User reviews

Compared to some of the other cooking competitions Netflix has rolled out most recently (Nailed It comes to mind), this one is definitely above the rest. The borrowed time strategy adds a flair of uniqueness that keeps the relatively dated concept new. The host, on the other hand, comes off as that kind of middle manager that everyone's had at some point in their life, and is overly condescending to the contestants - it made the show difficult to watch whenever he came on. I think they were trying to have him motivate the contestants, but he clearly is not equipped to do that when his form of motivation is outright negative.

Show is fine, just your average baking competition but the host is terrible. He takes regular situations and makes them awkward with his weird commentary. Literally anyone else could do that job better.

If you enjoy competitive cooking shows, this covers that pretty well. There is a time limit, but it's intentionally VERY lenient and contestants almost always have time to do what they wanted.

Hunter March is the main host, and he's alright; funny at times, annoying at others. The two other main judges, Candace Nelson and Adriano Zumbo are really not contributing much. They could be replaced by cardboard cutouts and nobody would notice a difference. Guest judges have never wowed me, and are mostly just bakers no normal person would have heard of, or someone from a Netflix show nobody is watching anyway.

While the 3 rounds are explained as "surprises," it's clear the contestants know what they're doing ahead of time, bringing supplies that could certainly not just be things they brought in case, including obscure ingredients that suit the task, or elaborate equipment to stack a very specific final cake.

Some of the themes to episodes are downright cringey, like the "grammable food" epsiode. (Hate to break it to you guys, food isn't "grammable." Keep your food to yourself.)

The contestants are very dime-a-dozen, and sadly there's very little variation in what they do. There's 3 episodes in a row where EVERYONE does a 'geode' cake, which was obviously just the trend of the week at the time, and after the first one it's no longer a cool new thing, just people who aren't actually creative with their own ideas.

So in the end, I like seeing what they make and how they do it, I enjoy the competition, and I love seeing people's souls die when their food comes out bad. It's alright if you have nothing better to watch, but there's better out there.

Netflix has got so much to love here. On one hand, the fact that the contestants are professional bakers means we get to see some legendary cakes - which is exactly what I want to see.

But on the other hand, the presenter - he's trying way too hard - and like all these overly Americanised shows, there's no character to any of it.

The judges are interesting enough; maybe with a few more episodes I'll get to like them, but this is a show about cakes and that's what you're getting.

Overall, I'll watch all 8 episodes and I'll savour every moment.

Netflix if you're watching, Sugar Rush is a decent enough show, it just needs a few tweaks

This was a great show to put on as I was doing things around the house. I made my way through the whole first season pretty quickly. Overall, I recommend it, though it lacks the charm of The Great British Baking Show.

As a couple of other reviewers have noted, it's so obvious that the contestants have been told their challenges ahead of time! Why don't they just drop the façade and let the audience know? I hate the fake conversations where they have to pretend that they're coming up with their creations on the spot.

I also feel like it's confusing and unfair that the clock doesn't stop (or does it?) when the judges talk to the contestants after round 1. There are several references to the clock continuing to run during this stage, but it's unclear if it actually does.

I agree with other reviewers that the host is a bit off-putting, but fairly neutral and bland. I could have done without his hitting on Candace (so uncomfortable for both the audience and for her, especially in the #metoo era).

I really enjoy this show and I'm super happy the second season is out. I just enjoy it for what it is: something fun and easy to watch on a rainy Saturday when I need a break! I love that each episode is a stand-alone so I can just watch at random. I don't mind the host or judges at all. I love all the bright colours and fun, current themes for the challenges. I realize there is more behind the scenes planning put into their creations but I don't care. A Netflix win for me!

Sugar Rush serves well as eye-candy. There's vibrant colors, talented bakers, and impressive designs. BUT - there's no personality to the show. The tone is very off-putting.

Competitive baking shows are hard to do right. You want them to be educational, as you want to educate the viewer about baking so they can be more engaged while watching, but you want it to be entertaining at the same time by building tension and drama. It's a hard mixture to get right.

Where this show falls short is when you compare it to the masterclass competitive baking show that is the Great British Baking Show (Great British Bake Off). GBBS focuses on the craft and process of baking, emphasizing technique and knowledge of baking more so than pure aesthetic. This lets the viewer craft profiles of the contestants as they learn more of what each baker's style is. In addition, GBBS has a calm, relaxing tone to the show while still maintaining its competitive traits.

