Face Off Season 5

Right now you can watch Face Off Season 5 on and — and it is more addictive than the premise lets on. A single, tightly-focused season means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. The casting and pacing are what separate this from the rest of the genre. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Face Off Season 5 is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Face Off Season 5 understands that the format only works if the people in it feel real. The fifth season of the Syfy reality television series Face Off premiered on August 13, 2013. The season features 16 prosthetic makeup artists competing against each other to create makeup effects. This is the first season to feature the return of eight prior contestants competing against eight new contestants. Glenn Hetrick and Michael Westmore lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2013. The format has been replicated endlessly since Face Off Season 5 first appeared, which is its own form of tribute. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Face Off Season 5 is impossible to watch casually — expect strong opinions. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Glenn Hetrick is a big part of why it works, but the format itself is the real star. The kind of thing that generates strong opinions in every room it is watched in.