Bates Motel - The Truth

Goood Eeevening, Addicts. This show has surpassed my attention and enjoyment from The Following. They're maintaining a level of intensity and suspense that Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of! Previously we watched Mother and Shelby continue their relationship despite her being released from jail and him being a cop. Norman tells Emma about the girl he found in Shelby's basement. They break her out of the Keith's boat and taker her to the motel where Mother finds them. They have a hard time of it, but when the girl tells Mother that yes, the picture of Shelby in the paper is the man who made her have sex, she is shocked.

Mother is outside in a state of shock and disbelief. Norman comes out to check on her and she's staring off into the distance. Then out of no where she jumps up and starts going towards the car. When Norman sees what she's doing she runs. They fight as she's trying to pull away and Norman is running after the car and jumping in the window. They're driving in circles around the parking lot. She wants to go see and confront Shelby. Norman stops her enough that he takes the keys out of the ignition and throws them out the window. "He's not going to get away with this. Everyone else gets away with everything!" Mother is in hysterics. Norman promises that they'll nail Shelby for what he's done, but they have to do it the right way. Mother calms down rather quickly and tells him to go get the keys.

Dylan goes to see Gil and tells him about what happened to Ethan. Dylan is actually in tears and apologizes Gil says what a loss it is to have Ethan gone, he was a good trust-worthy worker. Gil asks if he would recognize the shooter, and Dylan tells him that he's already dead because he ran him down with the truck. Gil seems upset. Dylan tries to back peddle and say he hopes things didn't get screwed up because he doesn't ask first, but Gil says that he stepped up and took care of things and that's good. He then talks Dylan through how to get rid of Ethan's truck by burning it. Fusk tries to explain to me why the truck wouldn't actually explode, but science and I never got along very well.

As the truck is burning someone speaks up from behind Dylan and tells him whenever he's done they can leave. Gil sent him to pick Dylan up. They will be partners now and his name is Remo. Like Nemo but with an R, and no lucky fin. Remo says that yes he's older and he's a seasoned professional. Dylan is desperate to make nice with his new boss. Remo is annoyed that he's only 21. Remo then tells him that he's not the boss, Dylan is in this situaiton.

Mother goes to check on our sex slave but she's passed out. I can't even imagine how much that girl needs to just sleep. She brings her a tray of food and sees all the needle-marks on her arm and the bruises around her wrists. She covers her with a blanket and then comes back into the house to see Emma and Norman. Emma is adamant that they need to go to the police immediately. Mother tries to delay the timing by saying she's sleeping and has been through a shock. She tries to reassure Emma that they will eventually take action and go the authorities and convince the girl to go with them. As they're walking Emma to her car Mother offers to call Emma's mom and tell her that she's on her way. Emma says she can try but she hasn't seen or heard from her mother in 8 years. Mother is saddened but also sense an opportunity it seems to step in a be the mom. They share a very long hug, initiated by Emma. Mother tells her that she's very brave and if she'd had a daughter she'd wanted her to be just like Emma. Mother also convinces her they'll take care of everything tomorrow. As she drives away Mother tells Norman there's no way in hell they're taking to the girl until they find the belt Shelby took.

Mother is gussying herself up to go back over to Shelby's to try and find the belt for Norman, but he doesn't want her to go, and he went to the house anyways and he didn't find it. Mother apologizes for not believing him when he originally told her about the girl. Norman asks if there is something wrong with him and she says no, of course not. Little to their knowledge Dylan walks in and hears their discussion and is informed of the stolen sex slave. Dylan asks where the boat is that they found the girl in and takes Norman with him. He tells her to stay put and take off her lipstick because they're only coming back with the belt.

On their drive over Dylan says he put down a deposit on a beach bungalow and he wants Norman to come with him. "No crazy people allowed." He wants to provide a normal life for the two of them. He tells him that he's gotta let Mother go because she'll only bring him down with her.

They get to the boat and Norman asks, "Where do we look?" Really? Oh, you know, if it's not right out in plain sight, we shouldn't worry about it. You look EVERYWHERE! In places that logically it couldn't even be in, but you still look because you're life depends on it. While they're searching Dylan asks Norman how his father died and he says that a shelf fell on him in his garage. Dylan finds that a little hard to believe. They find a strange board on the ceiling and unscrew it. Dylan says that he thinks Mother killed the father because she was miserable and took the insurance money and ran. Norman doesn't enjoy being told that his mother killed his father.  The belt falls from behind the board onto the floor. Bingo.

Shelby shows up and is hot to trot. He's got a massive erection and only Mother can assist him. She tries to push him off in an acceptable way. He says they'll go down to the motel and have at it like rabbits. She tries to put him off and he's suspicious. She's revolted by him now and is trying to get out of it. She takes him down towards the motel and I'm not sure what her plan is.

Dylan throws the belt into the lake like they did with the arm. Norman is worried it will wash up on shore. Dylan assures him that it's not a body, it'll stay at the bottom. Why wouldn't you take it someplace and bury it super far into the ground?? Why always the lake? Dylan says they're going home to pack up Norman's stuff.

Shelby is pumping away at Mother and she's clearly not enjoying it. He stops and senses something is wrong. Considering she's been squealing like a baby pig before, total stiff body silence is not the same. She says she's worried about Norman. She kisses him and says she's sorry and asks to start again. As he climbs on top of her he hears running water. He asks her who's staying here and she says no one. Then she says it's probably just a weird plumbing thing. Shelby grabs his gun and runs to check the rooms. Mother is fixating on room 11, where the sex slave is. He sees the light on in the room and runs for it. The girl is taking a shower. She then comes up with, "Oh you know what? I forgot, one of the painters is staying here." He knows she's lying. Then...

