[Epic.]

I don't even know where to start. Okay Elizabeth had no chance because she was "impossible to work with" but her charisma and drive still would've made her a more entertaining finalist, albeit an unlikely one. Joanna's wasn't perfect with the whole lack of experience thing but it was hugely aspirational and more than one were positive with her. Then Michaela. I mean what the ****. She may have multiple businesses but she earned millions from it. Even if she did do less attention on Sugar's business because of the amount she had to work with, he'd still be getting a high amount of income, and based on her work ethic, potentially a multi-millionaire.

These two are just... wtf. For one, the rookie James has so little business acument and too much expectations for what he can do. His business plan is cheap as a simple IT recruitment and even though I can see Lord Sugar investing in it, Joanna and especially Michaela's were far more investable. He's probably a very likely winner judging by his competition or lack thereof, but I just don't see him having as much drive as the people who got fired.

Then there's Sarah. Good god what was this? By far had the worst business plan and I don't just say that as my opinion. The interviewers had nothing positive to say about her and she has such an obviously large number of problems. From the fact that her business plan is completely unoriginal and a carbon copy of other ones with the exact same kind of product, to the fact that she doesn't even have a website for this. After a whopping seven years of it! That not only speaks being cautious, but it also shows a lack of commitment to what she claims to be an investable business plan. It's just sweets! The interviewers ripped her apart and I don't recall them saying one thing credible about what she's doing and yet she's gotten all the way to the last week?!?

But just as importantly, why is the final 2 two of the most boring candidates they've had?! James took a good seven weeks to even be that visible, and it was Week 7 where he had one of the worst project manager tasks, only winning his second time because ironically Liz and Joanna were what saved him. He's just Courtney from last year but with extra strawberry. I think he got far better and less boring over time but he's still outlassed by a couple others, including ones who were already fired before this. As for Sarah, possibly the most invisible finalist yet! It's not just that I thought she had the worst business plan out of everyone. It's that she lacks so much substance and I never thought Lord Sugar would want to invest in someone who's such a cautious and over-peaceful personality, especially in the business world. We all know who the better Sarah is

And even if both of these business plans were actually credible, the reality is that the series just didn't feel like it was building up to it. You could make the argument for James I suppose but not when his personality is just a more expressive version of Sarah's, who by the way I don't know why has lasted this long! And WHY is potential multi-millionaire Michaela not in the final? Claude even called her "too good" so how is she not credible?! She's also more entertaining than these two so win-win.

I've speculated about this final 2 happening for weeks now just because these two were the only "normal" ones and I've always added I thought it would be the worst the show has dished out. Several times I've been met with the "Ricky vs Tom from series 8 is worse" line, but at least you can make the argument both of them were a bigger part of the series. Had I actually even got to know who James & Sarah were much more than I had then maybe I would enjoy this. But as it stands, not really bothered about Sunday night, James to win or whatever

[Barry.]

Do we take notes?

[MB.]

Originally Posted by Epic.

We all know who the better Sarah is

[RileyH]

Sarah Jayne was the best candidate this year

Sarah Plain has her moments but ultimately should've gone tonight

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Bah HuMBug

wig snatch

[Oaker]

Originally Posted by Bah HuMBug

lmao legend

[TomC]

I mean I don't think it's the worst in terms of likeability, or competence. Sarah and James are both perfectly pleasant people, and have gotten on just fine in the tasks; in fact, objectively, I'd say they were the best performers of the Final Five.

I do, however, understand your point with regards to the editing/narrative of the series. Series 13 was all about ****ing Michaela, Liz and Jo! The truth is, we just don't know who Sarah and James are. Maybe if they'd been given more airtime this final would be more interesting, but as it stands, it feels like all the emotion/heart/colour has been stripped from this series, and the final feels very lackluster as I just...don't really care who wins?

It really could have been one of the most exciting finals of all time. I'm not angry James and Sarah are the finalists, I'm angry at the producers for letting us buy into the other three to such an extent most of the viewers don't give a fack about the final 2.

[Wizard.]

It's time for a second chance series consisting of Ruth, Charlene, Jessica, Siobhan, Elizabeth, Michaela and Joanna

[Matthew.]

This is my first series and I’m getting the impression that the entertaining ones get booted off after the interviews and the bland ones are through to the final

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Matthew Noelan

This is my first series and I’m getting the impression that the entertaining ones get booted off after the interviews and the bland ones are through to the final

Sometimes and sometimes not. Most of the last few years, people I actually cared for went through to the final.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Mariah Christmas

It's time for a second chance series consisting of Ruth, Charlene, Jessica, Siobhan, Elizabeth, Michaela and Joanna

Yes

Series 10's messy trio too

[EspeonBB]

Originally Posted by Matthew Noelan

This is my first series and I’m getting the impression that the entertaining ones get booted off after the interviews and the bland ones are through to the final

I think this is the first year (at least in a while) that both finalists are bland, usually there's at least one entertaining candidate in the final

[Epic.]

Originally Posted by EspeonBB

I think this is the first year (at least in a while) that both finalists are bland, usually there's at least one entertaining candidate in the final

Yeah, like last year Alana was way more entertaining and memorable of a candidate than Courtney was and that resulted in her very easy win.

[Oaker]

tbf though I feel like I'd rather have a final with 2 candidates who I don't love or hate than have a final where someone I love gets beaten by someone I hate? (Maybe I'm just not over 2014's final yet )

[GoldHeart]

The producers and editing gave away who gets far in the process .

Always knew mad Lizzy would get to the interview stage for a laugh .
Sarah was always slowly getting through each week quietly and I always knew she'd make it far despite being boring ,I expected more from her I thought she'd be a dark horse but she was more in the background .

James already had his place in the final from week 1, Sugar will invest as he likes his business despite bad stuff being revealed in the interviews , they picked holes in him and even called him dishonest but he'll probably still win.

Michaela is too messy and frantic , she conducts herself badly but her successful fortune means she never needed Sugar's money , his eyes lit up though at the thought of her making him more money but he knew she'd waste his time, but i still knew she'd get this far.

Joanna's age and inexperience went against her ,but her website looks like a proper retail shop .I knew she wouldn't get to the final but atleast she made the interviews.

[Epic.]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

The producers and editing gave away who gets far in the process .

Sarah getting all the way to the Final 2 wasn't something anyone saw coming though! Including the small number of people who actually liked her credibility. The interviewers crucified her ridiculously, far more than anyone else. It's like if Solomon from S10 had gotten all the way to the final even though all he was doing was pictures of sailboats

[Strictly Jake]

Yeah it's such an odd choice I was rooting for Michaela vs Joanna final!!