Ep 16. Ink Live

Ink Master season 5 episode 16, titled "Ink Live," is an exciting finale episode that sees the contestants fight it out in a live tattoo challenge in front of a packed audience. The episode starts with the remaining three contestants - Roly, Jason, and Cleen - reflecting on their Ink Master journey so far and weighing their chances of winning the competition.

Before the live challenge begins, the artists gather at the Ink Master offices to get a chance to review their competition. They are greeted with a twist that has never been seen in previous seasons, where they get to select their own teams from a pool of previously eliminated contestants. Roly decides to select in-form Alex as his partner while Jason chooses his good friend and fellow Texan, Aaron. Cleen, on the other hand, picks Matti as his partner, a move that surprises the other artists as Matti was not seen as a standout performer in previous challenges.

Hosts Dave Navarro and Chris Nunez announce that the ink live challenge is a six-hour tattoo marathon where the contestants and their partners must work together to produce a cohesive live piece that represents their artistic style. The tattoos are to be judged by the judges and a live audience, adding to the pressure already on the contestants.

As the challenge begins, tensions run high as the artists struggle to find common ground with their partners, with some past conflicts bubbling up to the surface. However, as the hours tick by, most of the contestants manage to find their rhythm, producing impressive tattoos that are a testament to their skill and creativity.

As the six-hour deadline approaches, the contestants scramble to finish their masterpieces, with some struggling to complete their tattoos on time. The judges step in to assist the artists, giving them advice on how to finalize their tattoos and avoid common mistakes that could ruin their work.

As soon as all tattoos are completed, the judges and the live audience get a chance to study each work of art up close, looking for standout details and exemplary craftsmanship. They collectively vote for their favorite tattoo, with the winner receiving a prize of $100,000, a feature in Inked Magazine, and the title of Ink Master.

After all the votes are tallied, the live audience is asked to leave the arena, and the judges announce the winner of Ink Master season 5. As expected, the finale is an emotional affair, with many tears shed and hugs exchanged between the contestants and their partners.

Overall, "Ink Live" is an exhilarating finale episode that showcases the best of what Ink Master has to offer. The live tattoo challenge is a great twist that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, while the contestants' partnerships add an interesting new dimension to the competition. Fans of Ink Master will not be disappointed with this thrilling final episode.