Ep 6. Outbreak!

In the sixth episode of Halloween Wars season 8, titled "Outbreak!", the remaining four teams are tasked with creating pumpkin-carved characters that have succumbed to strange illnesses. With one person from each team facing off against each other, they must use their pumpkin carving skills to create characters that have become victims of malicious viruses.

The judges will be looking for a high level of creativity as well as how well the teams incorporate the theme of illness into their designs. A panel of judges consisting of special effects artist Brian Kinney, cake decorator Shinmin Li, and filmmaker and horror-themed entertainment specialist Todd Tucker will evaluate the teams' work and provide expert feedback throughout the competition.

As the contestants begin to carve their pumpkins, they also must think about the backstory of their sick characters and how to tell their story through the pumpkin design. The competitors only have two and half hours to complete their pumpkin carving, so they must manage their time well and make sure every stroke counts. One of the teams creates an incredibly complex design that features a character with multiple lumps and extreme facial disfigurements. The team is thrilled with the result, but the judges are not completely on board and they give the team constructive criticism that they can use to perfect their work for the next level of the competition.

Another team struggles with the intricacies of carving their pumpkin and they fall behind. They have to find ways to streamline their carving and make sure they still tell a compelling story.

As the hour draws to a close, the pumpkin characters are taking shape, and the judges arrive to assess the crafts. The contestants give their explanations and stories of their carved pumpkins, hoping that they will sway the judges in their favor.

In the end, one of the teams will be eliminated from the competition, and the judges will pick a winner. The team that wins the challenge will get a significant advantage in the main event, where they will work together to create a more ambitious design. The stakes are high, and they will need all their creativity and skillsets to win this challenge and move on to the next round. Who will bring their A-game and emerge victorious? Tune in to find out on Outbreak!, episode six of Halloween Wars season 8.