MasterChef

Although Masterchef sometimes has a way to much over-the-top pompous American-affected tinsel to its own detriment (European adaptations are more moderate in this), it cannot be denied that behind this tinsel you can find everything that makes a good (not only) culinary reality show so good, exciting and a catchy, because it is not only a precisely tuned show, where everyone plays their intended role (from jury to the competitors covering each and every ethnic group and personality, so that everyone can choose), but it is a masterpiece that is polished to even the smallest details with an unprecedented pace and a contagious passion for cooking that will probably make every home cook feel excited. What's more, it gets better and better every season, as the creators manage to learn from their mistakes (adjusting the format and rules in the third season made it even much better; especially considering top level of participants). The first season was more about laymen in the kitchen but every subsequent season raises the bar a bit higher in such an obvious way that what the competitors showed in the final of the first season would hardly be enough even to qualify for the third season. So yes, Masterchef contains many aspects that can put you off at first glance (I would appreciate a fourth judge; specifically a food critic and clarification of whether the goal is to find a chef in the sense of an individual with a vision who has authority and can gain respect in the kitchen or someone who simply "only" does cook damn well, even if he/she won't survive in a top restaurant), but it is worth watching. That is for sure. At least, give it a chance. I mean provided that you are into cooking but that is something that seems natural if you watch this kind of show. Nevertheless, I would rather watch the French version, which looks (in terms of culinary and style) by far the best out of dozens of these shows from around the world. PS: I recommend Ben Starr's blog, which on the one hand offers an interesting insight into the backstage but more importantly follows the fates of some participants in the second season after it finished and how this show did (not) help them. After all, most of the finalists in the individual series are good at culinary to some extent. | S1: 3/5 | S2: 4/5 | S3: 5/5 | (24/11/2015)