Project Runway Recap: Stirring the Pot

Oh, *Project Runway*, you were *this* close to delivering two amazing episodes back-to-back! You had everything you needed, but somehow it didn’t quite come together. We were really hoping you’d pull it off – we were all cheering you on!

I hope you enjoyed my little impression of Tyra Banks – I was inspired by Law’s runway moment this week! It really sums up how I feel about this week’s episode, “Something Wicked.” It was great to finally see a two-day challenge with a strong concept, and Paul Tazewell, the costume designer for *Wicked* (and the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design!), was a fantastic mentor. It reminded me of what *Project Runway* used to be like – consistently engaging and creative. But this season keeps falling into old habits. I especially don’t understand why Tazewell wasn’t a judge, and I was frustrated by Law asking Jesus and Antonio to compare themselves – it felt unnecessarily competitive and didn’t serve the design process.

I really believe Law’s comments on the show and runway are approved by the producers. “Reality TV” is always somewhat staged, and the producers seem to have found in Law – much like with Heidi – someone willing to stir up drama by being blunt and asking challenging questions. So, I don’t fault Law for asking the twins who deserved to win. I blame the producers for casting them knowing their rivalry would create conflict and upset other contestants, and then putting them in a position where Law would ask that question. It’s possible the producers even *told* Law to do that! I’m speculating, but the episode felt very manipulative, which isn’t why I watch *Project Runway*. The show has had controversial moments before – like the budget accusations against Kara Saun and Jeffrey, the Buitendorps’ breakdown, and even this season’s team format – but those were usually about the design process itself. This situation with the twins feels different. It’s a manufactured conflict designed to cause drama between Law, Jesus, and Antonio, and it’s just unnecessary. Let the designers focus on creating clothes, *Project Runway* – it’s really not that complicated!

Was Veejay intentionally stirring up drama between Jesus and Antonio? It seems like someone might have been prompting her to constantly question their ability to work together and what would happen if one of them advanced further than the other. I find it easier to believe a producer encouraged this behavior from a judge, rather than from another contestant. However, Veejay knew she was provoking the brothers all season. It was also frustrating to see the other contestants stand by and let Jesus openly target her for elimination. If I were in Veejay’s position, facing that kind of negativity and feeling ignored, I’d be upset too. On the other hand, the twins had a right to be annoyed by Veejay’s insults and her bringing finances into the argument. Ultimately, this season of *Project Runway* became unnecessarily personal, and this episode ended on a really unpleasant note. I can almost imagine Paul Tazewell thinking, “I don’t want to be involved in this ridiculous judging panel!” – and that would have been completely understandable.

So, why is Tazewell even there? It’s because this episode is taking inspiration from the musical *Wicked*. And in a surprising twist, Christian managed to save both Jesus and Belania from being eliminated! (Sorry for mixing up magical references.) Heidi explains that Christian argued they deserved to stay because of their strong designs, and we see a flashback of him making his case. She then announces that *two* designers will be cut this week, meaning only three will make it to the finale – essentially skipping a week of eliminations. Jesus and Belania are overjoyed and thank Christian, who looks like a gracious fashion icon. The next day, the designers are shocked when Heidi plays a video message from *Wicked* stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, revealing the challenge: creating avant-garde looks inspired by the upcoming *Wicked: For Good* movie. They get a short preview of the film, but it’s Tazewell’s insights – that the movie is about friendship, being an outsider, and finding your power – and the display of costumes from the show (Elphaba’s cloak and Glinda’s gown) that are truly helpful. Paul shares his inspiration – organic shapes for Elphaba, and sparkle and whimsy for Glinda. Christian clarifies that “avant-garde” is open to interpretation, and there are no specific requirements for the designs.

Christian and Paul reviewed the designers’ sketches, and it was fascinating to see how Paul thinks about design. They clearly work well together! They encouraged Antonio to move beyond his initial idea of a pink bodysuit for Glinda. Belania was inspired by natural shapes and wanted to create a sophisticated streetwear look resembling a tree, but Christian reminded her to keep it fashionable. Veejay interpreted *Wicked* as a story about a broken friendship and wanted to create torn fabric, with Christian advising her to be bold since her designs can sometimes be subtle. Ethan focused on Elphaba’s reserved nature and considered using a crystal fabric to cover much of his model, but Christian cautioned him against simply repeating elements from his first design. Jesus was also inspired by Elphaba and envisioned a coatdress with sculpted hips and a molded collar.

Okay, so things *really* started to bubble over during the ‘Mood’ portion of the episode. Ethan had a whole silver vision, but then he spotted this incredible, ridiculously expensive deep-green fabric – seriously, $750 a yard! – and completely switched gears. That meant both he and Jesus were going for green, which sparked some tension. Veejay and Jesus had a little back-and-forth about her sketches, which I initially took as playful banter, but it quickly escalated once they got back to the workroom. Veejay made a comment to Ethan about Jesus being upset about the color choice, and honestly, she wasn’t wrong, but the timing felt off. They have two days to create something with the fabric already bought – why does it even matter who’s wearing what color at this point? Jesus understandably got annoyed with Veejay, accusing her of stirring up drama. He explained that he, Ethan, and Antonio were all kind of operating under the assumption they’d be in the top three, and they thought different colors would help them stand out. Belania’s reaction in her confessional was gold, by the way. Jesus finished his rant by telling Veejay not to twist his words, and then, get this, *later* during dinner, Veejay poked the bear *again* by asking him and his twin which of them thought they deserved to make it to the end. Seriously, Veejay, what are you even doing?! It was making me sympathize with Jesus’s exasperated response, and I *didn’t* want to! It devolved into a full-on argument between Jesus and Antonio with Veejay, and then Veejay started getting upset with both of them. In a surprisingly vulnerable moment, she actually broke down to Christian, saying she felt misunderstood. It was genuinely sad to watch.

