calex

8/10

(Having now watched through season 2:) Australia's Taskmaster has strongly shown that its hosting and production efforts are MORE than worthy of the Taskmaster name. I am repeatedly thinking this throughout the show (*mostly* because it has been made very clear by now how very greatly improbable it would be that they'd find and execute on an acceptable match to satisfy viewers used to the original version)!! NZ season 1 disappointed (in all sorts of ways, but definitely including in this respect). AU season 1 did better than that overall (tho not better than the best of UK), but specifically was such a pleasant surprise in the exact way you've highlighted: the hosting was as good (on balance) and (although better-described as being different) could even be preferred depending on one's momentary perspective. And NOW, with THIS season, the hosting has been even somewhat FURTHER refined, defined and perfected, and, to boot, the (seasonal) talent cast was so enjoyable in various ways (not better than the supremely creative, sharp, weird, intelligent or diversely pleasant-to-observe-onscreen gets that many of the seasons of UK have managed to cast, but enough of this season's set of folks were good). It can't be stressed enough how notable it is that they managed to carve out such beautifully well-working choices on how to host their take on the hosting of a Taskmaster-format show. Neither is definitively better than its other in all ways. It can only be summed up by saying that this version works great. 🎉