Ep 1. Cake

The Great British Baking Show season 1 episode 1, titled "Cake," introduces viewers to the delightful world of amateur baking competition in Britain. Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins set the stage for twelve amateur bakers to showcase their skills in the classic British challenges: a signature bake, a technical challenge, and the showstopper.

As the episode begins, we meet the twelve contestants, including a retired hairdresser, a mother of three, and a full-time firefighter, who all have one thing in common: their love of baking. They are welcomed into the iconic tent by judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, two legends of British baking, who set the tasks for the episode.

The signature bake challenge requires the contestants to make a sandwich cake that reflects their personality. With two hours on the clock, the contestants get to work, whipping up flavors ranging from triple chocolate to lemon and poppy seed. The judges critique their creations on the basis of taste, texture, and appearance. The mood is a mix of competitiveness and camaraderie, with the contestants offering each other help and encouragement.

Next up is the dreaded technical challenge, where the bakers have to make a frosted walnut cake that features a piped rosette design. The task is designed to test their technical skill and attention to detail. This challenge is a tense moment for the bakers, whose nerves are already high from their first task. While some turn out beautiful rosettes, others struggle with the frosting, leading to a varied range of outcomes. The judges withhold the recipe, adding to the difficulty level of this test of precision.

The final challenge is the showstopper, where the bakers have to wow the judges with their most impressive creation yet. In this episode, they must create a mini cake replica of a famous building. The bakers put their imaginations to work, creating everything from a castle to a seaside lighthouse, but also walk the fine line between imagination and pleasing the judges' palate. With the clock ticking down in the final minutes, contestants work at a frantic pace to complete their showstopping masterpieces for presentation.

Throughout the three challenges, the contestants grow together as a team and rise to the challenges set by the judges, who are not afraid to dish out tough critique and genuine praise. In the end, Mary and Paul determine which of the bakers holds the title of star baker for the week, and which of the bakers would be leaving the competition. The judges' decisions are based on not just how the contestants' cakes look on the outside but also its inside taste, texture and moistures.

The finale of this episode leaves the viewer excited for more as they have watched the amateur bakers skillfully and creatively create cakes of all shapes and sizes. The episode leaves us with a true sense of the joy of baking and how it can be both challenging and rewarding all at once.

The Great British Baking Show's opening season's first episode delivers a strong first impression of the competition's format, skilled judges and the amateur bakers displaying their passion and creativity through their baking. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in baking competitions, or just looking for a cozy and entertaining watch on a lazy afternoon.