Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking

Not bad, but the first episode seemed a little all over the place. I think they could have thought up a better format for the first episode, as it comes across quite disjointed.

Still, I'm hoping that as the season progresses, the strangely fragmented format will mend itself and become a bit more fluid.

I loved seeing all the Harry Potter-themed creations coming to life - some of them were really exceptional.

Oliver and James were a great choice for hosts, they slot into the vibe really well.

I'm going to stick with it as I've got a feeling that, now the introductions are out of the way, it will find its feet. We'll have to wait and see.

So so many negatives. Firstly, if you are expecting an equivalent of the GBBO, you will be sorely disappointed. This, it is not. It's way way stereotypically American (negative). The introduction of the guests, the pretending it's all true (I mean Harry Potter etc is real, but not the elements in the show...), the over the top excitement.... Ugh!

If you LOVE Harry Potter, you should love this. It's the only thing that saves it for me. But if you only like Harry Potter, i suspect this isn't for you. I laughed, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. But not for baking, not for the presentation (yes I love the Weasley twins, but not the actors as presenters), and not for the overall production. Just for the HP connection, :-)

Great concept lost in its own self-aggrandizing Hogwarts. A very talented and mostly likable group of chefs paying homage to Harry Potter themed challenges. Intertwined through the competition are video clips of memorable movies scenes as well as incorporation of the various movie sets in introducing challenges and judging. Given the outright magical inspiration for the show including being given a ticket to ride on the Harry Potter express train after the first challenge, the show is visually spectacular. The competition itself is well conceived, the Phelps brothers are pleasantly enthusiastic and Carla Hall is as always a thoughtful and constructive food competition judge. However, the general tone of the judging is overly melodramatic and Jozef Youssef's vainglorious persona is intolerable. Chairman Kaga was at least entertaining... not a pretentious...

The first episode was torture: introducing teams in a staggered, ridiculous fashion, judging based on I don't know what, special effects and "decor" painfully overdone (especially having contestants move locations to get judged, based on nothing).

I did NOT like it, but will give it one more chance and watch the second episode. I'll update this review afterwards. Right now, it's not looking good.

Have none of these producers/show runners ever seen GBBS or The Great Pottery Throwdown? Both those shows are to be emulated as they have winning formulas that engender loyalty and popularity.

But NOOOOO! Producers think we're too stupid, don't have attention spans that can focus (apparently we're all 3 year olds) and generally have no respect for anyone. The only thing that matters is the $$$ they're hoping for.

Update: I've watched 2 more episodes and I'm done. Rating can stay the same as it hasn't gotten worse, but it also hasn't gotten appreciably better.

The worst thing is the shallowness of the interactions between the hosts, judges and contestants. GBBS and The Great Pottery Throwdown have spoiled me. Too bad they can't all just relax and let their personalities come through. The Harry Potter theme is great, the food looks fine, the contestants skills are also fine, but that's not enough to hang a baking show on.

This is a FAIL for me.

Watching Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking feels less like a magical baking competition and more like a thinly veiled, expensive advert for their new cookbook. While the concept of combining the wizarding world with baking had so much potential, the execution is disappointingly transparent.

The show is painfully staged-every interaction feels scripted, and the supposed "competition" lacks any real tension or excitement. Contestants seem more like actors than bakers, and the emphasis is always on promoting the recipes from the cookbook rather than showcasing creativity or skill.

What's most disappointing, however, is the lack of Harry Potter magic. Aside from a few forced references and themed decorations, the show doesn't capture the wonder, charm, or atmosphere that made the franchise so beloved. Instead, it comes across as a soulless marketing ploy.

In the end, Wizards of Baking is neither an engaging competition nor a nostalgic trip back to Hogwarts. It's dull, uninspired, and, frankly, a missed opportunity. Fans looking for a touch of Potter magic will be sorely disappointed.