The Baker and the Beauty, ABC’s adaptation of the hit Israeli comedy Magnificence and the Baker, is a punchy pastelito of goodness that may fulfill the candy tooth of any rom-com fan. The hour-long sequence follows Daniel Garcia (Victor Rasuk), a baker who works at his household’s Cuban bakery, as his life is turned the other way up when he meets supermodel and style entrepreneur Noa Hamilton (Nathalie Kelley).
Noa and Daniel’s odd couple meet-cute is instantly paying homage to hits like Notting Hill. As Daniel doubts his four-year-long relationship, he runs into Noa in a restaurant rest room the place she affords some life-changing recommendation. When Daniel’s girlfriend Vanessa (Michelle Veintimilla) publicly proposes to him 10 minutes later, he finds it in him to say no. One shirt that is been destroyed by a bowl of soup later, Noa catches as much as Daniel and affords our soggy hero a journey. What kicks off from there’s the form of evening Daniel’s by no means even dreamed of getting. The world of a world celebrity is sort of as intoxicating because the celebrity herself.
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There’s an on the spot spark between the characters, and whereas Noa and Daniel’s attraction is plain, the sequence leads aren’t fairly promoting the eagerness but. The sequence flounders a bit when its goal is horny as a substitute of candy. That is possible due to the truth that 4 episodes in, there have not been any main threats to Noa and Daniel’s budding romance. Regardless of each having an ex who cannot let go, NDAs, and safety restrictions, the benefit with which these characters get collectively cuts by way of the longing and craving that is an indicator of many iconic romcoms. With out the construct of that much-needed sexual rigidity, The Baker and the Magnificence reads principally as a contemporary Miami fairy story.
The place the sequence does choose up dramatic rigidity — and actually shines — is within the introduction of Daniel’s household. Daniel’s dad and mom Mari (Lisa Vidal) and Rafael (Carlos Gomez) are an extremely grounded immigrant couple whose love (and life) story is each fantastically inspirational and the product of exhausting compromise. Mateo (David del Rio), Daniel’s brother, is the epitome of a center baby, each comedian reduction and top-of-the-line listeners in the entire household. Natalie (Belissa Escobedo), Daniel’s sister, is a younger girl looking for her voice in a household that by no means stops speaking. As a complete, the Garcias are the form of household that labored extremely exhausting to have a slice of that American dream. And when the glamorous twister that’s Noa Hamilton rips by way of Daniel’s life, all of the Garcias get caught within the wake of destruction.
One other sequence would possibly miss the mark on a typical “it woman” like Noa. However The Baker and the Magnificence offers us somebody to actually root for when she turns into the one most involved with defending the privateness of the Garcias. The household’s considerations — notably Rafael’s — about their relationship is rarely one thing Noa treats as an impediment. Quite, she sees these considerations as sensible and legitimate, finally an indication of how a lot the Garcias love Daniel. It is clear that because the sequence unfolds, Noa and Daniel’s greatest problem will not be Noa’s world, however Daniel’s. Whether or not they make it or not will all depend upon whether or not Noa can come to like not simply Daniel, however all of the Garcias in flip.
Whereas not fairly on the extent of sequence like Jane the Virgin, or Ugly Betty, there is a promising effectively of character growth to tug from. Total, The Baker and the Magnificence has loads of pleasant cleaning soap opera turns, and for essentially the most half, is a satisfying look ahead to anybody craving somewhat want achievement proper now. And who is aware of, by the top of Season 1, The Baker and the Magnificence might be the sweetest factor on TV.
TV Information Score: 3.5/5
The Baker and the Magnificence premieres April 13 at 10/9c on ABC.