She opens the door. Screams no and makes a run for it. Shelby shoots at her and then pushes Mother and calls her a bitch. Holy Moses. I didn't see this happening so fast! Shelby ran off into the woods after the girl and the boys return home after getting rid of the belt. Just before Mother can tell them about Shelby, Dylan tells her that Norman is packing up his stuff and moving in with him. She's shocked. Shen casually tells them about Shelby finding the girl. And without skipping a beat to breathe she asks why Norman would want to leave her. She's heartbroken. All Norman asks is if she killed his father and she says no. I call bullshit. Just as this is going on Shelby shows up and points his gun at everyone and tells Dylan to get rid of his gun since he knows who Dylan works for. Shelby picks up the gun and makes everyone go up to the house.

Shelby is sort of in a state of panic a bit. But who wouldn't be? His darkest secrets are out in the open. Mother tries to make him relax and he tells her to shut up. He points a gun at Norman and says it's all his fault. He loved Mother and he would've taken care of everyone but he had be nosy. Mother tries to talk him down and Norman isn't saying anything, he's just in a trance. Dylan tries to help out but then Shelby pistol-whips her. Norman is dead in the face and then gets up and shoves Shelby into a wall when he gets physical with Mother. Dylan then jumps up and grabs one of the two guns. Norman is passed out. Holy shit,guys. This is pretty epic and it's only episode 6! Dylan and Shelby trade shots until Dylan finally lands one in his hip. When he goes in for the kill shot his clip is empty. He then runs upstairs and Shelby keeps shooting after him. Mother is trying to make Norman wake up but it's not working. Shelby hobbles up the stairs after Dylan and Mother carries Norman outside with her purse.

Dylan is on the ground on the side of the bed reloading his clip as Shelby gets closer. Mother is on the porch and calls 911 to tell them that someone is trying to kill them. Norman's eyes are open but he's not responding to anything and not moving. Mother has to move him like a puppet into the car. When she finally gets him and herself in she searches her purse desperately but there are no keys. Norman then says, "What happened? My head hurts? Where are we going?" The keys are in her bedroom and then they hear 3 shots fired. They stare up at the house and see someone hobble out. Oh shit. The bummed leg. It's Shelby! No! I was just starting to like Dylan!

WHOA! His eye is totally gone! It's like a homage to The Birds or something! He points his gun at Mother and then falls over dead. Dylan runs out of the house. Oh good! He comes down and Mother runs to him and hugs him tight. "We're safe." Oh good boy, Dylan! Good boy! Mother says they should get him to the hospital and that she called the cops. She's worried about what to tell the cops and Dylan says they should tell them the truth. He's all done with the crazy and the lies. Mother says he doesn't know, despite what he might think. She tells him what happened the day Norman's father died.

Flashback to her getting into an argument with Sam over the money they spent. Norman is in the kitchen hearing the whole fight. To block out the noise he makes something in the blender and then pours it down the drain when he hears Sam hitting Mother and hurting her.

That same dead, vacant look in his eyes. He hits his father in the head with the blender and there's blood pooling behind his head. What!? So it was Norman who killed his father!? I was so wrong! Mother is worried because she's getting no sort of response from Norman at all, just like with Shelby. She takes him and puts him in his room to lay down. She then wraps Sam's head in a cloth and drags his dead body down the hall into the garage and then tips the shelf over on him, setting it up to look like how we saw it in the opening scenes of the series. So she did it all to save Norman. Well played, A&E. You had me fooled! We then get a replay of the opening scene where Norman awakens in bed to the TV and finds Sam in the garage and runs to find Mother. This explains why Mother is more calm and simply says that she's sorry.

I will admit, I am surprised, but it makes total sense! He always had a killer within him. It wasn't just that Mother made him crazy, he already was that way. Mother explains this whole thing to Dylan and he asks what's wrong with Norman. Mother says she doesn't know and that maybe it was an isolated incident and that he needs to be protected. "You can either get out of my way, or you can help me." The cops show up and BOOM! End.

Whoa, guys. Seriously, whoa. That was an amazing and fast paced episode. I'm seriously impressed! We get no preview for next week, so I don't know if that means they didn't show me one or if there isn't a new one yet. Is anyone else as impressed as I am??

The Following - The End is Near

Happy Sunday, Addicts! I hope you've been enjoying yours as much as Fusk and I have been enjoying ours. We spent all weekend with our good friends Turd Ferguson and his wife Ape Tang, along with their dog Juniper. It's finally getting warm here in Milwaukee, so that means all residents have been outside! I feel as though people that live in warm climates year round don't fully get to appreciate how good they have it.

Anyways, last time on The Following we were shocked to hear that Joe Carroll killed 14 young women and was arrested. That fact blew me away. Roderick finally met his end, while Jacob realized his end isn't far away after he let Joey go and be with Hardy. Claire made a stab at freedom, literally, by stabbing Joe. Joe has thus started to unravel. The FBI is on the cusp of finding the cult's house.

