I’ve been spending most of the precious little time I get to sit on the couch and let my mind wander watching the new season of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix…
Is it just me, or do the challenges this season seem overly complicated and kind of crazy? Because one of the reasons I used to love watching the show is that it gave me ideas for things I could make, like cakes and cookies I’d never seen before, but they were usually things I felt I could conceivably tackle.
Now, though, some of the challenges are crazy, like where they have to make baked hanging bread chandeliers and melting chocolate globes with layered cake tarts INSIDE THEM.
This season is also the first one ever with a vegan week, which, from a technical standpoint, is fascinating to me, because I never realized you could get that kind of lift without eggs and butter, but still…when am I gonna actually make a vegan celebration cake?
There are so many things on the show now that I can’t see myself ever baking because everything’s just so complicated. I dunno…maybe the show’s been on for so long that they felt like they had to get crazier and outdo themselves, but I miss the good ol’ Mary Berry days when the contestants would bake things I could maybe, possibly handle, like a black forest cake, a drizzle cake or a tray bake.
Ah! Take me back to that kinder, gentler time!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I also binged through all six seasons – although I had watched it on PBS too. It just never gets old – nice people being kind and supportive – such a great escape, plus BAKING. I agree that the stress level did go up this season – I think that’s the Prue effect, although I do love her and her crazy glasses and jewelry. The whole new cast is so much better than I dared hope – but no one can replace Mary Berry. Noel has that quirky, gentle humor, and Sandy is sharp and funny. Paul’s blue eyes…..ahhhh
Hi Kristine,
It took me a while to warm up to the new cast. The new guy, Noel, made me uncomfortable in the first season, but he and Sandy seem to be gelling more in the most recent one. I do miss the days of the simple tray bakes though!
I like the original cast the best. I have watched the “Masterclass” with Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and that is pretty good.
Hey Rachel,
Masterclass is so good! The chemistry between Mary Berry and Paul is great. They’re so funny together. 🙂
I could not agree more! A selfie made out of biscuits?!?! That is absurd.
I also hate shows where the contestants are given unreasonable times to complete something. Half of them end up just slopping something on to the plate in the last second.
I liked when they were all able to complete the challenge, and there were a couple of real stand out bakes at the end. To me, that is more of a celebration of baking and way more enjoyable to watch.
Hi Michelle,
It was so nuts, and the tasks expected of the bakers seemed ridiculous. And didn’t it seem like Paul Hollywood was handing out handshakes left and right?
Girl, don’t get me started on this. The new season seems super technical to me too.
However, having said that, I’m sorely disappointed in the American version that they’ve put on Hulu. I think it’s called The Great American Baking Show Holiday Edition and it features Paul Hollywood and some woman I’ve never heard of.
The challenges are so easy I’m almost embarrassed for us Americans. I don’t even think they can be considered challenges. Like for the first episode, I think they made coffee cake.
If you want more frustration in your life, scroll over to Zumbo’s Just Desserts on Netflix. So amazingly technical that it blows my mind. You must investigate.
p.s. How did Connor do over Christmas? I trust her haul was sufficient?
Oh no! I’ve never watched the American version because I remember reading somewhere that there was some scandal involving Paul Hollywood and one of the hosts. After that I was just like, NO. lol
Connor had such a fun time at Christmas, thanks for asking. She’s most excited about her pink bike and Hello Kitty helmet!
I’ve been debating whether to try that show or not. The competitions on The Food Network really turned me off of that kind of thing ages ago. Such stupid challenges and fake drama! But British tv is so much better, I thought it might be worth a look. Also, Mary Berry rocks.
We now watch British tv almost exclusively. There are words that I can no longer pronounce the American way without them sounding very wrong, like “literally”. My girls keep talking about all these actors I’ve never heard of and I’m like “which series of Midsommer Murders were they on?”. For some reason, they look at me like I’m crazy… ?
Hey Suzanne,
Give it a try! The first few seasons with Mary Berry are really good, and the reason why I started watching the show in the first place is because the competition is so different compared to American cooking shows. There’s support and kindness and just good people all around. And it will inspire you to bake your booty off. 🙂
Haha, I love Midsomer Murders and all the other British murder mysteries! I love seeing all the common actors, including before Downton Abbey made them famous. ?
The challenges were crazy this last season! The vegan week and Danish week?
I still love it. Hettie and I watch it pretty regularly.
Hi Chelsea,
This season was cray! I miss the kinder, gentler tray bake days, and was it me or was Paul Hollywood giving out handshakes left and right?
You’re lucky to have Hettie as your co-pilot, because Tabs refuses to watch it with me!
Hettie loves anything involving sitting on the couch! She sometimes gets a little needy and asks you to hold her paw, it’s very sweet.
Aww, that’s so sweet! I love that she’s so affectionate. Sweet Hettie!
I never watched the show, but I tend to stick to easier recipes that take longer to eat than to make.
The Mary Berry seasons are good!
I love the British Bake Off. Wish they had more episodes. I just love the baking shows.sharon
I’m obsessed with the Great British Bake Off! I’ve watched all the seasons available on Netflix, but what’s with seasons 1 & 2 still being unavailable?? Don’t get it! I also loved the Mary Berry days & the original hosts as well, but I still won’t stop watching the show anytime soon! Did you see the two Christmas specials they just posted on Netflix?
Hi Karen,
I don’t know if you can access it, but you might want to try the Canadian version — it features Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) as one of the hosts. Generally I feel like most Canadian versions of international formats miss the mark, but I was actually quite pleased with this one. Dan is wonderful, and while I was unsure of the judges during the first season, but they won me over during this past Season 2 (I mean, it’s no OG Mary Berry / PH combo…). Hope you had a wonderful Christmas — all the best for 2019!
More #GBBO fans! I agree with other commenters that the new hosts seem to have found their groove in their second season. I also totally agree with you on the challenges. They used to spend more time detailing the techniques so maaaaaybe you could do it at home. I still miss Mary, Mel & Sue. And, yes! Those Hollywood handshakes were flowing like water! My husband and I were talking about it and perhaps after so many seasons, the calibre of amateur bakers has risen to the level of a HH (Hollywood handshake)? We really love this show.
Hi Lynne,
I really miss Mary. I think she and Paul had great chemistry!
Did you know Mary hosts another competition cooking show? It’s for best home cooks or something like that. I watched a few eps and was like, “eh.”
What! I’m going to have to find it. I saw the first season (sounds like the same show) but it was hosted by Nadia, a contestant from GBBO.
It’s called Britain’s Best Home Cook and I’m pretty sure it was on Hulu. I mean, I always think it’s cool to see what regular people can whip up in the kitchen because I can totally relate, but the stakes don’t seem as high as they are on GBBO, and the end result, to me, is rarely as beautiful as a baked item. Still might be fun to watch though if you love Mary Berry (and I do). 🙂