So I finally got a chance to watch one of the replays of the first episode. Seems like this year they went with more people with professional cooking backgrounds. However, it could be that a lot more professional chefs applied this year after watching season one. I know the Los Angeles auditions were packed. Some observations:
Marcel is this year's Steven. While his cooking will probably be the most cutting edge in terms of technique and ingredients, that doesn't always translate to appeal and flavor. Like Steven, I think he's going to have a hard time in challenges that showcase more simple food, but he'll stick around for awhile just because of his experience. I mean, working under Joel Robuchon is no small thing.
Sam seems like this year's Harold without Harold's refinement in presentation but it was only the first episode. Like Harold, he's going to need more of a killer instict to beat the more aggresive contestants.
As the episodes go by, the contestants with less fine dining experience will start getting knocked off unless the format is completely different from last year. Although they placed high in the first episode, I think that Betty and Mia won't be around for that much longer once line skills start coming more into play. Elia and Michael probably won't stick around for that much longer either.
Carlos is not this year's Dave. He'll be gone very soon.
Otto's a mystery to me. He should have performed much better considering his background. But what he's done in episode 1 isn't a very good representation of the Culinary Institute of Las Vegas. But many culinary instructors are stuck in a "classical mode" so to speak. He may not have the ingenuity to stick around that long.