After successfully transforming the competitive cooking genre into a deliciously contrived snark-fest, My Kitchen Rules is running out of steam - and it looks like not even a handsome new judge or the Real Housewives of Wollongong can resuscitate it.
Wednesday night's episode of MKR saw the third round of amateur cooks come together to wine and dine in suburban Melbourne, courtesy of fresh-faced football buddies Mark and Chris.
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Colin Fassnidge introduces new guest judge Darren Robertson from Three Blue Ducks to the contestants. Courtesy: My Kitchen Rules, Network Seven.
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MKR: New judge makes an entrance
Colin Fassnidge introduces new guest judge Darren Robertson from Three Blue Ducks to the contestants. Courtesy: My Kitchen Rules, Network Seven.
The 2017 mystery judge - Three Blue Ducks chef Darren Robertson - also made his debut, complete with plenty of fawning from the girls sitting closest to him at the dinner table. His piercing eyes and British accent worked a treat.
Robertson's performance was genuine, and his comments were constructive, but for MKR regulars the newcomer lacks the alluring swarthiness of Frenchman Manu Fidel.
The British-born chef's feedback was, also, as bland as Mark and Chris's pasta sauce. A reality TV show needs to take its viewers on a journey that includes twists and turns and, for this episode at least, that was lacking.
Who cares about whether or not the last two minutes of cooking pasta are the most critical? Robertson should have surprised viewers with a less known cooking tip, or at least serve up a controversial but well-informed opinion.
One of the most entertaining things about MKR is when Manu and Paleo Pete test their bromance with opposing views, or juggle a good-cop bad-cop routine with doe-eyed contestants.
Speaking of which, after batch two villains Alyse and "too many feminists at the table" Matt were sent packing in the previous episode, MKR is desperately in need of some new baddies.
Episode 15 did deliver on that front, dishing up The Real Housewives of Wollongong Mell and Cyn - two high-flying corporate women from Wollongong.
The pair certainly delivered on the drama front, lashing out with negative comment after negative comment (and numerous hair-flicks to boot).
While virtually everyone praised Mark and Chris' main dish, the Real Housewives unloaded on their main course. It was a similar story with dessert.
But for the all the bristles and barbs, Mell and Cyn so far lack the complexities of true villains. We're yet to see their vulnerable side, and haven't learned enough to feel (even a tiny bit) sorry for them.
If you're looking for something that goes beyond 2D snark, you may as well tune into a real episode of Real Housewives. (But can we have a Wollongong spinoff, please?)
The chemistry between the new judges and contestants also fell flat.
With so many fresh faces, the series has lost its focus and is starting to spin out of control like yet another superhero franchise or Star Wars reboot.
Unless the chemistry on MKR receives a much-needed shot in the arm, or the barrage of contestants are quickly whittled down, viewers will start getting fatigued. That is, if they aren't already.