Pottery Throwdown 2021 (thread two)

[LIZS]

New thread!

Sal. Thought she'd be safe after the drink flask.

@Persipan

They had to send two home at some point, though, 'cos they had that week when they didn't send anyone. I did like both Alon and Sal a lot, but I can see that they had to have something to pick up the people they sent home on. I'm not sure it was the best choice of challenge, tbh, it essentially ended up with everyone making something pretty similar and there was relatively little room for things to go disastrously wrong technically.

The thing I really like about it this year is the sense that they're all so close that they'd quite happily not have a competition at all, never send anyone home, and just have a lovely time pottering along together for however many episodes.

I'd watch that if it was a bit like big brother with pots - and no evictions.

She really ought to have known better.

Not hugely impressed with that decision. If they needed to send two home, what about sending Henry home with Shenyue when his pots were all broken and the design wasn't great? Or Peter (much as I love him) home with Henry last week when his bath cracked/leaked so badly?

Exactly, that's what annoys me more, if they knew they had to send two home there were other weeks when two potters had almost equally bad weeks and someone dodged a bullet. Then Sal could have stayed last time.

I was shocked Sal went (I had her in the final if not winning) and sad Alon went (I did like him, maybe for his curls ;) ) But Sals pot looked like Greek urn to me and not the pot they were after. It was also very heavy empty so would have been to heavy to carry when filled with water.
Her ring water bottle challenge was really good, but like she said, she had done loads of these when she was at college so not such a challenge for her.
I really liked Peter's reaction. He seemed thrilled to bits which was lovely. I'd like nearly any one of them to win now, esp Adam or Jodie.

To send Sal home this week was a travesty IMO.

Like others have said, others have been far weaker in previous weeks.

I got the slightest feeling that Sal may have been outspoken and perhaps might have rattled the production team at some stage and they didn’t want her in the competition any more. Just got the impression things were not all smooth and happy. The rim on the pot was the weak spot they’d been waiting for.

It would not surprise me if she’d asked the producers not to go down the bake off pressure cooker route.

You know, so that they could show their skills properly. They all love their craft and must be dismayed at being rushed or given the bare minimum of time.

It feels all wrong and like it was an excuse to punt her.

They should have told them they were sending two home this week.

I was also very shocked to see Sal go as I had her pinned to win the whole thing.

BUT.

I just followed that link to Sal's website and - well basically isn't she a professional potter? I don't think any of the others could be described thus. I just wondered where they draw the line when accepting people on to these shows.

I mean do you get professional bakers on Bake Off or professional seamstresses / tailors on Sewing Bee?

They should have told them they were sending two home this week.
Keith did say 'at least one of you' would be going home.

@5foot5

I was also very shocked to see Sal go as I had her pinned to win the whole thing.

BUT.

I just followed that link to Sal's website and - well basically isn't she a professional potter? I don't think any of the others could be described thus. I just wondered where they draw the line when accepting people on to these shows.

I mean do you get professional bakers on Bake Off or professional seamstresses / tailors on Sewing Bee?

You could argue the same about Adam www.adamceramic.com/

I'm sure they're all hoping to make a career out of pottery (just like masterchef and bake off cooks do). Why else would they be on the show?

I think there's probably different rules for Throwdown than Sewing Bee, as you're not allowed to have done any sewing qualifications for Sewing Bee but Sal mentioned college. So possibly there's also not the rule about it not being your main income.

Mind you, I can't imagine anyone can really get started with pottery without doing some sort of course, it's not like you can get a pottery wheel on a whim, whereas sewing is much more accessible.

They've had professional/semi-professional potters before - Jacob from last year (?) was a studio potter, I think.

That guy who won the first series was literally from a family of potters and grew up surrounded by clay!

Just caught up with this - absolutely fuming about Sal - she was amazing.
Yes, they needed a double elimination one week but why not in Terracotta week when Alon's was basically rumble & everyone had at least one broken pot????

Tbh Alon should have gone on Fruit Bowl week

Sal and Alon were my favourites. Sal for consistency and artistry and Alon for design and taking risks. Shows how much I know. :-(

That guy who won the first series was literally from a family of potters and grew up surrounded by clay!
And taught ceramics That was a bit of a joke.

So disappointed for Sal, she’s been consistently good throughout

Absolutely gutted by Sal going.
Whilst I 'get' the justification it feels disingenuous given the flexibility of interpretation that seemed acceptable previously.
Hopefully the contestants understand the judging criteria better than I do....
Can't help feeling that the second challenge is a waste of time as it doesn't hold any away over the result.
Harrumph

Sway not away

I think the second challenge is used if they need a tiebreak.

I think you are probably right SoupDragon but it still feels frustrating
I really like this programme and feel personally affronted by this 😠 😄

😂

I wasn't a massive Sal fan. She seemed almost too sure she would win. Smug almost.

TBH, who is in it does little to affect my enjoyment. I just like the programme - I'd be happy to watch it without the competition aspect!

I am surprised how annoyed I am by Sal going - to the extent it has slightly marred my enjoyment of the progamme. It just seemed such an illogical and unexplained decision when she won the other challenge and her pot was far better decorated than Hannah's. It had the addition of a rim, but that hardly seemed reason enough to go from first to last. Gah!

But part of the task is to follow the brief which was for a very specific shape of pot. Neither Alon nor Sal followed this brief and it wasn't just a small tweak really.

It happens on other programmes like this too.