Since I really liked Project Runway, I decided to watch Next in Fashion, Netflix's version of a fashion design competition. This pitted eighteen designers in teams of two against each other, with two winners and two eliminations each episode (with the exception of one when the judges couldn't make up their minds) until the last handful of episodes with individual designers competing against each other.
There were some differences right from the start: all the materials were provided for the designers on stage, and there were no wonky challenges like making clothes out of food or flowers. There also seemed to be a lot less personal drama, which I appreciated. All of the contestants are already established and have their own fashion businesses, too, so this wasn't a starting-out reality show. Still, it was interesting to see bits of their backstories, which are sprinkled through every episode.
The two hosts were trying a little too hard to be funny, but for the most part served well in their roles. The show is very pro-gay as well, much more so than Project Runway was back in the day, I think. What I really liked most was watching the designers work and the runway shows. I was also very surprised by who won the competition in the end, a designer who was my first choice as the clear winner (usually I never manage to pick the winner.)
I've read that Next had been cancelled after one season, but Netflix shows a season two is coming, so your guess is as good as mine if there will be more seasons. I will watch it again if it renews.
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