Netflix’s ‘Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend’ overdoes it, shedding give attention to the meals

Netflix’s revival of Iron Chef serves up loads to like. Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend provides 5 newly minted Iron Cooks, a contemporary batch of thrilling contenders from a wide range of culinary backgrounds, participating judges, shock visitors, the return of Iron Chef America‘s Chairman, and the delectable pairing of the salty Alton Brown (Cutthroat Kitchen) with the candy High Chef champ Kristen Kish. On prime of that, this spinoff offers the contenders an opportunity not solely to defeat an Iron Chef but in addition to take the dignity of turning into the season’s singular Iron Legend. All great things! However because the TikTok knowledge goes, there’s only a level the place you hit sufficient slices, and it turns into a large number.   

Look, I am not about to let you know that Iron Chef is the suitable venue for much less is extra. As an avid fan of the unique Japanese sequence, my consideration was first caught by the over-the-top spectacle of the silken chef uniforms, the dynamic presentation of pepper-chomping Chairman Takeshi Kaga, and the bombastic reveals of secret elements. Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend respects these origins by presenting their Iron Cooks week after week in a graphic split-screen therapy that has a playful “Select Your Fighter” vibe. Not like the Japanese sequence, nonetheless, these contenders do not get to choose their kitchen rival. That decision is made by their Chairman (Mark Dacascos). Now, he may lack the OG Chairman’s flashy vogue — preferring as a substitute an all-black swimsuit — however is not quick on over-the-top theatrics when presenting the key ingredient, or some other random twists thrown on the opponents. 

The Challenges of this Iron Chef are cluttered

Let me take you again to the basement of my good friend’s mother’s home within the ’90s, the place we’d collect every Friday evening on a ratty sofa to observe Iron Chef collectively, cheering and jeering as if it had been the Tremendous Bowl or Eurovision. 

The reveal of the key ingredient was at all times exhilarating, not solely due to the Chairman’s infectious enthusiasm, but in addition as a result of even probably the most mundane ingredient was made thrilling by the fixed hypothesis of the hosts, the food-porny close-ups of the preparation, and the cooing of appreciation from the judges. Positive, few reveals could possibly be as cool as reside octopus. But Iron Chef‘s solid and contenders at all times made certain each ingredient — irrespective of how seemingly run-of-the-mill — would show spectacular and delectable, even by a TV display screen midway all over the world. 

However Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend appears to worry that after 7 seasons of Iron Chef and 13 of Iron Chef: America and several other spinoffs from there, audiences will not be awed by only one reveal. So, contender Esther Choi and Iron Chef Marcus Samuelsson face off not solely over ribs, but in addition with the requirement that their meal have to be tailgate-themed, and additionally they’ve soccer gamers as sous cooks. “Battle Medieval” options not solely a particular inspiration, but in addition three separate reveals of secret elements. The present is throwing so many twists at us, it turns into troublesome to savor the feeling of watching nice cooks get inventive with intriguing elements. It is a frenzy of close-ups of a soccer participant ignoring flames rising or one other run again to the ingredient desk or a scramble over one other reveal. The construct of the hunt is fumbled. 

Iron Chef: Quest for the Iron Legend loses give attention to the meals

Credit score: Patrick Wymore / Netflix

As ever, there’s a variety of storytelling occurring on this sequence. We’re welcomed into the private tales of the challengers, the Iron Cooks, the hosts, and the judges. These tales communicate of how meals is a lot greater than taste. It is heritage. It is household. It is discovering bliss in troublesome circumstances. Two of the standout moments of this primary season got here on the judging desk. One, when Andrew Zimmern (Weird Meals) broke into mushy tears, revealing how a contestant’s dessert reminded him of his grandmother’s favourite humble deal with. In one other episode, Danny Trejo, actor and taco/donut restauranteur, shares how instantaneous ramen has a particular relevance in penitentiary, the place it is so coveted that it is used as forex. Each cases tie the oft-highfalutin cuisines of Kitchen Stadium again to easier pleasures, honoring the type of meals any of us could make wonderful. 

Nevertheless, when the present is speeding to incorporate a barrage of recent gimmicks, these moments can get drowned out amid the too-muchness. There are lots of cases through which some culinary phrase or meals historical past reference was made, however nobody stopped to clarify it. It simply whizzes previous with a shrug, leaving these of us who aren’t mainlining cookbooks mildly baffled. 

Credit score: Patrick Wymore / Netflix

To their credit score, Brown and Kish convey a playful competitiveness to educating the general public on cooking. When there’s time (amid twists), this dashing duo makes certain each lesser-known approach, curious meals truth, or forgotten culinary historical past is introduced with a jubilant aggression, like two trivia nerds attempting to outdo one another however relishing the sport greater than the profitable. At the same time as they bicker over predictions of dishes or the names of obscure strategies, Kish and Brown have a terrific chemistry that is at all times spirited, welcoming us into their giddy huddle. 

If Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend will get a second season, here is hoping it’s going to discover its move. Relatively than pitching in a flurry of “enjoyable” concepts meant to maintain knocking the cooks off-balance, this primary season overwhelmed my palette, like an excessive amount of truffle oil. A contact of shock in Kitchen Stadium is welcomed, certain. However from there, I do not need an increasing number of — I need to breathe within the historical past taking part in out earlier than our eyes, savor the creating of the dishes, and relish in all the fervour and data that is composing drool-worthy meals. Go away the shenanigans to Nailed It. 

Easy methods to watch: Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend (opens in a brand new tab)is now streaming on Netflix.(opens in a brand new tab)