Project Runway Season 21 is full speed ahead. There’s been some crying, some petty fights, and some stunning looks. Basically, this season has been giving fans what they wanted and more.
There’s still a few more episodes to go and the pace has not been slowing down at all. If anything it’s been intensifying, and, based on the shape the designers are in this episode, they are feeling it.
This designer has this challenge in the bag … or maybe not
It’s a new episode, which means it starts with the last challenge’s elimination. And in what host Heidi Klum admits was a tough call, Madeline Malenfant was ultimately sent home. This meant Antonio Estrada and Belania Delay were safe to sew another day.
Now the competition has only seven contestants left standing. Right now it’s hard to say who will walk away with the win.
The next day quickly begins and Heidi and stylist Law Roach introduce the next challenge. For yet another 1-day challenge, the theme is elevated streetwear. Right away, all eyes are on designer Yuchen Han. After all, he’s the only person still in the competition who makes streetwear for a living. Yet for some reason, he’s treating this challenge like it’s a brand new category for him. Instead of sticking to his roots, Yuchen immediately embarks on a larger than life design plan unlike anything he normally does. He admits that this might be too ambitious, but continues with his design anyway.
“The judges are going to be expecting a lot from me this week. I’m worried because I do have a very big vision for this challenge. It seems like it’s too much. I might not get everything done,” he fears.
All of the designers are feeling the pressure
Chrisitan Siriano challenges the group to go outside to the streets of NYC and get inspired. But inspiration isn’t the issue, it’s the follow through.
Ethan Mundt is feeling the pressure from the challenge. Coming from the world of drag, he’s used to avant garde, evening work. Similar to the athleisure challenge a while back, this challenge is completely out of his comfort zone.
Also taking a risk is Veejay Floresca. She’s deciding to use a male model for this challenge, which means making men’s clothes. This isn’t something she does normally, so she really has to rely on her intuition to get this done, and done right.
It’s already time for them to get their fabrics and for the first time this season, Christian isn’t there to hold their hands. Joan decides to spend her entire $450 budget on three panels of fabric. And, despite Christian’s constant warnings in the past, she decides to go all in and not buy a back-up fabric just in case.
“I’m not getting a backup fabric because once I commit to something I commit. Don’t tell Christian,” she quipped.
It’s time for the model to try on the clothes (these 1-day challenges fly by) and right away there’s a riff with Joan’s look. Jesus is trying to help her out to avoid making it look too much like eveningwear. Even the model wearing her look is trying to offer feedback, but she’s not hearing any of it.
Meanwhile, Yuchen is still overthinking about his superstar streetwear look. He’s far behind on the design and doesn’t even have a top to go underneath his jacket. Guess his original thought of his design being too much to handle was right.
A redemption arc and fashion superstars
It’s day two and as they are finishing up their looks, Ethan has a breakdown. He has only two of the three pieces to his outfit done. With less than three hours on the clock, the fear is setting in. He becomes emotional and Joan comes to his side with an embrace and the encouragement to finish.
It’s time for the runway and Heidi and Law return for the panel. But, there’s a few other stars joining them. The first is renowned designer Christian Cowan, and the other is supermodel Joan Smalls. No pressure, designers.
The looks walk the runway and it doesn’t take long for the judges to share their ranks. Ethan, Veejay, and Jesus are safe. Belania and Antonio are the Top 2, which is ironic since they were both in the bottom earlier this episode. This means that Joan and Yuchen are the Bottom 2. His first time in the bottom and her third time on the chopping block. Who is going home?
Well first, we must find out who the winner is. Antonio gets good reviews on his look, but all he cares about is that he proved Nina Garcia wrong. If you forgot, she mentioned in the last episode that she didn’t understand why he was still in the competition. Despite the fact that she wasn’t on the judges panel this time, he still felt the need to talk to her directly into the camera and blow a kiss to her. Get back, achieved.
Law Roach brings the unapologetic drama
It’s Belania’s turn and she walks the judges through her look She goes into a detailed description, explaining that it’s a twist on Audrey Hepburn and her iconic professional style. Law immediately shuts her down with a blunt, “I hated that story”. He argues that she should have called her look an extension of herself instead.
Nonetheless, Belania earns her second win, making a wave as the first designer from the season to win two challenges.
Now it’s time for the Bottom 2 to hear their critiques and they are brutal. With Joan, the judges agree that she didn’t follow the challenge theme at all. Joan thinks the fabric is way too loud, and Christian calls her “more talented than the fabric”. Is this a dig or a compliment?
Anyways, the time has come to judge Yuchen’s look and Law makes it known that he is fuming.
“I am so mad at you over this look. I am so mad because you are a streetwear designer. This was your challenge to win. I almost want to like jump out the chair and beat you up for making this look. That’s how mad I am at you,” he rants.
Oh wait, but he’s not done. He proceeds to call it “terrible” and compares it to a knockoff Balenciaga. Okay now he’s done. Yuchen gets emotional, and apologizes especially to Law for letting him down.
Law almost feels like crying (ladies and gentleman, he does have a heart after all). But, at the end of the day a decision must be made. And based on the judges commentary, it could really go either way.
Project Runway airs every Thursday at 10 PM/ET on Freeform, and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE JUDGES WILL CUT YUCHEN OR JOAN?
