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Do you agree the show is back on form?
Dixon
Posts: 12,987 Forum Member
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I've watched and loved the show from series one.
However, my interest waned during the previous couple of series and i actually switched off a few weeks into the last series.
But this series has got me hooked again
and that's down to a watchable set of characters.
Loving it,so far!:)
However, my interest waned during the previous couple of series and i actually switched off a few weeks into the last series.
But this series has got me hooked again
and that's down to a watchable set of characters.Loving it,so far!:)
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I love the show for the hilarity of it (although it isn't nearly as fun as previous series - it now seems so overwhelmingly forced and rehearsed). If by 'watchable' you mean the present set of contestants are total buffoons - I agree with you.
For a semi-serious show about finding a business partner for Mr S - then nothing comes close to series 1 (Ruth Badger from series 2 perhaps notwithstanding). In series 1 you had fairly intelligent people whose personalities added the fun elements (I'm thinking particularly of the brilliant Paul Toresi).
I find it interesting that you consider Paul to be an example of someone that made Series 1 a semi-serious show. Much as he really did make it memorable, I think he was never going to win. Unpleasant person, sexist, aggressive and in the interviews it came out that he didn't even realise what the point of the show was. He thought he was going to go in and tell Sugar what was wrong with Amstrad.
Agree last year was excellent mainly thanks to luisa .
This year so so although last night was a little better than the previous two.
The 20 candidates was a mistake as it's taking too long to get to know them all
Agreed - double firings are losing their drama as well!
Paul, for me, was the stand-out for fun in the first series (I loved his demonstration of the vacuum cleaner - which of course the QVC people wouldn't let go out).
Of course he was arrogant but he was genuinely funny as well. I much preferred him over the one we were supposed to see as a genuine candidate - James Max (who was only there for the fame factor). Obviously the right person (when it came down to the last few) won - Tim. Although I thought Saira was a fabulous finalist (despite me being annoyed like crazy with her for the first half of that series). I felt they made a huge mistake in getting rid of Miriam too soon - I think had the final been between her and Tim - it would have been a much closer call.
I think what I'm trying to say is that most of them from the first series seemed to have a modicum of intelligence - the ones from this series (and recent series) seem to be genuinely as thick as pig-poo!
I think that's just the edit and the way that the show is set up, as most of them have done quite well in their own careers. I think there have been very few candidates over the years that have just been completely foolish (though undoubtedly a few), the process is just insanely difficult. Lindsay said that it looks so much easier on TV than it actually is, and I think she's right.
I view the show purely as a piece of light entertainment..
One thing I do think 10 has reinstated is candidates with very little self-awareness. There's been an increasing sense as you move from S1 to S9 that all the candidates know the drill, know what they're letting themselves in for, and are to an extent learning from the mistakes of former series. The candidates in S10, that's dialled way way down. James has got a brand of cluelessness we haven't really seen since Ben Clarke; the candidates are all rather earnest, again, and that feels refreshing.
One thing I found refreshing about Jaz last year is that she said the same silly things to the camera as the others, but she said it in a way that sounded like she knew it was all a big joke really. 'I love being in charge! Telling other people what to do, and having them do it, is my idea of heaven!' Usually the candidates say things like that really deadpan, but Jaz seemed to appreciate the humour in it. It was a shame that she went in the first week - not that she didn't deserve it, because she messed the task up - but I did really like her. Genuinely my favourite last year.
I feel like there's just too many candidates this time. Like alot of reality shows, it's trying to do everything at once thinking that's the fast ticket to drama, but it's just stifling it instead.
When there were 16 candidates there were a few early firings who slipped under the radar who I have major trouble remembering, but this series has made it almost impossible with so many multiple firings.
At the moment I don't find myself rooting for anyone, it's just about who's least annoying. lol
It's still entertaining so I'll enjoy it for that, but I already find myself looking ahead to when there's less candidates. Right now it's just a huge blur of faces.
The write up in daily mails weekend magazine led me to believe we were in for some massive big twist, all it was in the end was Lindsey practically resigning then rather than actually just say i quit she sits to wait to be told 'you're fired'. She obviously never saw Adele from series 1 ;-)
Two weeks on the trot with a double firing and tbh neither time it has been particularly compelling. I find myself doing other things and having it on in the background a lot of the time.
Ironically, while some are less self aware because they have little sense, more of them this year actually have been very successful. There's some people in there, just from looking a few up on twitter, or Linkedin, who have already won national awards.
The more damaging cluelessness has been to do with getting use to the mechanics and timetables of the show, plus an expanded first task that saw them, inevitably, run into time constraints, a dodgy second task that was unlikely to produce much of merit , and a third task that was constructed. with a flaw. We almost saw Katie get the strategy all right , and lose to people selling below cost- because the residual stock was not valued in the task rules. And , from that game design flaw , flowed much of the indecision about what price to aim for.
I haven't like the new format of the business partner. I preferred him looking for an apprentice. LS has obviously already read the 20 business cases and knows which ones hes interested in. He will surely not fire anyone no matter how dim they are if they have a great business plan he can make money from. IMO he know the final 2 already and these weeks are just providing the entertainment.
I would say this year is one of the worst so far.
I have no problem with surprise firings (I loved Jenny who got the boot for cheating a few years ago "its my birthday Sir Alan") but to have 20 at the start proves that they are doing it as a gimmick and nothing more.
He did specifically state at the start that he has read the outlines, but not the detail of the plans. At this point, they will all be things that he has some level of interest in.
I think this year might produce the strongest set of final offerings - just looking at a few cvs, and who looks smart so far. The first year it seems to have been a late change of prize so few plans were worked up.The next year he had some toxic final offers, and some he didn't think would work. By last year he had two decent plans to choose from - though both posed risks with either the politics or the personality. .This year he has people who have set up businesses and expanded them, and some who come with awards and good qualifications.
His problem is if some look safe and realistic prospects with big potential - but they are in areas he's not shown interest in in the past and will still reject - however good the proposal is.
Well, I suppose it depends what the competition is. If it comes down to one of the realistic prospects in an obscure area of which you speak, and the alternatives have flaws in them, Lord Sugar may still decide to branch out into another market.
trainwreck is how I would describe it
the boardroom's have been an absolute mess with the OTT bickering and arguing between the contestants , I cant remember ever having to just mute them as often as I have this year
at the end of tonight's show if she hadn't kept wittering on she might have been safe but her inability to just stfu got her fired