Ink Master

I love reality competition shows. I am also fascinated by the art tattooing, albeit thus far I am an abstainer. The first season was the best--huge egos but genuine talent. (My favorite did not win.) Since then the show has devolved to showcasing some of the nastiest, untalented people on TV. The number of bleeps per episode is irritating; the talent sub par. Is the industry so tapped out that this is the best it has to offer? I also wonder about the psychological stability of the human canvases, many of whom are left with truly ugly, permanent "artwork" on their bodies. In the latest episode, these canvases wanted a anatomically-correct human heart morphing into either a lion, clock or hand grenade. Really? Are they paid to do this or just guaranteed a cover-up on the series Tattoo Nightmares?

I will continue watching this show no matter what happens just because I love tattoo's and I just love watching creative people. About the show itself it could be much better if there was not that constant feel of everybody acting. You're not actors, you're tattoo artists. Every episode you see them speaking bad of and/or to each other and I can only conclude that they are acting. If anybody would talk to me like that, or being in my face all the time, I would just be in a fight every single episode. So to me it's all acting and I don't get why they chose that concept. The challenges are sometimes pretty stupid as well. I would rather watch them tattoo a lot more, with a lot lesser arguing. Some of the artists are also very arrogant and even if some are good I certainly never would go to any of those arrogant bastards. I have a lot of tattoo's and all of the artists I went to were friendly guys. Anyways, if you like tattoo's then the show is worth a watch. But don't watch it for the judges or the game itself because that's pretty boring. I don't even care who's winning, I just want to see nice tattoo's.

I watch this show to see tattoo artists performing their craft, and to hopefully see some great tattoos. However, each season it gets more embarrassing and painful to watch. I know it's a competition, but if the participants are truly as arrogant and obnoxious as they are portrayed, I can't believe they have legitimate businesses as artists. It's all about drama and fighting and bad-mouthing everyone instead of being about the skill and art. Are all of these people honestly ego-maniacs who have no respect for their peers? Granted, there are usually a few nice folks in the bunch but overall it's just embarrassing how juvenile these people are. Then there's the judging which never seems to be based on what they asked for and who actually complied with the rules. Instead it's about popularity, favoritism and keeping the most controversial people to make sure they have drama. Until they do blind judging, get rid of coaches and get rid of teams. this will never be a fair and real competition. I'm still watching for now to see the art, but it's getting increasingly difficult.

I've actually never been a tattoo fan but a few months ago, as I was looking for something a little interesting to watch on TV, I came across Ink Master and I've been watching the show from then on.

What I like in this show: some of the tattoos (flowers, realistic photos mostly-- I hate skulls, black and white, pin ups, old and new school tattoos) and the artistic and technical explanations from the contestants. I ONLY watch it because of these two aspects.

What I don't like: the drama scenes, the insults, fights, strategies to win, and Mr Nunez's behavior. Whereas Oliver Peck and Dave Navarro are rather fair judges (although sometimes a little politeness would be most appreciated), Chris Nunez is obviously only here to humiliate the contestants instead of purely sticking to his role as a judge.

As a conclusion: this show could be a really great one if Chris Nunez wasn't there and if the contestants were chosen differently. Some of them don't care a d**n about their 'art', they're just here to fight and make a fuss.

This review is for the revived version of Inkmaster. I have watched every season of this show and loved every minute of it, and I was crushed when it was canceled at Paramount, then thrilled when I learned it would be coming back. I knew Oliver Peck had been fired so I didn't expect him to come back, and I even expected Ryan Ashley to take his place if the show were to return. Well, it returned with new judges- Ryan Ashley, Nikko Hurtado, Ami James, and hosted by Joel Madden. Since Dave Navarro has "long Covid" and is unable to put in the hours necessary to film the show, Madden takes over as host and Dave pops by via video.

Well, the contestants are good, a bunch of retreads we have seen before- each of them interesting and irritating in their own way, but it's the judges that are hurting this season.

Ryan Ashley is so meek, I thought she would be a stronger personality, but she seems to eager to please.

Ami James is simple a mute. He has about a 15 word vocabulary and says very little during each episode. Nikko Hurtado is the best addition to the show- he appreciates the art, but is not afraid to get into the technical details- he is the closest this version of the show comes to the previous. Joel Madden does a decent job as host, and Navarro's video visits feel like those videos you see while you're on line for a ride at an amusement park. The fake interaction with the judges is obvious- we know he is not live, people, so please stop trying to fool us.

This show REALLY misses Chris Nunez. He was so good with his critiques, he didn't miss a single detail, and he didn't need to drop an F-bomb ever other word to get his point across. Even Oliver is very much missed here.

Finally, since this is on the streaming service, the curses aren't bleeped out. The old show's bleeps could get annoying, but this is way, way, worse. Every other word is an F-bomb and it's almost like they have been told to say it as often as possible in an effort to appear edgier than the old show. It's not edgy, it sounds uneducated and childish.

However, I hope the show comes back for more, and I sincerely hope at least Nunez returns (he could replace Ami and the show would be hugely upgraded). This is still a fun show to watch and seeing the artists at work is always the best part of it.