The Great British Bake Off

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Under this unassuming pastel canopy lies a bloodbath–a cutthroat competition that leaves no prisoners. Just kidding!

For those who are familiar with the show, it’s clear that it separates itself from the rest. While the focus is on the baking and the process, the contestants is impossible not to become connected to the charming personalities of the contestants. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with your favorite baker, especially in a show lasting 10 weeks. Even if this year’s winner wasn’t your favorite, even watching your favorite grow in their skills and confidence is incredibly heartwarming. If you’re as obsessed as I am, seeing the bakers in community with one another is just as good as the bakes themselves. I rarely care who wins because they’re

so supportive of each other.

I’ve been a fan for years, but I’ve rarely been able to follow as each episode premieres. It became a tradition in my house to have my Friday mid-afternoon Great British Bake Off alongside a cup of coffee. In future seasons, I’d love to try baking alongside the contestants, pushing myself to experiment with techniques I’m not familiar with. Having this routine made me realize how much the convenience of streaming has almost killed the excitement of a cliff hanger, the discussions with friends who were all on the same episode at the same time.

The finale of this season was an absolute nail-biter, full of impressive bakes from start to finish. If you have the willpower, try watching it the old-fashioned way–week by week.