This week on Face Off, host McKenzie Westmore met the artists on set to deliver the first individual challenge which also was their first focus challenge…a challenge that ties into Syfy’s upcoming series, Hunters. The challenge? Create fool proof, realistic disguises for model agents (hunting down supernatural terrorists) with the goal of making that as unrecognizable as possible. Series mentor, Michael Westmore came on to guide the artists from the very beginning of the episode rather than just in the lab. Not only was this the first focus challenge but the artists also had their models already chosen for them rather than them choosing a model.
For the purpose of envisioning the drastic before and after transformations, I will be describing the models briefly here. So Njoroge got Agent Ansdell, a caucasian blonde female model. Melissa got Agent McDonough, the beautiful Mexican brunette bombshell. Robert got Agent Popzlateva, the tiny Bulgarian brunette model. Yvonne got Agent Fuller, a seemingly caucasian very short haired brunette guy with an average build. Mel got Agent Stiles, a fair skin tone, brunette female model. Kaleb got Agent Wright, a tawny skin tone model with beautiful long dark brown hair. Johnny got Agent Morales, the Latina model with the most gorgeous, unruly hair. Rob got Agent Johnson, a fair skinned boy with short brunette hair. Anna got Agent Scamman, a short haired blond caucasian male model. Walter got Agent Visscher, the handsome black male model. Katie got Agent Phillips, a typical short haired brunette caucasian male model.
In the lab, it seemed everyone needed Michael Westmore’s guidance. Maybe less so Melissa who was in her comfort zone with this challenge. She’s a girl after my own heart, having cosplayed as Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Halfway into their work in the lab, it appeared split down the middle in regards to the confidence level of the artists, many of which were doing both gender and race swaps rather than just one of these swaps for their undercover agents. A tall order.
On the reveal stage, Anna’s agent from afar looked decent but even from afar, I could tell the makeup wasn’t smooth. Katie’s makeup looked more comical than anything else but it was quite a transformation and I could see what she was going for. Walter’s agent looked good however the agent didn’t look unrecognizable. Rob’s agent was fantastic as was Mel (whoa!) and Robert’s wasn’t too far behind.
Yvonne was great as well and so much fun, she made him a rockstar. Melissa’s was fun but there were some things I wasn’t too fond of. Njoroge did alright with the ethnicity swap skin tone but the character of the agent was stereotypical and the gender swap could have been way better, especially if the facial hair been executed well. Johnny’s effort was great but I think the agent wasn’t as unrecognizable…that said, the model he got has very distinct features so it was probably more challenging for him? Kaleb didn’t hit the mark this week at all. Everything was wrong with this. Everything. My favorite agents were created by Rob, Robert, and Mel.
Special guest judge, Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, Hunters) was on the judges’ panel this week. Anna, Walter, Mel, Yvonne, and Johnny were safe. The bottom looks were Njoroge, Kaleb, and Katie with Njoroge being eliminated. I thought it would be Kaleb but I think the difference between the two is that Kaleb knew he failed and understand why while Njoroge didn’t quite see the blatant stereotypical character that he created. Good on the judges for seeing this and acknowledging it.
The judges’ top looks were Robert, Rob, and Melissa with Rob winning the spotlight challenge. Congratulations, Rob! You nailed it this week! Wow. What an incredible transformation of his agent. It’s only episode four but I think this just may be one of my favorite looks of the season. Who were your favorites tonight?
Elimination Recap
Eliminated This Week: Njoroge
Total Eliminations: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Face Off airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Syfy.