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Really enjoyed the first episode. It's a very interesting setup with the four different areas of the world, each with their own challenges. I'm curious to see how things progress, since Team North America spent an entire day in one location (climbing that wall), when other teams were covering hundreds of kilometers per day. Love seeing all the different modes of transportation and navigation challenges.

Allen Leech is starring in a new Hallmark movie, "As Luck Would Have It," premiering April 10: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/as-luck-would-have-it

I read the follow-up books that were written by the series' writer. Not quite as good as watching it acted out, but it satisfied my need for further stories with the characters and not ending with the cliffhanger.

This was the first thing Sal made that I really didn't care for, and I was surprised at how off-brief her design was. I liked Henry and will miss him but it was the right call. Agree about Jodie's wolf being very drab in color. Hannah's macaw turned out much better than I thought it would. I preferred Peter's octopus to Adam's, even though it was less successful at the fountain aspect. I loved the okapi and the detail on the baskets and blanket.

I laughed so hard at the cut from him talking about how strong he is to an immediate shot of him doubled over. The editors don't like him.

I definitely agree that height was a big factor in getting the bricks right, but Sal is also very short and managed better than Suz and Irina. I agree with all @ElectricBoogaloo said regarding all the buildings. I would have been OK with Adam winning POtW because of all the intricate detail on his fairy building and the magical quality of the light, which seemed very well planned on his end.

I agree about Liam. I understand people liking his cheeky personality, but he's never been a favorite of mine. I wonder about the lower age limit on this show, I think 10 might be a little too young. I'd like to see them change it to a minimum of 12 years old.

I always notice the red rings around his eyes, sometimes more visible than others.

I do recognize the much-younger Mary, but it's so disconcerting to watch her cough into her hand, touch her nose, and keep right on making the cake. Yuck.

I had no problem with the judge's decision. Hermine's signature had the wrong texture (underproved), and looked worse than Laura's, which weren't perfect but had great texture and flavor. And in the showstopper, it was only the mirror glaze that let Laura down. Even though she did all one flavor, there were many layers which all had the proper textures and great flavors. I am astonished by how messy Laura's bench and apron always are - that mirror glaze spilling all over must have taken quite a while to clean up! But I did appreciate her reiterating that she is a home baker, and these increasingly hard bakes are really challenging her. I love that she doesn't give up. I said earlier that I never warmed up to Hermine, but I don't actively dislike her, and she is obviously a great baker. I was very happy for Peter, he had a great attitude throughout. Love that he didn't use alcohol in his Savarin but still wowed the judges with flavor, and I was really impressed with his showstopper. Was Dave the only one who baked his support/trays for the showstopper? He also did well but I am rooting for Peter over him in the final.

Add me to the list! Hermine is a very good baker, but I have not been able to warm up to her at all. Her voice and her affect combine to make it hard for me to even understand half of what she says.

He was joking - they all laughed when he said it.

I'm really sorry to see Lottie go, but 11 seasons in the bakers have got to know that it's going to be hot in the tent. They need to think through their strategies for what to make and how to organize their process to have the best chance. Don't plan to coat your cake in ice cream! Marc was so smart to wrap the joconde around his cake. Hermine had fewer fussy elements but presented them creatively. I love Noel and Matt, but I do feel like Noel has been a bit more intrusive over the last couple of seasons. Don't stand there having extended conversations when the bakers are working. Make a quip (if you must) and move on.

I always assumed it was somehow a result of the fire, something she breathed in but it was never explained.

I think part of the problem, and likely why Hermine didn't win Star Baker, is that her cage looked so thick and heavy compared to everyone else's. I would have grabbed it with extra force, too, expecting it to be heavier.

I have a really hard time understanding Hermine sometimes. I find myself rewinding and re-listening a lot. Tanya Ott (from the last season of the Great American Baking Show) posted a recipe for Clotted Cream here. Like others, I wasn't sure at first about Lottie but I really like her. This show is saving my sanity at this point.

So that's what that Hershey's Gold bar is? I tried one and it was gross. I might try caramelizing my own white chocolate. On Extra Slice, Mak said that he did turn his oven up to help make the macaroons more golden (and it worked). I don't mind the sculpting challenges to a point. It shows who takes the easy route (gingerbread) vs who tries something more original but understands the characteristics of their chosen biscuit well enough to make it work. I was impressed by Linda using shortbread successfully and Sura making speculoos biscuits.

I heard or read somewhere (interview or podcast with a former baker) that the producers realized there was a lot of sitting around time while things were in the oven. There is only so much footage anyone wants to watch of the bakers on their knees looking in the oven or sitting on a stool with a cuppa, so they added elements that kept the bakers busier and provided more action for viewers.

I was pulling for Melissa all season and am so very happy she won! I also loved Stephanie's growth over the course of the show. I met Melissa at a cooking demo she did at UC Irvine a few years back and she could not have been cooler or nicer in person. So many tears rolled down my cheeks during the episode and next Thursday night will suck with nothing to watch. When I saw on her Insta that Melissa pledged to donate the fan favorite prize (if she won), it sparked hope that her generosity was in part because she knew she won the $250k already.

I had a burst disc (C6/7) that impinged in a way that caused me to lose the use of my left arm for a few weeks. It was the worst pain I have ever had in my life. I did have surgery and after PT my arm is fine. I was lucky it was the lowest neck vertebrae so I didn't lose much range of motion. I wish you relief as soon as possible! The videos the final 3 made are killing me - I will be so sad not to have these amazing, multi-talented people on my tv after this week.

I agree, the decorative/imaginative aspect of this challenge really played to her strengths. Since watching, I've been pondering what the producers and judges value when selecting a winner in terms of balancing construction and design/decoration skills.

Ahhh I thought you were being sarcastic in saying "how original."

I love, love, LOVE Race Across the World and am so happy that Season 2 has started. I adore it for all of the reasons you stated above (non-famewhore casting, beautifully filmed, divergent paths, less obvious manipulation, etc.). The second season already has more language barrier issues than the first did, because of the location.

Well, it was two women (Mel and Sue) for most of the series.

Agree wholeheartedly on Val's 60's fashion - it's divine! Was Beryl taking birth control pills, and then she threw them out at the end? I couldn't see the box clearly enough or really understand what that angle was all about. She had basically raised her sister so didn't want kids, then realized how nice it was to have a baby? I don't think Sister Frances realizes that Dr. McNulty has a drug problem yet, but I think Dr. Turner suspects. Sister Frances was upset just about the way he handled that birth, from what I can tell.