Episode 10

Everyone's Reactions

When I heard that the production team really wanted to depict Jan having his 'pride, which he thought was the best,' completely crushed in that scene where he loses and cries out, I could totally feel that mix of embarrassment and humiliation. It’s hilarious how the judge screams through tears, "I can smell the earth of China!" right before composing himself to say, "But there was nothing new about this dish. Yeah, zero points." The way they balance deliciousness with strictness is amazing. Akayama is both an obsession and something Jan wants to protect, but I love that he remains 'Jan, not Akayama.' The balance between feeling tied down and wanting to stand on his own is a great dynamic that I’m really looking forward to seeing develop in future episodes. Plus, all three noodle dishes are actually edible! It seems the Dao Xiao Mian has been recreated at Shanxi-tei, so I’m bursting with excitement to go try them all. We’re getting into the thick of it now. I can’t take my eyes off Jan as he overcomes his next setback and grows stronger.