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dargosmydaddy

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    S13.E10: The Final

    in The Great British Bake Off

    Quote

    Was the audition process different this year? The skill level of the bakers last season was so much better than this season, and I’m just trying to figure out why.

    Quote

    I do agree that overall, the caliber of the bakers and the bakes doesn't seem as good as even the previous season. 

    Could it be that this season didn't compare to last season in part because last season was sequestered due to lock down, and this season was not?

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but last season's bakers only had to focus on baking, and had practice time and ingredients provided to them. Granted both the time and ingredients probably weren't limitless, but I would imagine they were still given ample of each, and had the remaining time to research/ plan/ pick the brains of the other bakers, etc., whereas this crew had to go back to their normal lives, kitchens, jobs, etc. each week. When Paul said something about, "well, if they practiced everything," leading up to the final showstopper, and then looked all judgmental when Syabira admitted she hadn't practiced doing everything in the time... like, she has a job, Paul. Similarly, I doubt Sandro could practice whatever it was from the previous week that had the 24 eggs in it more than once. And Abdel seemed to consistently have trouble with slightly under/ over baking things, and mentioned on one of the pastry challenges that he'd never had butter leak before-- to me that spoke to a big difference between the tent oven and his home oven. 

    Granted I still don't think any of these three were at the level of Giuseppe/ Jurgen/ Chigs/ Crystelle, but I think the aforementioned conditions were a major reason why there seemed to be such a huge gap in quality between this season and last season.

    Of course these bakers were baking under the same constraints as ten years' worth of pre-COVID bakers, but the producers keep upping the ante to ridiculous lengths, and maybe last year's successes made them think they could continue pushing it and everyone would magically rise to the challenge.

    I did enjoy this year's group, so I'm not feeling as negative towards the season as some people clearly are, but it was admittedly a pretty lackluster final showstopper. 

    I remember being taken aback a few years ago when one of the (pre-COVID) winners said that he'd had an eliminated previous contestant practice his final signature challenge for him (taking copious notes about each step) because he just didn't have time to practice. Maybe it's time the producers realize if you're going to use real home bakers, you need to give them challenges they can actually make/ practice at home without quitting their jobs.

    • Like 1

    Erin and Chad: Fifty Shades of Pink

    in Bringing Up Bates

    2 hours ago, 65mickey said:

    When she showed Carson's room recently she had the baby stuffed in a closet in his room. So has she moved her out to the girl's room?

    They said the Murphy bed for Finley was for when she was ready for a bed... presumably she's still in Carson's closet until then.

    • LOL 1

    S13.E05: Dessert Week

    in The Great British Bake Off

    I'm late to the party for most seasons of GBBO and this one's no exception, but just wanted to say that Kevin is my favorite. I love his accent, and he seems sweet and funny. I also really like Abdul, who has also been mostly forgotten about.

    I've managed to remain unspoiled, but I know it's likely that both my boys will be out in the next few weeks. Still, I'd love for one of them to turn out to be the dark horse of the series.

    That said, a Janusz/ Maxy/ Sandro final would be lovely-- they're all so positive and bubbly, as well as competent and unflappable. And I really like Syabira, too. Dawn's also fine, but I kind of hope she's the next to go just because I like everyone else better.

    Spoilers/Speculations

    in Grantchester

    2 hours ago, Gillian Rosh said:

    Do we know when season 8 is coming?

    A quick Google search shows March 24 in the UK, but I would imagine it will be summer again on PBS (I think the last few seasons have been June/ July?).

    • Like 1

    Jill, Derick & the Kids: Moving On!!

    in Counting On

    25 minutes ago, jschoolgirl said:

    I am sure Jill has heard of CtM.

    I cannot imagine she is a regular watcher of a show that features storylines involving abortion, closeted gay men, premarital sex, being intersex, bigamy, and incest, along with whatever other topics I have forgotten about.

    I hope she is a regular watcher; it could be good for her.

    That was my thought as well... She knows of the show's existence, and thought mentioning it would be a good way to "engage" with her followers.

    • Like 2
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    Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!

    in Bringing Up Bates

    Putting the mother's maiden name on the birth certificate makes sense to me... lots of information is put on a birth certificate... I'm still not seeing why the baby would be solely labeled as "Bates" on her bassinet if that is not the current legal last name of either of her parents.

    Though again, perhaps Katie just never got around to actually changing her name? (Although I would think that would be up there on a fundy girl's post-wedding to-do list, so they're not mistaken for some heathen living in sin.)

    • Like 4
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    Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!

    in Bringing Up Bates

    3 minutes ago, Dehumidifier said:

    Well, not every woman giving birth is married so it is the safest way.

    Wouldn't the "safest" way be to use the mother's legal name, which in many cases would be her married name, not her maiden name? 

    Unless Katie never got around to legally changing her name to Clark (which I guess could be possible), it would be weird for her to be listed as "Bates."

    • Like 5
    • Applause 1
    • Useful 2

    All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

    in All Creatures Great And Small (2021)

    I've read the books; never watched the first series. I greatly enjoyed watching series one and two. I don't care that it deviates from the books, and I think the deviations in terms of character development (making Mrs. Hall and Jenny actual human beings instead of the nonentities they are in the books, and the depth they've given to the Siegfried/ Tristan relationship) have been excellent. 

    That said, I thought series three was a let down in terms of all the contrivances. The writing just wasn't as good as the previous series. And I'm worried about how they're going to handle the war going forward-- even if they do a Downton Abbey-style speed up and move through a bunch of years in one season (which I doubt they'll do), it seems likely that there will be a lot of focus on war angst and even less focus on nice animal stories, which is kind of the premise of the show/ why most people watch it.

