Face Off Season 10 recently came to an end and due to my participation in Lent (I chose no TV), I missed the opportunity to recap/review the rest of the season week to week. But I’ve (finally) caught up and I still want to share my thoughts! So here we go!
Episode 10.05 “Foreign Bodies”
This challenge gave me serious Fringe flashbacks and I loved it all the more for that! Also, we got our first foundation challenge of the season this season. Finally. I was wondering what the hold up was here but it was well worth the wait! Mel and Melissa won immunity with the foundation challenge and I totally thought they’d win the spotlight challenge as well though the title for that went to Kaleb and Rob. Katie was eliminated in this episode. Lance Henriksen (Bishop!) was the guest judge for the foundation challenge.
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.06 “Death’s Doorstep”
Creating a whimsical ghost character that resembles the way a soul died? Yes, please! Yvonne won this challenge (what a clean beauty her creation was!) and Johnny was eliminated. Not a whole lot to say about this week’s challenge. I love ghosts. I love whimsy. This episode was great. Enough said!
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.07 “The Gauntlet II”
“You’re a strange, strange man.” – Glenn Hetrick
“Thank you.” – Robert
My first thought? Nooooooooo! I liked the idea though was somewhat nervous about the Gauntlet when it was introduced last season and absolutely hated it by the end. Last season, one of the most talented of the season was eliminated during this challenge. Sigh. Needless to say, I was NOT thrilled about the return of this challenge.
In an attempt to improve upon last season, this season’s rules changed a bit. Whoever won the top look for each stage was safe for the week, rather than having those top looks still be nervous about their overall ranking after all three stages of the challenge. Improvement accepted.
Stage one? Pirates! My favorite looks were Melissa and Kaleb. The top looks were Walter and Melissa. Along with immunity for the rest of the challenge, the winners from stages one and two got a limo service and night out on the town. Okay, Syfy, now you’re just trying to win us Gauntlet haters over with shiny things. Not going to work but the effort is appreciated after the disaster that the Gauntlet was last season having eliminated the best of the best due to the former ridiculous rankings system. Thank God that was thrown out.
Stage two? Using three prosthetics but not in ways that they were originally intended. Whoa. Talk about a challenge. Kaleb, Rob, and Mel were my favorite looks. The top looks were Rob and Robert.
Stage three! Final round! Embodiments of the phrase, “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Four artists. Twelve models. Yep. Each remaining artist in the competition had three models to turn into monsters. Mel and Yvonne were my favorites and the top looks with Mel winning the challenge with Kaleb going home. Oh man! I didn’t want to see Kaleb go! It’s official, I’m never going to be a fan of this challenge.
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.08 “Smoke and Mirrors”
In this episode, McKenzie met the artists at Lobo Castle to deliver their spotlight challenge. Transform a beautiful sorceress into the monster that she truly is. I absolutely loved the story concepts behind each artist’s creation for this challenge. In fact, I’d go so far as to say this episode has some of my favorite concepts of the season.
My favorite creations were Rob (such great details!), Mel (that makeup was aces!), Yvonne, Walter, and Melissa. Mel, Melissa, and Walter were safe. The top looks were Yvonne and Rob with Rob winning the challenge. Major congrats, well deserved! The bottom looks were the two whose creations I wasn’t feeling this week, Robert and Anna… with Anna being eliminated. We’ll miss Anna though she said so herself, this elimination hasn’t set her back so I’m sure in no time, we’ll see her name in the credits somewhere! All the best, Anna!
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.09 “Bottled Up”
In this episode, McKenzie met the artists at the lab for a Valkyries themed foundation challenge. Each artist had to choose a winged model and create a powerful Valkyrie warrior goddess makeup. Emmy Award winning makeup artist, Douglas Noe (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World) was the guest judge for this challenge. Yvonne and Melissa were my favorites and Noe’s favorites with Melissa taking the win.
For the spotlight challenge, the artists had to choose a unique vessel from around the world to inspire their own genie. Man, this season has had some really awesome concept ideas for the challenges.
