#blownawayseries

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

'"Beside the Golden Door" was my installation for the finale of @blownawayseries season 3. The challenge was to use the space to create an immersive experience. This piece signifies my journey as an artist over the last two decades trying to break through the facade of societal expectations of both artists and individuals. The world that is hidden underneath the illusory 'perfect white space' is more rich and alive than anything we can imagine. Each element of this installation signifies a period of my life that I thought I would never recover from, and from which new life grows."

"Beside the Golden Door", 2022 by the very talented John 'sleepy' Moran Photo credit: @davidleyes @marblemediaofficial @blownawayseries

#beautifulbizarre #johnmoran #johnsleepymoran #glassart #blownaway

[digicomm-timecapsule-20009]

Week 5 pt 2 - Reality TV Ranking

I’ll be honest, I watch a lot of reality tv. And I mean A LOT. 

I, together with my dad who secretly loves drama and scandals as much as I do, have more or less exhausted Netflix’s reality competition section. And we’re versatile too, watching shows on topics like glass blowing to wilderness survival to even drag queens. 

With that in mind, I’ll be dissecting the 10 most recent reality tv shows I’ve watched including what I liked/disliked about them, what the most outrageous moment was (in my opinion) as well as how I’d rate the show out of ten. You know what, and just for fun I’ll put down my dad’s ratings too.

Oh, and this goes without saying but there will be spoilers in this post so you’ve been warned. I’ll try my best to stay spoiler free but no promises. Let’s go!

Blown Away

Starting our list we have Blown Away, a Canadian competition show that centres around glassblowing. Running since 2019 with their 4th season airing on Netflix on the 4th of March 2024, the show follows 10 talented glassblowers as they tackle weekly challenges that put their skills and artistry to the test.

What I Liked: The glassworks themselves. Each and every episode produced masterful glass pieces that absolutely blew me away (pun intended). Some of my favourite pieces thus far include an egg with chicken legs, a grotesque looking flower and a strikingly realistic looking syringe and gumdrop combo.

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/blownawayseries/

What I Didn’t Like: It can get a little stale after a while. Despite how nerve-wracking each episode can get with how fragile the glassworks are, after four seasons of this you start to get used to it. The episode starts, a bunch of people drop their glassworks mid-creation, there’s a panic with some tears shed, somehow everyone pulls through with a half decent creation by the end of it.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Nothing per se

My Overall Rating: 6/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

The Mole

Right from the get-go the premise had my dad and I hooked. Originally from the early 2000’s, the American reality game show moved from ABC to Netflix in 2022 with its reboot. The show follows 12 contestants working together for a cash prize that they can add on to with each challenge the group wins. However, one of them is actually a secret plant by the producers whose only goal is sabotage, a Mole. 

What I Liked: The premise itself. You see, neither the contestants nor the audience know who the Mole is right until the very last episode. And the Mole will do whatever it takes to sabotage the group, decrease the prize pot and avoid getting caught by any means necessary. Each week there’s an elimination where the contestants have a chance to vote on who they think the Mole is, and countless shady challenges set to cause distrust and disunity between the remaining contestants.

What I Didn’t Like: How wrong my guesses were. This one’s purely personal, I have nothing against the show at all I just couldn’t believe how continuously wrong my dad and I were in our guesses. I mean we even bet money on it!

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The amount of sabotages and downright shady behaviour between the other contestants. Like in hindsight I get why the Mole is sabotaging things, but the rest of you? Purely to throw each other off the scent of the Mole and get one another eliminated.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

Rupaul’s Drag Race

A trailblazer in its own right, Rupaul’s Drag Race is a show about drag queens that first aired in 2009 and has been going ever since. The premise itself is simple: groups of drag queens compete against each other in various challenges to win the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” as well as a cash prize of a hundred thousand dollars. Whilst the show is originally from America the show has since launched multiple spin-offs and sister series in a variety of countries across the globe.

What I Liked: The lip syncs. Not only have they introduced (or rather re-introduced) me to countless new and old songs, but the performances by the drag queens fighting to stay on the show are truly something spectacular. You can feel the raw emotion being conveyed by the queens as they embody every last word of the song and these lip syncs have resulted in moments that the fandom still bring up til today.

