Minority Mindset

As a movie critic, I must say that the opening montage was a whirlwind of shaky vlogs from contestants embarking on their culinary journey, sprinkled with impressive resumes and countless shots of the Delta logo that stretched on like a never-ending road. Upon reaching the same Canadian parking lot, the sight of the iconic Top Chef knife block had me gripped with anticipation, mirroring the emotions of the contestants themselves.

In an attempt to breathe fresh air into the show’s format for Season 21 (affectionately titled “Haaave You Met Milwaukee?”), Kristen Kish took over Padma Lakshmi’s host seat, aiming to bring about change. However, many of the risks — in terms of format, editing, and pacing — did not quite hit the mark. Thus, while I fully acknowledge and applaud Top Chef’s desire to experiment after all these years, the constant deviations from the original formula mostly left me feeling perplexed rather than exhilarated.

This part of the episode could have been titled “Madonna’s Face” due to its excessive use of filler material. Even Salley’s plastic surgeon, who is scheduled to remove her breast implants and extra E, couldn’t salvage this situation. Incidentally, didn’t it strike you as peculiar how fixated he seemed on her breasts during the consultation? Frankly, if I were a woman considering a breast augmentation, I’d opt for a female surgeon. While a male surgeon might cater to men’s preferences, a female surgeon would enhance your appearance to make other women envious of your transformed physique.

Maddie is the one to uncover the truth about Amber, whom I believe we can refer to by her first name as Maddie does frequently to create a personal bond. This Amber exhibits an unusual condition. When our beloved 911 dispatcher (apologies to Josh) awakens, she finds herself shackled in a basement. Her captor is Amber, or at least a version of her: The detective appears to be engaged in a heated disagreement with herself. There’s a cruel Amber and a kind Amber, only the harsh one was responsible for kidnapping people. However, Maddie struggles to comprehend the multiple personalities; nonetheless, she learns crucial details about the Bullock case. Specifically, that Amber was indeed involved in everything, including the 911 calls. Amber aimed to persuade Maddie that it was all a hoax, but when Maddie presented evidence at her office, Amber had no choice but to implicate Bullock. Despite Bullock’s staged suicide, Amber is concerned that Maddie may have detected something amiss – like the unnatural voice on the 911 calls, for instance – and informed Athena. She didn’t, but Amber isn’t feeling very trustworthy now, and honestly, who could blame her?

In “The Pitt,” the episode “5:00 P.M” stands out due to its skillful balance of contrasting elements. It manages to heighten the usual intensity and disorder, as Dr. Robby navigates through two urgent cases simultaneously. However, it also offers two heartfelt moments that delve into character development, which I’ve rewatched several times because they resonate deeply with me.

“The Pitt” often employs tonal shifts as a reflection of real life, given the nature of the work Dr. Robby and his team are engaged in. What’s impressive about “The Pitt” is how seamlessly it weaves these disparate tones into a compelling symphony. Whether we move from pandemonium to tranquility or sorrow to humor, as seen in scenes ranging from a woman fighting for her life due to postpartum hemorrhage to a surgeon casually enjoying a free slice of pizza, the transition feels organic and cohesive.