The fifth season of the reality TV show Project Runway has begun and I have to say that I’m a little bit disappointed with the way that it is turning out so far. I think that the problem is that we all know what to expect from the show if we’ve seen the first four seasons. They need to turn it up a notch if they’re going to keep the attention of viewers.

For example, the first design challenge for the show is always to take untraditional materials and make a wearable outfit out of them. However, we’ve already seen the contestants released into a grocery store to get their materials. It’s boring. I want to see them released onto an industrial work site. I want to see what kind of dress can be made from crowd control ropes, temporary fencing and a jersey barrier!

The only thing that does seem to have been taken up a notch for this season is the personality of the contestants on the show. I suppose that is to be expected when you are watching reality television. However Project Runway was one of the few shows out there of its kind that didn’t involve a lot of drama between the contestants in the past. It focused more on the talent of the designers than on their strange personalities. That doesn’t seem to be true of season five and it’s a sad change to see happen to a good show.