Ep 10. Best in Blow

Blown Away season 1 episode 10, named Best in Blow, is a culmination of the entire season's journey in this Netflix series. The title itself sets the tone for the episode – excitement, anticipation, and competition at its peak.

For those who are not familiar with the show, Blown Away is a reality competition series that showcases the art and science behind glassblowing in a unique and engaging way. The show is hosted by Nick Uhas, a science communicator, and expert in glass blowing, Katherine Gray. The contestants come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and their work is judged by a panel of experts.

In this episode, the top three contestants of the season are vying for the title of "Best in Blow." The competing glassblowers are challenged with creating their most ambitious and complex pieces yet, showing off everything they have learned and developed throughout the season. Each artist has a limited amount of time to complete their piece, making it even more challenging to create something truly spectacular.

The episode opens with the competitors reviewing their final concepts for their pieces. Contestant Leah is set to create a piece inspired by her home city of Pittsburgh and its steel industry, while contestant Deborah plans a piece inspired by her homeland of Scotland. Lastly, Nick, another top contestant, is challenged with creating an avant-garde piece that combines his love for architecture with glassblowing.

As soon as the competition begins, tensions rise. The clock ticks away as the contestants furiously work on their projects, each trying their best to think on their feet and work out any hiccups along the way. The artists attempt to balance intricate detail work, with the need to maintain the structural integrity of their pieces.

As the episode progresses, we see the artists employing new techniques, such as sand etching and silver manipulation, to give their art pieces a unique touch. They have access for the first time to specialized equipment they have not used yet throughout the series, which makes the pieces even more special.

Aside from the contestants' hard work, the judging is also a standout in this episode. The guest judge is renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, famed for his unique style and larger-than-life installations that have been shown worldwide. Alongside Nick and Katherine, they have the monumental task of choosing the ultimate winner and "Best in Blow."

As the contestants are working on their final touches to the pieces, each of them discusses their greatest personal challenges from the season, how they handled them and everything they learned.

But towards the end, the atmosphere in the studio becomes very intense as the final pieces are completed and the judges deliberate. As the critiques roll in, the artists come face to face with the harsh reality of their work, with compliments mixing with criticisms. Who will ultimately come out on top, and who will fall short of the grand prize?

The episode builds up on the tension in preparation for the big announcement of the winner at the end. Each of the contestants has put their all into their creations, so the judgement feels especially high-stake.

Overall, Blown Away season 1 episode 10 is a landmark episode in the series timeline. It is an encompassing summary of all that has been learned throughout the season as viewers get to see a culmination of the glass blowing techniques developed and refined by the contestants through the earlier episodes. All in all, it is an engaging, emotional, and unforgettable conclusion to the first installment of this fantastic reality competition.