Here it is! The reckoning. Zanna Roberts Rossi is the host tonight. She welcomes all of the designers and congratulates Michelle on a "brilliant" win. She tells her that she loved her collection. Then, she points out that Daniel no longer has a mustache. Cue montage scored with bouncy music about Daniel's mustache. He tells her that he thought it was time for a change, seeing as he is about to turn 50.
Zanna says that it's time to talk about the teams twist to this season. We see all of the designers cringe about being on teams. Everybody laughs at Kate's interview where she was like "Hell no" about the teams. Zanna says that she liked the team aspect because it put the designers in the real world and it gave them a chance to critique each other. That's a good point. Benjamin says that he had prepared himself for the show that he had seen before and he wasn't sure he would have gone through all of that to work on a team. Samantha seconds that and adds that they all had different viewpoints and wanted to have their voices heard.
Zanna cues the Teams From Hell montage. Gosh, I have forgotten some of these people's names. The first team they show is Benjamin and the older lady, with him trying to micromanage her. Cindy. Her name is Cindy. We see her interview where she is saying that Benjamin doesn't need to watch over her and Benjamin arches his eyebrow in a "not sure that's true" way. Then, they show Richard and Patricia flailing. Benjamin hugs Richard when they are showing it, which is sweet. Then, we see Michelle talking smack about Patricia and I feel like they could have gone further. She really said a lot of shit about her. Zanna asks Michelle what her problem was and she says that Patricia is an artist who has a hard time communicating what her final vision is. She would love to work with her now though because they bonded. Patricia says that she didn't know that Michelle felt that way about working with her, but she admitted it later, which she admired. Well, that's good.
Okay, we're getting somewhere interesting. Amanda says that she didn't know that Kate disliked her. We see Kate saying that she thinks Amanda is the weakest designer. Then, Kate says that she felt like the underdog and the outcast but now just thinks of all of them as a big dysfunctional family. Amanda, who seriously had to be the most well-spoken designer this season, says that she didn't look down on Kate. She adds that she doesn't want to sound condescending, but watching the show made her feel bad for Kate. Then, we see a little montage of Kate's troubles. Zanna asks if maybe she reacted the way she did because she is the youngest and immature. Wow. Stanley pops in and says that there was an element of fear for everyone and his way of handling it was to be really closed off. He says that the way he acted toward Tu when he was helping him was because of the pressures of the competition.
Then we touch on the Layana and Richard fight on the runway. Zanna thinks that Layana is still harboring some animosity and she says that Richard would joke that she always got what she wanted because she was pretty. He laughs and says it was true -- she would ask him for fabric or something and he would always give it to her. Well, that's her own personal power. We see a little montage of Layana getting stuff out of people. After that is over, Benjamin takes the opportunity to tell Cindy that he didn't realize she felt he was micromanaging her and he let her do her thing after she complained about it. Cindy says that she thinks Benjamin talks a lot of bull and brings up how he would tell the judges that he was trying to organize his team and it wasn't working. He says that he was trying to do that. Cindy is pissed. She says that she didn't realize that she was so bitter, and she apparently needs more counseling. Yikes. I didn't expect fireworks from her tonight.
Zanna asks who they thought benefited from being on a team. The answer is nobody, but they say that some people got carried through because of their teams being strong. Michelle says that Daniel should have probably gone home for the Lord & Taylor challenge. Then, we see Emily talk shit about Cindy being old in the first episode, then getting a lot of help from her. Emily says that Cindy was so much more than just being the "older lady" part of the cast.
Zanna says that, more than any other season, there was more shit talking in interviews. Cue the Watch Your Back montage. It's really just a bunch of Michelle talking smack about Daniel and Patricia. Then, there's the moment when Kate says that Amanda, Layana and Michelle are bitches. Afterwards, Amanda says that she doesn't know why she was a mean girl when she never said anything mean. Kate agrees and says that she was clumping her in with Layana and Michelle. And, she means that they are bitches. Hey, she said it, not me. I totally agree with her though. Layana cops to being a "nice bitch." Michelle says that all of her insults were not meant maliciously. They were coming from a place of humor. I think that's easy for her to say now, but she was being disrespectful. Oh God, who cares?
