warned him that he needed to do something different but they all point out that he has done nothing but dresses for the entire competition.
Heidi greets all of the designers on the runway. She reminds them that the competition is halfway over but says that the end is a long way away. That's horrible, thanks for the pep talk, Heidi. Gunnar interviews that he wants to win really badly. He says that he wants to buy his mother a "boob job" with the prize money. Dear Lord. If I said anything like that about my mother on television; hell, if I talked about buying my mother a paint job, I would get disappeared real quick. And, good for her, you know? She shouldn't have to have cooked me in her belly for a year and a half and raised me into an this ragingly successful specimen you read before you just to have me talk on basic cable about her BOOBS or what might be put inside of them to make them bigger BOOBS. I mean, seriously, who talks about his mom's boobs in front of people? EW! Come ON! That said, I was only being dramatic about the paint job part. I think she would actually find that very thoughtful. But, poor form, Gunnar. Gross and no.
Heidi tells the designers that each of them will have a different inspiration for the challenge. Christopher interviews that it could be anything but he hope that it doesn't include working for a client or working on a team because those are for the birds.
The designers enter the workroom and Tim is standing with Mondo. Fabio interviews that this is very cool. I am not so sure. Mondo is joyless and a black hole. I don't think I've ever had such a reaction on this show to someone being so not fun. And, adding him to the Elena/Dmitry hate borscht? I'm not sure we are going to make it out of this in one piece. It's moments like this that I wish Kooan had stuck around. Tim welcomes Mondo and he says that he's happy to be there. He could have said the words, "I've been harpooned in the foot" and the tone he just used would have still been appropriate. There's all this HP equipment everywhere, which apparently should have clued them all in to the fact that it's the challenge where they create their own textiles. This is always fun. The challenge proper is that, with a textile that they design, they will need to create a modern runway look inspired by their cultural heritage. Fabio interviews that he has been waiting for this challenge all season. Sonjia adds that it's an amazing opportunity to be able to create your own pattern. Agreed.
Tim reminds us that Mondo won this challenge in Season 8. Yeah, I know I just said some stuff about Mondo being a drag (and, really, he was just the worst on the All-Star season. Just so unpleasant all of the time), but that episode was one of the most powerful things I've ever seen from reality television. He says that his life changed during that challenge and we see a clip of him telling the judges that he is HIV positive. Wow, it gives me chills to see again. So, yeah, that was great. I stand by what I said, because I truly do think his rotten attitude ruined the All-Stars but that's a pretty lame point to make in the face of that poignant clip. Everything about this show was at its best for that episode. The pacing, the music, the judges, Heidi's hair. I'm not even shitting you. I really loved Heidi's hair during that episode.
Mondo tells the designers that he feels that people do their best work when they are showing truth. Gunnar interviews that Mondo put a lot of himself on the line for this challenge and, if Mondo can make a statement, so can he. I think he means that as a compliment. Of course he does, but it actually sound a little weird when you think about it. "If you can do something moving and personal... well then, so can I. GAME ON." It's just that, when you see how Mondo's vulnerability paid off, it seems like less of a risk. He's not even being as courageous as he thinks he is and, Jesus, who cares? I don't know why I'm picking on the poor guy. But, Gunnar loves to talk and sometimes he can get a little back-patty and those poor mannequins just can't handle it. I'm just their voice right now. They'd also like to remind everyone to pick their feet up when they walk. No one needs to hear your damn shoes dragging across the ground.
Mondo tells everyone to dig deep. Dmitry says that this is the challenge where they have the opportunity to show their souls. Mondo adds that they shouldn't be too literal. Creating a "national costume" will be their ticket to go home. Christopher says that he doesn't really know much about his heritage. Tim says that the textile that they design must be prominent in the design. This prompts Dmitry to tell us that he doesn't work a lot with prints but that he is open to new challenges. They will design the textiles and get them from the manufacturer the day. First though, they will receive cultural dossiers by special delivery. Sonjia wonders who it might be. Mondo apparently also designed a bag for the HP iPad thing and you can get it at the HP website. The bag is black with red and yellow arrows on top. I don't think it's that great.