We open with Joe watching videos of Molly and Hardy doing the nasty. He keeps drinking whiskey, and all I keep thinking is that with every gulp, he's thinning his blood more and more. Joe hears Hardy say a phrase that he keeps rewinding and playing over and over again. "You can't kill me, I'm already dead." He fixates and starts repeating it himself.

With Roderick gone, Joe is looking for someone new to trust as a second in command. That is apparently Emma. I thought she was second in command, but maybe she was really third. When Joe goes to touch her, she pulls away since the last time she tried to get close she got slapped for her efforts. Joe apologizes and is babbling. He gives her a puppy look and she's of course back in the fold. Joe is popping pain pills and drinking it down with his whiskey.

Look how gross that guy's "mustache" is. The FBI is doing a full scale man-hunt. Joey is being put into hiding, but before he did so he gave them a full rundown of the layout of the house and surrounding properties. The FBI has road blocks at every road, coast guards at every harbor and water way along with helicopters circling Havenport.

The remaining followers meet and have a little chant. "In death there is life. In death there is love. In death there is everything." If you take a quick headcount, there are 17 followers and one Joe. If these are truly the only remaining, then ok, fine. But I'm getting tired of the endless followers that seem to pop up at every possible turn. It makes it feel even more unbelievable than the situation already would have been. Joe addresses his people and he tells them that today is the most special of days. He tells one blonde girl to be fierce. Another no-name guy says that everyone is ready because they've all been training. This must be the evacuation plan. Joe is wincing from the pain.

Emma and Jacob leave the room and Jacob is confiding in Emma that he thinks the plan is shit. He says Joe is too wasted on pills and booze to be thinking this through clearly. Emma, the faithful solider has no problems following whatever command Joe decrees. When Emma tells him to work on his trust issues on his own he throws it back in her face how trusting her screwed him over.

Joe goes to visit Claire and tells her that he finished the re-write and despite all his efforts he couldn't come up with a way to save her character in the story. 2 men come in and carry her away.

Tech lady for the FBI finds Roderick's tampered with files and they discover where the house is located based on Joey's description. They burst through the gates and have SWAT surround the house as they break down the door and go in. The place is deserted except for one poor sucker.

We meet a new couple and they're trying to get out of town in a rush because there's such a long wait at the road blocks. When she opens her garage door, Emma and Jacob are there. They rush at her and she runs upstairs to find her husband bashed in the head with Joe and Claire standing there. It seems they've found a new nest for the time being.

The poor sucker was merely a sign of "I'm totally in control" from Joe to them. The tech lady says that based on a quick fingerprint and grocery count, there were 37 people living in the house. Hardy walks around and finds a note left for him in a book of Edgar Allen Poe stories. "Dear Ryan, the final chapter has begun. See you soon, Joe" It's left at the beginning of Mask of the Red Death. Hardy says it's just a diversion. Something must have happened with Claire because now Joe is acting so erratically. Parker says that Joe is going to give him the opportunity to save Claire.

Back at the new nest, Joe ties everyone up and is settling them in for an awkward day. He pulls a knife on the husband, Phil, as he tries to struggle to save his wife, Vicky from being hurt and tells Phil not to play the hero. He pours himself another drink and tries to make small talk. Claire begs Joe to not torture these people and leave them alone.

Emma and Jacob are down in the kitchen discussing what's happening. He seems to be the only one who's not ok with Joe's plan. "None of this is what I thought it was going to be." Jacob thought it was going to be about him and Emma. He thought it would bring them to a new place, as a couple.

Back at FBI headquarters they're trying to ID any and all of the followers based on who visited Joe in prison. Hardy looks out the window and sees a large group of people. There are reporters everywhere saying that there is an evacuation point for residents at the recreation center. Do you think Leslie Knope is there ready to play games and teach people about Pawnee? No? Wrong show...Hardy stands and stares at the people waiting outside because he thinks that the followers are there, planting themselves to make a move.

The blonde girl that Joe told to be brave goes up to a reporter and is being interviewed. She then turns and talks to the camera and starts quoting Mask of the Red Death very similar to when the lawyer started quoting Poe earlier in the season. Hardy makes eye contact and a grin with the no-namer (who I believe is the one they call Alex). The reporter is very confused and then blonde girl stabs the reporter.

They bring her into the interview room and Hardy comes in. She's all smiles and is joking and performing. She has a voice that's perfect for voice-over work. It's so young and innocent sounding. She asks Hardy if he'll grieve over his love at her grave by the sea. She tells him that everything is about death. They play the dance-around game with each other and then Hardy has enough and throws the table over and pushes her against the wall with a gun to her head. She answers that Claire has to die so that he can be reborn. He lets her go and walks out of the room. Well that's a stupid answer.

Joe is busy making dinner for everyone. Phil and Vicky are at the table with Claire and while he's in the kitchen she tells them they need to remain calm and follow her lead. Clarie suggests to Joe that these 2 could be of help to him by being a messenger. He could give them a message and take it to Hardy for him. He then tells Claire he's already taken care of getting a message to Hardy. She's bummed by this news. "Ryan is about to have a very busy few hours." He fills everyone's plates and is ready to eat.

Emma comes out to find Jacob in the car sitting by himself. She thinks he's getting ready to leave. Jacob says of course not because where else does he have to go? His life is no longer his own. "I hate what I've done to you." Emma knows they can't be what they used to be, because Jacob isn't the same anymore. They kiss and make up so it would seem.

