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Rick is next with a hellfire-inspired dish for Hades. He has a spice-crusted swordfish plus crimson potatoes, daikon, radishes and parsnips. Since Hades rules the underworld, he deliberately used vegetables that grow underground – clever, I’ll give him that. As he serves up his food, he tells the judges, “If you don’t like it, you can go to hell.” Oh, but I thought we were already there?

Incidentally, the judges like his food. Gael says that everything is wonderful, noting that the wild elements to his dish add to its complexity. Gail calls it delicious and earthy, though noting that his fish is dry.

Jonathan is last with his Poseidon dish. He has seared scallops with romesco sauce, cherry tomatoes, string beans and a celery puree. I understand that there are scallops in the dish, thereby making it “seafood,” but in looking at the plate, I could have hardly identified his god as Poseidon. To me, this dish did the least to live up to the spirit of the challenge.

Gail likes the fire in the romesco sauce, Jay says that food is big and bold, though criticizes the scallops for being over seasoned. Gail agrees.

The judges didn’t reveal too much during these tastings, though I have to say that it sounds like birthday-boy Jonathan and my beloved Susan are in trouble. And it seems pretty clear that Rick has won this challenge.

The judges briefly confer with the Masters and amongst themselves before doling out scores. Susur prepared his food extremely well, and while his food tasted good, Gael thinks that he missed the mark by putting down an elegant dish for a raucous god. Jonathan’s dish was messy and the scallops were not seared properly. Marcus had tons of bold flavors that tasted good, but that weren’t balanced on the plate. Rick’s dish was simple and beautiful, and if his swordfish hadn’t been overcooked, it would have been perfection. By all accounts, Susan’s jam was delicious, but the judges were underwhelmed by the fact that she basically delivered a sandwich.

Marcus and Rick turn out to be the highest score Masters (no surprise). Marcus gets 4 stars from Gael, 3 ½ from Gail, 4 from Jay and 4 from the diners. His total of 15 ½ will be easily beaten by Rick.

And indeed, Rick gets 4 ½ from all three critics, plus the diners for an outstanding total of 18. I hate that man.

Meanwhile, the heat is on for our bottom three contestants. Susur gets 4 stars from all three critics, plus 3 from the diners, for a total of 15. His total is far higher than I thought he would receive, but nonetheless, he is totally safe.

Susan gets 2 ½ stars from Gael, 2 from Jay and 2 ½ from Gail. The diners gave her 3 ½ stars for a total of 10 ½. Sigh. This looks really, really, really bad.

Jonathan gets 3 stars from Gail, 2 ½ from Jay, 3 stars from Gael . . . ARGH! He only needs 2 ½ to stay in the competition . . . and DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT. He gets 4 stars from the diners.

Susan is eliminated but still smiling. That’s why I love her.

“We have to ask you to pack your knives,” Kelly says, “but we’ll miss you very much.” It’s really sweet of her to say, and frankly, I share her sentiment. Susan was a wonderful, uplifting, joyous presence on the show, and future sans-Susan episodes will simply not be the same. I won’t have anyone to root for.

Oh wait, I do. I’m rooting for Rick to go home. This is the second time in the Finals that the winner of the previous episode has been eliminated in the subsequent one. If this holds true next week, then my prayers will have been answered.

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