Reality TV Roundup – January 2023

For those who have seen the recent Adventure and What’s Up, you already know what this is all about.

As I sit here uninspired of what to watch and not sure what I want to write about next as a result rewatching Gilmore Girls for probably something like the fifth time. I decided to start up a new monthly segment for the great amount of reality and variety TV shows that I watch. With that said, I did use to review them but as time went by, it just didn’t hold up for a post of its own especially when we look at say the many seasons of The Circle or Nailed It for example.

I’m starting this a tad late and I like to start things at beginning of the year preferably so we’re releasing this January one right now. If this segments interest you, I plan on releasing it on the second weekend of the month (since the first weekend, I usually release Music Obsessions).

Let’s get the January 2023 recap on the way!

Pressure Cooker (Season 1, 2023)

Follows eleven chefs who will cook and cohabit with one another as they compete to become the ultimate chef’s chef and win $100,000. – IMDB

Netflix releases a lot of cooking reality competition shows in a year and I’m pretty much always at the front row seat be it, cooking, baking or drinks, you can count me in. At one point, I wanted to do a ranking of best to worst of these shows since they throw a ridiculous amount of prize money in it and while most of them are entertaining, some are pretty silly at best.

Pressure Cooker is a different type of competition. Its almost like Netflix mashed the concept of The Circle with a cooking show where friends and alliances actually do come into play as these cooks live together and wake up everyday with a new mission and chefs with the least votes are eliminated. The key point being that the voting is done by the chefs themselves so everyone has their own standards, integrity and strategy to try to make it to the end.

This style of competition is fun since it mixes a social element with the actual skilled cooking element. Competitions like this are good and bad. On the great side, its seeing all the drama since the audience sees everything from the scheming and strategy to how each cook will approach it. On the other hand, for someone like myself who enjoys a good honest cooking competition, sometimes its frustrating that the friendships end up making a good chef leave before its their time. There’s a good balance between the two here and its not the craziest idea that Netflix has played around with so it does work in the realm and seeing as I am a fan of shows like The Circle and catch almost all of the cooking competitions on Netflix right away, Pressure Cooker is one that I’d probably love to see a second season even if the concept itself at first felt a little unfair but I guess life’s not fair and the entertainment level with the different themes of each competition and the structure is pretty well-structured.

Wonderland Junior (Season 1, 2022)

12 young artists stay together in the seaside Wonderland to meet unknown challenges and create a trendy life together. By working hard to win the opportunity to be seen by the audience, they show their talented selves. – MyDramaList

Wonderland Junior is a spin-off variety show of the parent show Wonderland which features a group of bigger celebrities in all fields of entertainment from musicians to models to TV hosts to actors etc. Wonderland Junior probably is a bankable one since it reuses the location resource that they have already but uses it to boost popularity for some young faces to help show off their talent. Its a little less sophisticated than the parent show but rightfully so since it has the framework of the first but adds in the element of youthfulness.

This one works more as a continuous few days that the group is there as they work together on different tasks from performances to themed fashion shows and little games to earn more of the island currency. The person that gets out with the most will end up winning an opportunity to be a main guest in another Tencent variety show. The show itself is unknown but I’m sure when the winner of this show pops up there, it will be clear what it is.

There’s not a whole lot to say about Wonderland Junior. The group of younger talented people is good. They are a fun bunch and these shows are always feel-good experiences and that’s really what makes it so fun to watch.

The Circle (Season 5, 2023)

Host: Michelle Buteau

Players start off isolated in an apartment, and with their online interactions as their only means of any communication. The players use a social media platform called “The Circle”. – IMDB

I’ve watch The Circle USA since the very first season and I’m always there the first day the season drops. I even have a review of Season 1 HERE back when it aired in 2020. Its hard to imagine that the pandemic made this show ever so viable and its only the beginning of 2023 and its already done with Season 5.

