I binged season 1 today, and found myself utterly fascinated by the competitors' talent and creativity. The judges are judgy, which is expected. That host, though, went from embarrassingly unprepared (she squealed about the judge using what she called a "monacle" to examine a piece, when he was using a jewelers loupe--a standard piece of equipment) to gratingly annoying as she incessantly attempted (and failed) to be clever and amusing. Though I'm glad that another season has been ordered, I'm less than enthusiastic about her returning as host.
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mswritesalot27 June 2021
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It is now a very familiar format. Start off with 12 people, give them some tasks, rank them, hail the best and say goodbye to the worst. I am still enjoying them regardless of the subject. Jewellery is probably one of the less accessible of the crafts given the treatment. The participants all appear to make their living from making jewellery. The skills required to fulfil the tasks strike me as beyond those of a hobby jeweller. Cooking and sewing we can all have a go. Katherine Ryan is an entertaining host. They seem to have gathered some very talented jewellers to compete the biggest challenge they have is creating their pieces within the time constraints.
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pixiesglow14 July 2021In most shows where artist compete with skill the viewer is given the opportunity to learn about about the process. Many times viewers are able to understand why the art price is higher than commercial stores by the intense craftsmanship that goes into it. This host is distracting and jokes which makes light of the art form or the process of conception. Her narration is annoying at best and not truly educational of the history of silversmithing or jewelry making. This show could have truly been encouraging for the next generation of craftsmen but the host makes it seem trivial and not artistic!
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It's so nice to watch a reality TV competition show where you actually learn something and feel good instead of focusing on interpersonal drama. There is so much education about how jewelry is actually made, and you can tell the producers considered inclusive representation in the competitors, judges, and guests. After watching this and similar competition shows like the Great British Baking Show, American reality TV is unwatchable - with the quick cutaways, dramatic music, unnecessarily rude comments, repetitive "catch up" clips, and general mean spirit. Shows like this are educational and uplifting. Good job!
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adornmentbynicole23 January 2022I must say, I'm surprised at these comments in regards to the host. I signed up for IMBD just to have some positive feedback for her! I thought she was hilarious and her dry humor was refreshing and added a needed element to the show. She pulled off her role perfectly. As a jeweler, I enjoyed the whole show!
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susansundaisy12 May 2021This woman is more a comedy writer and less someone you want around when you are trying to do something difficult under a time constraint.
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evamarieohare16 May 2021I love it! I might be biased because I am a goldsmith but i think its great and I love the inclusion of Katherine Ryan! The only thing is the time contraint's are so intense it has me a little anxious watching it incase someone gets hurt or burnt while making!
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goody-4234129 April 2021This was a good idea for a program though perhaps a too little like the now boring cooking knockout programs.
However the program is completely ruined by an intrusive mindless chatterer of a presenter and possibly two of the worst choices in judges in any tv program.
We lurch from a sullen, depressive female judge who roams the set spreading an emotionless gloom wherever she visits, to a frankly unpleasant male judge , who appears strangely not only intensely irritating but also vaguely sinister an odd and not liveable combination.
Any hope for the series which could have been so much more, is lost in the appalling casting of these three frankly talentless on the screen characters. Best avoided, which is a waste of an idea. -
Love the premise and the contestants try their best to make beautiful jewelry.
The host, however, is completely awful - it's apparent she does not have any knowledge of jewelry making and her commentary is cringeworthy. Based on contestants' reactions to her presence and the judges barely concealed eyerolls, it's clear she's not embraced by anyone on the show either. -
hunkazine6 July 2021I have taken to watching this type of show to get a glimpse into the world of other talented folk and craftspeople doing their things. In the first episode, though, the host tells one of the female contestants that she should think like a straight while male, in order to do her best. Say what?! Right then and there, the show was done for me, until they change hosts. And...the show should not allow such damaging comments that show favoritism. Simply not appropriate...at all. The host puts me off this show. What a shame. I will peek in and see if they decide to ditch her. Then I will happily give it another chance.
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graciouscatowner13 September 2021Love watching the contestants but the host is just awful. Absolutely cringeworthy. Judges are miscast as well. I hope there is a Season 2 but with the three cast members replaced.
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priscillahodgkins-2145624 January 2022Why is a Canadian who knows nothing about jewelry hosting a British competition for jewelers?
Her voice is annoying and she lacks poise.
The host should have demeanor of someone who'd shopped at Tiffany's.
The show needs Someone like Padma Lakshmi. -
jeremiah_v9 July 2021Unfortunately, I couldn't finish watching. After the first "straight white man" comment, I knew this would be the same boring rhetoric! Nobody is interested in a rich, privileged white female talking about things she knows nothing about!
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priscillahodgkins-2145624 January 2022On day 2 the host and experts wear the same clothes, as do the contestants.
So, do we think it is another day ?
No.
Production lacks quality.
This show demonstrates how not to produce a program. -
jon500026 July 2021This show is actually really good. It's amazing to see the artistry of these jewelers and to see a bit of just what goes into a true work of art. This show really helps to show just what it takes for Independent jewelers to make the art they do and just why bespoke prices cost so much.
However, this entire thing is ruined by an AWFUL host. She isn't funny or interesting nor can she relate to the contestants. Every time she walks around the work room to interview the contestants about what they are working on it is so awkward and terrible. It is clear she has no knowledge of anything and so she spends her time shouting out the time (over and over and over and louder and louder...maybe she thinks that is personality?), And asking 'what is that?' 'what are you doing?' even though, she knows what the challenge is and the process was just explained to her by the judges. The time that she should be spending helping us, as an audience, get to know the designers, she does nothing but ask dumb questions and visibly irritate the contestants with her DUMB questions that even the audience knows the answer to! Ask them about who they are!
Nothing interesting or funny. It actually makes me cringe to watch someone so out of touch try to make small talk . I don't know where she came from but this is not her gig. She is also, naturally, the narrator of the show. I wish I could give her points for this, at the very least, but even her voice-over work on the series was stilted and awkward at times. She has a very pleasant voice for this type of voice-over work, but her delivery is just to stilted. Add that too her awkwardness on screen and it's an all around bad experience for the watcher.
I struggle to rate this because I think the production and judges and contestants are great. And it is fun to see the other side of the jewelry industry. Just get a new host and this could be one of the best reality competition shows.
I'm giving it 4 stars for the production and concept, but it is not an 8 because of the host. She's so bad she cut the rating in half. I truly hope to see another season, but I just hope for a new host.
P. S. I do not think the host is a bad person she actually seems to be lovely and tryin , this just isn't her thing. -
teseel11 February 2022This woman actually told one of the contestants, a woman from SriLanka that she needed to, "Think like a white man"! How did this not end up on the cutting room floor? She is loud, and makes everything said about her! The judges have the personality of cardboard. The cast of contestants and the idea of making jewelry is the saving grace of the show. However I find myself fast forwarding to the actual jewelry and bypassing the hyped drama.
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tinyone23 June 2022The idea is good. The talent is great. The host is absolutely awful. She has zero personality and isn't interesting at all. One could use her voice to lull you to sleep.
Plus she repeatedly referred to a certain gender, race and sexuality in the first episode in a derogatory manner. Her repeated insults had me gasping at the bigotry. I couldn't actually believe they let that air on the BBC. -
rkzptgmzp1 June 2022Possibly the WORST reality show host ever. "Think like a straight white man" a direct quote from this asshat. I really wanted to love this show...she kills it, unfortunately. The best part of this show is when they limit her talking. And the producers should have given the host a basic knowledge course in jewelry. She literally called a loop a monocle and can't pronounce the solder.