Based on their work in the lab, I was really looking forward to Walter and Rob’s final looks and I definitely was not moved by Mel’s original idea so I’m glad that Mr. Westmore gently directed her off that path.
On the reveal stage, makeup artist, Bill Corso (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Deadpool, Foxcatcher) was the guest judge. My favorite looks came from Melissa, Walter, and Yvonne with my least favorite looks going to Mel and Robert. The top looks from the judges were Rob and Walter with Walter winning (yay!) and the bottom looks were Robert and Mel with Robert going home due to his creation straying from this week’s challenge directions.
Something tells me Robert’s wacky creations will be back on the small screen or on the big screen soon enough, so I’m not bummed. I was actually expecting Mel to be eliminated since her makeup was just not good to put it plainly and I was going to be a bit teary eyed by that simply because I connected to her more than I did Robert but it’s great that she was given another week!
Side note: I really loved McKenzie’s outfit during the reveal stage!
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.10 “Keep One Eye Open”
The cyclops was the center of this week’s focus challenge. Each artist got to choose an eyeball specimen to incorporate into their cyclops character which by the way would be very, very tall models. OoooOoooo! The eyes looked cool and I was anticipating seeing the models but other than that, I can’t say that I was wild about this challenge.
On the reveal stage, actor, Douglas Smith, (Terminator: Genisys, Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters)
From afar, Melissa’s creation didn’t look like much but up close, I loved the attention to detail. Tone wise, Yvonne’s creation looked like it could have come out of Sweeney Todd. I really liked Mel’s creation as a whole, everything was on point. Walter’s creation was terrifying in a good way but it also could have been much better. I loved the color scheme and detail for Rob’s creation. The top looks from the judges were Rob and Melissa with the clear winner being Melissa but man was it a close one. I actually like Rob’s creation more because it’s more visually stunning to me but Melissa’s work was so intricate that it’s completely understandable why she came out on top instead.
The bottom looks were Walter (noo!) and Mel, the latter of whom would have been eliminated had the judges not used their one time immunity save!!!!! Phew! I audibly cheered when they used the save on her! She wears her heart, her passion on her sleeves so if she meets the same elimination fate again, it will be very sad to see her go. Thankfully, it’s not happening this week!
Elimination Recap: The judges used their one time immunity save on Mel who would have been eliminated otherwise.
Episode 10.11 “The Art of Warcraft”
This week, the artists took on the daunting challenge of “adapting a character from World of Warcraft to a more realistic badass character fit for a feature film.”
Melissa, a huge World of Warcraft fan was beyond thrilled about this challenge. Talk about fangirling! Loved seeing that! Meanwhile, there were a few others who were completely clueless. As clueless as one can be in the nerd universe – heard of but haven’t played. The characters to choose from? Goblin (Yvonne chose), Draenei (Walter chose), Pandaren, Tauren (Rob chose), Troll (Mel chose), and Wrogen (Melissa chose).
World of Warcraft Senior Art Director, Chris Robinson came onto mentor the artists in the lab. As for the reveal stage? The guest judge was actor, Robert Kazinsky (World of Warcraft, Pacific Rim). Not having played the game myself, my favorite creations were Walter and Mel with a notable mention to Rob. The judges loved Rob and Mel and Walter who were both absolutely phenomenal this week. Bravo, guys! Walter won this challenge as he very well should have. He should be very, very proud of his creation! It is stunning.
The bottom looks were obvious this week… Yvonne and unfortunately, Melissa who is the ultimate WOW super fan of this bunch. I guess the pressure of exceeding expectations here got to her. But thankfully she was spared elimination which means that this week we saw Yvonne go home. Her creation this week was a hot mess so this elimination comes as no shock. But it is sad to see her go. This brings us to the final four! Wow! If I had to guess now, I’d say Walter will win the season. Let’s see…
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.12 “Skull Island: Reign of Kong”
Final four! The artists met McKenzie and executive producer for Universal Creative, Mike West in the “jungle” for Universal’s upcoming Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction. Yep, this episode was all about King Kong.
