Project Runway Review: A Poison Ivy

I think it’s important that we learn a lesson from this week’s episode of Project Runway, and this is indeed a public service announcement to all: Let It Go! Whatever little bitterness you’re holding on to, just let it go; it’s unattractive, destructive, and turns you into an evil little shrew that exists only to torment complete strangers. Please, let it go. It’s unhealthy, and more important than that it made me lob apples at my tv. Now, I don’t actually have a bushel of apples around to throw at my television, but if I did I would totally be minus one tv.

This week on Project Runway, the return of Ivy stirs up a ton of drama and the whole world falls down on Michael C. as the designers get the chance to work for a fashion icon.

For the challenge this week the designers are tasked with creating a look that will be featured in judge Heidi Klum’s active wear line and sold on Amazon.com. But what’s a Project Runway challenge without a little twist? This one is a doozy as the designers find that they the task is to complete not one look, but three.

For help in executing their designs, the designers were given assistants from the eliminated contestants; Casanova, Peach, Valerie, Michael D., AJ and Ivy return. I’m not really sure what Ivy’s game plan was, but it sure wasn’t helping out the other designers. As soon as she gets in the workroom she picks up again with bashing Michael C. It seems that back when Ivy was still a contestant on Project Runway (I can barely remember that far back) she noticed Michael C. “cheating.” Are you surprised by this accusation? Well so is Michael C. as Ivy accuses him of taping his model into the dress way back in the Jackie O challenge. Despite having no evidence or a witness who actually saw the model being taped down Ivy continues on her bitter tirade fueled by ignorance and resentment. Her claim is totally ridiculous, much like the erroneous claim she made against Michael of turning everyone against her in an earlier challenge. What’s disturbing most about this is that Ivy seems to think of herself as a martyr, at one point she actually says that she’s ‘taking the bullet’ for the team. This is completely delusional. When Tim comes in he puts an end to this saying that since there’s no evidence (the cameras, judges, and Tim all saw nothing), this is a “case of the noncase.”

As much as I hate to say it, thank God for the drama this week because from a fashion standpoint this episode was not up to par. Neither the active wear theme, nor Heidi’s inspiration pieces (which lacked any hint of color much to Mondo’s dismay), had enough interest to anchor an entire episode. (Sorry Heidi, girl, but those designs really didn’t belong on the runway.) Mondo and Andy had the night’s best designs but it was Andy who was delighted to learn that as the winner and that all three of his looks would be offered on amazon.com. This week was thisclose from being the worse week ever for Michael C. as he found himself in the bottom two with fellow designer Christopher. But in the end Christopher’s bland designs for a retirement home pajama party (phrase courtesy of Michael Kors) was his undoing and Christopher was sent home.

Season 8, Episode 11: A Look in the Line(originally aired October 7, 2010)

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Thursdays at 9pm EST on Lifetime

Photographs courtesy of Lifetime.