Discussion
As a final "showstopper" even the winner wasn't up to much compared with other finals. I wonder if the producers will have a think about changing anything for next years series? I enjoyed this series but it really did emphasise that it's just a bit of TV entertainment rather than a bid to find a really good baker. Though I think they have also done that once or twice before.
Randy Winkman said:
As a final "showstopper" even the winner wasn't up to much compared with other finals. I wonder if the producers will have a think about changing anything for next years series? I enjoyed this series but it really did emphasise that it's just a bit of TV entertainment rather than a bid to find a really good baker. Though I think they have also done that once or twice before.
Yeah I agree with that, I can't remember now but it does feel inconsistent to me. I'm sure they've given people a "pass" on some weeks based on their previous overall performance and in the final I certainly don't feel it's right to award the overall winner and say it was based on that week alone. Even then, it was only the showstopper that Matt did really well at. His technical literally wasn't baked and his signature was just ok.I think Josh was robbed tbh but Matt was such a lovely guy and he really did develop week on week, he's a much better baker now than when he started.
I did find the whole episode very underwhelming if I'm honest, the usual cut aways to family life are getting very X-factor feeling now and the challenges themselves felt basic. A final showstopper where they just made tiered sponge cakes was literally week one stuff. Although probably more on the contestants for all playing it safe but what else were they going to do?
They did say, before this series began, that they were going back to basics based on viewer feedback. I think people were tired of contestants mucking up strange foreign cakes no one had heard of, let alone tasted or even seen.
Having said that, a three tier sponge cake that wasn't even decorated in a very elaborate way is really not the stuff off the grand final!
Having said that, a three tier sponge cake that wasn't even decorated in a very elaborate way is really not the stuff off the grand final!
eccles said:
They did say, before this series began, that they were going back to basics based on viewer feedback. I think people were tired of contestants mucking up strange foreign cakes no one had heard of, let alone tasted or even seen.
Having said that, a three tier sponge cake that wasn't even decorated in a very elaborate way is really not the stuff off the grand final!
Maybe the producers figured if they set a fairly basic challenge the bakers would do something spectacular with it?Having said that, a three tier sponge cake that wasn't even decorated in a very elaborate way is really not the stuff off the grand final!
I still think a big part of the issue is the ridiculous time limits they put on everything. I get that you have to have some limits, but we see over and over again that contestants offer up some underbaked or undecorated rubbish simply because they are being rushed to present something within an artificial time limit. It's not a true test of baking skill. You would think that in the final showstopper they could at least give them some extra time to really show the best of what they can do, not simply what they can rush out before the clock ticks down. You wouldn't do that if you were baking at home and you wouldn't do that in a professional setting for a client.
I don't mind the time limits too much, particularly for the technicals. I think it would be a bit boring if they were judging 12 identical bakes with only very fine margins to separate them...
Similarly, if I wanted to see some grandiose cakes made with loads of time, I'd watch something else.
Similarly, if I wanted to see some grandiose cakes made with loads of time, I'd watch something else.
rider73 said:
poor finale in terms of bakes for a long time - pretty poor standard i thought most of the season ................
True but think that's what made this season great, it was so competitive. The time limits do irk me on some when they've clearly misjudged how long it's going to take people and Paul stands there for multiple peoples bakes saying; "it needed longer proving, longer baking and longer cooling. Oh and you could have spent longer on the decoration."
Like how?
TikTak said:
True but think that's what made this season great, it was so competitive.
The time limits do irk me on some when they've clearly misjudged how long it's going to take people and Paul stands there for multiple peoples bakes saying; "it needed longer proving, longer baking and longer cooling. Oh and you could have spent longer on the decoration."
Like how?
Yeah he said that to Josh, told him he could have spent "an extra 30 mins" smoothing it out and adding to it The time limits do irk me on some when they've clearly misjudged how long it's going to take people and Paul stands there for multiple peoples bakes saying; "it needed longer proving, longer baking and longer cooling. Oh and you could have spent longer on the decoration."
Like how?
When?? And given Matts wasn't even covered fully I thought it was overly harsh. Managed to catch up on the final last night. I liked all 3 finalists but I think a worthy winner.
I much preferred this years show to some of the more recent ones. Although the standard of baking may not have been as high the characters where easier to watch without being me me me types.
I much preferred this years show to some of the more recent ones. Although the standard of baking may not have been as high the characters where easier to watch without being me me me types.
Swervin_Mervin said:
Am I misremembering, but didn't older series (perhaps when it was BBC) do the final showstopper over 2 days? So they'd have 2-3 hours to get the baking done and then time the day after to get it all together?
There have been occasional rounds where they've had to make a particular type of dough or pastry and leave it to prove or rest overnight to use the next day, but it was never a set thing to break it over two days.12TS said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
Am I misremembering, but didn't older series (perhaps when it was BBC) do the final showstopper over 2 days? So they'd have 2-3 hours to get the baking done and then time the day after to get it all together?
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