What I Didn’t Like: The judging can be...questionable at times. But then again, after 16 seasons, 9 all-star seasons, franchises in 14 different countries and a partridge in a pear tree there’s bound to be questionable judging moments on who “should’ve won” or “should’ve gone home”

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The entire show is outrageous in its own special way. As someone who's seen almost every season of this, there isn’t one single moment from a particular season that stands out or trumps over another. Though if I’m really being honest, picking someone up mid-lip sync is kinda insane.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

Outlast

Outlast is a reality show centred around wilderness survival in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. 16 contestants compete against the extreme cold, potentially dangerous animals and worst of all; each other in order to win a prize of one million dollars. 

What I Liked: The indomitable human spirit is real. Watching the 16 contestants fight tooth and nail to survive in the Alaskan wilderness with little outside help was a feat in and of itself. And then there’s just how innovative people can be when push comes to shove. From crafting weapons from their surroundings, I mean one guy made an entire ghillie suit from scratch. In case you’re wondering what that looks like…

What I Didn’t Like: As much as I hate to admit it, the show reeks of overproduction. Some of the “dramatic moments” that they showcased were just too good to be true but then again it’s hard to say whether they were true or not given how insane human beings can be.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The contestants themselves are NUTS. Neither my dad nor I remember how we ended up watching this in the first place but we’re both pretty sure it’s because we ran out of reality shows to watch on Netflix…Regardless, neither of us can get this show out of our heads after what we saw. From people needing to be airlifted back to the mainland because they haven’t had a bowel movement in weeks to teams purposely setting other teams shelters on fire, every now and then my dad and I question who greenlit this whole thing

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 7/10

Next in Fashion

Running for two seasons between 2020 and 2023, Next in fashion follows aspiring fashion designers competing in weekly challenges for-okay I think you guys get the point; all of these shows are a bunch of people competing for a cash prize. In this case, its two hundred fifty thousand dollars as well as their own clothing line with Net-A-Porter.

What I Liked: The sheer creativity of the contestants when it comes to their clothes is worth noting, and that’s just what they’re wearing during the episode. Watching this has really helped me find my own fashion sense and understand clothes on a deeper level, as did the next show.

What I Didn’t Like: NIL

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Nothing actually. In comparison to pretty much everything else on this list this one’s pretty tame.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 8/10

Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star

From fashion we now move on to makeup. Glow-Up is a British reality show that’s been airing on BBC since 2019 with its sixth season premiering on the 10th of April 2024. We haven’t seen the sixth season yet, but if it’s anything like the previous five seasons we’re in for a treat.

What I Liked: Once again, watching the contestants interpret the various challenges to the highest creative degree has been thoroughly enjoyable. Furthermore, given how the challenges touch upon different aspects and areas of makeup it’s taught me a couple things that even I can apply to my daily makeup routine. That and all the horror makeup, love horror makeup.

What I Didn’t Like: Again, there’s not much to dislike about this. The contestants, while quirky in their own right and occasionally emotional, aren’t that bad of people. 

Most Outrageous Moment(s): In an “Outrageous in a good way” moment that goes beyond words, here’s my favourite look from every season

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/glowupbbc/

My Overall Rating: 9/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 9/10

Squid Game: The Challenge

Remember back in 2021 when Squid Game first premiered and everyone was like “Oh I could win this no sweat”? Yeah well this show said “Prove it”. Obviously the stakes here aren’t as high as the fictional show I mean nobody actually dies here, but the cash prize and other premises stay about the same as the original.

What I Liked: You can’t fault the set design here. Aside from looking near identical to the original, the atmosphere itself really lends a hand to making it feel like the real thing. I also found the “death” sequences kinda funky with hidden ink packs exploding beneath the eliminated contestants clothes. 

What I Didn’t Like: The show itself had nothing wrong with it, like I said earlier the set design is near perfect and extremely well done. It’s just…doesn’t this feel like we’re missing the entire point of the original Squid Game series? There’s an entire debate about capitalism that belongs somewhere in here, but unfortunately that’s not the aim of this post. Regardless, something about watching this show left a sour taste in my mouth and I still feel kinda icky for finishing the entire thing.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The whole show itself is outrageous just from a moral standpoint. Aside from that, the twists and turns the show takes along its course coupled with the sheer drama of it all kept us on the edge of our seats throughout with multiple instances of my dad and I turning to each other in confusion? Shock? Horror?

