Ellaria

Nope. There isn't enough money in the world to get me to do that.

Superficial comment: Corey gets cuter with every episode.

Love the final 3! Such a great season.

Love Rob and Corey!

Good work, Steve

Nice job, Corey!

I’m going to be hearing “Come on, Dad” in my sleep.

I laughed out loud at this comment. Yes…R&C should have stayed silent so I didn’t have to hear “Come on, Dad” throughout the rest of the episode. Anna Leigh is a strong racer but she is tiresome.

How many times can AL yell “Come on, Dad” in one episode?

Happy with the results. Seems like a good guy.

I love Matty. He has a great attitude and is fun to watch. I like Josh, He doesn’t get the credit that he deserves and I don’t understand why. Dan annoys me to no end. He has been a bit overconfident. Maybe that will change coming out of this week. Alison is a great addition. She is entertaining without being annoying or outrageous. Noel, on the other hand, is wearing out his welcome.

Powerful episode! I was hesitant to watch because I wasn’t sure how it could bring anything different to this moment. While I don’t think that it offered a new perspective, it was well-done. I’m not a huge Dominic West fan but, wow, he was incredible in this episode. He may be an odd choice to play Charles - to me, anyway - but he seized an opportunity here. A sad episode but I will certainly watch it again. I particularly loved the scene of the lights turning on at Balmoral as the word spread.

A few thoughts because my reactions to this season are mixed and complicated. I still love this show but I love the characters together and not apart and, IMO, there was too much of that this season. Since we are so close to the end, I’m comfortable saying that the character arcs were poorly paced. I won’t repeat my complaints about Keeley’s because others have said it better. Nate is another issue. I’m fine with the show telling us that he deserves a second chance. However, I’m not fine with much of it happening off screen. What happened at West Ham that drove him out? It’s being hinted that Rupert’s bad behavior (sexual harassment, etc) may have been cause. Why not provide more insight into Nate’s thought process or decision making? Equally, I love that the Richmond players want him back but why not show us their process in making that decision? Giving a second chance to someone that has hurt you or disappointed you is not easy or automatic. It should come with a certain amount of reflection and discussion. I love the scenes of the Richmond players together. Too often it is comedic; this was an opportunity to take it in a more serious tone. Finally, I loved Jamie’s visit home. His mom is great. My only complaint: the scene with his dad (in rehab?) was too brief. It took me awhile to recognize his dad (cleaned up and smiling) and then to figure that it was likely a rehab facility. Maybe a bit more time could have been spent establishing that fact. Regardless, I love this show and will be terribly sad to see it end.

There was way too much of Keeley/Jack and Nate/Jade. These are just not the relationships that interest me. The writers obviously believe that this amount of screen time is important to the story arcs of these characters. I’m not sure that I agree. It is pulling too much time away from the heart of this show which, for me, is Ted, Beard, Rebecca and the team. Loved the scene between Henry and Beard. So sweet. Hopefully Ted is now able to move on from Michele’s relationship with Dr. Jacob. I would like to have seen more of “what happens next” between Colin and Isaac rather than push it into another episode. Again, that’s a friendship that interests me. Love that Trent has joined the Diamond Dogs.

Finally…an episode where the true heart of the show was on full display. So much warmth and companionship, especially Higgins & Will and Trent & Colin. Was thinking the same thing: that coat would not fare well in that dryer. Love seeing Rebecca happy as well. Maybe it was a bit too cute and perfect but I enjoyed it. Agree with these comments on Keeley’s storyline. I’m confused about the choices made to remove her from nearly everyone else’s story. I assume that there is a goal in mind but, regardless, the journey isn’t engaging.

Keeley was never one of my favorites either. I don't dislike her. I'm just not invested enough in the character to warrant extended screen time away from the team and Ted. We are supposed to be watching her professional growth into a competent buisness women yet she isn't armed with basic knowledge. Not knowing what a CFO is? Not knowing anything about the a major investor? It seems that the show is doing the character a disservice but I guess that they are choosing to have her "learn on the job." Zava dominated much of the team interactions so, now that he is gone, we will hopefully see more of Sam, Dani, etc. I am particularly interested in Colin and how his story is presented. Ted needs to find his place this season. He seems to be on the outside of every storyline.

That was a masterpiece. Everything about it: the acting, writing, directing. The way this episode moved from character to character; from the boat to the plane. Emotionally raw and devastating. One of the best episodes of TV ever. I’m surprised that Logan died so early in the season. What comes next will be quite a ride.

The judges didn’t try the extra bakes, did they? That was Sandro’s downfall from the start - trying to do too much. Seemed like time constraints were an issue again, particularly in the technical. The showstoppers weren’t especially impressive. They looked like the bakes they’ve been doing every week. This season wasn’t great. The bakers themselves seem like lovely people. However, time constraints and silly challenges (tacos, spring rolls) didn’t highlight their abilities as bakers.

Please go back and re-read my post. I think that you are confusing my two statements.

I loved this season. Thought it was much better than S4 which was swallowed up by the early Charles/Diana drama. These characters felt lived in; accustomed to being unhappy with their lives and weary of the limitations placed on them. I was skeptical of the casting of Dominic West but he was brilliant in showing Charles’ discontent, hubris and self-importance. Jonny Lee Miller was terrific. He was the voice of reason to the viewers as well as the royal family. I think that the show was fair in its presentation of Diana and her choices and how those choices affected everyone around her.

This episode was sad and tiresome…and I think it was intended to be. That final scene between the two of them was well executed. It captured the pleasant superficialities that first brought them to together and ended with hurt and bitterness. So sad.

There was knowledge of eating disorders in the late ‘70s. I was in college and a young woman in my dorm suffered. I also love Imelda Staunton in this role. She is perfect. I’ve seen her in many other roles so I don’t make an immediate connection to to Dolores Umbridge.

Glad that Abdul was named Star Baker. He is easy to root for because he isn’t taking any of it too seriously and is genuinely trying to improve. Sandro keeps doing what they warn him not to do. Janusz seemed like a good guy and I was sorry to see him go. Syabira seems destined for the win. Overall, this season has been disappointing but not due to the bakers themselves. The overly complicated challenges and the limits on time defeat the end goal of achieving beautiful looking, tasty creations. Or maybe that’s no longer the end goal of the show.

Hindsight makes this an interesting discussion. If I was in her situation, I would haven chosen a “tell all” interview, too, and given little thought to the consequences. It’s hard to imagine the frustration that she must have experienced. However, I wish that she had confided in someone who could have advised her appropriately.

Well said and quite perceptive. I completely agree that these roles are cast to support the perspective that the writing will take for that season.