Change Your Demeanor, Be Eliminated on Top Chef

There were some interesting changes on this week’s episode of Top Chef. Episode 10, Chef Overboard, saw Casey win her first elimination challenge and bulldog Howie packing his knives.

What was interesting though was the change in demeanor in Howie and Hung, and more importantly, how they both got reprimanded. Howie’s penalty was, of course, more severe being eliminated but during this show, he actually was a team player and took recommendations from others. He still has his strong will but was nicer, more polite, and wanted to contribute to the team. Unfortunately, this got him nowhere with his dishes betraying him.

Everyone actually got to see a different side of Hung in this episode. At the show’s intro, Hung admits that he didn’t think Tre would be eliminated so soon and was okay with the idea of losing to Tre. This is the first time Hung seemed personable and actually felt for his other competitors. Then Hung had fun with the Quickfire challenge building his Smurf village using cereal and other junk food. He was smiling and genuinely looked at ease in the kitchen instead of his usual frenetic, frantic self. And what did this humane side of Hung get him? In the bottom of the competition being beaten up by the Judges.

Was there a mixed message in this show? Yeah, I think so. Be personable and likable and get slammed. Be cold and antagonistic and move on in the competition.

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