Joe is trying to open the bottle of wine but with the injury in his side, he can't pull the cork out. Claire offers to do it for him, which would require him to untie her. He does so and she opens the wine while Joe immediately asks for the opener back. Joe then asks if Phil trusts Vicky and he says yes he does. He then asks if he loves his wife and he says yes. The final question is would he die for his wife, and he says yes. He begs for Joe to let his wife go and he can do anything he wants to him. Joe looks and Claire like, "See?! This is what I've been trying to get from you!" Joe then asks why she won't eat and enjoy the company because this is her last supper.

The doorbell rings then. Emma and Jacob come up to see it's the cops. Emma tells Joe she'll handle it. She opens the door and the cops ask if everything is alright and if she is Vicky. As Emma tries to convince him that everything is grand, he recognizes her and she then pulls out a gun and shoots both of them. So much for handling it.

Joe gets up and tells them not to move. So Claire grabs the bottle of wine when his back is turned and bashes him with it. She then grabs a dingle-hopper (fork, for you non-Little-Mermaid-fans) and restabs Joe in his wound. He's a little overly-trusting. Claire cuts them lose and they bolt out the dining room door. Joe screams out for Emma. The nearest neighbors are through the woods. Joe tells Emma and Jacob to take the car and hunt Claire down. He'll call Alex and get picked up.

At headquarters, Hardy thinks it's finally time to look at why Mask of the Red Death keeps getting brought up. Weston summarizes that it was about a village of people that was plagued by death but offered a sanctuary to those who were afraid. And yet, death found the fearful anyways. Does anyone else see the immediate connection? The evacuation point is where there will be a showdown. It takes Weston just as much time as it took us.

All the cops show up at the recreation center to sort through the people and try and fish out the followers, while not causing a mass panic. ALL of those cult members better be in there, short of Emma, Jacob and Alex because otherwise, what the hell. Seriously. This is supposed to be the final chapter, it better include everyone. They start their walk-throughs and don't see much. Hardy does see flickers of Alex and goes to tell Weston about it. When they sort of corner him, he raises his hands up above his head and the lights go out. The weapons come out and the red death has arrived. We see a few of them get shot down, while other make the most of the situation and kill as many as they can.

Claire tries to flag down a car, and they realize it's Emma and Jacob. Phil and Vicky run ahead and Claire tries to fight them off, which of course doesn't work. "Nice try, bitch." They haul her back to the car.

Parker is alone and Alex comes up from behind her and grabs her, while another member walks up to her with a bloody knife. Oh no!! I hope Parker makes it, I actually like her! Her background story is interesting.

I'm confused how it's already night. It was what looked like lunch time when Joe was trying to make pasta. Now it's pitch black outside. Emma and Jacob arrive at a marina with Claire and Joe is already there. He says the police were distracted by the murder and mayhem going on elsewhere. He opens the care door and goes to get Claire out of the car, but she won't move. Really? There are 3 of them and one of you. Joe goes to get her and takes her down the pier onto a yacht. She tries to tell him that being out on the open water is such a bad idea. As Joe and Claire pull away, Jacob and Emma are left on the shore.

They head back to the car and Jacob stops her from starting the engine. This is his last ditch effort to talk her into coming with him. He says they have a car and a full tank of gas, and they could probably get by the road blocks. I'm not sure how on that one, but ok. He knows that Emma loves Joe and so does he but he doesn't want to die. He doesn't think being part of a book someone wrote is really worth dying over. He doesn't want her to die for Joe either. "You're really going to leave" she says in a moment of realization. He gives her a big kiss and tells her that he loves her. She kisses him back and says she loves him too, and that she loves Joe. We hear a slitting noise and a gurgle.

"But I don't know how to love you both." NO! I really wanted Jacob to kill Emma in revenge. Boo. So now there's nothing holding her back. Poor, baby Jacob. He was always way in over his head. She strokes his face as he dies.

The FBI exchange casualty numbers and realize that this was a distraction to allow Joe to get out of town. Weston then tells Hardy that Parker is missing.

The 2 men are carrying her into the woods. They find a grave. Oh holy hell. They rip the tape off her mouth and ask if she has any last words. She tells them they don't have to do this and he says he knows, he doesn't have to. He then advises her to take small breaths. They nail the lid on. Sweet, Moses! She's screaming as loud as she can and crying. The start shoveling on the dirt.

The last thing we hear is her screaming and pleading for help. NO!!! They can't kill her! The final episode is tomorrow. I want them to find her, but at the same time, how is it even remotely possible for them to? At least they go into the finale on a suspenseful note. The real question is, how many of these characters will survive to season 2.

Project Runway - Finale Part 1

Alright Addicts, my plague that has eaten my body is down to mostly just a cough. So let's see what I can pump out while I still have motivation. I also had to lay down the law in a very serious way since my dratted cat has murdered yet another valuable cord of mine. She's killed 2 phone chargers, my tablet charger and now, dread of all dreads, my laptop charger cord. I hate her right now. She's being banished and shunned, and I'm not sure when she'll work her way back into my good gracious for such a disgusting display of disrespect (alliteration, yay!)

 Previously on our designing show the designers all went to a different European country, that is, except for Michelle (which as we learned was actually a huge advantage). Everyone agreed that Stanley and Michelle deserve to be at fashion week, but no on believes in WL, that is, except for Heidi. Heidi and Nina had a hot debate about WL and in the end, of course Heidi won. So our final 4 are Stanley, Michelle, Daniel and WL, leaving bitchy, arrogant, mean girl Layana out in the cold. Good riddance.

