[SPOILER ALERT: DON'T READ NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW] Last night’s Top Chef was a heartbreaker, because the person with so much heart and the person who pretended he had no heart lost to [SPOILER ALERT!] the person whom very few people except maybe Leah hearted.
Carla had begun the season as an eccentric, an oddball (“Hootie! Hootie-hoo!”), a novelty act who seemed destined for a fast exit. As the weeks went on, however, she really started competing and, though that magical way television has of revealing people’s true nature the longer they stay on camera, emerged as a thoughtful, intelligent chef with a good sense of herself. Which made her crucial mistake last night — listening to the suggestions of season-three finalist Casey instead of following her own instincts — all the more frustrating.
As for Stefan, come on: the guy was both the strongest competitor and the season’s best personality. When you can turn the channel after American Idol, away from all those simpering suck-ups trying to please the judges, and see a guy like Stefan working hard, trash-talking, joking with an air of confidence, how could you not be pulling for that guy?
I know you’ll tell me all the reasons, given the way Top Chef is structured, that Stefan didn’t deserve to win because his final meal wasn’t superb, but I persist in thinking the judges should have taken the entire season’s efforts by Stefan into consideration and given him the ultimate prize.
And, oh yeah, since this is my last chance, I’ll just end by saying:
Dear President Obama: PLEASE DEPORT TOBY YOUNG.
Did you think Hosea deserved his win? Who would you have preferred, Stefan or Carla?
More on Top Chef: Top Chef Recap: Hosea takes the title
Carla had begunthe season as an eccentric, an oddball ("Hootie! Hootie-hoo!"), anovelty act who seemed destined for a fast exit. As the weeks went on,however, she really started competing and, though that magical waytelevision has of revealing people’s true nature the longer they stayon camera, emerged as a thoughtful, intelligent chef with a good senseof herself. Which made her crucial mistake last night — listening to thesuggestions of season-three finalist Casey instead of following her own instincts — all the morefrustrating.
As for Stefan, come on: the guy was both the strongest competitor andthe season’s best personality. When you can turn the channel afterAmerican Idol, away from all those simpering suck-ups trying to pleasethe judges, and see a guy like Stefan working hard, trash-talking,joking with an air of confidence, how could you not be pulling for thatguy?
I know you’ll tell me all the reasons, given the way Top Chef isstructured, that Stefan didn’t deserve to win because his final mealwasn’t superb, but I persist in thinking the judges should have takenthe entire season’s efforts by Stefan into consideration and given himthe ultimate prize.
And, oh yeah, since this is my last chance, I’ll just end by saying:
Dear President Obama: PLEASE DEPORT TOBY YOUNG.
Did you think Hosea deserved his win? Who would you have preferred, Stefan or Carla?
More on Top Chef: Top Chef Recap: Hosea takes the title
I’m so sad for Carla. What a wonderful competitor/chef and a great person. It was heartbreaking to see her go down like that. I wish reality TV had more people like her.
Also, it should be noted that Stefan, for all his “heartlessness,” rushed over to comfort Carla when she began to weep.
This show is officially done for me. Hosea winning is a complete joke. He never did really well he just always seemed to do just well enough to not get booted. That and the producers kept him around a couple times I swear because of the Leah drama. Considering that the entire season doesn’t mean anything at all why should we even watch until the finale? Yes Stefan was an ass but he was funny and easily the best chef. Crazy eyed Carla even grew on me towards the end and I would have loved to see her win, but she didn’t deserve it. The title should have been Stefan’s and everyone knows it.
I was really pulling for Carla and heartbroken when she started taking suggestions for things she had never done before. So that left Stefan and Hosea. With all the virtual chest-pounding Stefan did over the season, I’m really glad it wasn’t him. Hosea did have the best last meal. And yes, it was chosen on the last meal, because if it was evaluated on the entirety of the season, then Blaise would have won last season. (Which would have been excellent!)
Oh, and Stefan should have been booted in the last challenge, because obviously Fabio’s meal was much better–but producers stepped in again and kept the season’s villain.
Although I thought this season was the strongest (talented, likeable contestants), I was so disappointed last night. Hosea didn’t win very many challenges over the season, and seemed to be one of the more mediocre contestants overall. I love Carla and would have been happy if she won, but really think Stefan deserved the title.
i’m sad too that carla didn’t win. but hey! atleast she got a car and tickets to the superbowl, not bad.
This season was so satisfying to me … up until the finale. I thought the challenges were awesome, the guest judges were great and the cheftestants were really top-notch. AND THEN HOSEA WINS. What a horrible note to end on; I was also unimpressed with the guest judges. Part of me liked seeing the almost-winners, but I was really hoping for three of the world’s best chefs (a la Ripert & Co.) to come out as sous chefs.
Stefan was no villain, and Carla’s metamorphosis was so fun to watch. Hosea? Never fun, and probably the real “villain” of the show. The Leah-Hosea storyline was the only one this season that should never have made it into the show.
I’ll repeat my comment from the recap board. Based on the rules of the show, I guess Hosea was the right pick. But from what I’ve seen of him, I wouldn’t run to any restaurant of his. I wouldn’t boycott it, but I just wouldn’t be excited to eat his food. However, I would love to go to Carla’s restaurant. Based on what I’ve seen, I believe I would get an amazing and interesting meal from her most of all. In my mind, that makes her Top Chef.
I felt really bad for Carla, but to be honest it was hers to lose. I had wished she would have thought back on the disaster that Casey was in the finals and just stuck to her guns. It was a good show in any case. We’ll see what Hosea is able to do in the future….as for Stefan, the man is a cooking wrecking ball…nothing will stand in his way.
Hosea didn’t deserve to win at all. Plus his attitude last night was completely stank and overall Carla and Stefan did better than him during the season. It’s dumb how it all comes down to the last meal. I smiled when Stefan went to comfort Carla. That was sweet.
Stefan was ROBBED! I cannot believe Hosea won. Stefan was Top Chef’s most consistent contestant (besides Hung) ever- and he lost over dessert? I think he lost because he irritated Tom. I also think Tom is full of it, since he’s the one that always said Top Chef has to be kind of an egomaniac.. maybe Stefan and Tom were too similar.
Casey Thompson should never be asked to return. It’s clear she wanted to still be in the competition. Now,she will have to live with being the goat of this season. No one will remember what she did in her season, but they will remember how she ruined Carla’s chances in this season
The best two chefs (Jamie and Jeff) didn’t even make it to the finals. This was the weakest season yet.
Two seasons in a row in which the most deserving chef didn’t win. At least last season, Stephanie was at least as technically proficient as Richard, if not as creative, such that her win wasn’t completely unsatisfying. But Hosea? Of the final six, I would have put him sixth, based on the entire season, yet he wins. I understand the idea of crowning the winner based on the last meal, but just as Lisa came “this close” to winning last season based on her final meal, I think Hosea’s win suggests a need for the judges to rethink that approach.