Project Runway: New York State of Mind

Well that was just about the least suspenseful episode of “Project Runway” I’ve ever seen.

It’s too bad because the hour had potential, both from a competitive standpoint (an interesting challenge – well, it was interesting unless you happen to live in New York’s Upper East Side, where apparently NOTHING is interesting) and from a drama standpoint (it was a team challenge).

Instead, it was obvious from the very beginning (and in the middle, and during the runway show) who would excel in the challenge – which was to create a day time and evening look inspired by one of four sections in New York City – and who would absolutely tank. In a crazy random happenstance, the duos who were actually excited about their chosen neighborhoods did well, while the ones who skulked through their field trips ended up in the bottom two.

In the one mildly interesting turn of events in this episode, Emilio conceived and actually carried out a diabolical (in his mind) plan to mess with both Mila and Jay Nicolas. Anthony and Maya (pictured, right, in Chinatown), and Amy and Jonathan (Upper East Side) had already been paired up and Emilio had the next pick. Earlier, he’d confessionalized about not wanting to get “stuck” with Mila (someday, maybe we’ll learn why everyone hates her), but he seemed to take an uncommon amount of glee in selecting Seth Aaron (and choosing his native Harlem), so that Jay Nicolas would have no choice but to work with Mila (in the East Village). Yes, it was incredibly petty, and, no, it didn’t make much sense, but it’s always nice when a plan comes together, so good for you Emilio!

I mean, I feel like I’ve been watching this season pretty closely (I DO recap every episode, after all), and I just don’t remember the part where Jay Nicolas and Mila have this bitter longstanding feud. Yet apparently the (ill) feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, the duo had to go and behave all professionally, which is great for them, but long stretches of silence as the two worked independently didn’t really make for compelling TV.

The field trips were kinda fun (except for the enemy-of-fun Upper East Side). The black people in Harlem seemed as taken aback by Seth Aaron as he did by them (but in a good way), while Anthony probably lost all appetite he might’ve had for duck after his visit to Chinatown. Meanwhile, Jay Nicolas and Mila eyed a bunch of graffiti in the East Village while talking to each other as little as possible.

Not too much activity in the workroom this episode. Makeup guy Collier Strong getting Tim Gunn’s screen time is NOT a change I want to believe in!

Let’s get right to the runway show which, like the rest of this episode was missing something – namely Michael Kors. I’ve seen Michael Kors and, guest judge Francisco Costa (or the “fashionable” Molly Sims) – you are NO Michael Kors.

It was no shock to see Emilio/Seth Aaron and Anthony/Maya in the top 2/4, and it was even less of a shock to see the former team take the top prize. (Ok, so it WAS actually a bit of a shock to see the panel give both Emilio and Seth Aaron the win, a “Runway” first.)

It was very well deserved. Though I dug Emilio’s zippered dress with the yellow peeking out from inside, Seth Aaron’s hip denim outfit was the standout piece. Nina, though, is probably right that he could use a more discerning editing eye (Seth Aaron also benefited from Emilio’s insistence on color), but I actually think it’s kinda cool that he just throws stuff together. It doesn’t always work and I think it’s something that could stop him from winning, but it’s cool.

I really liked Anthony and Maya’s evening look (clever way to incorporate the dragon), but I really wish they would’ve used more red or gold. And even though I liked both the top and the bottom of their day wear look, I thought they looked weird together.

This all left Jay Nicolas/Mila and Amy/Jonathan in the bottom 2/4.

I actually didn’t hate Jay Nicolas and Mila’s work as much as the judges did. Ok, so Jay Nicolas’ tank top WAS a train wreck (it tanked, as Jay himself said), and his entire outfit was probably too hipstery by half (even for the hippest hipster), but, given his excellent track record, there was never any way he was going home. Mila, meanwhile, skated by with yet another black-white, mod creation with a dash of red thrown in.

That meant the team with the least inspiring neighborhood in the history of ever was sent home. Amy and Jonathan could’ve at least tried to go super stately and created a pair of super elegant looks, but Jonathan’s brown evening dress was simply odd, and Amy’s day wear look was a weird creamsicle color that didn’t have anything to do with anything.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I like Amy Sarabi, and I think she’s very talented, but sometimes her ideas were just TOO far out there – or at least far enough out there that she couldn’t execute them herself. Most of all, I’ll miss saying “Sarrraaabbbii” ala Scar in “The Lion King” every time her name flashed on screen.

So what’d you think of this episode? Should Jonathan have automatically been made a captain since he won last week and didn’t get immunity? (Would it have made a difference?) Finally, what do people do for fun on the Upper East Side? (Other than watch their maids vacuum their apartments.)