JCeran

I just finished watching Next Level Baker, and I really loved it.

Next Level Baker (a spin-off of Next Level Chef) showcases three types of bakers-social media creators, home cooks, and professionals-as they compete for $25,000. The contestants are judged by Gordon Ramsay (Uncharted, Top Chef), Carla Hall (former Top Chef judge), and Candace Nelson (entrepreneur and pastry chef).

My initial draw to the show was Gordon Ramsay, but as I continued watching and got to know both the contestants and the judges I was less familiar with, I ended up liking everyone involved.

The show does a great job highlighting each competitor's struggles, triumphs, and skills. I found myself genuinely cheering for all of them. I also really enjoyed the addition of the "new" judges, especially those I hadn't previously known.

One thing I particularly appreciated was how Chef Ramsay seemed to "get out of the way." It was refreshing to see him not letting his celebrity status overshadow the contestants, but instead focusing on helping and mentoring them.

For viewers looking for something truly "new" or "fresh," this may not be the show for you. While it is enjoyable, it follows the familiar format common to many holiday and cooking competition shows.

Overall, Next Level Baker captures the spirit of Christmas and the fun of baking, while still benefiting from its celebrity draw. I would highly recommend it.

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For content sensitive viewers, like me, although Gordon (and may of the contestants) use vary colorful language, the show actually mutes some of the harsher profanity (which I loved, personally). But even with that, there is still plenty of language to go around.

Well, it's here. The first two episodes are out, and here are my early thoughts.

I've been excited for Season 2-although I'll admit it snuck up on me. Overall, it's good, but it doesn't feel like a step up from Season 1. As a longtime fan of the Percy Jackson books (even though I haven't reread them in years), I still enjoyed returning to this world.

What really carried these first two episodes for me was Leah Jeffries' emotional performance. She absolutely steps up this season and brings real depth to Annabeth. Walker Scobell continues to be strong and reliable as Percy, and Daniel Diemer does a wonderful job as Tyson, adding warmth and heart. The supporting cast also delivers solid performances across the board.

From a technical standpoint, the production quality looks great, and the CGI is genuinely impressive. That said, the season so far feels very familiar-almost like we're watching Season 1 again rather than seeing a clear evolution in storytelling or tone.

Overall though, - as a fan - I'm excited to see what quest the Lightning Thief will go on next!

Zootopia 2 (a follow-up to Zootopia (2016)) follows the cop duo Judy (the do-good bunny) and Nick (the shifty fox) as they navigate their new partnership, make friends along the way, and uncover hidden secrets. But, at what cost???

I just came out of the film, and I thought it was great!

The film picks up right where Zootopia (2016) left off, with Judy and Nick-still semi-fresh from saving the city-now working as a police duo trying to find their footing in the department, all while discovering that things aren't always what they seem. The film does a great job jumping right into the story and action! I think the film's appeal, like the original's, really comes from the mystery, the humor, the character chemistry, and the overall message of accepting others for who they are-all while gearing itself toward kids, families, and a general audience. The film also did a great job expanding the world-building and introducing new characters, all the while keeping me invested and on the edge of my seat. I thought the sequel delivered on all those fronts.

While the mystery was a standout, what truly hooked me was the character development between Judy and Nick. You really get to see more of their partnership here, and the film does a great job showing their different perspectives, the tensions, the needs, and the tougher moments that come with being partners-many of which adults will appreciate more than kids. I found myself just as invested in their relationship as I was in the overarching mystery, and honestly, their relationship really became the highlight of the film for me.

The cast performances were great! Returning voices Ginnifer Goodwin (as Judy, the bunny) and Jason Bateman (as Nick, the fox) both really carried the movie for me. I also loved the new additions of Ke Huy Quan (as the Snake), Andy Samberg (as Pawbert), and Fortune Feimster (the crazy beaver), along with the supporting cast, who all helped elevate the film. The film also brought back a few familiar voices from Zootopia (2016) that were fun additions/callbacks, along with some new cameos. I also thought Shakira's new number, "Zoo," was well done.

My only caveat was that after seeing the trailers, I felt like right at the beginning of the movie I had already guessed the plot, which ended with me not being very satisfied with the payoff. I still got surprised by a twist or two, but for the most part, I felt like the movie was predictable. I also thought the beginning of the film was well written, but near the end, I felt like some of the suspense dissipates due to the delivery being rushed. Saying all that, I still enjoyed the film tremendously!!

As a side note, I think the attention to detail was great-especially the many nods to Disney's own self-awareness. There was a weatherman named Bob Tiger (a nod to Disney's CEO Bob Iger), and a news channel called ZNN (referencing CNN), along with many others. I just thought they were fun pokes at Disney, by Disney.

Overall, Zootopia 2 delivers a good sequel thanks to its story, character development, and humor (it was pun-ny), all wrapped in stunning animation while delivering a great message! I would recommend it for kids, families, and really any viewer alike. And don't fur-get to stay until the end of the credits...

_ *Content: The film does have one LGBTQ+ scene (brief), along with some suggestive material, and light profanity (two vain references to Deity).