Monday Media Musings - 3/29/21

The Great British Baking Show: Beginnings: This is the Netflix title for what aired in the UK as series three of The Great British Bake-Off, which is the oldest season legally available in the US. (Apparently we should next watch the season that Netflix labels as Season 2, then Season 1, and after that we can go in order. Thanks to this Grub Street article for helping me figure out a watching order without spoilers.) I've been meaning to watch this forever, and T was also curious, but for whatever reason it never pushed its way to the top of the list. But one day recently we were looking for something to watch that wasn't too cognitively demanding, and this seemed to fit the bill. It is every bit as charming and entertaining as everyone says it is, certainly gentler than most other reality shows, but with plenty of suspense and drama just from the baking (rather than having to manufacture it via impossible challenges and interpersonal drama). And the hosts and judges are delightful. Even Paul, who is clearly the toughest of the crew, is always fair and rarely mean -- T commented that it's always clear what he wants from the contestants, and his comments are rarely a surprise (though I was surprised by the overall winner).

DAO Update

Devin Tabris is in Orzammar -- just starting on Jarvia's hideout. Three armies in, and I still haven't quite figured out who she is yet. A little violent, a little impulsive, genuinely wants to help people, but I'm never 100% certain what she's going to do. ( Some thoughts on her choices, and on where I'll probably take my next Warden as a result. )