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The Chairman comes onscreen, the teaser runs, Alton and Kristen introduce themselves and set the tone for the battle, the music comes up, and the lights come down. (It is painfully apparent how excellently the “Backdraft” score has upheld Iron Chef Japan.)
The challenger enters and is introduced, bringing their background and skills into focus. The challenger faces the Chairman… and it is at this point that the battle, for me, skews hard into left field…
Iron Chef: Battle for an Iron Legend was hyped to be a continuation of the original Iron Chef Japan series, a tall order for a series which has spawned 20 spinoff shows and series, all in homage to, and trying to capture, the fire and fury of the original. Do they succeed? I asked my significant other after 5 episodes of this new series
“For me looking at the original Iron Chef [Japan] – I’m looking at technique, the academic side of what they’re trying to portray. The current show is more engaging and less intimidating.”
Mrs. Iron Chef Fans
One of my Little Iron Chefs agrees:
“I think the real defining difference between the two shows is that Iron Chef Japan is a lot more serious about how they have their audience perceive how the competition is run. Iron Chef Japan is a lot more pedantic in how each dish is prepared and executed.”
Little Iron Chef the Eldest
Iron Chef Japan’s legacy is tremendous, from the previously-mentioned 20 spinoff series to the restaurants of the Iron Chefs and challengers themselves, the amazing impact that ICJ exerted on transforming modern cooking and food network television into a competitive landscape for chefs, and the meteoric increase in the visibility of celebrity chefs! Oh, and don’t forget the line of Iron Chef sauces available at your local store. (Don’t worry, they’re licensed by Fuji Television Network.)
My largest concerns with Iron Chef: Battle for an Iron Legend are the very small number of episodes and the inability of challengers to put their own feet to the fire by choosing the Iron Chef they will face. Those two things together are what gave us Kandagawa-san and his fierce (and returning) visage in one of the greatest ‘rivalries’ of the original show. Until Netflix commits to really spending the money to put that in play, this series will remain an echo of its former spinoffs…
I’d love to hear your thoughts as well – let me know if you’ve seen the new show and share with me what you do and do not like!