Project Runway 22 episode 8 recap: dancing with the barbs

Project Runway 22 episode 8 gave us another inspired challenge, using Dancing with the Stars pros as models, but in another episode that gave more time to exhausting drama than the design process.

However! The source of so many of those annoying confessionals, Bryan, was eliminated. Bryan’s incoherent sniping is only interesting television when it’s so transparently revealing his own insecurities, like when he said, “They all catered around Jeffrey Kelly. It’s okay, I don’t need that.” Sure, Jan.

Bryan’s elimination, alongside Jeffrey, comes the episode after his unconventional materials dress caused longtime Project Runway model Liris Crosse emotional distress and lasting physical pain.

She tells the full story in this video, and says Bryan’s ill-conceived outfit left her with more than 50 pounds dangling around her neck. Even though, backstage, PAs propped up parts of it to alleviate the weight, “My neck and my back have not been the same since.”

Season 22 won the face-off—which I think was the right call, even despite Bryan’s packing-tape trash-bag dress—and then came the absolutely least surprising thing ever: a double elimination.

“I definitely was not expecting a double elimination,” Joseph McRae said. Really? After a challenge where they just didn’t eliminate someone? And there are seven of you and two episodes left?

“We are full of surprises this season,” Heidi Klum said. Yes, it is a surprise that none of you demanded a change after last season’s shitshow. But she meant “a collaboration everyone has been asking for,” and I assume everyone means whoever is in charge of Dancing with the Stars’ ratings.

The editors—who I’m convinced are secretly on our side about how Project Runway is on a downward spiral—included Naheim talking about how watching DWTS with his mom is “such a fond memory.” As in, long ago.

Each designer selected a dance style + pro combo, in order based on scores they were given for dancing. I was worried this would become humiliation, especially when they asked poor awkward Jude to go first, but the designers seemed to be having fun with it. The partnerships ended up like this:

1. Anna: samba + Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy
2. Bi: paso doble + Val Chmerkovskiy
3. Bryan: waltz + Emma Slater
4. Jeffrey: salsa + Britt Stewart
5. Joseph McRae: jive + Ezra Sosa
6. Jude: quickstep + Alan Bersten
7. Naheim: jazz + Brandon Armstrong

Of course, instead of showing the designers choosing fabrics for their dance styles or dancers, we had to watch Bryan complain and three others complain about Bryan, and now you have to read me complaining about it—SORRY.

Julianne Hough was the “guest mentor,” aka Christian Siriano had better things to do. They showed her talking to two designers, including dancing with Bryan for far too long, and I assumed that was it.

Except! Julianne turned out to be great at mentoring, giving some really specific and helpful feedback, a dart here and some balance there.

And the dancers gave feedback, too, though mostly discontent. Emma told us “I don’t think is a very accurate depiction of a waltz” about Bryan’s dress;

Alan Bernstein got a lot of attention, in the workroom and on the runway. “I’m really happy with how Alan’s carrying it,” Jude said, the same thing anyone who touches Alan says.

In Law Roach’s funniest moment as a judge, he said, “I am a stickler for a waistband,” and then asked Alan, “Can you just raise your jacket?” Then he asked Jude to point at Alan’s waistband, aka his abs/happy trail, until guest judge Niesy Nash-Betts said, “You’re lookin’ for stuff. Stop looking for stuff!”

That was fun; then Law turned Dick Mode back on. He went after Joseph McRae again. “I really don’t think you’re here to win this show,” he said, just trying to sell clothes because there’s been “no evolution of the clothes you make over two seasons” and that’s “unfair to people on this stage who’s pushing themselves.”

But that’s such an odd critique for this challenge when Joseph adapted his design for the dance style and a time period. And I’d say that’s what good artists do: adapt their voice for the situation, which in this case is a challenge.

Joseph told us that the judges’ critique is “almost like degradation” and he’s “expanding how I amplify my voice.”

Heidi loved Joseph’s look, as did Niecy, who Law tried to shame: “And that’s why she’s the guest judge.” I imagine he thinks he’s being funny and cute in these moments? But there’s no evidence of any affection nor evidence-based critique in his barbs.

Anna and Jude were the tops; Bi was safe; Bryan, Jeffrey, Joseph, and Naheim were in the bottom. And then the show let us see who was eliminated!

But that’s so Christian Siriano can use his Siriano Save as the clifhanger. (Did we know he had a save?) “I did choose to save one person,” he told the designers.

That person better be Jeffrey; if Christian chooses to save Bryan, his credibility is gone, and I’d say Project Runway’s is, too, except it didn’t have any left.

But to end on a high note, we have an award to give out. That’s because Nina Garcia judged the new challenge, too—two weeks in a row! So I’ve changed my days-since-an-accident approach:

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