SandyToes

Exactly!! This is why I no longer watch figure skating competitions. Just fall after fall after fall, people trying to outjump each other. I watch the bakers move their showstoppers from between my fingers - anticipating the fall, the collapse, the disintegration into smithereens. I liked watching the growth of the bakers, who spent a week practicing something they might not have ever done before (I bake cakes and pie crusts, and have used different recipes/techniques, but had no idea what different types there were and their characteristics), and learning. We, as viewers, learned, too, and looked forward to trying new things at home. But I did love the cast this season, and how joyful they all were, and eager to help each other. I knew Syabira was a lock, when the judges said they'd be looking at past performance, too. But that's fine - well-deserved!

Exactly. I think several times this season someone has said, "I never practiced this" before their showstopper/signature. (How can it be your signature bake if you've never made it before?!) In the past, the comments were usually more along the, "I've done it four times and home, and it worked three times" types of things. So this season's group isn't building new skills because so many aren't putting in the work. I do miss when more of them were "home bakers" - like grandmas (or grandsons!) who baked good cakes, good bread, good stuff for their friends and families. And like Ombre said, built new skills along the way.

I also liked that these seemed to be genuine "home baker" tasks. The early seasons' signature bakes seemed to be more or less things they really did do at home, and were probably the kinds of things that got their friends and families to urge the bakers to be on the show. I think that's where Dawn fits - the things she does "at home" are probably really, really good, but maybe not much variety, or detail in appearance this show now goes for. It looked like there was an additional page of instructions besides the "make the pie" page - I thought I caught a glimpse of something. But Dawn not having enough filling was strange. Maybe she went by memory for HER pies, not the different sized tart on the show?

"Linton and Sharik! Rich and Dom! Drop your buffs! We are switching teams!" Good night, nurse. If only... Why can't TAR borrow a few Survivorisms?

Yeppers. Blake's mute button was hilarious. I didn't see the whole show, but was glad some country-ish people went with other judges. I think they stand a better chance sometimes when no one else is "in their lane."

We were too, kind of. If ONLY they had been likeable people! Sometimes you can root for the bad guys if they have some redeeming qualities. That was my one big issue with this series - there were no likeable characters (for me.) Ruth came closest, but even the kids were awful for a while there in the middle. We did like how Marty was always so able to quickly, and calmly, respond to any sudden obscure and often horrible twist in the middle of a conversation. We just found the series the last month or so, so I'm sorry for those of you who invested years in this! Ack! We also half-expected Ruth to shoot Camila. And I think Jonah shooting Wendy is a possibility, too. Doubtful, but just maybe.... The car crash was stupid. And who goes through a crash like that with NO scrapes, cuts, bruises?? Little details like that bug me and take me out of the moment. I'd have probably bailed on the series after the first season or so, but the Spousal Unit is a 'finish what we start" kind of guy, so....

That story was just so heartbreaking. I cannot imagine what it must take to murder two small children that way - and the 2-year old sounds like she was hiding! I found this season's cases frustrating in that so many seemed to end with the DA's office "considering" or evaluating the cases. (And that so many of the ones from the past year or two where arrests WERE made have been paused due to Covid.) I realize that with cold cases there usually is not a lot of hard evidence, and that prosecutors must really mostly on circumstantial evidence. Further, since they want to make sure they can GET a conviction, I know they don't proceed until they feel confident that they will. But it makes for frustrating TV. I like the confession cases!! But I love my hometown girl Kelly, and love listening to her familiar twang. And her passion! Goodness. That we could all be that passionate about our jobs!

And every contestant has a sob story! Argh! Agree with others - what a lovely group of bakers this season. Would have been a fun group to keep around even after elimination (like they did with the covid lockdown group). Just genuinely fun, happy people. I really enjoy competitions shows like this when I'm happy with anyone winning! The Chrystelle dome segment was great television! And they were ALL so into it! Hilarious, nerve-wracking, and touching. Noel is coming into his own as an encourager.

I saw the ads for this, and promptly re-read the book. Then read it again, taking time to analyze the puzzles, the connections, the details of the Masons (my dad and grandpas), and the bits I'd flown over. Really excited last night when I saw it coming on "regular" tv. But sooooo disappointed. I don't know how anyone who didn't read the books has any idea what is happening. It's coming across more as a "based on..." series rather than a film adaptation. I don't know. Will give it another episode or so. Not sure how this can be a multi-season show at this point. Hmmm.... Found this link after I read this time. Great visuals for all the locations, art, artifacts mentioned in the book, and maybe some of the series. Spoilers, if you go all the way through. https://langdonsworld.com/home/thelostsymbol/

The hair dye job was heartbreaking. But I think they made the right call. "She never would have done that" is a common theme among families of drug addicts. And that's probably true! But the drug addict is NOT the same family member (in my opinion), and yes, she may have been under the control the guy, but I didn't see or hear anything that would lead to a belief that she was not involved. Can not imagine the little boy's life after witnessing that, and then the mom who can't let it go. It seemed more than fighting for justice; something else that was now almost like an addiction for her. Very sad all the way around.

Kind of enjoyed watching it for the "travel porn" aspect. Indeed, gorgeous. And the growing respect is one of the highlights. Plus, seeing HIM in such a different role from The Crown is cool. Hoping for more episodes, and soon! I enjoy Shakespeare and Hathaway. I don't have to pay too close attention, the episodes are short (for Brit shows!), and Sebastian is just too cute for words. But not much of a "crime" show! hee.

Off to watch on On Demand! Subway and hair dye. Wow.

New series for me on Britbox - McDonald and Dodds. Funny, smart, endearing. Lead actor played Harold Wilson on the Crown. Second episode had me giggling out loud a couple of times, and nearly tearing up in a later episode. Looks like new episodes coming!

I've been marathoning all day, and this drove me nuts! One ship is COVERED in ice and in danger of capsizing, and two minutes later, another boat is clean as a whistle, sailing smoothly along (but complaining about the ice.) I've watched for a long time, but have missed the last several seasons. Every episode is the same, and I'm not sure what is different about each season. We used to think the Time Bandit would be the most fun to be on, but not any more. I thought maybe Jonathan was offering the kid a chance to just stay on the boat for the comraderie, rather than to work. But when he said, "Or do you want to quit?" it pretty much sounds like he expected him to work injured. (And I don't know why Josh H complains about being short handed. He can't deign to go down and haul pots in a pinch?)

I know, right?! What purpose does it serve, other than to freak us out that she's on the road! I guess she's traveling to each Murdertown..... 🙄