First two episodes are out now! Nice start. Things feel familiar, yet there are clear changes in direction, tone, and format. This isn’t your yesteryear Bravo or Lifetime “Project Runway.” Some interesting quirks, like the idea of “houses,” but an entire season of team challenges would be brutal (learn from “Drag Race”!), so hopefully that ends sooner rather than later. Not getting the elimination results until the start of the following episode is highly manipulative and better suited for a binge model. Bringing back Heidi Klum was a stroke of genius. Tim Gunn should have returned as well. No offense to Christian Siriano, who will always remain the show’s best and most profitable alum, but his mentoring leaves much to be desired. Judging panel is fine. Nina Garcia is always the gold standard, and the addition of Law Roach is everything, bitches! She’s giving it to the girls this season raw and unfiltered (I expect much was edited down and sugarcoated on her “Drag Race” critiques). It’s giving early-era Michael Kors in the best ways. Forever grateful that useless judges like Brandon Maxwell and Zac Posen are nowhere in sight. Now to the designers! Lively cast full of talent and outsized personalities. The twins might overtake the entire season (for as long as they stick around), but I’m personally enjoying both of their antics. We’re getting a few returning alums, though sadly one is gone already (she was eliminated first in her past season too . . . ouch). One likes to be branded as a tiresome one-name-only in all introductions (first name + last name fused together). Utica Queen (Ethan) is very much a major presence and won the first challenge of Disney princesses and villains. He made a vital mistake in the second challenge that cost his team victory. Next episode, Ethan and Jesús are creating their own houses, so the plot thickens! Hoping for the best for this season regardless. It’s also shorter than past seasons (10 episodes), but that’s the standard streaming environment nowadays. Welcome back!

That was gaggy lol. Beyond manipulative to leave it up to the designers to eliminate someone, and of course, not showing us the results this episode and plastering a lame-ass “TO BE CONTINUED” at the end. Ugh. They’re really gunning for the twins in a way that doesn’t feel earned and especially contrived. Hate that the bros are so close and helping each other out? Well, work even harder and design better shit to combat their efforts. If the show doesn’t disqualify designers for working together in individual challenges, then they’re doing nothing wrong and others can do the same damn thing. Antonio’s design is only there b/c of Law Roach’s odd styling critiques. To have him in the bottom over lost Madeline feels very silly, even in a “blind” runway (which I don’t entirely believe). Yuchen winning was also bizarre. I think Ethan’s design met the moment the best, or even Veejay’s stunning shuttlecock design that took my breath away. Between Joan and JosephMcRae, I think it’s probably Joan’s time with two consecutive bottom placements. Will the designers feel the same way? Were the judges out on vacation this week? Budget cuts from bargain-basement Freeform? Who’s to say at this point. This is why a judging team is required.

My top three: Ethan, Veejay, & Jesús
Safe: Antonio, Yuchen, & JosephMcRae
Bottom three: Madeline, Joan, & Belania

Fine with Angelo going home. It was his time with his consecutive bottom placements, and he was never given the screentime to properly pop with his very low-key (re: straight) personality in a sea of extroverts. I’d imagine he would have won a menswear challenge outright, but that isn’t what this show’s normally about. Love to see a true menswear challenge though with a crop of new models (and not sample sizes, but real men) to again throw the designers for a loop. Always love any “Abbott Elementary” tie-ins, and Chris Perfetti and Lisa Ann Walter didn’t disappoint on that front. Waiting a whole week for the results infuriates me! This season should have been a same-day binge release instead.