‘Ink Master’ season 6, episode 7 review: Battle of the titans – St. Marq vs Chris Blinston
What we love about this season of “Ink Master” is that while some of the judges are playing the “favorites” game with the artists, we still feel that this is still anyone’s game to win. Yes, there are definitely some front runners Like St. Marq, Chris or Tyler, but the talent this season from the entire cast is so incredible that any lead they may have could easily be taken away with just one challenge.
Elimination tattoo: There is no flash challenge this week as the artists are going straight into their next elimination tattoo and are being tested on texture. The artists have to transform their canvas into an animal and they will be tattooing in teams of four. They will be tattooing the same canvas at the same time and to make things even more stressful they will be judged as a team. The canvases brought some different textures to the fold as one wanted cheetah fur (Dave, Katie, Big Ceeze and Chris) one wanted crocodile skin (Kruseman, Craig, Marisa and Erik) and the last wanted a Brazilian rainbow boa. Tyler really wanted the boa as he has over 100 venomous snakes back home and he got the canvas along with Duffy, St. Marq and Matt.
Chris took the lead for the cheetah tattoo, which surprised no one, but Dave seemed to be happy for it, saying that Chris is a leader and that he is a soldier. This was a strange statement to hear from Dave since this is “Ink Master” and the winner of the show is going to be a leader. Their canvas got a lot more then she bargained for and couldn’t get through the pain of the tattoo, even after getting one of the greatest pep talks we’ve seen on the show from Katie. A medic was sent in to bring the canvas out of her state of shock, but after assessing the situation the canvas tapped out and left unfinished.
Kruseman had an interesting strategy to make sure that their crocodile tattoo canvas could sit through the whole tattoo and that was have Craig start out, and then bring the other artists in as the canvas got used to the pain. Very smart and it worked out well for them.
As for the boa tattoo, it went just about as well as one would expect with St. Marq on the team. He did his own thing and didn’t really stay consistent with what everyone else was doing and was called out for it at judging.
Judging: With St. Marq not working with the boa team and the cheetah canvas tapping out, this was an easy win for team crocodile. Their tattoo looked like one person did it and it looked just like crocodile skin. Chris called out team crocodile for getting a gold star for a tattoo he felt wasn’t worthy of it, but they still won tattoo of the day. As for the other two teams they had to decide as a team who their weakest artists were and they would be put up for elimination.
Face off: Team boa decides to send down St. Marq for not working as a team and team cheetah plays with the idea of sending Chris in as a way to get St. Marq out of the competition. It’s a risky move but if it pays off then it’s completely brilliant! The winning team designs a heart tattoo for St. Marq and Chris to battle each other with and after both artists producing beautifully textured tattoos St. Marq is sent home. (Side note: Chris’s tattoo had the blue and red mixed up for the Aorta and the Pulmonary Artery which is actually really important).
This was one of the most intense episodes we’ve ever seen of “Ink Master” and we were literally at the edge of our seats, covering our eyes as the elimination was happening. It goes to show that you don’t need fighting and drama to make a good episode, you just need to have two titans battling it out before the finale. Episode grade: A+
What did you think of this week’s episode of “Ink Master” and do you feel that St. Marq was the right artist to go home? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you think. If you want more news on the show, then head over to the link here where you can get previews, reviews, interviews with the artists and podcasts. Also, if you want more great TV news sent your way then be sure to sign up for our weekly CarterMatt newsletter. (Photo: Spike TV)
Sharon Mitchell
August 17, 2015 @ 5:54 pm
St. Marq, a narcissist? Yes, but however I felt about Chris before, its not good now. I’ll be glad when this inconsiderate bully is sent packing. he wanted full credit for being the leader of his team but, instead of accepting responsibility for choosing to go too big with the tattoo, he only ridiculed the canvas. What a jerk!
willpowertoo
August 14, 2015 @ 12:32 pm
wow…some really strong sentiments here. Agree that St. Marq is a one trick (black and white) pony so I doubt he can be called a “master” if that is the entirety of his bag of tricks although he is quite good. As far as the heart vessels being backwards…really? That’s your criticism? Most of us don’t know which one is which SO WHO CARES?? Did you expect the judges to take out an anatomy book to verify the accuracy? Most people who are smart enough to know the difference are not stupid enough to have tattoos anyhow…yea I said it.