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 5/10

The Apprentice: One Championship

My dad insisted I add this one in. Across two seasons 10 challengers compete in a series of high stakes business and physical challenges all for a chance to win what is possibly the most valuable prize in this entire post: Getting hired by ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. 

What I Liked: The show is full of strong female representation, with many of the challenge wins being spearheaded by the female contestants. Aside from that the show is chocked full of business acumen and gave me quite a good insight into what my future might be if I choose to go into advertising and marketing in the future. I’d highly recommend anyone interested in business or advertising to watch this.

What I Didn’t Like: Dad’s gonna have my head for this but despite the show teaching me a lot about business acumen and how to hold my own in the cutthroat advertising world, the show can get a little…boring…at times…Sorry dad.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): I still don’t know whether this was a purposeful move on the producers part but “somehow” the challenge schedule was left out in the open and one of the contestants used that to cheat. They were caught rather swiftly however, as they tried to recruit more people into their scheme and got ratted out instead.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 9/10 

Is It Cake? (Make bigger later)

Running for three seasons since 2022, Is It Cake follows cake artists challenged to make hyper-realistic cakes to fool a panel of judges.The contestants also have a chance to win additional money each episode if they are voted the most realistic cake.

What I Liked: You can’t deny the pure artistry that this show contains. As an avid baker myself, being able to turn a simple chocolate cake into a hyper-realistic rubber duckie is nothing short of impressive.

Image Credits: Netflix

What I Didn’t Like: The host and his constant bad jokes really makes the show hard to watch after a while. That and the whole premise can get a little boring after a while.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Episode 1 we’re introduced to a cake artist who does such a good job that we’re sure they’re gonna win the whole thing. Episode 2 and they get eliminated. WHAT?!

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 5/10

Physical:100

Set in Korea, Physical:100 follows 100 contestants from various professions ranging from athletes to actors to arborists that all have one thing in common: peak physical condition and prowess. Over the course of the show they will compete against one another and slowly the numbers get culled til there’s just one last person standing.

What I Liked: Now hear me out.

Alright all jokes aside, I really liked watching the challenges especially in the second season. Seeing the different strategies the contestants employed within their teams to tackle the brutal physical challenges coupled with the genuinely quite wholesome sportsmanship shown was really refreshing to see.

What I Didn’t Like: For a show centred around finding the “perfect physique” by challenging its contestants physical attributes such as balance, agility, or even endurance, many of the challenges seem to be centred solely around strength and only strength. It’s impossible to compare the strength of a bodybuilder versus that of a gymnast, just as it would be impossible to compare their agility. 

Most Outrageous Moment(s): It happens every single time, you think someone has an easy journey to the finals and then they overestimate their competitors and end up losing big. This entire show is like a constant reminder not to get too cocky

My Overall Rating: 9/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 8/10

And that concludes my ranking! Hopefully this post has given some of you out there an idea on what to watch next hehe

[davidleyescom]

Minhi Su England in Blown Away Season 3 out on Netflix NOW!!!! . . . . . #davidleyes #davidleyes.com  #torontophotographer #portraiture #actor #photography #oneofakind #music #toronto #torontoPhotographer #sonya7III #torontoactor #minhisuengland #headshots #toronto headshots #torontoheadshot #naturallight  #earth_portraits #majestic_people #portraitmood  #naturallightportraits #portraits_ig #blownawayseries #hamiltonontario #marblemedia (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzBp4oAltE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[esque-studio]

HAPPY GLASS| Puking rainbows all week for an exclusive ornament line for @corningmuseum @corningmuseumshops guest artist spot with @blownawayseries stars @naoymmt @catburnsglass all next weekend. Come say hi or check out their online store to purchase my rainbows raindrops and clouds. @andikovel @justinparkerglass #glassornaments #pukingrainbows #glassdesign #punkluxe #blownawayseries (at ESQUE STUDIO) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMwjm-vozc/?utm_medium=tumblr

[blwbisht]

If you like it Drop heart 💕 in the comments section below 👇⤵️🥺 . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more . . . . . . . . . . . . #opti #opticalillusion #illusionist #simpleshape #mindblown🤯 #mindblowing✅💯🅰 #simplicitypatterns #simplicitychallenge2020 #twiststyles #twistedmind #eyemoment #psychologytoday #cognative #wierdeffect #wierdeffects #himachal #beautiofsimplicity #blownawayseries #freestyleeffect #perceptioniseverything #perspective #perceptiontour #perceptive_imagination #perceptivechange #perceptive (at Somewhere in the Universe) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGA2EIBhIBA/?igshid=1fw73ben5av3w