Tim tells them that it's time to start designing. They're all at work when the door opens and... it's family and friends of the designers! Fabio's boyfriend is there! They are super into each other which is so sweet to see and only a little depressing. Melissa is so happy to see her mother. Elena is very excited to see her mother too. She's a little hysterical, in fact. Speaking of hysterics, are you guys aware that she's completely winning the fan favorite thing on the Lifetime TV website? How is that happening? Is some organization performing some sort of giant hoax? She is the WORST. Am I just not getting something? Because, I've liked some Project Runway anti-heroes before. Elena, though, is just abusive and shrill and mean. I can't sign on. I need to know who is making this happen. Somebody tell me it's just a joke. I like jokes. Anyway, hysterical Elena interviews that she really needed to see her mother. Her mom, who is platinum blonde, is strikingly beautiful, like a cold January Jones.
Ven is visited by his sister and legit has to TELL me that he's crying before I know that he's crying. He's less expressive than January Jones. He tells his sister that this process has been a roller coaster. She says that everyone is very proud of him and excited. She is adorable.
Gunnar's mom tells him that he looks really good and he looks down and remarks that she put on a dress for the occasion, which makes her laugh. She seems really girlish and sweet. Gunnar interviews that his mother has recently moved to Florida (sorry about that) and he had resigned himself to not seeing her for a while. She looks all tanned and healthy and he's glad that she's there. I just have to say that I think my own mother and I would just giggle at each other if we were in this circumstance. I have a family that would never EVER work for reality television. We get so far from real when a camera is on. We would just try to quietly embarrass each other on film. I mean, don't get me wrong, it would be riveting but in the wrong way.
The guests bring with them another HP Touch thing? Or just a file? I don't know, but they look at pictures on a computer screen. The first pic we see of Dmitry, he is wearing some sort of elaborate military jacket. Let's just call it Czarwear. He is there with Irina, his oldest and dearest friend and (hopefully) former dance partner. She's so sweet. There's a video from Dmitry's father in Belarus and she immediately gets emotional when he sees it. I just find that so incredibly endearing. Godammit, I do this EVERY season. These people see their families and get emotional and I cry right alongside them. I don't know why! I shit you not that my mom and I would laugh at each other in this situation, so it's weird to me that I get so touched watching this. Every. Season. Dmitry's father is an artist and his grandfather was apparently a very important artist, so he feels them in everything that he does.
We see a pic of Fabio and his boyfriend that it looks like one of them took as they were lying down. Then, there is a pic from the way back with a smooth face. Then, there's a video of a whole bunch of family members saying hello to him. When he sees this he covers his mouth.
Gunnar's mom is showing him a picture of him teaching his little sister (apparently named Kenley!) how to sew on a little sewing machine. It's the cutest thing. His mom tells him that it's one of her favorite photos of him. Gunnar tells us that he was really happy when he was a kid...when he was with his family. They were really important to him because he experienced a lot of bullying at school and they were the only people who wouldn't judge him for being different. Wow, that makes me sad. The thing that is saddest to me is you see a guy like Gunnar, he's a natural born leader. But, because of the fact that he was a little bit (or a lot, really, it doesn't matter) different, he wasn't even allowed to be a follower. He just had to be an other. So, this part of his life, when I'm sure he's wishing that he could just hit the ground running and do his thing, a lot of this part is spent negotiating his place in the world and seeing where he fits in and where he's safe. That's frustrating and you can sense that he's constantly trying to manage some anger. I wonder if this situation is what that's about. As he's looking at the pictures, he gets a little emotional and works hard to keep himself under control. He says that this has been a hard month. She replies that she didn't mean to make him cry and he says that it's just because he's happy.