Every season they put a few twists here and there to make it feel a little different from its prior seasons. I can’t remember too far away but the show’s introduced Joker and Circle Hack and Doppelganger profiles and the Spice Girls. This season, its focused on the singles because we all know that Netflix is seriously banking on this matchmaking showbiz, plus most people who pop up on The Circle never really admit that they are taken since being single usually gives them a bigger possibility to flirt and get other players on their side.

I’m not going to talk too much about Season 5 of The Circle since its a little been there done that at this point. The Circle Season 5 delivers exactly what you are looking for. The themed Singles doesn’t really add too much difference to the experience. I do like that right off the bat, they throw a curveball very early on that ends up playing out throughout the whole season. The players they gather are also much more diverse in background.

The Circle is a personal guilty pleasure. While I don’t like that shows like this has ridiculously huge banks for winning, it delivers on the entertaining content (if you’re into this stuff of course). But lets just get this straight, 50% of the reason I watch this is because Michelle Buteau is the host and commentator. The stuff she says is just off the charts hilarious.

Bake Squad (Season 2, 2023)

Expert bakers elevate desserts with next-level ideas and epic execution. Now the battle is on to win over clients in need of very special sweets. – IMDB

I honestly don’t know if Bake Squad is that popular but I personally love the concept of it. Bake Squad is a show that gives back to the people in the community. Where Queer Eye does makeovers to deserving people to make them feel good about themselves, Bake Squad helps someone’s special event have the best surprise extravagant dessert that they deserve from some wonderfully talented young bakers. The first season of Bake Squad delivered some great desserts and designs and the second season actually felt like they went beyond that for some designs that went even more risky and bigger in challenges and scale.

Bake Squad is honestly just a feel-good competition. The main goal of the competition between the four bakers is to win the chance for their creation to be shown at someone’s celebration whatever or whoever its celebrating. Its not about winning prize money or for themselves, although I’m sure being on TV does boost their popularity and gets known by the public more, but the show feels like it has such a pure intention of just bringing some big and creative ideas to add to someone’s meaningful celebration.

The world needs more shows like Bake Squad that delivers on doing tasks for someone else and not scheming to win money. Its been a few hard years with the pandemic and shows like this remind us that in a world where things have gotten really out of balance, there’s still some people out there doing good in their own ways, even if its making something like desserts. Obviously these aren’t the everyday desserts and in many ways, its wild for the most part for example, building a chocolate Dinosaur Egg in the first season and then upping that and building a 1:1 chocolate piano.

Honestly, out of all the shows in this round-up, I’m hoping that Bake Squad gets many more seasons.

TV Binge: The Circle (Season 1, 2020)

The Circle (Season 1, 2020)

Host: Michelle Buteau

The Circle is a 3 week limited series social media competition with a social experiment central focus as different contestants living in apartments in one building communicate through social media only and try to gain popularity to get the top spot in the end to win $100,000. In the process, the lowest ranked players are at risk of being blocked where new players will enter to take their place. At the same time, players can enter as themselves or as catfish.

There are so many angles to look at this show. I’m not going to lie that going into this and watching a bunch of different people interact through social media is something of a cringey feeling as you never know who these people are. However, if The Circle does do anything well, its that every contestant (whether intentional or not) proves a few important points about the world interacting through a screen: the level of trust, the easily misinterpreted messages due to lack of interaction and of course, the judgement of a first impression/appearances and photos. Sure, its only 12 episodes and like 12 days or something that these people are together if they were the surviving initial group that makes it to the end and its not enough to truly know who these people actually are in real life but the fact that the show, as the audience observes them and their reactions in their own space, some of the people will change initial opinions. 

The first angle of the show is obviously what everyone goes into this for: entertainment. Its a competition so there will be tension especially as the viewers find their players that they want to win this and in the face of ratings amongst themselves and who gets eliminated, it builds fairly well. The Circle feels natural enough especially as the show goes on and the players settle in. The best moments are probably those where there are shocking moments of player reveals, especially for the catfishes. Plus, watching people react to what others say is pretty fun overall. Sure, some of the players have some big personalities and might even seem a bit annoying in the beginning but its funny how things change in the course of the game. 

