The relatable joy of ‘Nailed It’
NETFLIX’S Nailed It is the kind of show that makes you feel seen.
The baking series takes its name from a meme in which people share pictures of a beautiful baked good they were trying to create, alongside disastrous versions. In the series, three amateur bakers (and they are really, really amateur) compete to try to quickly recreate Instagramworthy treats such as emoji cakes or pirate doughnuts, and instead come up with crumpled messes. The ‘‘winner’’, who receives $US10,000, is the person who does the job least terribly.
What might sound like a meanspirited and cruel show is actually one of the sweetest, most genuinely fun food shows out there. Hosted by comedian Nicole Byer, Nailed It knows it’s a ridiculous concept and leans into the absurdity. The creations aren’t Great British Baking
Showstyle masterpieces; they are kitschy, cartoonish projects designed for social media, such as a Rapunzel cake or one shaped like US President Donald Trump’s face.
The best part of Nailed It isn’t its celebration of failure, but of trying. It often seems like the episodes are baking parties, with a cash prize.
Most of us aren’t expert bakers, but we love sweets and we love making food. I’m one of those people. Armed with a stand mixer, cookbooks and enthusiasm, I set out to bake in my free time with mixed results.
The bakers on the show are similar. They frost cupcakes while they’re hot or overload cake pans, leading to a molten mess in the oven. But sometimes they can still win, because, as the judges repeatedly say, they tried, they didn’t give up, and they learned something. They feel good even though what they made is bad, presenting their creations with a sarcastic ‘‘Nailed it!’’. They laugh right alongside the judges when faced with smushed cakes and terrible decorations.
The series inspired me to bake in a way that no other, more professional competition ever has. After binging all six episodes, I was moved to try my hand at some cupcakes. The icing drooped and I got sprinkles everywhere. But I tried. And so I won. — TCA