LEGO masters series 2

Mr_Cross

Channel 4 November 6th, as reported on Brickfanatics. Anyone going to watch this year? Anyone here in it this year?

Shib

I wasn't too bothered with watching series 1, but my other half was watching it so I caught most of it.

I'm not a fan of the weekly knock out style for this as I think that the builders had different strengths and weaknesses so a points based system would have been more effective. I had a feeling there was a little bit of production team fixing early on when the engineering lads failed quite badly on the first round but were kept it and the following week was about motorising builds. It felt like another team was sacrificed to save them for the round they were worried no one else could succeed at. 

If they changed it to a points based league system I'd be more likely to watch. Personal taste obviously and in fairness the bits I saw weren't terrible, just  the sort who would rather be building than watching others build. 

The_Rancor

So it's basically Lego Bake Off still as it's in the tv slot that Bake Off's going to vacate once it's finished - called that one a while ago. I don't mind the elimination format although the engineers staying in last year was a little contrived - it's not like they won though - far from it! At least it's 5 episodes now as 4 was too rushed. I have literally no idea why some of the 'celebrity judges' are selected though. I like Johnny Vegas, but really?

iso3200

The_Rancor said:

 I have literally no idea why some of the 'celebrity judges' are selected though. I like Johnny Vegas, but really?

He's an AFOL isn't he?

Switchfoot55

Did anyone ever find a way to stream this or watch recorded versions from outside the UK? 

I'd love to go back and watch Series 1

truck730

When the kid teams got knocked out it reminded me of me and my thoughts that this Toy isn't for kids, the points and X-factor style public vote could do something to increase \generate more fans of Lego

The_Rancor

iso3200 said:

The_Rancor said:

 I have literally no idea why some of the 'celebrity judges' are selected though. I like Johnny Vegas, but really?

He's an AFOL isn't he?

I guess I'm just taking some literal criteria in my head too seriously - like I expect all the celebrity judges to be famous designers, engineers, scientists etc (which is unfeasible). It's more the concept of shoehorning in any 'celebrity' judges that I don't quite like rather than any individual person, but it's usually the done thing nowadays. I'll be interested to see the theme when Vegas is judging though because I still think his comments about the builds will be hilarious :)

stlux

@Switchfoot55 I watched Series 1 with the help of a VPN. Making it appear you have a UK IP address allows you to log in to Channel 4's live and catch-up service. (You will need to create an account)
All 4 episodes from Season 1 appear to be available on their catch-up service here.

Alternatively the episodes seem to be available to torrent as well...

Switchfoot55

^Thanks. I'll give it a go. 

To be clear though, there were only 4 episodes? So I should drive myself crazy looking for more.

stlux

Yes, only 4 episodes :)

Switchfoot55

Not only did I manage to find a site that hosted the 4 episodes, but I ended up having to work this weekend. Just finished watching season 1! Looking forward to the next one starting shortly!

andhe

Series 2 debuted last night but doesn't seem to be on all4 (catch up). Any idea why?

WatfordScottyM

andhe said:

Series 2 debuted last night but doesn't seem to be on all4 (catch up). Any idea why?

It's definitely there.  I was just watching it on all4.

benbacardi

Sometimes it takes a while to appear. It is there now: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/lego-masters/on-demand/67624-001

andhe

Thanks, guess I just expected it to be there straight away. Looked at about 10am this morning. I've found it now.

Speedman29

Watching it my daughter tonight. Really enjoyed it. Loved the massive modular build!

Also did anybody spot a possible new minifigure design?

Could have been a TrU exclusive!

omnium

@Speedman29, it was mentioned on the other thread where this is also being discussed:
https://forum.brickset.com/discussion/18774/lego-on-tv-programmes/p5

Wicksy80

Watched it with the wife. We both were glad who got voted off. Won’t say for spoiler reasons. Loved the modular task. Those entrance crocodiles were brilliant! 

Jern92

Is there anywhere to watch it other than the channel 4 website?

Mr_Cross

I still not 100% comfortable with the format because LEGO building just isn't supposed to be a high-stress time dependent experience IMO.
I also still wish the show featured other things to appeal more to the fanbase. Things like techniques master classes or set spot-lights to showcase design ideas even. Whilst I can see why it doesn't deviate from the bake-off format because of mass appeal, I do find the amped up tension a little exaggerated or manipulated for effect and wish they wouldn't show footage out of chronological sequence.

I am enjoying this series more than the last one though and think that the right people have made it through each week. I'm also enjoying watching it with my kids. Probably its greatest appeal.

TheOriginalSimonB

I just wish Melvyn could speak rather than shouting so much...

Mr_Cross

^ I bet the contestants feel that way too.

snowhitie

We are watching mum and kid together as well. My mother-in-law also enjoys it.
I do find Melvin a bit shouty and would prefer to see more of the builds instead of the celebrity judge being silly (especailly Paddy last week, coof). And hate the 'coming up' every 3 seconds, but that's just the format when you got adverts I guess.

Think the challenges are intersting but not easy and it does seem unfair to pit kids agains grown-ups. Yes, kids have maybe more 'fun' but the technic-y stuff and the motors are deffo a challenge for them.

Do like to see the contestants houses and loved the train and village (with Ferris Wheel) in the brother's garden. Was a bit worried about the dirty bricks, but on the other hand, it really, really looked cool.

Won't say too much about the exits etc as I don't want to spoil for those who've not watched it.

DB361

Must admit I don't think this series has been anything like as good as the first. It's falling into the trap of every light entertainment elimination show - fake tension, general silliness rather than actual fun, questionable judging (again no spoilers, but this weeks really grated on me) and pointless celebrity cameos. Definitely needs to up its game for series 3, should there be one.

