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Project Runway Season 20: A Review
I really like Project Runway and have seen every season.
Overall I think Season 20 is fine. As an All-Stars season goes, it has a solid group of designers, a solid set of challenges, and good editing that gives the designers narrative arcs and keeps the show interesting. Nina Garcia is still great, 20 seasons in, and I enjoy Elaine Wentworth as well. We got to get up and personal with a lot of the designers, and I really enjoyed hearing their stories and listening to them amp each other up. There were some fun conversations about diversity -- the show has come a long way there -- and I'm honestly shocked that the network let Rami say as much about Palestine as they did.
That said, I think is the season where I really, really felt the loss of Tim Gunn. And, to an extent, Michael Kors. (I was never big on Heidi Klum or Zac Posen.)
Like, I like Christian Siriano, and I think it would have been pointless for him to try to be Tim 2.0. He couldn't pull that off. But Tim commanded a certain respect from the designers. He had a quiet authority, and he really felt like a mentor, like he was invested in the designers' successes. He was very serious, and I felt like it was really compelling to watch him interact with them. In contrast Christian just feels...fake. He spends so much time snarking and doing bits, and it feels like he doesn't give very much advice. I actually think he gave less advice in this season than he did in past ones where he was the mentor! The designers really treat him like a peer, too. It's just not nearly as interesting to watch, and I think it's the biggest weakness of this version of the show.
The other issue with Project Runway: Post Tim and Heidi edition is Brandon Maxwell, who is very annoying. It feels like he's trying so hard to be snarky and funny and it never lands.
I'd give the season 3.5/5. If you like Project Runway, throw it on and give it a watch, but if you've never seen the show you should start with an older season.
Overall I think Season 20 is fine. As an All-Stars season goes, it has a solid group of designers, a solid set of challenges, and good editing that gives the designers narrative arcs and keeps the show interesting. Nina Garcia is still great, 20 seasons in, and I enjoy Elaine Wentworth as well. We got to get up and personal with a lot of the designers, and I really enjoyed hearing their stories and listening to them amp each other up. There were some fun conversations about diversity -- the show has come a long way there -- and I'm honestly shocked that the network let Rami say as much about Palestine as they did.
That said, I think is the season where I really, really felt the loss of Tim Gunn. And, to an extent, Michael Kors. (I was never big on Heidi Klum or Zac Posen.)
Like, I like Christian Siriano, and I think it would have been pointless for him to try to be Tim 2.0. He couldn't pull that off. But Tim commanded a certain respect from the designers. He had a quiet authority, and he really felt like a mentor, like he was invested in the designers' successes. He was very serious, and I felt like it was really compelling to watch him interact with them. In contrast Christian just feels...fake. He spends so much time snarking and doing bits, and it feels like he doesn't give very much advice. I actually think he gave less advice in this season than he did in past ones where he was the mentor! The designers really treat him like a peer, too. It's just not nearly as interesting to watch, and I think it's the biggest weakness of this version of the show.
The other issue with Project Runway: Post Tim and Heidi edition is Brandon Maxwell, who is very annoying. It feels like he's trying so hard to be snarky and funny and it never lands.
I'd give the season 3.5/5. If you like Project Runway, throw it on and give it a watch, but if you've never seen the show you should start with an older season.