Anyway, Benjamin says that Michelle is an "intelligent bitch." Hmm. We talk about how Michelle doesn't like to be hugged when she's upset. Whatever. Kate says you have to have claws in this business. Amanda doesn't have any. We watch the flowers and hardware judging where her whole team tossed her to the wolves. She says she probably needs to be more of a bitch. Stanley says that Amanda is the nicest person there and was always a positive force on a team.
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Oh Gosh, now we're watching the stripper challenge. Nina's giggling fit gets a lot of attention. Patricia complains that Stanley forced her to make that basket weave shirt and he says that she could have said no. Weird. She seems angry right now. I love this. All of them seem kind of raw. Layana says that she wasn't flirting with the stripper, though it really looks like it from the footage. I have to say, I like Layana a lot more in this setting. Michelle is still the worst though.
Zanna asks if the show was harder than they thought it would be. Duh. Yes. It's the hardest thing ever. Then, we watch a montage of people melting down. There's Daniel freaking out at Michelle. Then, there is Richard crying to his friend on Skype. Then there's Layana crying to Tim. Afterward, Michelle is all pissed about her fight with Daniel because she insists that Daniel twisted what she said in his mustache. He says he's bothered that she hugged him on camera but said she was pissed still later. Everyone seems to think that's fine to do. He's suggesting that she was putting on an act for the cameras, but she insists that she didn't even know where the cameras were. She also says that they don't communicate well and she "loves how everything is 'fun' and 'happy' with him" when obviously it's not. I'm not sure what she's trying to accomplish by saying that other than being a jerk. He says that he has had a lot of downs in his life and it is better for him to look for the positive. He gets emotional as he is talking and Stanley rubs his back. Then, Zanna gives him a hug.
Zanna congratulates Michelle and we watch a montage of her winning challenges. She says afterwards that she almost quit instead of taking the second chance she was given. Stanley says that the show was hard for him because of his sister's recent death. He is feeling secure and he credits the other designers with helping him get there.
Zanna brings up Daniel's elimination. He immediately gets emotional. He says that it was tough getting that far and not making it, but he is happy about all of the doors that have opened for him. Zanna thanks him for being such a positive presence.
It's time for them to talk about the judges. Samantha really liked Zac and that he got her. Zanna brings up that Samantha was eliminated during a challenge when Zac wasn't there and she thinks that maybe had something to do with it. James says that Christian Siriano was a good judge because he had been in their place before. Stanley says that Nina got him, which was so obvious for the entire season. Michelle says that all of the judges hated her, which seems like a dumb thing to say. Zanna says that Heidi was very vocal about loving Patricia. They all say that Bette Midler was their favorite guest judge. Then, it's time to talk about Tim. They all love him so much.
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By Jeff Long
Zanna congratulates Michelle and we watch a montage of her winning challenges. She says afterwards that she almost quit instead of taking the second chance she was given. Stanley says that the show was hard for him because of his sister's recent death. He is feeling secure and he credits the other designers with helping him get there.
Zanna brings up Daniel's elimination. He immediately gets emotional. He says that it was tough getting that far and not making it, but he is happy about all of the doors that have opened for him. Zanna thanks him for being such a positive presence.
It's time for them to talk about the judges. Samantha really liked Zac and that he got her. Zanna brings up that Samantha was eliminated during a challenge when Zac wasn't there and she thinks that maybe had something to do with it. James says that Christian Siriano was a good judge because he had been in their place before. Stanley says that Nina got him, which was so obvious for the entire season. Michelle says that all of the judges hated her, which seems like a dumb thing to say. Zanna says that Heidi was very vocal about loving Patricia. They all say that Bette Midler was their favorite guest judge. Then, it's time to talk about Tim. They all love him so much.
Zanna asks what they would have done differently. Cindy thinks that she should have concentrated on her own work. Stanley would have spent more time on his collection. Tu wishes that he would have spoken up.
How has life changed? Stanley gets picked up at the gym. Matt says that he gets picked up less, which seems unfair. He is wearing a caftan though. That's the problem, Matt. Amanda tells about being with her rock star brother and a group of girls asking him to take their picture with Amanda! That's so sweet.
Zanna asks if they have any advice for the crew of designers. Richard says to follow your heart and your strengths. Daniel says to check your ego at the door. Kate says to bring your knives. Heh.
Well, that's it! I kind of enjoyed that. And, monster though she is, you have to respect Michelle for at least being consistent.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.
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