Nailed It…Again
What do cobras, unicorns, and Queer Eye‘s fab five have in common? They’re all desserts featured on the new season of Netflix’s off-beat baking competition, Nailed It. For those unfamiliar with the streaming giant’s tongue-and-cheek foray into the world of cooking competitions, Nailed It is a baking competition show unlike any other. It features amateur bakers attempting to recreate highly-detailed desserts that are as visually stunning as they are challenging. What makes the show different from similar baking competitions (such as Spring Baking Championship on Food Network) is the lack of competitive virtuosity, combined with an abundance of off-beat humor. Season 2 doubles down on the latter, and the result is a culinary comedy that stands out from the crowded category of cooking competitions.
The show is hosted by Nicole Byer, whose presence on-screen is infectiously silly. Thanks to Nicole, the humor has a distinctly millennial sensibility that just doesn’t exist on similar shows. Her presence is more like a Youtube star than a network television host, and gives the show a quirky, light-hearted feel. In season 2, she seems to have really found her stride. Her hosting is more focused, but just as funny as the first season. One thing that hasn’t changed is her shouting “WES,” calling for the show’s assistant director to bring out the show’s prizes. It may not sound very funny when reading about it, but Nicole’s performance makes it an endearing running joke.
A Balanced Dish
Cooking is all about balancing flavors and textures, so it makes perfect sense that the show’s hosts balance each other perfectly. Jacques Torres is a professional chef with decades of experience, and a perfect co-host for Nicole. Their rapport is fantastic, with each of them appealing to the sensibilities of the other. Nicole doesn’t shy away from discussing the food seriously when Jacques brings up interesting technical information, while Jacques doesn’t shy away from making a joke or two when Nicole baits him. They work very well together, providing a balanced combination of information and entertainment.
The show’s competitors are amateurs, which provides a distinctly different dynamic from other baking competition shows. Instead of showing a fierce rivalry of culinary mastery, Nailed It is what happens when people on the same level as the viewers attempt to recreate impossible dishes. Netflix has made a fantastic decision in choosing this path, and the second season proves it. The watermelon carving challenge in particular will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. While it may be genuinely hard to watch at times, it has an excitement and hilarity that simply doesn’t exist on other cooking shows.
While the first season was highly entertaining, the show’s sophomore effort expanded the assortment of dishes to include savory snack creations and the aforementioned fruit carvings. These were two of the best episodes of the new season, and a very good sign for the show’s future. In terms of dishes, the show has barely scratched the surface of what competitors could recreate, and it’s nice to see that they made an effort to expand the offerings in the second season.
A Queer Bonus
The season ends with a bonus episode, and although it’s only twelve minutes in length, it’s twelve of the most enjoyable minutes of the show. Crossover episodes don’t always go well for either show, but this one was executed perfectly. The fab five from Netflix’s popular reboot, Queer Eye, attempt to recreate cupcakes adorned with miniature versions of themselves. Obviously, hilarity ensues, and fans of Queer Eye will see a much sillier side to the fab five than they’re used to. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say none of them appear to have a future in baking.
Nailed It is only in its second season, but it’s already an exciting glimpse into what cooking competitions can be. That is, when they aren’t constrained by the cookie-cutter formula so many other shows are stuck with. Fans of cooking competitions will find a unique sensibility that makes for a perfect palate cleanser after watching Fox’s or Food Network’s offerings. Those unfamiliar with these types of shows will find a delightful and exciting show that welcomes all. Netflix may not be the go-to service for culinary entertainment, but this show proves that they intend to bring food fans and the general viewing community together. Both seasons of Nailed It are available now on Netflix.
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