New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

The following day is when the challenge takes a turn for the dangerous. Sarah begins to show signs of dehydration. As she stands in from of the smoky firepit, she grows glassy-eyed. This is no surprise given that the temperature near the fire probably approaches 130 degrees. Moments later, she asks for medical help. The attendant gives her an oxygen mask and begins to deduce that she is suffering from heat exhaustion. First, she is asked the day of the week, which is not an easy question for someone who has been up all night anyway. Then, she is asked which month it is and when she fails that, the specialist checks her pulse. He quickly says, “Call it!” and she is rushed away on a stretcher.

Tom informs Edward and Ty that they are on their own in the competition but fails to update them on her health status. Edward is annoyed that they are a person down in a three person challenge, that there isn’t any reassurance about her safety and that they have far too much work to do considering the new time/work constraints. The two of them make a decision to cut their meat right away, a tactic Edward acknowledges is wrong in that it fundamentally violates the nature of a barbecue challenge. They are now smoking their meat instead (*Beavis giggle*).

Once the crowd forms, all of the teams get bombarded with customers. For Ty and Edward, this is the doomsday scenario. Ty quickly does the math and determines that the two of them must perform 2,100 plate strokes in order to fulfill orders for 300 guests…and the turnout is larger than expected. We strongly suspect that if we asked them to provide explicit details of this encounter now, neither man could do so. The entire serving must have been a blur. Alas, the strangest part doesn’t come until almost the end.

Sarah returns from medical treatment at exactly the right time to plate her dish for the judges. We initially believe that Edward is being petty when he points out that her sole concern upon her return is her chicken dish. As events unfold, this becomes impossible to deny. Out of the five items, she asks only about her chicken breast. Then, she suggests a new customer delivery method for plating that highlights - you guessed it – her chicken. If Edward had a knife in hand when she offered this suggestion, he may be in jail for murder right now. Instead, Ty plays diplomat by checking on the health of Sarah (if you’re reading this, Ty, you are clearly a very nice person) then informing her that the current methodology is working great.

This is where the situation grows more difficult for Sarah to justify. The judges arrive, ready to be served. Sarah begins to speak for the group, which again gives Edward the crazy eyes. After they depart, Sarah suddenly realizes that she is still ill and begs off from further servings. This is not an exaggeration of her behavior. She shows up just in time for the judges then leaves the instant they depart. While we make every attempt to give Sarah the benefit of the doubt (she isn’t thinking clearly after the dehydration and may be medicated at that moment), her behavior is beyond the pale.

Continued:       1       2       3       4       5       6