PackYourKnives

I know, it was a very weird comparison between Shota and Dawn lol. "You've shown us a lot especially Shota" vs. "Dawn and the clock" and nothing about Gabe LOL. If we're looking at edit, it reminds me a lot of Melissa talking about embracing her Chinese heritage for All Stars when I think she made mainly French food in S1. Dawn's "struggle" was more Top Chef related, not on a personal/growth level (though the episode before she talked about being a black woman in male dominated kitchens at the campfire) while Shota's was one of his best "winner edit" moments of the season.

Exactly - it was a genius move after seeing Tom ask chefs a million times, "Why didn't you just leave it off the final plate then?" Gabe and Dawn both passively made mess-ups that they didn't realize until the timer ran out.

I found the editing hilarious watching Gregory go from, "Shota, you've done so amazing this season" to Dawn, "You should probably plate less" . What an interesting transition.

Agreed - Shota's 2 dishes were the ONLY two dishes to receive 0 real criticism. Both Dawn and Gabe were at risk to go home because of their mistakes, and yet production gave them a pass. Was this on purpose bc they didn't want to send someone home (again for the 5th time) for something they could have easily gone home for?

More Spec: Does anyone know if they film the interviews all at once (for a block of 2-3 episode's) or episode to episode? With the time constraints, I would think they fill it up all at once. In which case, Shota definitely seems the most chipper, and Dawn has a sadness to her. Gabe I've noticed zero change this entire season in his interviews, always very serious. +1 to Shota. On the other hand, Dale called this crab challenge episode his "favorite of the season"... which means possibly the final is controversial in some way? We know he's a big Shota and Gabe fan.... so I give that a +1 to Dawn.

I agree totally. This will be up there with Nick Elmi somehow winning New Orleans for worst and most controversial win ever if Dawn wins. But this is a production and judging issue - not Dawn. Nick was just unlikable and a downer, I don't mind Dawn at all. She seems nice but it's a total joke she's still somehow here after all of her constant screwups and rule breaking that they just continue to ignore.

LOL she did not have "universal praise". They found her first dish to have way too many components on it and her second dish to be sloppy and lacking a starch component to offset it. Universal praise is what Shota got. They did not have 1 quibble with his food other than they wished he had another sushi bite (and that was only from Kwame). Out of 12+ chefs to not have one critique is amazing. This has nothing to do with her or Gabe being "too good to be eliminated". The producers had decided beforehand to bring 3 chefs to the finale after Byron didn't make it back from LCK.

I think we all need to prepare for the very real possibility Gabe wins this. When Padma said, "You are top chef" neither she nor the contestants/all stars seemed very excited by their reaction. That sounds to me like it is definitely NOT Shota based on that so either dawn or Gabe fits that bill. Maria is the loudest in the preview saying "yeah" (although she is always like that) BUT based on the preview it seems like she works with Gabe as a sous chef, so that is why she is the loudest at that point. Meltdown city if anyone but Shota wins. Dawn winning would be less so (people would be happy for her, but not deserving of it), but Gabe would be a very controversial win for the factors stated before.

Revisiting the follows now that the final 3 final meal is set: Tiffany Derry: follows Dawn and Gabe. Not Shota. (Could be a flavor thing and she preferred one of their meals over Shota's who is traditional Japanese) Eduardo Jordan: Is following both Shota (wasn't previously) and Dawn. LOL although now he is dealing with his own Me Too issues, but still interesting. Peter Cho: Seems like he reset his IG. Only follows Melissa and 4 others. Shota follows him, Gabe and Dawn don't. Naomi Pomeory: only follows Shota. Also saw her comment on Shota's IG about "representing" from wherever they're from. Also as said before, Dawn is promoting the fan vote a LOT. I have to think she doesn't win and would like the 10K (with Shota not promoting it at all). Someone thought Shota won bc he immediately reopened Taku back, and Dawn is not currently have a restaurant opened. Also just saw Dawn and her friends/family do a toast on IG for the "finale" (before this episode aired) and to me I'm getting more of a sense she doesn't win. Could Gabe win this?? I'm getting the sense he might. Gotta hand it to the producers, it's close. I'm setting myself up to be prepared when Shota loses, but anything can happen. Was NOT expecting a F3 for the last episode so even Gabe is back in this too. -- Also watching Padma say "you are top chef" and the reaction after, makes me think it is NOT Shota based on the somewhat muted response from everyone. I'm really considering the fact Gabe wins this...