WalkerboyUK
August 14, 2015 @ 9:07 am
As much of an arrogant jerk St Marq is, he could pretty much back up the talk with his work. However, he was an idiot for going against the team in order to make himself shine. The whole point of that challenge was teamwork and he failed spectacularly. Glad he’s gone, but like most reality shows, once that kind of character leaves, the show is never as good.
PhillyJimi
August 13, 2015 @ 5:43 am
St. Marq put himself out of the competition. What an egotistical narcissist, he doesn’t have a humble bone in his body. The TV show isn’t going to be as good with St. Marq out but he has no one to blame but himself. All he had to do was the same snake skin as the rest of his team and he had a good chance at staying.
Beks
August 12, 2015 @ 7:53 pm
Chris is the founder of Big Brain here in Omaha, and there has been a viewing party every week. Last night, he was actually there, watching with us, and there was so much energy in the restaurant. It was so exciting!
Jared Smith
August 12, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Yea the tattoo had a minor mistake if I saw it right, the pulmonary veins should have been red while the arteries should be blue this is in reverse of the rest of the body since the only time an artery carries un oxygenated blood is when it is going towards the lungs while the veins carrying xylene ted blood due to it returning from the lungs
Cameo Hansen
August 12, 2015 @ 4:06 pm
I am absolutely in love with Chris. I am so glad St. Marq is gone he was such a cocky jerk. Chris for the win!
Debbie McDonald
August 12, 2015 @ 5:55 am
I am sooooooo happy we will not have to hear St. Mar talking about him being a tattoo God. He sucks!!!!!
Carlos Betancourt
August 12, 2015 @ 5:52 am
I guess “god” is dead!
Brittney RN
August 12, 2015 @ 3:43 am
I am not a fan of either St Marq or Chris, but I can’t believe Chris won that. His tattoo was hideous. A heart is not striated like muscles in the musculoskeletal system, that texture was outrageous in a bad way. If he was going to use color to show contrast he should have at least looked at a picture. The Aorta should have been red and the Pulmonary Arteries blue…why were the Coronary Arteries blue? Clearly he doesn’t realize red is used to show oxygenated blood and blue to show deoxygenated. I was confused at first, I asked where the Aorta was coming from before I realized it was the Pulmonary Artery. My husband thinks I’m being too critical, but isn’t that the point? Shouldn’t the judges have realized these major flaws. If I was that canvas, I would have been furious…maybe they can go on Tattoo Nightmares next…
MrsCarter101
August 12, 2015 @ 11:49 am
You are completely right about the colors being backwards on the aorta and pulmonary artery! I have a background in health science and I missed that when watching last night, but now it’s all that I see. it’s a pretty big mistake.
PhillyJimi
August 13, 2015 @ 5:50 am
It is hard to nit pick the color when the other tattoo was done in black and white. If it was supposed to be a photo realistic tattoo you might have a better point. I believe texture was the goal. I don’t blame St Marq for doing his best style with so much at stake. But St. Marq seem to only have that one style.
Brittney RN
August 13, 2015 @ 11:45 pm
I get your point about St Marq’s being black and white, but imo that doesn’t excuse such an oversight in color. If he chose to go with color, then he needs to get it right, it was a pretty big oversight. If you focus on just texture, Chris’ tattoo was still bad. I actually had a bigger issue with the striated muscle texture than with the color. The fat deposits were a nice touch, but every thing was so poorly done at that point it didn’t really save it for me. I completely agree that St Marq did it to himself and he really only had one style. But IMO, in that showdown, St Marq’s tattoo was better.
Ultimately it doesn’t really matter to me, I already have very little respect for the judges consistency, and I haven’t picked a favorite yet…maybe Tyler or Duffy, idk. There are plenty that I can’t stand this season.