[humbleprideglass]

The first image is of a silica mine, the second image is of a boron mine. Boro-silicate. That’s the kind of glass most commonly used for glass pipes, as well as for glass cookware, coffee pots, scientific beakers etc. because it’s a very strong glass at thinner, even-walled states which can handle extreme heat changes. Silica is an aggregate, commonly thought of as sand, so you’d think that we have tons of it. But we don’t, and we are using it up at an alarming rate for everything from glass windows to microchips. Only certain types of ‘sand’ are usable for glass, the kind with high silica content. And- I was completely unaware of the fact that silica, along with other classes of ‘aggregate’ (sand, gravel, etc.) are becoming an endangered resource until it was mentioned in the @blownawayseries although I did know that it’s not recyclable. You can’t take a bunch of broken pipes and melt them down in a pot and reuse the glass, because of the minerals in the colors, and the memory and stresses in the borosilicate (one could piece together broken sections, but Boro doesn’t like being past it’s melting state for long, and doesn’t play well with colors not carefully applied due to rates of cooling etc.) This is the reason that we need to be thoughtful with this resource. We have enough boron to last about 29 years, but harvestable silica is becoming harder and harder to access, and we are frankly running out. Please buy wisely, keep your pieces clean and safe, and consider what goes into your landfill. #glass #glassblowing #glassart #resourceguarding #🌏 #boro #boroglass #borosilicate #borosilicateglass (Please note that all of this information has been presented to the best of my knowledge. If anyone knows more, please feel free to share. Also google the bbc article “Why the world is running out of sand”. (at Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/COTdJeiHlVz/?igshid=1bwidpui6hbjb

[kpkinan]

Who else is looking forward to seeing this series?!?! @blownawayseries ・・・ @netflix #BlownAway #Netflix #glassblowing #glassart #glass #glassartist #marblemedia #competitionseries @pilchuckglassschool @sheridan_college @corningmuseum @marblemediaofficial https://www.instagram.com/p/BzrBO_AnLrY/?igshid=8lu3q5s10jl4

[esque-studio]

KEG CUP | elevate your classic party cup. Delicately blown in fine Venetian style, with zipper wrap texture and dents ala-esque. Just released and on our shop site for sale. Designed and blown by @justinparkerglass Photographed by @cheryljuetten for @coopermountainvineyards available for sale there as well! Checking out the tasting room why not:) #handblownglass #blownglass #blownawaynetflix #blownawayseries #justinparker #esqueglass #modernglass #innovativeglass #luxuryglass #Customglass #newglass #punkluxe https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_zUWuhla0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[esque-studio]

SNEAK PEAK | and it’s a wrap! Filming our feature for @opbartbeat with @opbbrandon and Andi’s new phew slash assistant @nicspeed were so frigging excited and honored to be apart of this thank you OPB! #handblownglass #blownglass #blownawaynetflix #blownawayseries #andikovelglass #esqueglass #glassartist #modernglass # innovativeglass #luxuryglass #handmadedesign #Customglass #newglass (at Esque Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO078r3Boq_/?igshid=bue4k42li76r

[esque-studio]

ANT FARM | we”re reduxing and releasing a new Venetian Ant Farm this month by @justinparkerglass !!! Just awaiting the delivery of the ants. Don’t worry, no ants are harmed here, we’d like to believe they actually enjoy their luxury glass homes. Our good friend @boonespeed and @jilllifer filled up the vessel with old pills and rx capsules and send along this killer snap. #handblownglass #blownglass #blownawaynetflix #blownawayseries #andikovelglass #esqueglass #glassartist #blownaway #modernglass #justinparkerglass #uniqueglass #innovative-glass #luxuryglass #handmadedesign #experimentalglass #newglass #punkluxe (at Esque Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNI6cGDhKNd/?igshid=r5zqok54x8ki

[esque-studio]

