I’m looking for recommendations for reality competition shows that are based purely (or at least mostly) on skill. I love watching people who are passionate about something complete against each other. But I loathe manufactured drama.
Some of my favorites for context:
Forged in Fire - knifesmiths completing against each other and the clock. Think Chopped for blacksmiths.
Alone - Just people trying to survive on their own in the wilderness. No camera crews, no backstabbing, no tribal councils, no voting, just people versus the elements and their own minds.
The Great British Bake Off - my comfort watch. I love how everyone supports each other.
I also enjoyed A Cut Above and Blown. I tried to watch the Pottery one on HBO, but couldn’t get into it.
It’s not totally without drama, but The Devil’s Plan is a good example of winning via skills (even if some of those skills are interpersonal). It is celebrity based and it is edited to amp up some drama, but the actual competition is compelling.
You cannot recommend The Devil’s Plan without also at least mentioning the all-time goat, The Genius Game (the original Korean one).
I in fact did not know of The Genius Game, any idea where I can watch it in the US?
There’s no official way to watch it outside Korea and that might make it legally a bit tricky to direct you to the source, but the subtitle group is Baechu Squad. Your preferred search engine will know more. It may be a bit tedious to acquire the individual episodes (by today’s streaming standards) but I cannot stress enough how it really really REALLY is worth it. SO WORTH IT.
The genius game was sooo good. Glad some people appreciated it too. Also helps that I was a big fan of the first winner.
I was going to recommend this as well. As you say, relationships and interpersonal skills play a part in both seasons, but in my opinion it makes the competition better as the stakes are bigger for the contestants and it gives them something else to leverage in games they are weaker at.