The Great British Baking Show, My Love

It can be hard to put into words the feelings you have about something you've enjoyed-- especially when that something isn't a thing that one typically waxes poetic about.

Like, if you're trying to describe the love you have for your child, or the beauty of a flower, you may search for just the right words to capture its elemental heart, but everyone already gets the gist of what you're describing-- particularly if they've experienced it themselves.

But when you're trying to capture the essence of how a simple television show made you feel, it's...well...a bit weird.

But I'm going to do it anyway.

Because this show that I've been obsessed with since the first of July, this BBC marvel, this so-much-more-than-a-bake-off, this tiny-teeny baking show just made me feel so good.

Watching it, I felt somehow...lighter and brighter; warm and cozy, yet uplifted. It made me smile, a lot. It made my heart feel good. It was so basic, yet so lovely. And, strangely, so different from any other competition show I've watched.

In the past, I've enjoyed shows like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and so on. In fact, I'm in the midst of a Project Runway season right now. And I like it.

But it's different.

How can I explain this?

The people on The Great British Baking Show are nice. (At least everything I've seen of them on the show.) They're all nice people. They're all humble and respectful. Not in a fake, 'I'm on television' kind of way. But they're all just genuinely good. No one person bad mouths another. No one's mean-spirited or rude-- judges included. It's a competition with themselves, more than each other. Each person striving to do their very best, rather than striving to beat the other contestants. It's good sportsmanship and good humanbeingship.

I actually liked all the people on the show. And that's saying a lot, because I didn't just watch one season. I watched 4 seasons. All the seasons...all this summer.

It started when we went to visit my folks in Michigan this summer. My mom was watching the current season (4) and I happened to watch an episode with her one night. Immediately, I was hooked! So we went back and watched the season's episodes I had missed. Then I went home and finished the season as they aired the episodes weekly on PBS.

I was so sad when the season was done. I missed it. That is, until I discovered seasons 1-3 on Netflix. (Hooray for Netflix!)

Well, I just finished the last episode of season 3 (possibly my favorite season...though that may just be because it's the one I just watched), and I feel like I'm floating on air-- that's how sweet and uplifting it was.

There's something about watching people go after their dreams that is just heartwarming and inspiring, regardless of the outcome. Watching the show makes me want to go after my dreams even more. The winner of season 3, just after receiving the crystal cake plate trophy, said something like, "I will never again say 'I can't do that.' Because I can. I did."

That's some powerful stuff.

In addition to showcasing great people and some seriously great baking (that makes me want to bake grand cakes and treats, and experiment with different flavors and new ingredients), this show also has two of the most amusing hosts ever.

I've never had particularly strong feelings one way or another about a competition show host. They're mostly fine and just, sort of, there. But these two women, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, are an absolute delight. They're hilarious...and also kind and supportive; and they clearly care about the contestants. Mostly, they're damn funny in this goofy, off-beat way I find supremely charming.

The judges-- the aptly named Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood-- are also lovely. They're tough, but kind. They always look for the bright spot, even when it's a baking fail. And you can see that they're always hoping that everyone succeeds.

So there. I've done it. I've waxed poetic about a television show. And a baking competition show, at that. Showing my true freak-colors. I may as well admit to one of my other television loves...James Spader as Red on The Blacklist-- don't even get me started on that man's ability to deliver a line....and follow a tangent (like a man after my own heart). New season of Raymond Reddington starts this week! Squee!

But I digress...

Here's my point-- yes, I have one-- my point is, that The Great British Baking Show gives something I think can be sorely absent from typical American media fodder (especially of late): Kindness. Respect. Decency. These are the things I find myself craving, along with the pastries they're whipping up. I want to see goodness. I want to be made to feel warmth and lightness. I want to relax in front of the telly with a spot of tea for an hour; I want to enjoy that hour; and I want to feel better when it's done than I did when it started. And this show gives me all that, in spades...plus, British accents! <3

Until next time, go make a cup of tea and enjoy a lovely episode of The Great British Baking Show. (And drool over their amazing bakes!) THEN, be inspired to go after your own dreams...