The designers are all sitting around for the last time before they are sent off to create their 12 piece collections. They are given $10,000 to create a fall collection. Michelle is very excited, that's exactly what she designs for. The designers all pack up and head to the airport. I laughed during season 3, I think it was, when Laura said, "Fuck it! I'm walking home!" since she lived right in New York anyways. I think that would be the hardest. Being literally within walking distance from you family, but you can't go see them.

Four months later, I'll give you one guess who Tim goes to see first. Did you pick Michelle? That's so clearly Portland, Oregon! Ha! Sorry, Portland. You're way more weird than that, and I love you for it! Tim of course stops to see WL first on the reservation. I'm shocked to see so much snow in New Mexico! He meets her whole family and has a meal in her childhood home. I find most of the family visits to be useless and not enjoyable. That's true of everyone, not just WL. They go to see her studio and it's a very large...dwelling, for lack of a better term. It's quite literally a small home. Like a poor college kid could be living the wealthy life if they lived there. Most of the visits we see the studios are in some cases mere rooms in their houses. She's a lucky one, this one. We see she's working with horse hair.

She shows him these prints that are going to be used in a jacket to show the fate of youth. Tim tells her that these drawings make it so literal that it loses any sort of metaphorical greatness and comes off as crafty. That's because all her work is crafty, Tim. Why do none of you see it. Tim gives her a ego boost and tells her how proud he is of her.

Michelle's visit is up next and I feel like she's truly the one to beat. They start with a pointless family meal. Michelle is wearing a shorter version of the leather strip necklace that she made for the Miranda Lambert look. Tim says that he was the one that whispered into Heidi's ear that she needed to not be eliminated and given another shot.

They go to check out her collection, and true to real form, it's in a smallish room in a warehouse somewhere. That's what I feel the studio should be. Her inspiration for the collection is a lone wolf, hunting to survive on it's own.

I'm really enjoying her pieces, but I always do, so that's not surprising. I am not surprised to see the color palette, but she's even wearing the color herself! Tim's last worlds to her are, "Don't over-design!"

Onto Daniel's visit in Austin, Texas.

Umm...Daniel? Is that you in there? What happened to your head?! Tim comes to the door and of course he's already crying. Good gracious. They came from Puerto Rico, which I didn't know. But other than that it's just more pointless family moments. Am I a terrible person that I don't care?

Daniel's inspiration is a combination of the cosmos, Salvador Dahli and the trip to Germany. He says he decided to use the colors of the cosmos...but all I see is black, red and white and used this fabric called stingray.

The way he got the shape on that fabric was by having it sit in the sunlight and he molded it with the heat from the sun. That's impressive. Tim is impressed with it. There are a lot of cool looking pieces, but there is one very frumpy looking coat. Tim points it out and asks what "grandma's robe is doing here?" Daniel says, "It's cashmere with leather, isn't that pretty?" Tim quickly responds with, "No." It's so matter-of-factly. I love it. Daniel even shows him some other ideas and Tim shrieks out, "NO! What was in your head when you did this!?" God bless you, Tim Gunn.

Onto LA to visit Stanley. It's again a small room in an apartment. I'm a little worried about what I see so far though, from the pieces. Based on what I've seen, this is easily Michelle's to win. That is unless Heidi shows enough of her naked body to make sure WL wins.

He's going for a vintage vibe, but there's almost no skin showing. It doesn't make any sense to me. I don't see Stanley in any of these. We get our pointless family visit after the look at the collection. We get the shortest time with Stanley.

4 weeks have gone by and everyone is arriving back in New York. Daniel arrives first and then Michelle. He's not that happy to see her. For some reason he still has a bad taste in his mouth from the Lord & Taylor challenge where he went off the deep end and started making not true comments about a 21 year old. Michelle doesn't understand why he is being guarded with her, and when he tells her that it's all in the past, she says they have no past! They hug and move on. So weird. Stanley arrives next and then WL. I find it so funny that Michelle seems to love WL so much considering how much she hated her before.

The designers are start to reveal their pieces to each other. WL thinks Daniel's pieces are too safe, Daniel thinks Michelle's pieces are over-done, Stanley doesn't like WL's taste, and everyone is shocked at how unfinished Stanley's pieces are. In some cases he just has fabric, and muslin patterns made! That's pretty shocking! Michelle thinks he's set himself up for failure.

There isn't a "Make a companion piece!" moment, yet. They are to pick 3 pieces to show the judges so they can be chopped down to 3. Tim announces that they'll be given sewing assistants yet again, but that's not a surprise, that's how every season has gone. The helpers arrive and Richard is with Stanley, Samantha is with Daniel, Layana (who is pregnant) is with WL while Michelle does a happy dance to get Amanda as her partner.

Tim comes in for another Tim Gunn visit. He stops with Michelle and loves her work but he thinks that she is going a bit over board with all the accessories she has attached. She shows him how easily it can come off he tells her to load it up and show them on the runway what she just showed him.

Stanley gets read for not showing enough skin, and having it look matronly. Stanley tries to defend himself as it being a fall collection, and you don't show skin in fall. Not in Wisconsin, you don't. You usually have your winter coat already.

