The iconic cult classic fashion competition show “Project Runway” is back!  This time it’s on Hulu with its original host, Heidi Klum.  Also returning judge is Nina Garcia, Editor-in-Chief of Elle magazine. Not back are a couple of other familiar faces to this show, Michael Kors, and Tim Gunn.  They have been “replaced” by Law Roach and Christian Siriano respectively.  

Law Roach, who is a celebrity stylist and image architect, never minces his words and tells it like it is.  While critiquing one designer’s dress in the first challenge, he told him that his design made his model look like a “Nigerian Auntie.”  The goal must always be to keep the subject looking youthful.  In the third and most recent episode, Law was seriously peeved after having to judge a denim collection that missed the mark big!

HE WAS ‘MAD’!!

Law was so irritated by the mess he stated while looking at Heidi,  “I am really pissed off about this collection.  I didn’t not come to work and get this beautiful glam to look at a bunch of ugly clothes.  I’m sorry I am really pissed off.  I’m mad!”  

Christian, who is no stranger to “Project Runway,” he competed and won the fourth season at the age of 20 (he’s turning 40 this year), is somewhat of a more catty version of Tim Gunn.  Christian comes across a more scorning to the contestants when giving advice and never holds back.  About those contestants…we have an eclectic bunch who’ve been competing in group challenges so far this season via “Houses.”  

“Project Runway” season 21 has brought back some past designer contestants who have competed before, but perhaps didn’t get a fair shot.  Like Caycee Black who was on season 19 and was eliminated in the first challenge.  She’s back, and SPOILER, history did in fact repeat itself.  Because after creating a lackluster Princess dress that looked more like a nightgown, she was voted out.

Pictured (l-r): Ethan Mundt with model, Law Roach / Copyright Disney, Freeform.

Double the Trouble:

Also returning is Jesus Estrada who last competed on “Project Runway” in season seven when he was just 21-years-old.  Now, Jesus is 36-years-old and he’s back.  This time his twin brother Antonio has joined him.  The two have quite the reign of a winning streak in the first three episodes.  Thanks to competitor Ethan Mundt who previously competed on RuPauls Drag Race as “Utica,”  the twins have been playing on the same team.

Ethan wanted to prove that the twin designer duo wasn’t a threat and leaned into it.  He swapped-out one twin that was on his team (or “House”) for a different designer.  This put both twins on the same team and they are a force to be reckoned with for sure!  The contestants are competing for $200,000; six month representation from agentry pr; a spread in ELLE magazine, and lifetime mentorship from CFDA.

THE DESIGNER CONTESTANTS:

The contestants are really going through it so far this season by being forced to compete in group challenges each week.  The first one had them split into two groups to create a House of Villains vs. House of Princess.  The second week, they had to curate two different cohesive collections of active wear to night time wear.  By the third week, the judges had the winners from the first and second challenges put together their own Houses to compete against each other.  Their fabric of choice…they had to choose in a blind selection of material.

The House leads were Ethan and Jesus.  Ethan pulled denim for his House of Ethan, or “H.O.E.”  One would think that denim is a huge score.  However, Ethan managed to completely ignore the challenge to create looks to cater to Heidi’s pal and guest celebrity judge Sofia Vergara from “America’s Got Talent.”  Vegara would be the one wearing the winning look.  Instead, Ethan showed-up in his drag alter-ego “Utica” and came up with a “show-stopping” theme that really didn’t go over very well.  

NOT So Brilliant!

One of the looks in the collection was a frayed denim dress that Heidi literally said would get Sofia on the worst dress list for sure.  Jesus pulled grey wool for his “House of Catalina.” Both materials are considered “boring” and these designers had to make them “brilliant.”  Jesus and Antonio brought home a win with exceptional designs.  Underdog and a dark horse Belania won the challenge with a sexy two-piece vest and pant combo.

Ethan took a real beating for his creation which looked like what Heidi said a “bottle opener.”  Law referred to it as “the cervix is dilating and she’s crowning!”  Each week’s episode ends in a cliffhanger of not knowing who will be voted-out by the judges.  Viewers will have to wait and see if Ethan survives the firing squad. 

“Project Runway” streams every Thursday at 10 pm PT on Hulu. Also available on Freeform, and Disney Plus.