If you look at this on the social experiment angle on what social media does to the society and how it builds up an image of what others feel is more accepted regarding appearances or even personality and other preset thoughts and prejudices that people build, it turns into a rather deep contemplation at the end as to whether what the catfishes were proving is a bad thing or whether if you connect with a catfish and its only the appearance that is fake means that it was all a lie in the first place.

Its interesting how we view social media and online interaction at times and for that, I’d say that on some levels, The Circle actually gives some room for contemplation of how online interaction does subconsciously and they did pick out a good group of players that showed a lot of angles of how people can view them or why they picked their catfish alias. If anything, The Circle has proved that the convenience of online interaction has both its pros and cons and highlights some stereotypes that people generally have. The Circle is a surprisingly interesting look at this through a rather entertaining game/competition. 

What’s Up 2020: Week 3

Week 3 of 2020 has come to an end and its been something of a weather bomb. Luckily, we didn’t lose any power so things proceeded as it should..mostly. I’m having some other issues that is somewhat hindering some writing and whatnot so its been a slower week than usual. Not to mention, the desire to sit in front of the computer has been a little less as Chinese New Year preparations started as well. Let’s see what’s going on!

READING

• Archie, Vol.6

Currently reading: Buried In My Past

After a few reading rushes, I decided to take a little break and read a graphic novel. The reboot Archie comics set like a graphic novel and with a somewhat darker story (still not quite as dark as the TV series) has been one that feels like a refreshing update to the characters, making the more modernized. There’s a lot to like about it as it is helmed by Mark Waid. Volume 6 is the last one that will be helmed by Mark Wait for these Archic comics but will be handed over to someone else for the next one. Review for this one coming up!

PLAYING

• Glass Masquerade (review)

Currently playing: Overcooked 2, The Pedestrian

Wrapped up the base game of Glass Masquerade on the weekend and have been debating getting the DLCs but its been kind of getting in the way of the actual gaming that I need to do to record the next Game Warp podcast. You can check out the review for Glass Masquerade as that’s already done. Its a bit short but the game isn’t too complex either.

The husband and I are still working on Overcooked 2. We usually stretch it out quite a bit as we only play on the weekends. I think we’re more than halfway done at this point. At the same time, I started up The Pedestrian which is an indie puzzle game that I had backed on Kickstarter 2 or 3 years ago which is finally getting released on January 29. As backers, we got the game in advance, which is great. I’ll be playing that and hopefully getting a review out for next week or something.

WATCHING

• Short Term 12 (2013)
• Mike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes (2017)
• Leslie Jones: Time Machine (2020)
• Deep Blue Sea 2 (2018)
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Its been a tad stressful at work so I’ve been honestly just busy with that and not watching a ton of movies as they don’t work in companion to work as much, especially first time viewings. With that said, I like to watch/listen to stand-up comedies. I can’t say the two I chose were really my cup of tea but they had some good bits. While Short Term 12 got added into viewing list as it left Netflix Canada and that review is coming up in a double feature. Other than that, Deep Blue Sea 2 literally just got added to Netflix and of course, I had to see how bad it was. I’m not being negative but the original is one of my favorites so its best to keep the expectations low and it became as a monstrous weekend as we also caught up with Godzilla: King of the Monsters which is a kick-ass movie. It was so awesome!

BINGING

• The Circle (Season 1, 2019)

Currently binging: Who’s the Murderer 5, Ashes of Love

The Circle’s 3 week competition finally ended. I’m working on the TV binge for it as its an interesting little social media competition to talk about, both as a structure, the contestant choices as well as the mechancis as well as the concept of this being a social experiment which all has elements to talk about. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t be opposed to another season of these. TV is fairly calm right now as I’m trying to do some wrapping up on different things and Who’s the Murderer 5 is currently ongoing so only updating an episode a week and Ashes of Love is over 60 episodes and I’m pretty much halfway and things are getting really good, so I’m focusing on that.