Are you kidding? Tell me it's a joke. It's not. It's Dr. Seuss! Shut the hell up. How is this woman presenting at fashion week!? Tim has a "positive" reaction to the head piece. Shut up, Tim. I don't say that often, but get outta here. He does tell her that one of her other pieces looks like a lumberjack, and he's not wrong. I am filled with such WL hate. None of her pieces are flattering or form fitting.

Daniel gets concerned moments from Tim. There's not any great, "I love this!" from Tim. That's never good. I seem to see only black from Daniel as well. When Tim leaves the models come in and the pants don't seem to fit any of them. Michelle also is a bit of a pinch with making her pants too small for the models.

Layana and Samantha have a moment where Layana says that she thinks everything but the horsehair cape and black pants is a disaster! She doesn't even know how to be helpful. I'll tell you. You burn it all.

Day of runway, and we have a rush of finishing pieces and pointless hair and make-up consultations. Horror of horrors, there is more than just one of those Dr. Seuss wigs. Stanley gets mad because once again Richard is incapable of working with anything that's not jersey. Michelle says in interview that it's not Richard's fault that he showed up with completely unfinished pieces.

Heidi is leopard print! The skirt has a weird proportion, sort of. And I like the minimalist make up on her face. There is no guest judge this week, it's just about the core members who have seen all their work since the beginning.

Stanley's work is up first.

I like it, but it's very old-lady. I was expecting much more from him. They do look like a cohesive collection though.

Water Lily is next.

I do enjoy the cape, more than I think I should, given my hatred for her. But that Dr. Seuss dress. That's a joke.

LOOK AT HER FREAKING FACE! She's already eating up that shit. Ugh. Well I think from that face alone we can deduce that WL is heading into the final three.

Daniel is up next.

It's all boring. None of those pieces are particularly amazing. That final look is a dud for sure.Other than he worked with a difficult fabric, it's nothing exciting.

Michelle is last.

 Winner, winner, chicken dinner. They all look amazing. They look cohesive. Her inspiration is very clear. Winner.


The judges start with Michelle first. Heidi likes the three pieces. Posen likes the proportions and the dress to casual. Everything is very wearable. Nina loves the pants. Their critique is to have less bags. Nina disagrees with the hair and make up, that she needs to do something else. They ask about the wolves on the sweaters and she says she had crazy Joe from earlier in the season (the guy that sells the insanely expensive cat sweaters) and had him make it for her.

Daniel's next and he talks about his stingray and that the collection shows his range. The only string throughout the collection to make it cohesive is the stingray. They try and say nice things about his looks but they're all bored. I always feel bad for the models. It would be hard for me to not take it personally, despite the fact that it has nothing to do with her, she's a walking hanger. Heidi says she's underwhelmed. He's in the bottom for sure.

Dr. Seuss comes out. Heidi loves the horsehair cap and the wig, but she (SHOCKER OF SHOCKERS) doesn't like the black and white dress with the eagle feather print, she also questions the cohesion. "Welcome to the wonderous worbelous world of Dr. Seuss" says Nina. We're like one mind! Posen tries to say that calling it Dr. Seuss is a compliment from the two women because they both have kids? What? For the first time Heidi doesn't solely kiss her ass. I'm stunned.

Stanley is up next and it looks very vintage, and not modern to me. Stanley gets very similar critiques as Daniel. Nina tells him to inject some sexiness to his collection. Posen is confused with the amount of time that he had why he presented these looks. The judges all tell him that his looks are dull and old. He needs to be modern.

So what do we learn? Michelle is the only one with a successful and modern collection. Can they just crown her now? Michelle tries to tell them in the back that everyone is going to show. I don't think so. This isn't a situation where they love everyone's collections. They love one and sort of like 3.

The first designer called to show at fashion week, is Michelle. Of course. The next person called is WL. I am stating it right now, if she wins, I will scream such a rage that my neighbors will fear a murder has occurred. Stanley is called in, and Daniel is left out. I'm not surprised. He started out so strong, but he stumbled hard long the way.

Crazy hair and face! Oddly enough, no crying! How is that possible? Is it because he knows that he still does get to show at fashion week? I wonder who were the decoys that got to show at fashion week. I'm sure he's part of the decoy collection.

Our final episode aired last night and I'm about to watch it and recap, so stay tuned!! Michael Kors is a guest judge! YAY!!

Project Runway - Europe, Here We Come

This is coming to you unforgivably late. I don’t even really have a reason. The final episode is airing tonight, and I’m 2 episodes behind! GAH! All I can do is try and make up for lost time. Last time we watched, the designers had to create an editorial look for Nina at Marie Claire magazine. They were given very specifics for things to do and not do. The designers each were “on their own” but really they weren’t because they had sewing helpers. Richard totally screwed WL up again. Stanley won and Michelle is having a do or die moment as we speak. We don’t know what that is yet, so let’s dive in.

I just have to throw this in there; damn you Lifetime for making hour and a half episodes! It’s like they don’t even care how long that takes to recap! Bastards! Everyone is on pins and needles in the waiting room while they wait to hear what Michelle’s fate will be. Michelle is a wreck, but who wouldn’t be? Tim comes in to explain. No one is going home because they know Michelle is greatly talented and that she can produce. Her clothes were beautiful and well made, just not what Nina wanted. Layana is being her typical bitchy self and wants the title right now.

Heidi and Tim come out on the runway and tell them they think the designers need a change of scenery, to see the world. So they’re each getting sent to a different European country.

