‘Face Off’ season 5 finale review: Laura, Tate, and Roy battle; who won?
Syfy clearly has a great thing going with “Face Off,” so much so that they have already renewed the show for another season premiering in January (which is not that far away at all). When you look at the show itself, we understand why it was renewed. While it is on one level yet another “Top Chef” or “America’s Next Top Model” sort of reality show (we cite these two since they really started the trend here), it at least brings in a different sort of creativity that cultivates the imagination. Oh, and it also happens to be pretty geeky.
For the season 5 finale the task for the three finalists in Laura, Tate, and Roy was basic enough in that they had to create looks (evil sorcerer included) for a “Swan Lake” production. We do like that the final challenge is not some sort of insane beast of a task that is that different from what they have been doing all season, just as we also appreciate it not being completely arbitrary or judged based on something that does not really matter.
But did Laura deserve to win? That will be the debate many have over the next few days, without a doubt, but this is one of those finales where we were not really that upset with the results no matter what. She also consistently fared well in the competition, and she and Tate in particular were only each in danger of going home once throughout the entire season. That’s a sign of consistency, which is probably the most important thing when you are going out and trying to use this sort of talent in the real world. Employers need to know that you can create a creature or some other supernatural life-form with just the tools given to you.
In the end, “Face Off” is a show worth checking out if you are interested in the world of sci-fi character creation in particular, since it gives you a chance to see something that is brilliantly creative a la “Ink Master,” but with the benefit for the client in that they don’t have to wear it around forever. Grade: B.
You can read some more news about “Face Off” over at the link here, and be sure to vote in our poll below!
Photo: Syfy
Shannon Rose
November 7, 2013 @ 2:42 am
Laura definitely deserved to win. She has had the clearest vision throughout the season, both her dancers looked brilliant. Tate’s swan was really great but his sorcerer was a muck of a mess. This was overall a very good season.
Cyd
November 6, 2013 @ 9:12 pm
Tate’s swan was fabulous, but the judges had a point about his sorcerer. I didn’t like his design. I love ballet and his sorcerer just didn’t match the look one would expect of a ballet character. Laura had the total package AND the best look for dancers. When her pair of dancers performed they looked wonderful. She was very consistent throughout both seasons (only being in bottom looks once in two seasons, and I blame that on her partner Frank’s design choices). I thought she deserved to win.
James Taylor
November 6, 2013 @ 3:02 pm
Tate should have won last night. Don’t get me wrong, Laura was a spectacular competitor but Tate was better!
Lady
November 6, 2013 @ 2:26 pm
Well that was a sad – I liked Laura’s but honestly that profile in both characters had been seen in a lot of her and Miranda’s past work – that wizard cowl was all Miranda and just a fall back repeat on all her other cowl work – I really thought that the creative aspect and cohesion went to Roy – so in my mind he is the real winner!
Jason
November 6, 2013 @ 1:12 pm
I am very disappointed with the result. I felt all season the judges gave too much credit to Laura and I felt her creations were simple and safe all season. Tate was robbed in season 1 and he was robbed again. Laura is a makeup artist but as for special effects and the like Tate had her beat.
Lux Landon
November 6, 2013 @ 12:04 pm
Yes she deserved to win. Tate’s swan was beautiful but that damn sorcerer of his was pretty craptacular. He really dropped the ball with that look. Laura met the challenge beautifully. Everything from the sculpts to the paint job to just how cohesive the looks were screamed winner to me. Her makeups were the most polished looking. She should have won season 3 but I am happy that she won season 5 against stiffer competition. it is a testament to her talent.
jtruitt8
November 6, 2013 @ 7:12 am
I was pulling for Roy as he really showed tremendous talent all season, and his final Ming idea was excellent, but Laura had the total look and deserve to win.
hailsally
November 6, 2013 @ 6:04 am
Tate deserved to win!
LizzieAnn
November 6, 2013 @ 4:43 am
I really believe that Tate should have won.
Will
November 6, 2013 @ 11:57 pm
As someone who has been watching season 1 and enjoyed all the contestants previous work, I was absolutely going into this finale expecting a Tate win. Tate had the best swan of the three but had the weakest sorcerer by far. Ultimately, the winner of the finale is, just like all previous challenges, based on that weeks work. Laura had the most complete look and, as Roy mentioned earlier in the finale, the key is to have 2 characters that look like they were made by the same person. That’s what Laura did. All three of these guys are going to be fine moving forward and I can’t wait to see what they do in the industry!
alex
November 6, 2013 @ 4:18 am
I’m glad she won. She should of won the first time she was on. Her performance was consistently the best. All though she played it safe a lot her safe was better than people’s best, and when she left her comfort zone she was out of this world!
Tanya London
November 6, 2013 @ 4:16 am
Laura Tyler is an AMAZING artist! They are all amazing artist and will go on to have great careers doing what they love. I believe she deserved to win she has been consistent with her creations, has flawless application and awsome paint jobs, let’s not forget like the others she fought her way back a second time. Go laura! I was rootin for you the whole time :-)