[SPOILER] Is the Winner of Netflix's 'Zumbo's Just Desserts' Season 2
Updated Jan. 10 2020, 11:40 a.m. ET
Fans of shows like The Great British Baking Show and Netflix's Nailed It may have filled the void in between seasons by watching the addictive Australian reality series Zumbo's Just Desserts. The Netflix series combined traditional baking challenges with unique twists, and the competition was filmed on a set that looked like it belonged in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
Hosted by baker Adriano Zumbo and British host Rachel Khoo, the show takes people with regular jobs and gives them a shot at the title and a $100,000 prize. To win, bakers must first do well during the main challenge, aka the Sweet Sensations challenge. The bottom two then compete in the Zumbo test, during which their desserts are given a score out of 20. The baker with the lowest score goes home.
Season 2 launched on Netflix on Jan. 10, and the season had even more twists and turns than the first.
After starting with 10 competitors, only two gained admission to the finale with their Golden Tickets. Who wins Zumbo's Just Desserts Season 2?
Find out who the only person Rachel Khoo didn't say "it's time to depart the dessert factory" to was.
Who's in the finale of 'Zumbo's Just Desserts' Season 2? SPOILERS!
The stakes were high in the second season of the reality series. The first challenge required that the bakers add a surprising element to a dessert, and fire, blown sugar, and chocolate boxes were just a few of the ways the competitors achieved this. Things only got more complicated from there.
Of the original 10 competitors, 45-year-old office employee Kimberley was the first to go home. She was followed by Pearly, a 29-year-old flight attendant, then perfectionist Megan. Mama's boy Zak was the next on the chopping block, and after him was 35-year-old cake pop expert and mom Kristie. Playgroup leader Rachel came in fifth place, and Kylie was eliminated after her. Jeff, a competitive dad, just missed the finale by coming in third place.
Heading into the 10th and final episode of Season 2, only two competitors remained: Simon and Catherine.
From the beginning, Catherine was a front-runner. At just 19 years old, the New South Wales native has already accomplished a lot. In addition to being a baker, she's won national titles for swimming in the past, and she currently plays the violin, paints, and attends college. She was also the youngest person to appear on the show before.
"I like achieving things," Catherine said in her intro for the show. We could tell.
In the little spare time she has, Catherine said that she enjoys making desserts, which is how she wound up on the show.
In the finale, Catherine wanted to bake items that were inspired by South Korea, where her family is from.
Simon, on the other hand, is a 35-year-old concreter and dad of three daughters. He also proved himself to be a technical baker early on, and he remained steady throughout the competition.
Unlike the first season, the finale began with a Zumbo Test, which was "The Greatest Hits" of Zumbo's own past creations. The bakers were tasked with creating a chocolate table with a bottle of "Zumbo's signature scent" on top.
In case that wasn't enough of a challenge, halfway through, the eliminated competitors returned to watch Catherine and Simon. Then, their families showed up too.
Without knowing the scores of the first round, the final bakers were sent on to the final task. Simon created a black pearl design, while Catherine went with a three ruby ring concoction.
Three hours later, the winner was crowned.
Who wins 'Zumbo's Just Desserts' Season 2?
After the final task concluded, Catherine and Simon learned the scores from their Zumbo test. Catherine got a 14 out of 20, while Simon got a 16. For the Sweet Sensations score, Simon got a 16 out of 20. In order to win, Catherine needed to get a 9 and a 10, but nobody had ever received a 10 on the show before.
After getting a 9 from Zumbo himself, Katherine Zhoo gave Catherine the 10 she needed, making her the winner of Season 2.
"My life is about to change," Catherine said about winning the prize.
Zumbo's Just Desserts Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.