Reality TV is on the rise! As people were forced to spend more time inside their homes in this past year, many turned to reality TV to soothe their souls. Not every reality show would do, though. While some enjoy the relationship-focused and drama-fueled 90 Day Fiancé and Keeping Up With The Kardashians, others prefer to watch competition shows.
The most famous competition shows revolve around cooking, but there seems to be a competition reality TV show for nearly every skill in this world. Not all competitions are cut-throat and stressful, though. Some contestants are just as graceful as their breath-taking creations.
The Great Pottery Throw Down (2015) - HBO Max
The Great Pottery Throw Down is the perfect reality TV show for those looking to kick back, relax, and be soothed by the show's gentle energy. It might be a competition, but the contestants aren't stacking the deck against one another. Quite on the contrary. They each other through every week's challenge, even though there can only be one winner.
Just like knowledge about baking isn't a prerequisite to watching baking shows, so is there no need to know anything about pottery prior to watching this calming TV show.
Love Island UK (2015) - Hulu
When Love Island UK first aired in 2015, the entire British nation was glued to the television and invested in the love lives of the featured contestants. While not all episodes are created equal - the episodes range from 4.8 to 7.2 on IMDb - time seems to fly by when watching Love Island UK. The show has since moved across the pond as well. Love Island USA kicked off in 2019, but most still prefer the original runs.
The Big Flower Fight (2020) - Netflix
Many can agree that botanical arrangements and idyllic countryside landscapes are among the most soothing things on this planet. Throw in a bunch of wacky fashion choices and you get The Big Flower Fight, one of the most recent reality TV additions to Netflix.
Those who think that the concept sounds boring should think again. The floral masterpieces some people create are spectacular and jaw-dropping.
Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr (2019) - Netflix
BBC Two's Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr is a competition for interior designers. The winner gets to design a bar at a certain hotel in London, which is an amazing career achievement for any aspiring designer.
The show's two seasons are available on Netflix. As is common for competitions, the contestants are evaluated by a different guest judge every week. One of them was Jade Jagger, a famous home designer and Mick Jagger's daughter.
Legendary (2020) - HBO Max
HBO Max's Legendary is precisely what its name suggests. This reality TV show dives deep into the world of ball culture, so it's perfect for all of those who are suffering from RuPaul's Drag Race withdrawals. The judges are Jameela Jamil, Leiomy Maldonado, Meghan Thee Stallion, and Law Roach.
Since the show only came out last year, there is unfortunately only one season available. Contestants are divided into eight houses and they compete for the grand prize of $100,000.
Guy's Grocery Games (2013) - Food Network
Funny and stress-free, Guy Fieri's Triple G is a cooking TV show about chefs who cook with the ingredients that can be found in a grocery store. Considering that it's been running for 25 seasons, it's safe to say it makes for great reality TV.
Each week, the chefs get a different challenge, ranging from only using canned goods to only using ingredients that start with a random letter. The challenges are so versatile that the show never gets old, so it's perfect for those who love to binge-watch.
MasterChef Junior (2013) - Fox
MasterChef Junior is one of MasterChef Junior contestants enjoy a lot of and encouragement.
But that doesn't mean that these kids never get stressed out. They learn a lot of soft skills through their challenges, such as time management, problem-solving, and emotional self-regulation.
Forged In Fire (2015) - History Channel
Those who are not interested in watching cooking shows might be interested in Forged in Fire. This unique reality TV show follows four bladesmiths each episode as they have to forge a weapon. The winner of the day receives a $10,000 prize.
In its six years, the show released eight seasons. Not only do viewers learn a thing or two about bladesmiths, but they also learn some historical facts about different kinds of weapons. After all, the show airs on History Channel.
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (2019) - Netflix
While some enjoy watching pottery and floral arrangements to calm their nerves, others find peace in clean, organized rooms. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is a show precisely about that: the lovely host is an expert in organizing homes. Marie Kondo travels to the States to help de-clutter people's homes. She urges them to only keep the things that "spark joy". Her adorable words have since become a meme as well as a slogan, used in protests and demonstrations.
The show was a great success. Following its release, many donation centers saw a huge surge in donations as people all around the country started to get rid of things they no longer needed.
The Great British Baking Show (2010) - PBS
Last but not least, The Great British Baking Show is arguably the most famous soothing reality TV show there is. It first aired in 2010 and it's still just as popular as it was a decade ago, if not more.
This show was so huge that it had a profound impact on its viewers. After the show aired, the sales of baking supplies skyrocketed. People even started gathering in their own baking clubs and bonding over their mouth-watering creations.