‘MasterChef’ season 5, episode 6 review: A truly shocking elimination

We’re bummed that we were traveling on Monday when this “MasterChef” episode aired, mostly for the simple reason that this was one of the few episodes of this series where something different and exciting happened. With that being said, we definitely felt bad for the contestant in Tyler who it happened to.

Sure, we could waste a lot of time discussing that Mystery Box Challenge with the canned goods that Elizabeth won; it was a fun idea (though we think there should have been a minimum number of cans used per cook, at least told to us), but there was not anything in there that we will remember down the road. We are gong to remember Tyler’s exit for the rest of the series, largely because of the fact that he did something no one has ever done before.

Just as a refresher, it was decided that he would be eliminated after he brought up a panna cotta that was largely cooked by Jaimee, who was panicking earlier in the episode because she could not find one of the extras that she had made to replicate the one by “MasterChef Junior” winner Alexander. It seemed to be a genuine mistake on his part; he was confident going into the task that he was going to do a good job, and he knows that cameramen follow him everywhere. Therefore, he would know that he would be called out for breaking a rule if that was what he was genuinely intending to do.

Here is the question that you have to wonder: Was it the responsibility of a cameraman or a producer to inform him of his mistake prior to serving the food? We understand that human decency says “yes,” but a camera guy probably would have been fired if they interfered with the competition in such a way. They are told to just sit back and document everything as it happens. The judges, meanwhile, are not told to act omnipotent by any means, so one of them couldn’t have acted like they saw him make a mistake when they didn’t. It’s like when you line up 12 guys on a football field; it’s not a responsibility for the other team or the spectators to tell you of your mistake before the referee throws the flag.

Still, what a terrible way to go out. These are the sort of eliminations that make us want there to be a season of previously-eliminated cooks being brought back, or at least one where he and other contestants who leave due to circumstances beyond their control like illness return. They never got to have their full story told.

As for the episode itself, we felt sad for Tyler, but have to admit that it was certainly more compelling than the average “MasterChef” at this point. Grade: B.

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