The challenge? Select one uniquely evolved species fromSkull Island: Reign of Kong and imagine its evolution into an intelligent being. Ahhhhh! This is why I love sci-fi. The winner of this challenge got a sweet little trip to Universal too so what an exciting prize to be encouraged by. Walter chose Terapusmordax. Mel picked Decarnocimex. Rob got Vastatosaurus Rex. Melissa chose Arachno-Claw.
Walter’s creation was great even though pig like creations don’t really do anything for me. Melissa’s was too out of the box for me to get but boy is she talented. Rob’s was good but it didn’t blow me away. Mel knocked it out of the park which is why I was so surprised she didn’t advance to the next round. Oh man, that was a real kick in the gut.
The winner of the challenge and the first person moving onto the final three? Melissa! Congrats on her win (and Universal trip prize!) So the final three was rounded out by Walter and Rob. Congrats, final three!
Elimination Recap: Anna, Jennifer, Anthony, Katie, Mel, Melissa, Yvonne, Greg, Johnny, Kaleb, Njoroge, Rob, Robert, Walter
Episode 10.13 “Sinister Showdown Part 1”
It’s been awhile since a challenge touched upon horror so what better way for an encore than during the season finale? The final three met McKenzie and Oscar nominated & Emmy Award winning producer, Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge) at an oil field to tell them their final challenge was to create two makeups that will star in their own horror film.
The creations are from one of the short stories in Blum’s collection of short stories, The Blumhouse Book of Nightmares. The show chose three up and coming directors for this challenge; John Wynn (The Passing) was assigned to Melissa’s team, Bryce McGuire (Nightswim) was assigned to Rob’s team, and Ryan Spindell (The Root of the Problem) was assigned to Walter’s team.
If you’re wondering what I mean when I say team…as per usual, a few past contestants returned to help out the final three. Rob chose Kaleb and Anna. Walter chose Robert and Mel. Melissa chose Yvonne and Johnny. I’m not going to lie, I totally forgot about Johnny boy.
Occasional Face Off judge, Lois Burwell came in with Michael Westmore to mentor in the lab. Come time for the screen test, it seemed Rob had the most work to do and by that I mean his team had to basically do both makeups from scratch because they weren’t working at all as is on screen.
Episode 10.14 “Sinister Showdown Part 2”
In part two of the finale, the screen tests are over and now the pressure is higher than ever before as the artists are on the set of the short film they’ve been challenged to work on. I love this part because we get to see so many emotions within the final artists. They’re extremely focused on doing a good job, not letting the pressure get to them and not freaking out, enjoying the moment they’re in while still being professional about it, and so on. Rob had a lot to be concerned about after the screen test but once he and his team reassessed, they just continued moving forward and that drive and positivity was so lovely to see. Such great moments behind the scenes on set. As for the final creations?
Walter, Mel, and Rob were the final three and every single team did an absolutely phenomenal job with both of their characters – a demon and its possessed victim from the short story, “Hell Hole” which can be read in Jason Blum’s collection of short stories. As far as makeup goes, Mel’s demon makeup was great. I really, really liked Rob’s demon makeup. But both of Rob’s makeups were divine. So creepy! They made sense and were visually disturbing and emotionally resonated with me. When it comes to the short films, I most enjoyed the one directed by Ryan Spindell – Walter’s team worked on this one.
As for the winner of Face Off Season 10? The judges chose Rob! Major congratulations to Rob! I never guessed he would be the winner this season but that’s the beauty in only judging a person’s work week to week rather than overall against so many others. He’s been solid throughout the season but boy! He had his work cut out for him in the final challenge and wow did he ever deliver. He definitely earned this win! Congrats, Rob! And very much looking forward to next season of Face Off which isn’t coming as soon as you’d think. 2017!
Season 10 Winner Recap: Rob
Face Off will return for Season 11 in 2017 only on Syfy.