Heating the marver with a molten ladle of glass, takes away the chill marks when using it to square off a thick piece. #handblownglass #glassblowing ##blownawaynetflix #blownawayseries #andikovelglass #andikoveldesign #esqueglass #modernglass #glassdesign #contemporaryglass #uniqueglass #hotglass # innovativeglass #designer #handmade #functionalglass #luxuryglass #experimentalglass (at Esque Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMiQwBkhJRx/?igshid=c76aixj5xgka

[esque-studio]

BEER BOTTLE BOTTLE | our beer bottle bottles and goblet candlestick still life by @boonespeed the bottles are hand blown from recycled bottle cullet with gold leaf labels. The goblet candlesticks are made from thrift store wine glasses turned upside down, with a hand blown candle holder assembled and coated in rubber. Recycled glass items dating back from before it was the norm to consider up-cycling used and discarded glass. #handblownglass #glassblowing #blownglass #blownawaynetflix #blownawayseries #andikovelglass #andikoveldesign #andikovelesquestudio #esqueglass #glassartist #blownawayart #modernglass #glassdesign #contemporaryglass #modernglass #uniqueglass #hotglass # innovativeglass #glassdesigner #designer #handmade #functionalglass #luxuryglass #handmadedesign #glassware #Customglass #experimentalglass #newglass #freshglassart #recycledglass #upcycledart @justinparkerglass @andikovel @blownawayseries https://www.instagram.com/p/CMVMA0AhTEf/?igshid=46lk8i15izqc

[blwbisht]

If you like it Drop heart 💕 in the comments section below 👇 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #opti #opticalillusion #illusionist #simpleshape #mindblown🤯 #mindblowing✅💯🅰 #simplicitypatterns #simplicitychallenge2020 #twiststyles #twistedmind #eyemoment #psychologytoday #cognative #wierdeffect #wierdeffects #himachal #beautiofsimplicity #blownawayseries #freestyleeffect #perceptioniseverything #perspective #perceptiontour #perceptive_imagination #perceptivechange #perceptive (at Rampur Bushahr, Himachal Pradesh, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxEKKognR9/?igshid=1hs2uiqdob7sf

[blwbisht]

If you like it Drop heart 💕 in the comments section below 👇⤵️🥺 . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more Follow @blwbisht for more . . . . . . . . . . . #opti #opticalillusion #illusionist #simpleshape #mindblown🤯 #mindblowing✅💯🅰 #simplicitypatterns #simplicitychallenge2020 #twiststyles #twistedmind #eyemoment #psychologytoday #cognative #wierdeffect #wierdeffects #himachal #beautiofsimplicity #blownawayseries #freestyleeffect #perceptioniseverything #perspective #perceptiontour #perceptive_imagination #perceptivechange #perceptive (at Shimla, Himachal, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE91N5_hoTm/?igshid=19k4bgsf8ypv2

[blwbisht]

If you like it Drop heart 💕 in the comments section below 👇⤵️🥺 Hi guys Hoping you all are well Have a great day . . . . . #opti #opticalillusion #illusionist #simpleshape #mindblown🤯 #mindblowing✅💯🅰 #simplicitypatterns #simplicitychallenge2020 #twiststyles #twistedmind #eyemoment #psychologytoday #cognative #wierdeffect #wierdeffects #himachal #beautiofsimplicity #blownawayseries #freestyleeffect #perceptioniseverything #perspective #perceptiontour #perceptive_imagination #perceptivechange #perceptive https://www.instagram.com/p/CELqB-HAkH9/?igshid=mjbwocpokpox

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

Politically and socially engaged glass sculptor John 'sleepy' Moran - who is ALSO featuring in Netflix's show @blownawayseries Season 3! - shares more on his recent glass artworks: The Hollowed Family Mickey Mori is the happiest face of girth. Each one represents the viral spread of counterfeit creativity, the commodification of contemptible culture, and the friendliest fallacy of the free market. With each generous gesture, the members of The Hollowed Family offer a palpitating piece of their inner selves. Prodigious and pensive, they are naturally open, sharing everything that is hidden deep down in their visceral vestiges. Interested in seeing these in person or even owning your own? These glass sculptures are available BlowFish Glass! 

Photo by: Mike Van Cleven 

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#beautifulbizarre #johnmoran #johnsleepymoran #hotglass #sculptedglass #glassart #mickeymouse #mickeymouseart #glasssculpture #mickeymori #politicalart #politicalartist #blownaway #blownaways3