Throughout the competition, Christian and Paul continued to offer guidance. Christian advised Antonio that his pale pink dress was a bit basic and suggested creating a more voluminous, floral shape. Paul encouraged Veejay to position the red fabric hoops around her model with more purpose and told Ethan to cover his model’s face for a bolder, more experimental look. It was interesting to see how Paul responded to Jesus and Antonio, especially when the twins proudly shared they’d each added a contrasting-colored fabric heart to their dresses as a tribute to one another – he was very gracious! He also asked Belania to ensure the different pieces of her moss-green outfit flowed together well, but he didn’t challenge her on whether the streetwear style was truly avant-garde, which is worth noting.

It’s time for the runway show! Once again, it’s strange that Paul isn’t a judge, but Tyra Banks is. While she’s a fan of *Wicked*, she doesn’t really have a strong background in high fashion, and *Project Runway* seems determined to bring in a completely unpredictable group of guest judges. Oh, and Nina is returning as a judge, too. Anyway, let’s get to the designs!

Nina was visibly impressed after the runway show, and it was truly a standout performance – a testament to what the designers can achieve with enough time. Jesus explained that the pink heart on his dress was a tribute to his connection with Antonio, who also featured a green heart for Jesus on his own design. Nina praised Jesus’s innovative and experimental look, even defending the shoes when Law questioned whether they were too reminiscent of drag. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see more of Nina’s insightful commentary throughout the season! Antonio’s floral cocoon, however, received almost universal criticism, with Nina calling it a “catastrophic” mess and Law saying it failed to make an impact. Only Tyra and Heidi offered brief support. Veejay’s look also received a mixed response. The judges loved the intricate spirals she created with hand-shredded silk, but they questioned her choice of a blood-red color, which didn’t seem to connect to the *Wicked* theme. Tyra, mentioning her background in branding, described the red as a significant misstep.

Ethan and Belania are the last two contestants. Ethan’s look is incredibly striking – it’s like a glamorous performer with a strong, understated edge, and everyone is impressed. I think he’s a definite finalist. Belania’s outfit is more subtle; I described it as something a stylish Robin Hood might wear. While Nina wasn’t completely convinced, Tyra and Law argued it was a different kind of avant-garde, comparing it to the Rick Owens aesthetic. However, both Tyra and Law then criticized Belania for having a bad attitude, which I didn’t observe. I suspect the producers brought Tyra on the show specifically to challenge the contestants, knowing she wouldn’t hesitate to do so. Belania became upset, and I felt bad for her.

Now for the final decision. Heidi asks the designers to each choose two fellow contestants who deserve to be in the finale, and here’s how they voted:

Everyone except Veejay complimented the twins on their progress this season. But then Veejay made a strange comment while defending her choice of Ethan and Belania. She said she prefers working with humble and kind people, then immediately added that she and her team need the money more than the twins-which was a really odd thing to say. This unexpected comment seemed like she was desperately trying to justify her decision. It, along with Law asking Jesus and Antonio who the better designer is, caused a huge reaction from the twins. Jesus refused to answer, Antonio sarcastically said he didn’t mind if they thought Jesus was better, Jesus criticized Law’s values, and Veejay avoided going to the break room with the twins. Antonio then grabbed his belongings and left the set, saying he wasn’t returning, and angrily complaining as a producer followed him. In a private interview, he flipped off the camera after calling out Law for trying to pit him and his brother against each other and declaring he wouldn’t go back. It seems like Antonio might have eliminated himself! However, there’s still one person who needs to be cut before the final three, and right now, Ethan seems safe. Everyone is clearly feeling the pressure.

Fabric Scraps

I really loved the colors of Belania’s outfit this episode, and especially the hooded top. It’s probably the only one I could actually wear!

Okay, as a fan, let me just say: Jesus saving Christian week after week was seriously adorable. And Antonio’s face when Belania entered the workroom first? It totally showed his human side! But honestly, the BEST was Jesus’s chyron after Christian saved him – “He has risen”? I was dying, it was so funny!

Were we right to interpret Christian’s comment about Jennifer Lopez always wearing a bodysuit onstage – implying it’s not a big deal – as a subtle dig? I haven’t been able to find any evidence of him styling her before, but perhaps I overlooked something on fashion blogs like Tom and Lorenzo or Go Fug Yourself.

During a debate among the judges about who gets to see the outfit first, Law confidently states they know which celebrity it’s inspired by. They’re particularly excited to see if Zendaya might wear something similar on a red carpet.

When Law questioned Antonio about Jesus, asking if he thought Jesus was the better designer, it was a total ‘Mean Girls’ moment – very Regina George-like.

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2025-09-19 06:57