I’ve been watching “Hell’s Kitchen” for about 10 seasons now, but this is the first one that my boyfriend and I have watched together. We’re both really passionate people when it comes to competition game shows and love to predict who is going to win. However, neither of us would have guessed that the final two would be Kristin Barone and Ariel Malone. I have a few thoughts I'd like to share on how this season went.
We knew Kristin would go far. She was always destined for a black jacket. However, Ariel had aligned herself with Jackie, an extremely unprofessional cook who liked to remind us she was from Jersey and antagonize the other chefs.
Surprisingly, Jackie made it far in the kitchen. Way too far if you ask us. She went home after both Hassan and Chad, two people we thought were front runners.
Chad didn't start out as being one of our favorites. In fact, neither of us could tell you anything he did until three episodes before he went home. Every time we would watch the show it was, "What's that guy's name again?" and we would have to look it up. Because of his anonymity, we thought he could maybe scoot past Chef Ramsey's wrath, but after a rough dinner service, he was sent home. At least he got to bring his beloved blender with him.
Nothing, not Chad leaving, not Jackie being Jackie, could make me angrier than Frank Cala. Frank was an arrogant, sexist marine who though he could do no wrong. Countless times he made comments on how he didn't want to work with women in the kitchen. Thankfully, Chef Ramsey realized Frank was never going to be ready to be head chef at his restaurant. Funnily enough, his bosses back home fired him for sexist comments only a few days later. You can read about it here.
This season of "Hell's Kitchen" has had the best Romeo and Juliet story I have seen in a long while. Contestants Ashley and Jared were flirting like crazy throughout each competition. Everything was ruined when Jared brought Kristen along on his reward trip. Ashley became a woman scorned. She vowed to never be his special friend again. We viewers were left heartbroken over their lost love. Ashley even sent him up for elimination and ultimately home. Now that Ashley has been sent home as well, viewers can only hope that they work through their issues and find love again.
With the final episode episode approaching, I want to make some predictions. First, like in seasons prior, the last few chefs that were sent home will come back and work for the two finalists. Second, Frank won't be back because there are two women in the finale and there's no way he would work under one of them. And third, Kristen will just edge out Ariel for the win. Kristen's energy and professionalism will just outweigh Ariel's desire to win. I can't wait to see if I am right!