Elena is laughing at pictures of herself in Ukrainian clothes. She interviews that the happiest times in her life were when she was growing up in the Ukraine. That's why she's crying so hysterically right now. Her mom tells her that she can do this. Sonjia feels like having her mom there might make her lose focus, which is a really good point. Dmitry is using a traditional ornament from Belarus as the inspiration for his pattern. Melissa is excited to show her parents what she has been doing for the past decade. Ven is making a print with a hibiscus flower on it, because it's an ode to his religion. Christopher is having difficulty, because he's not a fan of prints. His mother tells him to make it work. Fabio gets abstract.
Melissa does this work with lines and the color red, which she feels represents her bloodline. She laughs that she has never had to design before with her mother standing over her shoulder. Gunnar decides to use his bullying past as inspiration for his print. He makes skeleton hands and a bird is breaking free of them. OK. His mother loves the final sketch. Tim comes in and takes all of the mothers and co. away.
They all go to Mood and Tim reminds them that they're looking for materials to supplement the print that is being made for them. Dmitry says that he is so glad that he got time to spend with his friend and let some old emotions out. Elena also says that she's feeling much lighter after having spent time with her mother. She insists in her interview that she's not usually a bitch. I don't believe that for even a second. I bet she's a lot more fun at other times, but I bet she is always a bitch.
Back at the workroom, Gunnar announces that he wants to make an equestrian jacket, because that's his heritage. I think because everyone was so nasty during the last challenge, no one is really interesting in challenging that. Also, Christopher shows his pattern, which is based on ladybugs. Ladybugs are apparently very important to his family. Ven says that he's going to use his print as the embellishment, instead of in an "expected" way.
In the sewing room, Ven asks Dmitry what he will be making and he matter-of-factly explains that he cannot make another dress. He's not feeling pressured though, which is interesting to see. It's like he just genuinely really liked making dresses. Christopher is apoplectic. He says that he can't design his piece without having the print in front of him. Sonjia, who more and more interviews like she really just hates the guys, says that Christopher is freaking out and just needs to make something. For her part, she decides to make patterned pants and is very concerned that they fit properly.
Tim comes in and tells the designers that their loved ones have prepared dinner for them that is waiting at the Atlas apartments. They cooked dinner, then they left. What? Bad planning. No, I'm wrong. They're still there. The designers return home to Solo cups and burgers, it appears. Nice splurge there, Lifetime. You obviously weren't paying for Lindsay Lohan's room at the Chateau Marmont like with Liz and Dick, the least you could have sprung for was an actual table for them to eat at. Fabio interviews that you start to run out of steam as this competition goes on and seeing and touching your special someone is exactly what he needed. Also, I see no evidence of actual cooking having taken place. Sonjia says that she's just trying to enjoy the moment.
Christopher's mother is slicing tomatoes when they get home. He says that his family being there is going to prevent him from being focused, which is kind of refreshing. He's like, I got shit to do.
The day, the designers find their prints waiting for them. Everyone seems pretty happy with what they have designed. Christopher thinks all of them are crazy. He thinks Dmitry's resembles cowboy hankies. Melissa's is tropical and he thinks it will look like a sarong if she makes a skirt. And, then, he saunters over to where Fabio has his print lying on the floor. Dmitry is there too. Christopher asks what it is. Oh, what it is? It's fallopian tubes, that's right. There's some fallopian tubes and those are tooties and those are penises. I love Fabio so much in this moment, because I'm not sure he intended this to happen on his pattern but he is so excited. He's like, there are penises and vaginas fucking on my pattern. I hate it when that happens. But, seriously, he says that there is actual copulation happening on his pattern and he is just barely convincing me that he's not embarrassed about what has transpired. He calls it the source of life. It's both genders clashing. Hee. Christopher says that he can see it and Fabio replies, "I'm sure you can." I'm not sure why he's sure but it's very forceful and it makes me laugh some more. "What?" asks Christopher in an interview as he clutches his invisible pearls and I still feel like I'm talking about reproductive parts.