Do you see Stanley’s face? He can hardly contain his excitement! Heidi asks if everyone has been to Europe and WL loudly says yes they all have, but Daniel is already in tears and shakes his head and says he hasn’t. He’s going to be crying a lot. They’re each getting sent to a “fashion capitol of the world” to get inspiration and buy their textiles. Lifetime must really need the viewership because this has to be the most expensive thing they’ve ever done. And they’re leaving tonight. The trips get distributed as follows:

Layana – Barcelona, Spain

WL – Paris, France

Daniel – Berlin, Germany

Stanley – London, England

After all the tickets are handed out, Michelle doesn’t have one. Because they didn’t think she would be around, they didn’t bother to buy one for her, so she gets to stay in New York while her cohorts go over the Atlantic. They will be given sewing assistants (and traveling companions) again and this time they are “randomly” paired. I’m sure production had a hand in it. Samantha is with Layana, Wl is with Kate, Amanda is with Daniel, Richard is with Stanely, and Tu is with Michelle. Everyone seems happy with their companions. They each get $1000 USD. Hmm…somehow this doesn’t seem explained well. If it’s really just USD, that means that all those European travelers will be getting short changed, and Stanley will be getting even MORE short changed with the GBP. Good gracious, his budget is almost cut in half! Michelle may not be traveling, but she may well be the best off.

I’m not sure who got the best location. For money, Michelle certainly did. I’ve been to London and I LOVED it. I’ve been to Germany and the people were NOT nice. I’ve not heard such wonderful things about the people in France, so I guess I’d go to Spain for a new adventure! Daniel gets his inspiration from the Berlin Wall, and he’s crying once again.

Back in New York, Michelle is starting to bug me. She’s homesick and lonely. Those are completely acceptable feelings. But now she’s just becoming whiney. I don’t think she realizes that she has it better off. She won’t have a weird jet lag, she gets the full $1000. GET IT TOGETHER.

WL is taking her inspiration from the street art that’s on the streets of Paris. She wants to create a textile (shocker) with layers that represent the layers of art on the walls. Layana focuses on the ornate patterns in the architecture to showcase in her piece.

I have to get a screen grab of that building. We went and stopped there almost every day. I can’t get enough of it. FUN FACT that we learned from Fusk’s sister! The bridge that they’re walking on, if you are on the right side of the bridge, the London Eye and Aquarium are right there and it is PACKED with people. However, if you merely cross the bridge and stand on the left side, there are no people. It’s incredibly empty and you get a stunning view of the building. I can’t explain it. Anyways, enough of my bragging! He takes inspiration from the buildings, because duh, they’re amazing!! He wants to design for a dark woman who would be living up in the dark windows at the top of the buildings. I want to go to London right now. Someone book me a ticket!

So Michelle and Tu are on a bus tour and she gets inspired by, what she describes as coal/wood burning smoke stains. No. Those are old glue stains from previous billboards that had been up. Her idea is more romantic, but it’s wrong. Ugh, I vowed to not go on a big international trip this year and this episode isn’t helping. Fusk and I are meant to travel the world! Are you guys sick of me yet?

The designers are quickly realizing how much it’s going to suck to buy fabric in these other countries. I’m curious if they got to pick their store of the show made arrangements for them, previously. Not only is the fabric going to cost more than they want it to, but they’re selection will not be nearly as large as it would’ve been at Mood. Once again, Michelle has a huge advantage. Plus they don’t know where anything IS in the store. Again, advantage to Michelle. The store in Berlin has no leather or silk. The store in Paris puts WL into a tailspin and she completely overbuys by 270 Euros. They don’t’ speak any English there and the lady tries to take things out of her bag and she freaks out at her. She buys like, damned near the whole store. The store in Barcelona has no leather either and they also are responsible for cutting their own fabric.

Michelle finds a color that she calls “diarrhea brown” and that it’s gorgeous. You should never call a color that word and then call it beautiful. She spends $1000 on leather and cashmere. Sounds good to me! But I’d also be afraid to make any cuts for fear of screwing it up.

Back in New York, everyone has made their flights home. WL and Kate come in a full blown fit of giggles, followed by Daniel and Amanda.

Michelle is not pleased. They’re all trading stories about their locations. I can’t blame her for being upset. That would be so hard. But come on. Get. It. Together. I can’t take depressed Michelle. She’s too much for me.

Tim Gunn comes in for his visit and stops with Daniel first. Layana throws in her mean 2 cents that he’s using pleather as his material for his jacket. Stanley is making clothes that are modest, and Tim is a little worried that there’s not enough skin.

I tried to get a good shot to show you the textile WL created, and it’s difficult. Tim is very impressed. She took a ton of silk organza and layered it together under one white organza so it looks sort of like paint. By the way, she may rip of Richard for only using jersey, but she only uses leather and organza. I don’t think we saw her sew with anything but those two things. She has a second black piece that’s supposed to go over it and Tim doesn’t get it, so he talks her into forgoing the black part and making the textile the main focus.

Tim is very impressed with her designs and what she’s made. Tim encourages her to do the painted ombre effect on the bottom of the cashmere. She was a little concerned about going forth with it. Tim then visits with Layana and he’s concerned about her timing. She’s doing a very elaborate coat and blouse, and the blouse isn’t even really going to be shown. She’s so arrogant.

Runway day! Useless hair and make-up moments. Everyone is working really hard to get their pieces all together. Remember how Anya had to always sew her models into her looks and she WON!? All because Heidi was all lesbian love for her? I’m afraid we’ll have another such moment with WL.