So this episode was just an exhibition and had absolutely 0 need to happen then? Uh huh. I don't think anyone is a "True Top Chef" who misses components on their meal in 5 separate episodes, including last week where they clearly should have gone home. If you watched the preview, there were 3 knives as Padma is talking to them about their final meal, just like All Stars where they drew knives to determine who picked first in sous chef order.

What? Shota wasn't criticized by anyone for his dish being incomplete other than Kwame. What about Shota's food was unsatisfying? He got absolutely 0 criticism this episode besides from Kwame's sushi comment

There's a massive difference between DECIDING to not plate something smartly, and running out of time bc of poor time management from both Gabe and Dawn. My sense is like New Orleans, producers are making it very clear who they would have preferred to win while at the same time showing why someone else did. Sad Shota isn't taking this. I even ironically think there's a chance Gabe wins looking purely at vdi t(of course Dawn is most likely the winner for edit reasons)

What did he say about Dawn's tofu challenge? The difference in emotion and verbal words between Shota this week and Dawn last week with Kwame was massive.

And I disagree with that too then. At worst, Shota should have gotten SOME sort of advantage for the final especially when he won and both of the other 2 competitors made huge mess ups. It's not like all 3 were flawless meals. Shota's was in another league to theirs this episode.

So he can't be jealous? Kwame's been a hater all season. Absolutely a joke he calls it "unacceptable" Shota missed one piece of sushi when Dawn has done this ALL SEASON and yet to hear a word about it from Kwame. He's such a bad judge.

He's threatened that Shota is clearly a remarkable chef. Kwame's insecure, he's obviously the least talented chef as a judge and probably would have been out at F6-7 on this season. Eliminating no one when the bottom two chefs both made multiples mistakes is a cop out. Shota won, and the inherent advantage of winning is that you have one less person to compete against. If he doesn't win the title, then there's a 50% chance that the winner was someone that should've gone home for not being able to complete their dish IN THE GODDAMN SEMIFINAL.

LOL at Kwame finding it "unacceptable" there were not 2 sushi pieces on Shota's first course (that everyone found remarkable), after Dawn for the 5th time couldn't plate everything. Where was that energy last episode Kwame? Kwame's just jealous that Shota is a better chef than him AND close to winning. And they were both nominated same year for James Beard. I've already resigned myself to Dawn winning based on the edit. It is what it is but absolutely ridiculous. Pretty ridiculous no one went home and Shota gets 0 advantage going into the final.

imo this is really a product of All Stars, where all the contestants were exceptionally nice with each other. Was not the case in Kentucky or even Colorado despite what some say

No this is a false equivalency. No one other than that poster is mentioning this lactose intolerant asian thing. Plenty of people here and elsewhere have issues with other things mentioned..

Such as what that Shota has said? And I wouldn't make Gabe the model of representation for Top Chef based on your assessment. --- There have been challenges where people have been allergic to dishes before, you can't help it. I don't have an issue with this challenge at all, never heard of that % thing

The main quote on a rewatch that stands out to me is from Nina. The newest judge and the one coming in fresh to taste food. After Dawn's awful dish, Nina commented on the vast difference in technique between her and the first dish (Shota). This is a fantastic sign for Shota's chances.

The similarities between Dawn and Nick are getting more striking by the episode: - Consistently not listening to the judges and yet continuing to skate by for some reason - Horrible team players

Dale Talde. He TODAY knows who won the show obviously. And depending on the outcome, yes there is some heavy production influence if we are getting a Dawn win.

Dawn has already done remarkably well, making it to final 4. It was the perfect exit for it and would have ignore the backlash. But the show appears set on a coronation for her no matter what she does or does not do. Well clearly he knows the outcome of the show (again there aren't any spoilers left for the season) so my best speculation is that he's seeing what we're all seeing too.. And Gregory. And Dale Talde. And the other judges since she was at the bottom. Know who doesn't taste her food? The producers.

Another concerting sign for me is that on last episode, Shota was saying how happy he was to make F4 (in editing it seems like he's ok with whatever happens from here), while it was clear Dawn desperately wants to win and be the first black female chef winner. Same with Gabe who mentioned Mexican American winner.