School of Chocolate
School of Chocolate is the newest competition series on Netflix. Eight contestants are challenged to create pastries and chocolate showpieces, out of which one is awarded Best in Class with cash prize of $50,000 and other career-changing rewards.
The show is hosted by Amaury Guichon, a world renowned chocolatier. If you take a quick glance at his Instagram, you can easily tell why he has 4.5 million followers! As the teacher and host, he mentors the contestants throughout the challenges within the show.
Episode Format
In general, the episodes generally follow the same flow, although there are some challenges that span longer than an episode.
The general flow of the episode is the following. The contestants enter the workshop and view a piece created by the host chocolatier, Amaury Guichon. He then demonstrates the unique technique that he used, and instructs the contestants to present a pastry according to the challenge in 4.5 hours; for instance, to incorporate chocolate flowers. After he judges the presentation and tastes the pastry, two contestants are picked as the team leaders, and the two weakest are asked to sit out the next challenge.
A chocolate showpiece by Amaury of a tall lighthouse and a very detailed chocolate octopus!
The main challenge each week starts the following day, with a showpiece being presented by Amaury once again. They are generally given around 14 hours to create chocolate showpieces, such as ones hanging completely from the ceiling as teams. The team leaders choose their team members, and they set on to create their piece. Throughout the challenge, the contestants are assisted by both Amaury as well as two other chefs.
The host selects the winning showpiece, but then also awards the best student of the week by judging both the pastry and the showpiece. Other things are also taken into consideration, such as to how the contestants lead their team, work together and work under pressure.
To Compete and To Learn
One of the primary differences that sets this apart is that despite it being a competition, the host, Amaury, mentors the contestants. Not only does he demonstrate his techniques before the challenges, but he also goes around during the challenge to assist the contestants with any difficulties or questions they have. This create a better environment where all contestants are learning and improving their skills.
The hanging chocolate showpiece by Amaury Guichon
Another great difference from other competitions (like the glass competition of Blown Away) is that there are no eliminations. This allows the contestants to both learn over time, but also reward taking risks. It was always frustrating to watch other shows like Blown Away, the glass-blowing competition, where a contestant gets eliminated very early on in the series before they show their potential. In fact, in School of Chocolate, a few contestants show an incredible progress throughout the series that you cannot help but feel proud and happy for! And the critiques are more than fair and the host is aimed at helping them improve, rather than criticising just to find someone to eliminate.
Collaboration Triumphs Competition
Like all other reality TV, there is some tension and drama between the contestants. We get to know the contestants more both through their confessionals, as well as to what they say in front of the others (e.g. when picked last). As viewers, one can easily distinguish those who are more competitive-natured and focused on winning versus those who have a much more sense of companionship and a want to learn. In particular, when contestants finish their pastry before the time limit, they tend to go around and help others who would barely deliver their pastry in the timeframe given. As a viewer, I appreciated this a lot (although I cannot deny I love some cutthroat competition as well).
Should You Watch The Show?
Out of all the competitive Reality TV series I have watched, School of Chocolate easily ranks at the top. The contestants are skilled and create works of art in each episode. Not only that, since there is no elimination, as a viewer I am not stressed or sad for the contestants, but was able to watch them grow and flourish. It was evident that the host and judge of the show was an expert in the field and was much more relatable. All these elements combined make one of the best competitive shows out there which I would recommend you to watch (although be warned the show might make you hungry).
Links
- Ko-Fi: PoetryByJeremy
- Official Publications: Poetry by Jeremy
- Twitter:@PoetryByJeremy