The Great British Bake Off (Series 12)

⭐10/10

Everyone just take a good hard look at my beautiful baking king Paul Hollywood. What a scrumptious man. One time Jess watching watching Paul punch the dough and she said "I wish that was me." That was the last time I let her watch this show alone. Then I watched and I fell deeper in love than she ever was. 

Anyways, this is actually a review of a completely random season we watched together. I was often in the room when Jess watched this show, but one day she started a new season and I watched the episode with her, and then decided to watch the whole season... within a week. It was a strange feeling, but I honestly couldn't stop watching this show. Its a comfort watch, but it's also super interesting and easy to get super invested in. Everyone is great, and the food looks utterly delicious (that's kinda a Paul Hollywood quote). 

I got completely attached to this cast of characters this season. Each one of them won my heart. I loved sweet old Jürgen and awkward Chigs and zany Lizzie. Crystelle was easy on the eyes and the cameras loved her. I was also so incredibly pleased with the winner, just a wonderful, wholesome guy and this honestly felt like my sports team winning the championship. This was the fastest I'd ever fallen in love with a group of characters and truly hope they all succeed as bakers. 

I love the sense of quirkiness this show has adopted. It's certainly gained an identity of its own here, and although I was VERY skeptical of the hosts to start, their charm started to win me over by the end. Somehow their wildly unfunny jokes just work in this context, though they are walking a mighty fine line. 

But in the end, this show is carried by its judges, and by that I mean *judge* and by that I mean Paul Hollywood. I really just love him on this show! His personality totally works. He's blunt but not mean, firm but fair, and totally willing to dole out praise. All his seriousness makes those happy moments that much happier, and also make his lighter moments funnier. I feel like he's a professional in that he's there to make a watchable show, but I never get the sense that he's acting some silly character like Simon Cowell or Gordon Ramsey. And also, that smile... That damn, devilish smile... And those blue eyes that you get lost in, blue like the deepest oceans, blue eyes that make me want to be a better person. Blue eyes that make me want to get out of bed in the morning. Blue eyes that make me believe in God.