This is the first review I have ever done on IMDB so I signed up specifically for this one.
I will start by saying that I love tattoos and have watched every episode of every season of Ink Master, including Ink Master Angels and without a doubt this is the worst of the bunch. I am not sure why I kept watching after the first episode, it may be that I secretly enjoy being enraged by awful and cringeworthy television or a simple obsession with completion. But I would go as far as to say this rivals 'best ink' for the worst tattoo competition on TV.
They made a nice effort to make this show seem a bit slicker than it really is with the opening credit sequence. But honestly it brings the saying about ones ability to polish a turd to mind.
Personally I feel this season has had the worst talent by far but that is not the reason I am writing this review.
My main objection is the cookie-cutter approach to fake scripted drama and character types. The 'spontaneous' banter between provocative competitors is absolutely cringeworthy. And the rapid turnabout face of seemingly seething competitors after being informed they are needed for the prestigious position of judging really highlights how fake it is.
The angels themselves are talented artists, some more than others but their ability to act and carry a tv show really stinks. It is this lack of acting chops that exposes the template style dialogue between rounds and during the judging segments.
Throughout all seasons of Ink Master there is obviously scripted or manufactured conflict as well as over the top characters voicing extreme outrage. But that is just the nature of reality TV in general. But in this series I think they tried to crank it up a little too far.
For me Ink Mater Angels is really awful and the calibre of most of the artists leaves me less than excited about the potential for the next series. Personally I thought some of the eliminated artists were far better than those who 'won'. Also the most basic search on Instagram will find artists from all over the world that could easily win any series of Ink Master so I hope that the producers make more of an effort to include high calibre artists in the upcoming series. However I believe that because this is cheap reality TV (cheap to make) that high calibre artists are unwilling to forego their earning potential for the time required to be on the show.
One thing I have found myself openly mocking since the first time I saw it is the Kelly Doty 'Stop Tattooing head shake'. I think Kelly Doty is an amazing artist and seems like a really cool person, but that attempt at a catchphrase is really silly.
The pro-female agenda of this show is forced down the viewers throats a lot during the series too but that is far from the worst thing about this show. There are many amazing female artists around the world so for me the whole premise of the show seems a little redundant. It makes me question whether the show would even exist if Ryan wasn't a model wearing skimpy dresses with her boobs nearly popping out in every episode (not that there's anything wrong with that).