However, focus will be cut short when Eternal Love’s sequel, Three Lives Three Worlds: Pillow Book (also titled recently Eternal Love of Dream), starts up next week and well, Handsome Siblings got acquired by Netflix and is releasing new episodes on weekly basis. All very exciting things!!

That’s it for this What’s Up for Week 3!
What have you been reading/watching/playing/binging?

What’s Up 2020: Week 1: The Start of a Decade!

2020 is finally here! As with a new year, I’ve spiced up the What’s Up banner for this year, giving it a little more depth.

The last few days of 2019 and the first few days of 2020 brought a lot of resting time and hang out with friends and such. With that, there is still some down time to get some little things done here and there. As with the beginning of the year, I do urge you to go check out last week’s announcement of 2020 plans for Tranquil Dreams in case you missed it. You can find it HERE.

READING

Currently reading: Death in Smoke

With a blog tour literally around the corner, I’m incredibly behind in reading and have been trying to catch up like a crazy person. A lot of this has to do with this Week 1 being all partying and not too much commuting so even less time to sit down and read. I’m working on getting myself a reading nook of sorts at home so that I can be away from any other distractions. However, standing at around the 30% mark as I write this weekly recap and only a mere few days that the review needs to go up, we’re looking at reading at every free moment that I have. Luckily, Death in Smoke is not too long and its been a decent read so far.

PLAYING

• The Room Three (2015)

Next up: Life is Strange 2
Still playing: Undercooked 2

I love playing The Room series games. I’ve previously played the first and second game and honestly had bought The Room Three on Android and then just didn’t find the same motivation to play it until it landed on PC. Something about these games make them so great to just sit down during the holidays to play. The puzzles are definitely elevated again with so many different layers and different rooms to work with. I only finished one ending but apparently that unlocks other endings (4 endings in total) so I may go back to check it out more. In the meantime, I’m workingont he review that will go up on Game Warp blog soon (hopefully).

WATCHING

• Geostorm (2017)
• Turbo Kid (2015)
• Hell Night (1981)
• Summer of ’84 (2018 rewatch, Review)
• The Big Sick (2017)

The husband got to do all the movie watching choices this week or the majority of it at least. I only ended up watching The Big Sick on my own as the rental was about to expire. Luckily, he picked some good ones. A lot of death and apocalypse to ring in the New Year’s for ourselves in terms of movie choices as Geostorm is a disaster film and a rather meh one then Turbo Kid is set in the future of the world as a wasteland and then an 80s slasher and then I ended up rewatching Summer of ’84 as the husband wanted to watch it after he loved Turbo Kid. I mean, its an obvious standout this week which came between Turbo Kid and The Big Sick, which both were pretty good.

BINGING

• Eternal Love (2017)

Currently watching: Who’s The Murderer 5, The Circle

Finally finished binging the entire 58 episodes of Eternal Love also known as Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. In fact, I actually didn’t really feel like I was connecting with a lot of the characters until it hit me in the most subtle and crazy way in the last two episodes when something happened and I bawled my eyes out non-stop for 30 minutes or something. Good job, Eternal Love, good job. That’s all I have to say as I’m already working on the TV binge. The sequel is coming out sometime in Janaury so I”ll be watching that, of course especially since, the sequel follows the secondary couple here as the main couple who I loved a lot, probably more than the main two.

I guess, I should mention it that I started watching the 3 week event on Netflix called The Circle. I’m not quite sure what to make of it right now. Its supposed to be a social experiment and while I get what they are trying to do, I’m not quite sure if the purpose is well delivered with the event. I’m going to need to think about that one after I watch the next two weeks.

That’s it for this Week 1 of What’s Up 2020!
Its a new year and a new banner look!
What have you been kicking off the year reading/watching/playing/binging?