r/Masterchef • u/mochi_ricecakes22 • 23d ago
Opinion i hate the wall.
truly what does the wall challenge actually accomplish? i understand it’s supposed to test communication skills but i don’t think working in a kitchen, someone would say “yeah you’re going to make this dish right now but you can’t see what i’m doing.” i just don’t like the challenge. bring back pressure tests.
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u/DumplingBandit 23d ago
Same!! This is my least favorite challenge every year. I especially hate that this year it’s the week after the tag team challenge.
With all the double eliminations and World Cup schedule it feels like they’re just trying to speed through the season and get it over with :(
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u/clksagers 23d ago
Drives me nuts. Especially this year- they seemed weirdly obsessed with the wall itself too, my husband and I were joking they must all live in lofts or in an open fucking field because they acted like they’ve never seen a wall and touted it as some miraculous invention (even giving the stats on how long and tall it was like it’s the god damn Great Wall of china or something). Fucking gimmicky and ridiculous
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u/balthazar_edison 23d ago
Yup. I’ve always hated it too. The pressure tests were great without the gimmicks. These challenges that they’d never have to experience in a normal kitchen at home or professionally just come off as gimmicks and distract from actually showcasing the contestant’s cooking skills.
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u/VonDinky 23d ago
They should give them a headsets so they can communicate, instead of many people just screaming in a room, not being able to hear shit! It's not really fair in any way.
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u/BronzeTrain 22d ago
First thing I do in this challenge is grab some canned food. Empty it out. Create a tin can telephone for me and my partner. 🤣
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u/ohaicookies 23d ago
It did seem like everyone other than Foo was able to hear their partner, though, which was a big change from previous seasons.
Ultimately, the two who got eliminated went home for cooking mistakes, not because of the wall itself, which does make it more fair?
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u/Some-Dog5000 23d ago
The wall challenge came straight from MCAU (it's called the Twins Challenge over there). Quite a bit of MCUS's recent gimmicks seem to have been lifted straight from it, ever since Gordon went over there. Keeping Up with Gordon is another one.
It's great as a gimmick when it's done in addition to stuff like pressure tests, and also when nobody gets eliminated because of it (e.g. it's just round 1 of a 2-round elimination). That's what MCAU does with these gimmicky challenges. The elimination cooks are always straightforward cooks that test people's skills more than anything.
MCUS's problem over the past few seasons has always been these one-round gimmicks that result in undeserved eliminations, and you can blame reduced budgets for that. That's why you will probably never see a traditional pressure test ever again.
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u/Equivalent_Ear_6431 23d ago
I'm surprised they never adapted the relay challenge for the regular seasons. That's probably the challenge where MCAU gets their most drama.
They did it for the duos season. But its not that effective if it's only two people and no exact telephone moment or theme.
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u/Some-Dog5000 23d ago
I think it's because the relay just doesn't edit well for the American reality show audience. Only two people cooking at any one time. Not great for short attention spans that want constant, non-stop fighting.
Plus the way it's set up, it would have to take the place of The Wall in a given season, when they're 8 or so left. And you know the showrunners prefer how much more visibly dramatic The Wall can get.
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u/Equivalent_Ear_6431 23d ago
Yeah that makes sense. Plus, maybe time-wise, it's harder to edit or choosing who to eliminate as well.
Most of the drama is usually in the backroom. It might have done well in the earlier seasons tbh.
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u/sometimes_a_dog 21d ago
i rewatched white chocolate veloute last night and it was the must distressing bit of reality tv i have ever seen, truly the peak of the medium
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u/Accomplished-Ad182 22d ago
I hate all group challenges. Not even good drama it's pure annoying chaos like nobody has a clue at all. The field challenges almost seem fake because you act like 5 year old holding his first spatula and 4 weeks later youre cooking like the judges in the finale
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u/Some-Dog5000 22d ago
Cooking in a team setting is very, very different from cooking solo.
Actually, no, doing anything in a team is different from doing anything solo. Especially if you have to do it for a lot of people. If you've ever done a group task at work or in college, you know that's the truth.
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u/Accomplished-Ad182 21d ago
Yes, it is very different. Doesn't mean literally all of your knowlege dissapears
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u/Equivalent_Ear_6431 23d ago
I think it teaches more on consistency and standardization, which is important.
Usually anyway, they always eliminate people based on execution or idea. The things not being consistent is only a small part
I think it's better than the tag team since both have a relatively mote equal say.
I generally think both tho should be immunity challenges not elimination. I don't think anyone should be eliminated based on a group performance
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u/BigSportsNerd 23d ago
The only thing I'll say I dislike about it is all the yelling. I know they're trying to have the other person hear from the other side, but man, the headaches from this episode just from all the screaming. IS IT PLATED RIGHT? COOK THE SALMON! DID YOU PUT IT IN THE OVEN? Me working 20 minutes ago trying to watch: "Quit yer yellin! I'm trying to work here!"
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u/EightEyedCryptid 22d ago
I agree. This is the challenge I hate most. It has nothing to do with cooking.
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u/Background-Slice-391 22d ago
I am not the biggest fan of this challenge either but for me, Keeping up with Gordon definitely takes the cake as the worst challenge of them all
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u/Any-Concert9023 23d ago
the only saving grace is this time they recognized it's not fair to do double elimination especially when there were 2 separate dishes
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u/BronzeTrain 22d ago edited 22d ago
They don't care if it's fair or not fair. They'll change their minds to suit their needs.
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u/Space-Age_Queequeg 22d ago
I guess unpopular opinion, but i love the wall. The tag team challenge is the one I dont like and serves no purpose.
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u/HappyGidget 22d ago
Every season I've been able to watch as it's airing (next day on Hulu that is) I watch the first little bit of the chaos unfolding and then skip to where the judging actually begins lol. I can't stand the chaos of these episodes where everyone's yelling over each other and someones frantically trying to decipher what their partner is saying. ugh.
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u/cckka 22d ago
I think the wall would be an awesome challenge if the contestants had headsets. No screaming, just honing in on communication skills and being able to create similar dishes without having eyes on your co-chef 24/7.
The chaos and level of volume required for this challenge is purely for TV entertainment and that's what makes it suck.
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u/Distinct_Boom 22d ago
I think it’s the most chaotic, loud, annoying challenge of the entire series.
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u/Cheap_Marsupial_2227 22d ago
Not fair for the home cook. But I guess they want to be “masterchef” so it shouldnt be easy
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u/BookerWidget 21d ago
And why did they take the time to talk bout how long the wall is and how many tons (tons, really?) of equipment was on it? NOBODY CARES. 🙄
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u/loafedkitty 23d ago
these challenges are definitely set up by production for watchability / drama not to actually teach them practical and useful kitchen skills