Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the Season 21 finale of ‘Top Chef.
Top Chef, like any other reality show cooking contest, thrives on tension and competition. After all, the whole point is to prove who thebest cook is out of 15 competitors— why else call itTop Chef? The Season 21 finale aired last week, with the last three chefs crafting a four-course feast aboard a cruise ship.Danny Garciaeventually won out over his fellow contestantsSavannah MillerandDan Jacobs. Still, aseries of edits made it look like Jacobs would be the winner, tainting Garcia’s victory and stirring up some unnecessary outrage online. It’s a sign of how reality shows can sometimes take the wrong step to gain the audience’s interest.
A reality competition show in which chefs compete against one another in culinary challenges and are a judged by a panel of food and wine experts, with one or more contestants eliminated each episode.
The ‘Top Chef’ Finale Lessens the Impact of Danny Garcia’s Win
In the closing moments of theTop ChefSeason 21 finale, the three contestants listen to the judges’ impressions of their dishes. Jacobs seems to come off the best with only one criticism: A tuna tartare he prepared seemed to taste like a slice of grapefruit on the same plate. Garcia, on the other hand, was told that his first dish was lacking in seasoning, while his third dish contained lobster that wasn’t properly cooked all the way through.These edits made it seem like Jacobs would be the winner, which led to some disbelief when Garcia was eventually crowned the winner. But those viewers also missed the other elements that led to Garcia’s win. He based his meal around Caribbean culture, honoring his heritage while also working within the finale’s theme of “first food memories,” which culminated in his own take on the shaved ice dessert known aspiragua(full confession: watching this moment fully reminded me ofInto The HeightsandLin-Manuel Miranda’svendor hawking piraguas via song).
The edit also overshadows Garcia’s work throughout Season 21, which showcased his skills. No matter the challenge or the ingredients, he managed to pull off some impressive-looking and very tasty dishes. Jacobs may have been a fan favorite, but Garcia had the skills to walk away with the top prize. The real issue at hand is how the edit dents a major emotional moment for Garcia. When the Season 21 finale aired, Garcia’s mentorJamal James Kenthad passed away, and Garcia revealedthat he plans to continue Kent’s legacy with the Saga Hospitality group. “We’re going to continue building what we were building. We’re going to take Saga Hospitality to all the places that he wanted to take it, and beyond,” he toldVarietyin a post-finale interview. The edits in the interview not only stirred up some needless controversy, they overshadow what should have been a major victory.
One of ‘Top Chef’s Judges Didn’t Agree With the Final Edit
It turns out that one of theTop Chefjudges also wasn’t a fan of the edit.Tom Colicchiotook to X(formerly known as Twitter) shortly after the Season 21 finale to clear things up. “If you heard the unedited hour and a half discussion it would have been clear Danny had the better meal,” he wrote, further saying that the judges’ disappointment in Garcia’s first dish was genuine. This isn’t the first time Colicchio has offered his opinion on the behind the scenes workings, but it does showcase how even the judges might not agree with what makes it into the final cut. It also showshow reality TV can be edited to manufacture drama and keep the viewers hooked. The audiences will have their favorites, but in the end it comes down to skill — and Colicchio was right to highlight Garcia’s skills, as they won him the top prize.
Padma Lakshmi Is Leaving ‘Top Chef’ After Season 20
The host will end her run after seventeen years on the show.
Season 21 of ‘Top Chef’ Shook Up the Show
Season 21 ofTop Chefbrought a number of changes to the forefront, most notablythe departure of longtime hostPadma Lakshmi. There was alsoa change to the immunity rulesthis season, which affected other aspects of the competition, most notably the “Quickfire” challenges. Given that Season 21 was breaking into new ground,it feels like Bravo was trying anything to keep viewers around. But sometimes, a major change isn’t necessary. Audiences are drawn toTop Chefnot because of gimmicks but because they want to see how contestants manage to use their culinary skills to stay ahead of the competition. The Season 21 finale should have just focused on the competition between Garcia, Jacobs, and Miller and showcased who had the superior skills rather than leading the audience on.
Ultimately,Top ChefSeason 21 should be a learning experiencefor everyone involved. What’s the lesson? Skills trump drama every time, andthe focus should be on who’s the best cheffirst and foremost. Garcia also made an excellent point during hisVarietyinterview that sometimes the unexpected can happen. “I think as chefs, you have to be able to pivot. You have to be able to — at any given time, whether it’s in your kitchen, or it’s on “Top Chef” — you have to just be ready for things to catch fire and for shit to hit the fan. That’s just the name of the game,” he said. The contestants forTop ChefSeason 22 — and the editors — should keep that in mind.
Top ChefSeason 21 is available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
