..... for those of you who think Ilan DESERVES being TopChef, I ask you: what episode where you watching??!!??..... Albeit BOTH Marcel and Ilan didn't deserve to be there in the first place, Marcel should have won for the same reason as the previous episode..... Sam (who probably should have been in the final) was criticized for doing the same thing over again, but Ilan decides to rip off the entire menu of the restaurant he works at; how original ...... Anyway here are a few point that have probably been beaten to death, but I'll say it again: 1. Marcel didn't blame Sam for his loss.... he even goes and tells the judges that Sam "saved his ass"..... On the other hand Sam goes and takes FULL CREDIT for the seabeans when they were one of Marcel's original ingredients.... Sam makes no effort to correct the judges; he just stands there and uncomfortably says "yes, it was my idea"......You can tell by the way he speaks that he was OBVIOUSLY lying and he knew EXACTLY what he was saying. 2. Head to head Marcel should have won especially from the comments made during the meals: Ilan serves: -"Soggy toast with canned eels"... One of the judges say "At the end of the day you should taste what you cook and see if it works" - Perfectly cooked fish ........ cooked by Elia - Surf and Turf........ again cooked by Elia - Chewy short ribs.... "The short ribs could have been braised for a little longer"...... "I think I'm looking for a little more flavor, a little more juicyness"..... At the judges table Tom says " I think Ilan's dish is out of place; something served at a casual restaurant. - Melon balls..... LOFL..... Ok, it's a pallette cleanser, but at the end of the day it's melon balls of fruit with sorbet and juice...... and oh yeah, the bay leaf idea he ripped off from Casa Mono. Marcel serves: -Uni w/ meyer lemon gelee and fennel cream.... Keller says "The idea, the whole thing behind it was exciting"..... -A salad.... which flops..... besides the isomalt though he could have added a protein... -Fish dish w/o the fish.... but "very mature dish; round, bold, beautifully balanced"... "The way it's constructed, the way it's presented; it's like a totally different level"...... and yes, Sam probably saw the fish but didn't give a damn; he knew full well what the menu was....... Mike I can understand b/c he's a bafoon... -Strip loin.... "It's nice to see someone so creative and so willing to take the risk" -Blini w/ coffee caviar..... "How smart, a blini w/ caviar"..... "He has amazing potential; I think he's somebody to watch"..... Judges table: -Marcel's own team throws him under the bus.... at least have some dignity and give him credit for what Marcel did..... some people say that Marcel is blaming his team mates, but WHO THE HELL wouldn't feel the same way he did if you team isn't trying to help you. -The judges only ask Marcels team about what part they had in cooking.... if they asked Elia they would have known that Ilan for the most part didn't cook any of the good dishes. -When Ilan gets questioned as to whether he had a set idea he denies it even though it's obvious he's lying.... Gail goes on to say "it's ok if you did, it's a game plan" and Ilan softens his stance and says that he "may have had some ideas" - If that was the best meal Ilan ever cooked then he doesn't deserve Top Chef.... 2 courses didn't require cooking, and the one protein he does cook himself is chewy. -Just a side note, notice Betty the bitch smiling when Marcel's team throws him under the bus.... what a snake... "HissSSSSSSSS" In the end it had nothing to do with the food.... Marcel was better THAT NIGHT hands down; he might not even be the best overall, but he was definitely better that night and Ilan should have lost for the same reason Sam did. Elia and Sam would have made a much better finale, but the ratings of Marcel vs. Ilan must have been too hard to resist... Anyway, this was an end to a pretty CRAPPY season ...... None of the chefs were Top Chef material... even everyone's beloved Sam showed his true colours and ganged up to bully Marcel..... Ilan should be the LAST person to get the title.... he was F***ing holding the CAMERA and ENCOURAGING everyone to do the dirty work when they were trying to shave Marcel's head.... WHAT A BASTARD; I will NEVER EVER eat at a restaurant where Ilan Hall cooks. Anyway, glad to get that rant off my chest as I hope for a much much much improved season 3.....