Christopher is having a hard time. He drapes something that is fairly simple and he's just sort of done. He's lacking inspiration. He interviews that something is really off with him for this challenge. Gunnar watches him and interviews that he seems like a lost puppy and that he feels he sometimes takes the easy way out with his draping. Meanwhile, Gunnar has all of these pattern pieces for his jacket. Ven is using his print as kind of a corsage, which doesn't really seem to be in the spirit of the challenge.
Sonjia asks Gunnar about his print and he says that he was bullied in school to a point where he shouldn't have been bullied. That's really sad. It can mean several things, but I felt like I get the gist. Christopher says that he loves Gunnar's pattern and Gunnar replies that he hopes the judges love it too. Christopher says that he feels like the wall is coming down between him and Gunnar. OK, so I'm talking from limited knowledge here because we've only seen a dozen hours of them, but I think the comparison of Christopher and Gunnar can tell you a lot about the effects of bullying. Now, Christopher says that he empathizes with Gunnar regarding the bullying, but I'm guessing that the level of bullying in Long Island was considerably less than it was in Kentucky. And, do you see how Christopher can move around with confidence and expect to be heard and respected? Even if he still feels like he needs to be in a safe group, at least he knows that there is a group out there that is safe for him. I feel like that is something that Gunnar was robbed of and it's sad to me because he clearly has so much internal personal power.
There's something about him that seems really solitary, though it seems he is probably drawn to the occasional lady with a big personality. I realize that I'm preaching to the choir because who is going to spend this much time reading about a fashion design show and hate homos at the same time, but I think it's worth saying that communities that don't check the kind of bullshit that happened to Gunnar risk losing such valuable citizens. Sure, Gunnar said that he was missing home but I bet that's because he's a guy who doesn't want to be the guy who hates his home. I find it very hard to believe though that, after time in New York where he met some people that were at least close to what he is, he would want to return to a place that breeds the kind of people that ruined his formative high school years. Let's all say this together: Hey People With Kids, why don't you teach your kids to not be such assholes? OK, I'm done.
Melissa's pattern is making her dizzy. She says that she wants to make her family proud. Gunnar is having a really hard time matching up the print on his jacket. He also wonders why everything he does looks like a matador. Christopher is having even more problems.
Tim comes in for a consultation. Christopher is stuck. Tim reminds Sonjia to concentrate on the fit of the pant. Dmitry is making this really interesting jacket and Tim thinks that he'll need to sex up the top. Wow, so he tells Ven's dress looks like bloody cloths. Everyone is stunned. Ven interviews that he didn't expect that, but I can't tell if he's crying or not because his face doesn't really do much. Fabio neglected to tell Tim that his pattern was penises and vaginas. I'm going to say that was probably a good call. Tim says that Elena's look is very Marlo Thomas and she has no idea what he's talking about. He thinks that Gunnar's look resembles armor, which, while appropriate in some ways, doesn't really represent the print very well.
The models come in for their fitting and Ven seems really upset. Afterwards, his solution is to do something with his fan effect. Sonjia rips him apart in her interview and, seriously, she has a problem with the guys. Elena has been just as offensive with her designs but not a peep from Sonjia in those instances.
The day, they're all scrambling. The models come in for their fitting. Afterwards, their loved ones come in and watch them work! Everyone is super complimentary, which is another thing my mother wouldn't do. She be like, "That's nice." Then, I'd say, "I'm sorry, Mother, did you say, 'That's nice?' Why don't you just spit on it!?" Then, she'd say, "What Jeff? Do you want me to do a cartwheel?" Then, I'd say, "Um, yeah. Please. That's what I'd like to see." Then, we'd laugh and hate each other a little.
