Contains Spoilers for this episode!!

Crisis averted! If you read my reaction to last week’s episode, you know that, when I choose a contestant as my favorite, it typically dooms that contestant to an early failure. My husband says I’m like a sniper in the trees outside of the tent, choosing my favorites. I was really afraid, in the first two challenges, that my curse was going to work its cruel magic again. It was not looking good for Pui Man! What the heck even happened to her caramel in the technical?! (Paul taking one look at her poor disintegrating hobnobs and just going “whot??!”, lmao.) But wow, did she ever pull it back in the Showstopper. That recreation of the floating restaurant in Hong Kong was incredible, flawless, and the judges raved about the “beautifully spiced” gingerbread and the way that it snapped. (Personally, I don’t care for cookies that “snap,” but, whatever.) I was so pleased to see her finally earn such stellar feedback.

Speaking of the showstopper, what kind of a crazy challenge was that? A 3D, functioning time “capshoole” box containing five mementos to represent a time in their life: who comes up with this stuff?!

This was the kind of challenge that makes me think about what I would make if I were on the show (if I had any sort of baking talent whatsoever). Do you ever do that? For a “time capsule” challenge, I’d probably try to build a gingerbread model of my house, which is a super cute brick split-level with a gambrel roof, and then for the mementos I’d make one each to represent my husband and kids: a teapot for my tea-loving husband, a copy of Charlotte’s Web for my five-year-old, a toy hedgehog for my four-year-old, a MagnaTile for my two-year-old, and maybe like a onesie for my youngest, who is two months old and doesn’t have any particular hobbies or interests yet. What would you guys make??

It was a tough challenge, but everyone did really well, I mean even the ones who got poor feedback (Toby, Aaron) did pretty well. Aaron’s cherry blossom decorations looked beautiful, with that sakura cherry buttercream, how clever. Although, I lol’d when Paul opened it and pulled out the “memento” cookies, which were, hm, not so beautifully decorated, and Paul goes “whot the hell is that?!” “that ain’t no scroll!” Ahh, I’m so sorry Aaron, but that was hilarious.

Toby didn’t do great this challenge either, but they did say that his chocolate-orange treasure chest looked amazing. It was a lot of ups and downs for Toby this episode. Toby, who’s my husband’s favorite because he has what my husband describes as a likeably “redneck” or “trailer park” vibe (husband’s words, not mine; don’t @ me), is one of my favorites as well, because I like his flavor ideas thus far. As you know, his cake in last week’s episode was my choice of “Dessert I’d most like to eat,” and this week I very nearly awarded him that honor again for his banana peanut slice & bake cookies with honey and cinnamon – unfortunately, both judges commented that the flavors didn’t really work out.

And speaking of the signature challenge: slice and bake! This was a good choice of challenge, and fun to watch, although I wished Pui Man’s had worked out. When Noel was chatting with her and asked her if she had ever managed to finish it in time while practicing at home, and she was just like “no” – lol. The way Noel completely didn’t know what to say to that, for once, and just decided to stop the joke there and walk away.

Aaron’s was the cutest this challenge, with the little baby face! He nailed it. And I was lol’ing again at Alison and Paul’s little back-and-forth about Aaron’s cookies here: her observation about the chocolate mishap on the bottom, and the absolute disgusted “wtf” look that Paul gave her. Bewildered Paul was like a theme this episode, and I’m here for it. The whole joke about the one-eyed “Noel” cookie had me dying, too, especially the way they just kept showing it again and again. And Leighton’s orange slices with chocolate ganache dip looked and sounded amazing, and got great reviews from the judges!

Which, I was completely confused when they sent Leighton home!?! Why?? He didn’t do so badly in the showstopper; it seemed like the judges gave him, like, I’d say approximately a B- for his gingerbread piano, which was underbaked but they said was delicious. Yeah, he was tenth in the technical (“did you pipe through a hose??”), but his signature was one of the best. So I really don’t see why he got sent home rather than Aaron, who was eighth in technical and did badly in the showstopper, or Toby, who although he won the technical, did mediocre in the signature and received probably the worst feedback in the showstopper. I don’t know, something’s not adding up for me, here. I really like Aaron and Toby – Aaron’s probably one of my favorites after Pui Man, and Toby did make “the perfect hobnob” in the technical, which, maybe that carried him through – but it seemed like Leighton deserved to stay.

Nataliia was impressive again this episode. Her cake slice cookie box with a functioning drawer was awfully ambitious; it’s unfortunate that the roof caved in. But I’d still eat it. And she came in third in technical, too! I really think she is one to watch.

I still think Tom’s going to be the winner this season, though. He got a handshake for his showstopper – and right after Paul said that his handshake was on holiday. That little cottage did look incredible, with the flickering light inside and everything.

This is starting to get long, so before I go I’ll just mention that I’m starting to really like Lesley and Nadia, as well. Nadia’s tomato macarons in the showstopper sounded so cool! Paired with limoncello cookies: what a bright and unexpected way to represent her Italian culture. And she came in second in the technical. It was too bad she went with matcha in the signature, otherwise I bet that avocado cookie would have been delicious. And Lesley – I don’t know, she just seems like a lovely person, it makes me happy when she’s on the screen. Who are y’all’s favorites so far?

“Claggy” count: 0 (running total: 2)

“Concertina” count: 0 (running total: 1) (I guess it’s kind of hard for a cookie to be claggy or to concertina.)

High point: Pui Man’s comeback!

Low point: Poor Aaron’s showstopper not working out. I feel like Paul was too hard on him for that bridge breaking. It didn’t completely ruin the effect.

The dessert that I would most have liked to eat: Honestly, give me some of those bad hobnobs. Any of them; like, Leighton’s looked good to me. I know they were a technical “failure,” but personally think an extra soft and chewy oat cookie loaded with way too much caramel and chocolate on top sounds a heck of a lot tastier than something thin, dry, and crunchy.

Leave me a comment!

.