TV

Just before the end of the "MasterChef" decade finale, we realized what spice we were missing so much there

Against the background of the finale of the decade season of "MasterChef", it is clear that the inertia can cause the reality show to celebrate twenty and thirty seasons with us as well.

What's more, it can and should change - and the first thing that needs to enter it is humor

Ben Biron Brauda

10/30/2022

Sunday, October 30, 2022, 08:30 Updated: 08:46

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Quarrel between chefs Eyal Shani and Israel Aharoni in an episode in the tenth season of "MasterChef" (Kashet 12)

A shepherd, a wedding dress designer and a handyman enter the kitchen.

No, this is not the beginning of a joke, but a description of the finale of the 10-year season of "MasterChef" that aired last night on Beshet 12. In general, the root of the 20th century was repeated yesterday (and throughout the season) so many times that it mainly emphasized the feeling that there is no way - there is no way that "Master Chef" has only been on our screen for ten years. I think I saw Samadi Bomba cooking Harima when I was studying for my high school diploma while I was already 36. The final episode - and with the forgiveness of Avi Nir I will not adopt the term "final event" - where Hillel Gardi (The Shepherd) arrived , Michal Motil (designer of the wedding dresses) and Viniv Shahar (renovator and manager of a metal processing plant), tried to convey the feeling of a prestigious gala event with a strict dress code for the judges and contestants, ridiculous chandeliers and lots and lots of gold, but most of all sweat from effort.

It's a shame, because at its core, "MasterChef" is still a positive and appetizing reality show that not only feels like it's been here forever, but probably could have continued forever (with the necessary adjustments).

The season of the decade (I swear, for the last time) tried to achieve two different goals at the same time - to remind the viewers of the mythology of "Master Chef" about the multitude of familiar contestants that came out of it and dishes that became cult (who said Crocombush?) and to try to refresh and look vital (adding Ruthie Brodu to the judging team , changes in tasks).

Since time immemorial, the show has known to cast successful contestants with a television presence strong enough to attract viewers even if they have no way of tasting the dishes they prepare.

This season was no different, it included a mix of young hipsters who challenge classic cuisine (Hillel), people looking to find themselves anew (Michal), dealing with moving stories of Aliya (David, Sara) and equally moving family stories (Yaniv, Elad and more).

And yet, throughout most of the episodes we remained indifferent.

The team of judges, Master Chef (photo: screenshot, from Master Chef, Keshet 12)

Napoleon Bonaparte said that the army marches on its stomach (or so they claim) and if you look at Keshet 12 as an army, it seems that "Master Chef" is the basic food that must be there.

This makes a lot of sense, in an age where viewing the linear channels is reserved exclusively for major news events, trying to maintain an anchor or tribal fire that will attract loyal viewers is a wise strategy.

Haim Cohen, Michal Ansky, Israel Aharoni, Eyal Shani and now also Ruthi Brodo, are names that are associated with food, we see them on the screen and immediately start thinking "what's in the fridge?"

(Alternatively, "What can we order from Walt now?"), but something about the dynamic this season felt so predictable that even the hunger went to sleep.

I can't believe I'm writing this but I found myself missing Eyal Shani's excessive fakeness (not to mention snobbery).

What about some pornographic description of an eggplant?

Where is the haiku about a date tomato?

I'm a very little cook but I think I've figured out what the missing spice is in "Master Chef" - humor.

It seems to me that after so many seasons in which she tried and succeeded in moving emotions with contestants whose cooking made us cry and not because it was spicy, "MasterChef" forgot that it is possible to touch viewers in other ways as well.

It has a seriousness and heaviness that is not appropriate for a reality show about amateur chefs who come to fulfill their hobby on television.

A good example of this is the music that accompanied the final episode (and the entire season).

Put it on as a soundtrack to a film about the invasion of Normandy and you'll feel it, but against the background of a contestant preparing thistle cream (yes, I had no idea there was such a thing either) it feels pressing not to say ridiculous not to say "Dude, what was your editor smoking when he thought of this? ".

We have enough scripted dramas to get the feeling that a kitchen is a stressful place (and if you haven't seen "The Bear" yet - now is the time), "Master Chef" needs to loosen a few holes in the belt and just have fun.

More in Walla!

Hillel Gerdi is the winner of the final of the decade season of "MasterChef"

To the full article

Hillel Gardi, the great conductor (Photo: Ronan Akerman)

In the end it was Hillel Gardi, the Jerusalem shepherd with the Tel Aviv appearance, who took first place.

The final dish he prepared ("a piece of the mountain") looked beautiful, interesting and not entirely edible and in my opinion also missed the essence of the task.

The judges asked the contestants to prepare a dish that would join other iconic dishes from the program's history and Hillel's dish, as the judges said, is a dish that will be very difficult to recreate, unless he intends to return each time to the ruins of the farm where he worked and look for pieces of history.

It seems the extended judging panel did too good a job of not stepping on each other's toes because everyone just felt relatively off yesterday and throughout the season.

At least in the case of Eyal Shani, it can be said that even when he is sleepy, the contestants themselves continued his televised tradition and used terms like metaphysical cooking, flattered on malvah and looked for themselves in tartar.

Inertia can mean that "MasterChef" will celebrate twenty and thirty seasons with us and I'm sure it will also have a loyal audience (probably the grandchildren of the people who adored Samdi Bomba) but it can and should change as well.

On the stable base of exciting contestants who love to cook and get excited, you need to add format changes and as mentioned - more than a dash of humor.

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