Ink Master season 9 episode 3: Tri-Cities Tattoo, Allegory Arts, and infighting

On Ink Master season 9 episode 3 airing on Spike next week on Tuesday night, there will be drama coming from an surprising source: Team infighting. Never before has this been an issue on the show given that in the past, this was far more of an individual game, but with this being teams competing we are seeing a different dynamic. We may not be the biggest fans of the twist this season, but this is something we have never seen. Normally there’s alliances and artists fighting, but it’s everyone for themselves. If you are fighting with your partner the only thing you are hurting is your shop and your chances of winning. Let’s take a look at who is having some trouble getting along.

Tri-Cities Tattoo – The biggest problem that Danger Dave and Bang have here is mostly a lack of experience working together. They don’t know each other all that well, and don’t have the experience being able to work through their problems together. Also, Dave keeps trying to assert a certain degree of control over his partner to the point where it causes further friction.

Allegory Arts – This seems to be the opposite, given that you’ve got a married couple who have a lot of pressure on themselves to make a name for their shop; in the process of that, tension and fighting is coming out for them. They’re used to working together, but not in this environment with these sort of stakes behind it. As a married couple that owns this site, we know of the struggles that come with working with a significant other, but at the same time there is a strength there that no one else has.

Of these two teams, the latter has shown more potential so far this season and as a married couple they should be able to figure out how to work with each other’s sore points. Tri-Cities has struggled a lot more where Allegory Arts has already won a challenge. Judging from the preview, Dave and Bang are going to continue to struggle being a team, which is likely going to send them right out the door.

Also, remember that next week a returning shop will enter the competition, one featuring an artist formerly on the show. It’s hard to imagine there being many big-name alum coming back this season, largely because it’s difficult to leave your job that is dependent on you working and making a name for yourself. This is not a season for individuals, so the only way we see a notable returnee coming back is if they own the shop that they want to get more publicity for. Otherwise, wouldn’t they hold out to just try and be a part of an all-star season down the road?

What do you want to see coming up on the next new episode of Ink Master, and who are you the most concerned for? Be sure to share some of your thoughts with a comment!

Meanwhile, head over to the link here in the event you want some further news when it comes to the show. (Photo: Spike.)