There’s no true conversation between the contestants and the judges, at least not on screen, and also no debate or discussion that we get to see between the judges. The judges critique each piece in the showroom, and then they ask a question to a few of the contestants. Blown Away judge Katherine Gray, guest judge Alexander Rosenberg, and host Nick Uhas (Photo by Netflix)
But that empathy came too late for me, because I’d spent so much time just wanting him to leave my TV screen. The show makes a particularly infuriating choice with its new villain, Chris, editing him to be a comically one-note arrogant jerk-until it suddenly reveals two pieces of new information, in back-to-back episodes, that help explain both his attitude and his art. With limited time, I’d like less of the contestants repeating platitudes about the challenge theme and more of them explaining what they’d doing and how they’re making these amazing things. There’s no sense of how a stick of glass becomes a bubble becomes a tree, or a face. The editing is what frustrates me the most, both in terms of the process and the contestants. “You’re the best, dude,” Nick replies, though I had to re-watch it three times and turn on subtitles because I first thought he said, “you’re a bastard.” ( Blown Away has not changed that much.) He is judging a challenge that involves creating table centerpieces, which he says are “pieces that work best are pretty and have a purpose, kind of like Nick.” I think Bobby may speak more in his episode than he does in all of Queer Eye. Some of that comes from the guest judges, many of whom are more familiar, from season-one cast members (Alexander Rosenberg and winner Deborah Czeresko both appear) to celebrities (including Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk and NFL player Stephen Weatherly). While the glory hole references are not acknowledged or joked about, alas, there is more humor, and more buoyancy. Season two it does feel more self-assured, and there’s a little more playfulness and looseness. It’s so pathetically small, and these artists deserve more.
Not even the cheap prize changed: it’s still just a “$60,000 prize package,” which of course means it’s not even $60,000 in cash. Blown Away is still 10 episodes, each of which is less than 30 minutes. That explained the short episodes, commercial breaks, and perhaps the cheap prize.ĭespite season-one’s popularity, not much has changed, although I don’t think it aired previously in Canada. The first season was actually a co-production with a Canadian network, which broadcast the show before it went to Netflix. For example, the only cast photo they released appears to be a screenshot and doesn’t even show all of the cast, or identify any of them by name. The only cast photo Netflix released of Blown Away season 2’s contestants, which doesn’t actually show all of the cast members.įirst, I’m still just baffled by Netflix’s investment in the show, which seems oddly minimal. That was true in season one, too, and after watching season two, I re-read my Blown Away season-one review, and everything in that still holds. I’m in awe of what these artists are able to conceive of and create in just hours. The art produced by the contestants is nearly always stunning, both in craft and in concept. The editing is rapid-fire, shifting the image from contestant to contestant, piece to piece. They stand together above the hot shop and chat, usually awkwardly, with the episode’s guest judge.īlown Away’s short episodes breeze by, and that keeps the show light on its feet, but also light on details. Head judge-I mean, resident evaluator-Katherine Gray delivers sharp but never withering critiques.
It still host (and former Big Brother contestant) Nick Uhas enthusiastically talking about glory holes. The Netflix reality show still has quick, 30-minute episodes that each have a single challenge. Blown Away has not changed significantly in season two, which is both a relief and, honestly, a bit of a disappointment.