    5 hours ago, iMonrey said:

    That said, I wonder if the books played down the drama and significance of the war, compared to the series. The books may not have wanted to go on and on about the horrors of war but with a live TV show it's harder to ignore the impact of something like that. It might account for the vast difference people seem to be complaining about.

    Yes, this is basically what the books did. Herriot's war years (covered in a single book) were mainly amusing stories about his training interspersed with flashbacks to his veterinary practice. Which the show can't really do... I do wonder why the show didn't try to fudge the timeline and start the show a little earlier in the 30's, or just let less time pass each season. 

    And not to get into another endless comparison, but what did the original show do about the war?

     

    • Like 5

    Sweet Fellowship: Duggars and Friends (aka the Bates Family and Other Featured Families Thread)

    in Counting On

    3 hours ago, Albanyguy said:

    Being pregnant at the same time as your adult daughter is the Holy Grail of Fundie motherhood, even better than having twins. Michelle Duggar, of course, as achieved both, which must really drive Jill crazy.

    Technically Michelle was only pregnant at the same time as her daughter-in-law; is that still Grail worthy? Meanwhile Christina Caldwell has twice been pregnant with her daughter, but lacks the twins...

    • Like 7

    All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

    in All Creatures Great And Small (2021)

    1 hour ago, Dowel Jones said:

    The only reason I can see is that there was some tenuous connection to Eva's mention of 'the man behind the curtain' (Oz).  Possibly, because old man Alderson is terminally affected with grumpism, they put him back there and closed the curtain so they could enjoy the evening.

    Pretty sure they've done the curtain in every Christmas special so far (usually Siegfried was Father Christmas).

    • Like 10

    All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

    in All Creatures Great And Small (2021)

    Still with the contrived writing. The little girl has been there for how long, and no one knows she's Jewish? (Wouldn't the Skeldale folks be in touch with her parents, even slightly? Not to mention that Eva seemed quite chatty... seems like something she would have brought up before.) The ruby slippers seemed a terribly impractical and era-unbelievable gift. And I'm sure Tristan would have been a willing and cheerful Santa; no need to force Mr. Alderson into it.

    Also, it's been awhile since I've read the books, but wasn't the Debbie-and-kitten story much more traumatic there? Like, I'm glad they didn't go that route for the already-not-particularly-cheery Christmas special, but it you're going to change the story that dramatically, maybe just give the cat a new name? I am by no means a book purist, but giving your book-audience the expectation that the cat is going to die seemed unnecessary.

    I liked Siegfried and Tristan finally using their words, but after reading/ watching all the PBS interviews for this season where Callum Woodhouse clearly loves his costars, the dogs, the Skeldale house setting, etc., I'm going to be sad for him if his entire storyline next season is war-related and far-from-home (as I'm assuming they won't write him out altogether). 

    • Like 6

    Vienna Blood - General Discussion

    in Vienna Blood

    Wow, Haussmann finally got to be semi-competent.

    Seriously, I think the biggest mystery after three seasons of this show is... what's Haussmann's deal? He is so bad at his job, so why is he there? I thought maybe Oskar had a soft spot for him, but then he barely seems to know him (I laughed when he didn't know Haussmann wasn't married, but Max knew). In season one I thought he was some kind of mole/ was purposely incompetent to get Oskar in trouble, but we're three seasons in and that doesn't seem to be it. He's just extra set dressing who occasionally helps prolong the case. Poor Haussmann. (I think the actor is adorable and am longing for a bit of character development...)

    • Like 1

    All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

    in All Creatures Great And Small (2021)

    OK, I'll buy that James had other places to go after the Aldersons', and Helen would walk home on her own eventually... but shouldn't she have still been at the farm there when James left? And therefore heard about the TB-infected cow from either her father or James himself?

    And then I'll go back to the envelope... I'll buy Mrs. Hall thinking she's being helpful by putting a stamp on the envelope and mailing it, but... was it sealed? Surely she wouldn't think she should mail an unsealed/ unstamped envelope? And if it was sealed... why? Helen is supposed to be a whiz at paperwork (hence why she's doing it); sending off a report that James didn't sign seems like a huge error. Heck, even if it wasn't sealed and she knew James had to sign it, why even fold it and put it in the envelope? Surely most people would leave the unsigned form out of the envelope so that the person who needs to sign it can easily do so. Urgh... so many stupid contrivances of plot manufactured to get to the intended outcome.

    So I don't spend all my time complaining, I will say I love how Tristan is clearly jealous/ upset by Siegfried's seeming favoritism of James, yet still doesn't let that cloud his relationship with James. 

    And the visual of Tristan frantically working his key off the ring behind his back so he could use the ring while he's literally in the midst of proposing was a small but hilarious moment.

    I love book-Tristan, but I love show-Tristan even more. And I despise book-Siegfried but I low-key love show-Siegfried, so good job, show.

    • Like 6

    All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

    in All Creatures Great And Small (2021)

    So... someone help me figure out the scene at the Alderson farm, because surely the writing was that abysmal... Helen goes with James to do the TB testing at the farm (understandable). Helen leaves her father and James to finish the testing themselves so she can go comfort Jenny, who's upset by the war news (also understandable). Helen then leaves the farm shortly thereafter and walks home by herself, since she's not present for her father and James's argument, which appears to take place in the house (possibly the barn?). Why would she go home on her own, other than for the convenience of the plot? Why is the writing on this show getting so bad when it comes to plot mechanics? Don't get me wrong, the character stuff is lovely, but it's not that difficult to construct a plot that doesn't fall to pieces the minute a viewer has to wonder why a character would do something completely nonsensical just for the plot to work.

    • Like 3
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