It’s not hard for a series – particularly a competition-based one – to become stale rather quickly.
The Great British Baking Show (aka The Great British Bake Off), despite heading into its 10th season and producing holiday specials and multiple spin-off series, remains as wonderful as ever.
Airing Friday nights on Netflix, the series maintains the same recipe it has since Paul Hollywood and company first entered the famed tent: a group of generally genial British amateur bakers create epicurean delights and disasters all while two comedians crack delightfully droll jokes at their and the judges’ expense.
The Great British Baking Show, unlike American food competition shows, is more about the personal and emotional journey of the bakers…and mouth-watering desserts. Unlike Chopped or Top Chef, TGBBS is a series that is about the creation and artistry of desserts, the personal/culinary journeys of the bakers, and how ridiculous Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding can be every episode. The hyper-anxiety and cutthroat competition where money, power, and success rides on every culinary decision that seems inherent in most U.S.-based food shows (with some exceptions like MasterChef Junior), is nowhere to be found in The Great British Baking Show. This makes for a wonderfully breezy, charming watch. It’s the perfect pop culture palette cleanser after a long week.
The series also works because of its adherence to its formula. You know every season you’re going to see a Biscuit Week, Pastry Week, Cake Week, etc. There’s no wild, gimmicky challenge employed to create hype or up the ante for the series. The adherence puts the “drama” of the series on how the amateur bakers react and create in each tried and true category. And yes, the series can be dramatic. It can be emotional. There are tears (from contestants and audiences alike). Yet, it’s handled in a way that’s never exploitative, but rather humane and sincere.
The Great British Baking Show is a lot like your favorite classic dessert. The recipe, when followed correctly, results in an absolutely delicious experience that gives you a short bit of relief after a long, arduous work week.