Heidi is a little bit 80’s! It’s not the best, but it’s alright.

Our judges are Zac Posen, Nina and John Legend? Umm…ok. That makes no sense.

Layana

The coat is very pretty, but what the hell is going on with those sleeves?! WHY?! Why are they so long? If she was going for a pop of color, why not just like an inch? I don’t like them.

Michelle

Stunning. I love it. She notices the ombre isn’t nearly as noticeable as it was in the workroom so now it just makes the fabric look dirty. I’d have to agree. But hopefully she can explain it to them.

Stanley

It’s pretty. But it’s a little too basic for me. There’s a pretty sequined lining he spent a lot of money on, but you hardly see it.

WL

I’m sorry, dafuq is that!? It’s like the stay-puffed marshmallow man’s mistress! The original idea was good, but it got lost and muddled. It’s craft-fair on the reservation in here!

Daniel

He did good! Berlin did him good. He made those boots that turned out much better than they looked like they would originally. It’s well made and not old.

Let the judging commence! Daniel is up first. Nina can feel Berlin and loves the jacket and boots and everything. John Legend doesn’t really care for the jacket? What? Zac thinks he was brave and that it’s great. Heidi likes it as well and can see Berlin and that it’s modern.

Stanley explains his dark theory. Nina is in love with it. Heidi thinks he turned up the volume with the simplicity of the silhouette and styling. Posen somehow gets Sherlock Holmes from the cape. John thinks his model and Stanley make a good looking couple together. Heidi even comments that it’s nice to see Stanley smile, because it doesn’t happen often. Yeah, because he has no personality! JUST LIKE STANLEY HUDSON FROM THE OFFICE!!!!!

Layana is up next with her pink Kleenex sleeves. Posen calls them an eye sore. Nina says, “Those sleeves! Why! Why?” She says it’s old fashioned and tragic. Nina hates the styling as well. Heidi says there’s no sex appeal and that what she’s personally wearing is more correct than what she presented. When she takes off the jacket the judges are more impressed.  Layana doesn’t agree with anything they say, she loves her jacket.

WL gives her graffiti story. I’m calling it now, Heidi will want to marry the piece. Posen wrote “trash couture” and says he appreciates what she’s doing. I think he’s tired of it though. He thinks it’s messy and dumpy. Nina says Paris was so inspiring and she’s underwhelmed. She doesn’t get Paris at all and she doesn’t like it. John was worried because he’s not a fashion person that he was weird for not liking it, but he’s glad no one else likes it either. But wait, Heidi hasn’t spoken yet. “To me, this top is special. It has some unusual shape to it, and I like it.” STOP IT! Nina and her start spatting about it.

Michelle talks about the old buildings smashed in between the new ones. Nina thinks it’s a comeback dress and loves everything about it. John is a big fan of how it walked and the contrast between the shiny and cashmere. Heidi doesn’t like the paint, she said she wouldn’t buy it because she would be afraid people thought it was just plain dirty. I hate you, Heidi.

She asks the designers why they should go and who should go with them to fashion week. No one really cares why they think they should go. Or I guess I should say, I don’t. You’re all here for the same reason. You want the money and prizes as well as the exposure. That’s it. I’m more interested in who they want to take with them. Stanley says Daniel and Michelle, WL says Michelle and Stanley, Layana says Michelle and Stanley, Daniel says Michelle and Stanley, Michelle says Stanley and Layana. So this is how the voting count goes with their own votes for themselves excluded:

Michelle: 4

Stanley: 4

WL: 0

Daniel: 1

Layana: 1

So, what do we learn? Everyone loves Michelle and Stanley, and everyone hates WL. Back in the waiting room, Layana bursts into tears because the judges hated her jacket that she loved so much. I hate her too. She’s so annoying. Get over yourself.

The judges have their usual repetition of their notes, but when they get to WL it starts to get a little bit more explosive. Heidi starts it off by saying her same old mantra of “It’s something I’ve never seen before!” That doesn’t automatically make it good, though! Nina thinks she needs more time to grow, but Heidi defends her that she’s already older now, waiting any longer will push her past the point of being relevant. Heidi says she would wear the jacket and Nina says she wouldn’t, and she knows she wouldn’t. John calls the jacket interesting, but not beautiful. HA! “I understand the fascination with her, but the artsy fartsy thing is…come on, guys! Fashion is not art! Stores are not museums, you go to stores to buy clothes, not to look at them.” THANK YOU, NINA! 

Heidi admits she would be worried about a show from WL. “It could be arts and crafts HORROR!!’ Nina is my hero. If WL is picked it is purely because Heidi flashed her tits.

Stanley is the first to be called and told he’s going to fashion week. That’s an obvious choice. Daniel gets called next and told he’s going to fashion week. A less obvious choice. Michelle gets called next and is told she’s going to fashion week. Another very obvious choice. So now it’s between Layana and WL. I want it to be Layana because she is the lesser of the two evils. Heidi even prefaces her comments to WL by saying that SHE liked her designs but the other didn’t. She calls Layana’s name first and says that she’s out. WHAT!?!?! SUCH BULLSHIT!!! I’m over it. If she wins this show, so help me, it will be Gretchen-gate all over again! GAH! So angry.

Next week is going to be the home-visits and the last elimination for the actual show at fashion week. It’s really going to be between Michelle and Stanley and anyone who says differently has been smoking the peyote.