On the runway, Heidi greets the designers and introduces Michael and Nina. Our guest judges for this challenge are Mondo and Anya! I cannot get enough of her! The first look is Sonjia's. She has made a wide-legged trouser with her print, which is a blue and red circular thing on white. There is a black tuxedo stripe down the sides and she has made a three-quarter sleeve black blouse to match with it. It's cute and she did a good job with the fit.
Elena's looks is sort of a modern zippered kimono over a gray skirt. It's actually pretty cool. I don't like it, but it's certainly modern. Christopher's dress is a simple strapless draped cocktail dress with black organza over it. There's a zipper up the back that he thinks they'll have a problem with. Ven's look is a one-shouldered thing with a lot of his fancy pleating. Pretty boring. Fabio made a wide-legged jumper with his print as a small vest over the top. It has a lot of style and seems a lot like him. Melissa made this adorable little red and white cap-sleeved dress with a v-back. It's really beautifully tailored. Gunnar made a jacket over a little black dress. The jacket is not that expert. Dmitry's look is . He made a black skirt and jacket with a red patterned camisole. The jacket has these interesting diamond-shaped cut-outs.
Afterwards, Heidi calls Elena and Fabio. They are making it to the round. Melissa says that her print was Polish-inspired. Michael thinks she made a Park Avenue dress, which gets a giggle from Melissa. Heidi doesn't think it's cool enough. Nina thinks it would appeal to a lot of girls. Mondo thinks that the styling was expected. Ven says that he used white to make his print pop. Heidi thinks it looks like a lei. They ask if no one has told him not to use the fan effect and he says that no one has!
Michael loves what Dmitry did. Mondo thinks that it's overdesigned. Heidi loves the jacket . She thinks it's stunning and would buy it. Nina thinks that the print makes the jacket pop. Heidi doesn't get Gunnar's look. She thinks it's very uncool. They don't even like his print, though Michael is quick to say that the feeling behind the design is good. They praise Sonjia's pants and Michael says that she has a lot of attention to detail which he really admires. Heidi thinks that Christopher's dress is too simple. Anya doesn't like the silhouette. Nina says that she's disappointed in his execution. Mondo thinks that it's overdesigned.
Afterwards, the judges decide that Sonjia and Dmitry were the highlights of the day. Mondo felt like Dmitry hid the print and Anya says that she feels the opposite of him. Yay, Anya! She also says that Sonjia's look is impeccable from head to toe. Ven and Gunnar are their least favorites. They ask for Tim to come out and ask him about the flower thing. He says that he did say something, but not for this challenge. He explains the whole maxi-pad thing, which Anya really gets a kick out of. Mondo thinks that Gunnar's print was more successful than Ven's, but Nina is really disgusted by the details on Gunnar's jacket. Michael thinks that the proportions were off. And, Michael points out that there was a lot of anger present in the design. You see? I kind of rest my case about that whole thing.
The designers return to the stage. Melissa is in. Dmitry wins the challenge! Sonjia is not smiling. He wishes Gunnar luck before he leaves the stage. Melissa and Fabio give him big hugs backstage. Sonjia is in. Christopher is in. It's down to Ven and Gunnar. Heidi says that his print was a throwaway and his look was a repeat. She tells Gunnar that they appreciate his message but they didn't like his design. Gunnar is...out. Ven, before he leaves the stage, says that he will take the critique and move forward. He hugs Gunnar and says that he's sorry. Heidi says that if they see the "flower thing" one more time it'll be (Whistling Off-With-His-Head Sound). He assures her that he will try something new.
Gunnar says to Heidi and the judges that he had a really good time. He interviews that he is proud of himself for having gotten this far. He goes backstage and says that this is not his gig. He's thankful that it's over. Christopher says that he's glad the two of them have gotten better. Gunnar interviews that he and Christopher just made up and the world must be coming to an end. He's all smiles and says that he's not a tears sort of guy. I wonder if that's really true or he just doesn't think he can be vulnerable. Good luck to him.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong