Project Runway Is Back And Better Than It's Ever Been — Yes, Even Without Tim Gunn
Heidi Klum always says, in fashion, one day you're in, and the next day you're out. But Project Runway Season 21 proves there's one more option: Some days you're not only in, you're better than ever!
In years past, the show's judges sometimes left us confused: What did they want? What did they like and dislike? They'd say "edit, edit, edit!" before turning around saying "you need to do more!" It sometimes felt like the goal posts would change without warning. But Thursday's Project Runway debut on Freeform came with a new judge, Law Roach, and he isn't afraid to tell us exactly what he thinks.
Law Roach — and yes, we will refer to him by first and last name for dramatic effect — doesn't seem concerned with the show's historical celebration of drapy, elegant evening-wear, the kind that catapulted the careers of mentor Christian Siriano and Season 8's Michael Costello. No, Law Roach seems to have only one question in mind when evaluating contestants' work: Is it cool?
Take the first challenge: Heidi says she just doesn't get the inspiration behind Joseph's structured, oversized jacket and its silky skirt, while Nina says he should've "picked a lane" instead of playing with so many proportions. Law Roach, however, says Joseph's model looks really cool; he could see his clients wearing the jacket, though the back, he admits, "is a couch cushion." And with one little comment comes an element of playfulness seldom seen inside Project Runway's deliberations, leaving room for the idea that sometimes cool girls might be OK with looking like a couch cushion in the back if the front is the moment! Fashion doesn't have rules!
In the second of the two-episode premiere, the show gets even better. The first elimination takes place at the top of the hour as the judges must decide if they should send home Casey, who presented a tacky tulle gown, or Antonio, who blamed his bad look on Christian for giving bad advice. Ultimately, the judges must decide: Are we judging personalities, or are we judging design? Our arbiters of fashion choose the right answer, and send Casey home. This is a fashion competition, after all! (Side note: Casey was also the first contestant eliminated back in Season 19, so we do sincerely hope that someday she might be in.)
During the second challenge's deliberations, Law Roach shines even more. While evaluating the unfinished mess that Alex sent down the runway, our new favorite judge definitively states, "I do not want to be a part of a judging panel where everybody gets a trophy. It was really f—king bad." We love the honesty — and we share the sentiment. The kimono corset was really f—king bad!
Unfortunately, we have to wait until Episode 3 to learn who gets the ax.
But what about Tim Gunn?! We miss him, you say!
We've always loved Tim. And Tim holds a dear and special place in our hearts and Project Runway history. But Christian, who originally replaced Gunn in 2018, brings fresh energy and real, honest feedback that feels less rooted in conceptual teachings of fashion theory, and more rooted in practice; the man is a thriving luxury designer, after all.
In the midst of everything else, we have the addition of fashion "houses," bringing more collaboration and more challenging challenges; we've got our trademark field trips to Mood; and, of course, we have over-the-top personalities calling each other names and stealing sewing machines on the very first day! What more could we ask for?
What's your take: Has Freeform made it work? Or is Project Runway Season 21 already unraveling at the seams? Vote in our poll below, then sound off in the comments!