Sugar Rush is essentially a toned-down version of Zumbo's Just Desserts (which is awful outside of Zumbo's creations) that has been slightly improved, but the core recipe that they're working with simply isn't going to work. Fancy cupcakes, points, buttons, and bright lights are nothing but fluff without engagement and emphasis on the process that gets them there.

I think the ability to save your time is a neat twist but I think a cool feature to announce the elimination would be is if they had the breakers for each stations lights in another room and then they left to discuss it and without saying a word just flip off their lights

I don't know why so many other reviewers are criticizing the host. It is obvious that there is a bit more planning that goes on behind the scenes, since the contestants have access to things that wouldn't normally be in a standard pastry kitchen. However, I think the host adds a lot of enthusiasm to the show. One of the things I love is that it is always surprising and enjoyable, but doesn't have the negative drama that is present on some cooking shows. This is one show that my husband, my 5 yr old granddaughter and I can all watch together.

The host is a snooze and the amazing resource of Zumbo's presence is not used at all.

I enjoy this show. It's not supposed to be taken soooo seriously, like some of the other reviewers apparently took it. Just think "Nailed It" with better talent. It's fun, it's silly and I liked the competition and the creations and I liked the judges, including the host, Hunter March, that others whined about. Those looking for something more serious should watch Zumbo's Just Desserts.

The only thing that annoyed me about this show are the snippy comments some of the competitors made about or to, each other. It's hard to root for someone when you've just watched them being nasty towards a fellow competitor.

All in all, a fun watch and I hope for a season 3 and yes! with Hunter March hosting!

He was so flat and hardly ever actually ate anything or said anything about the food. He seems like he just did not enjoy himself. They needed someone like Nailed It

I love the show but the judges are so predictable. One for each contestant and then let the guest judge decide. Come one now I am tired of that whe. There usually there is one that is obviously the winner

First of all, when 2 tables finish at the same time, stop the darn clock for waiting contests! Overall we really enjoy the show because Season 1 hooked us. Season 2 is horrible. Instead of actual guest judges in the baking industry we get B-list celebrities. And I believe the show edits it to make the guest judges sound clueless. Plus I hate the way they introduce the contestants in Season 2... They used to give us more background about them and show us some of their bakery creations

It's definitely not perfect but im glad they made the changes in season 3 (fav team gets extra time or money, teams dont get to start cake round before the judges reveal who gets cut). But overall, this show is very easy to watch, has rlly fun themes, and a straightforward structure.

I also like the judges and the host. I don't know what everybody is whining about. I think Hunter March brings fun energy to the show. Although, yes, sometimes some interactions can be awkward. But other than that, I think he's fine.

Concept of show is near identical to baking shows of its kind like cake wars and nailed it. If you enjoy these shows, this show will definitely appeal to you and be very binge-able, however there is nothing unique or anything that really stands out. The judges are nice, with Zumbo being a little stricter with his ratings, yet the host is very fake with all his jokes falling flat, in fact every joke told by everyone in this show falls flat, and is stringed along with obvious fake laughter which makes for awkward dialogue. Overall the judges near always make good decisions with who they eliminate, and who they choose as a winner.

I don't know why i find another cooking show coming from netflix surprising, especially on the heels of a new season of "nailed it", but there you go. they have competent judges and pairs of bakers, who compete in 3 different rounds, with leftover time carried over to the next round. it's harmless, well-edited and fun to watch (though not as fun as "nailed it")

the host, on the other hand, is abysmal. fake happy, big-toothed, jug-eared tiny little whisper thin doofus who just needs a punch in the face. why is it so hard to find a host for these cooking shows that doesn't completely turn the audience away?

I love the concept of the show and I love the creations the bakers come up with. The creations explore the creativity of the craft of baking in ways that truly illustrate the wide variances that each baker's creativity can formulate. However, what I would like more of is more host. Hunter Marsh, I think, does a good job with the hosting that he does (I also like his shoes). However, I think given the chance to, perhaps give his own opinions on the baker's creations or have more of a role in the show, his position as host could expand tremendously. All in all, great baking show, love the creations, and I would like to see more host and his shoes!!!