Love the show, judges, and contestants. Up to this point the challenges and grading have felt on point. The issue here is one that was detectable on the first episode, there is a lack of organization and clarity in the explanation of the challenges. The brief on this episode's starter was "create your 'IT item'" and "deliver a dish with unique flavor combination". What follows is the remaining contestants doing exactly that, and each time they are shot down and made to listen to things like "it's good but not special" or "it's just another dumpling" or even "viral food makes you want to find it and eat it". It's as if the judges changed the challenge without telling anyone and it's brutal to watch the contestants getting humiliated in front of a man they all admire for something entirely out of their control. It's so universally misunderstood that at one point all the contestants are brought up and made to listen to "I think across the board we didn't quiet listen to the challenge". !!! Look if it's one cook that makes a mistake ok, if it's everyone it's not them it's the judges communicating the challenge.
I really like this show but it was shocking to see such a disconnect and then have the competitors pay the price for it. Perhaps an unintended but predictable byproduct of judges drinking before and during the challenges? Just saying.