Legolis

No spoilers here but we were also disappointed with this week's elimination. It was the wrong choice. Other than that we really love the show. The whole house watches, including our youngest who is only 3. They just need to sort the judging out for series 3. Our 6 year old says it's a shame they have to eliminate anyone and she'd be quite happy just to watch people build for an hour each week. :)

560Heliport

^Once again, a six-year-old is wiser than... well, everybody else, I'd say. :)

Paperballpark

I actually thought this week's elimination was the right one. That bust of Johnny Vegas was absolutely incredible.

The_Rancor

I've just caught up with the latest episode and I also thought the right choice was made for the elimination, certainly within that specific stage of the contest. I really liked three of the Johnny Vegas busts that were created for different reasons. Matthew's judging criteria were slightly blurred though because even before they actually marked the creations, one minute he was saying he wanted it to be more artisticly accurate, then the next minute he was saying he didn't want it to be too realistic.

I thought the arcade/funfair machine challenge was a great one - I would give all the games they created a go but one or two really stood out and could rival real or smaller scale versions!

In this new format we still have 4 pairs battling it out in the final show. They clearly won't have the time to go to the level of detail that we had for the first series with the gnome village and inner child builds, so it makes me wonder what replaces them. Still, the fact that the programme lasts one week longer than before is definitely a positive. I don't mind Melvin being a bit silly - it reminds me of what the presenters were like on Saturday morning tv when I was a kid in the 90s and I always found that fun.

As for the 'rushing' element, I think you would have to time the competitors in some way, but one way you could avoid elimination could be to have a league system like Taskmaster - there's a winner each week, but they earn points that eventually add up to a total to see who has the most. I'm sure there's flaws in that too though. I DO however remember they had a couple of brief 'masterclass' videos in the first series (including SNOT) so not sure why they don't exist in this one.

Muftak1

Paperballpark said:

I actually thought this week's elimination was the right one. That bust of Johnny Vegas was absolutely incredible.

Have to say I agree there - the bust was amazing

snowhitie

^ And me, I've agreed every week I think with the elimination as it happened.

Mr_Cross

I think the real elimination should have been between 'Harry & Ollie' and 'Jayden & Kato'. Despite what was said by the judges, the fishing for ducks wasn't great and their bust was pretty much the worst... I think the pair leaving would still have been the same though.

'Paul & Lewis' just had a bit of bad luck, a five minute fix and they were there.

Paperballpark

The problem they had was using the M motors to drive something that heavy. Using XL motors would have worked better, and would have allowed them to clamp the motors down too. Of course, we don't know whether they had XL motors available to them.

andhe

Just watched the final. The motorised pet challenge seemed a little ridiculous given the time. Mastering that lego app thingy and building something that actually worked seem a big task. Seemed a big focus on movement/power functions this year.

Wicksy80

I thought the same. Too much emphasis on coding than building ruined it for me. 

Mr_Cross

*cough* Boost (sales boost) *cough*

colay

TheOriginalSimonB said:

I just wish Melvyn could speak rather than shouting so much...

I wish he'd never be anywhere near any more series, full stop. Not one person I know who watches it, finds him any good

The_Rancor

I really loved both 'master' builds at the end for different reasons - really fantastic to see and I hope they get to stay on display somewhere like the Design Museum in the future. I would've almost made both teams in the final win but the winners were very deserving in the end, for both their human modelling and usage of motors/Boost

Jern92

Finally managed to catch up with the series thanks to Reddit, and I must say that the final builds were amazing, but the winners definitely deserved it. Really enjoyed the show, and looking forward to the Christmas special. 

On another note, I personally find Melvin quite annoying, but perhaps he's behaving that way to entertain the kids watching the show?

Paperballpark

Melvin has grown on me tbh. I thought both builds were excellent, but the right team won. 

Mr_Cross

Melvin's best bit was with Harry and Ollie.
"Oh look, I've got a girlfriend!"
"No, that's your mum."

I think I agree that the best team won in the end, but both final builds were incredible.

Speedman29

We enjoyed the series too. The final builds were both amazing, but I'm glad that the comedic seaside beat the moral message. Very deserved winners who improved over the shows.

Finaldeath

I caught the series and watched the xmas celebrity special - I find the pacing grating as most people do (advert breaks, luckily avoided when recording), the lack of insight into the builds (especially the cooler moving parts!) annoying but I can live with it to see some excellent builds and some fun with Lego. Also doesn't (except the boost stuff) just advertise sets which is good.

Even better that it is essentially all MOCs, and some of the challenges in series 2 were just that more interesting than series 1. Bridge building in particular was great (the hotel was quite fun too).

I do wish there was some behind the scenes online only episodes where the builds are explored and techniques shown, or even just the raw footage of them putting their builds together time lapsed. Some of the issues not having the right parts, or the time limits, or how much planning some of them take would be fun. Seeing stress over time limits is...I guess the medium now?

(spoilers) Really hoped the brothers would get to the final too but even though they missed out the final builds were great. Again I'd love to know how the moving parts were really done! The seaside was amazing.

Celebrity special was a bit of an odd one - fun enough I guess, Warwick Davis was good, the others mostly forgettable but at least looked like they were having fun (I was surprised they didn't get the guest celebrity judges all in though, I thought that'd be the point). I liked the quick speed challenges - mixed things up a bit. Getting the children back in as team duos are what you'd expect I guess, but better than the celebrities not knowing how to do any building.

Looks like you can email to sign up for season 3 though: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/take-part/lego-masters

theLEGOman

I'm wondering what tattoo design they all had done after ;).

Maybe the bottom of a 2x4 brick under their foot.

Shib

^pretty sure I shouldn't like the idea of this as much as I do...