Ep 5. #Winning

#Winning is the fifth episode from the first season of The Lodge, a British musical drama television series that follows the life of a fifteen-year-old girl, Skye, who moves with her father from the city to rural Northern Ireland after her mother passed away. The Lodge is also a hotel where her father works as a chef, and Skye finds a new family and friends in the local teenagers whom she meets.

In this episode, Skye and her new friends from The Lodge, Ben and Sean, enter a talent contest called the Battle of the Bands that takes place in the nearest town, Ballybradagh. The contest's prize is a day in a professional recording studio with a famous music producer, and Skye hopes this will be her chance to follow in her mother's footsteps and pursue her love for singing.

However, Skye quickly discovers that the competition is fierce, and many other talented musicians from the area are also participating. She starts to doubt herself and her abilities and wonders if she should back out. Her father, Kyle, tells her to keep trying and not let fear take over, but Skye is still unsure.

Meanwhile, things at the Lodge's kitchen are also heated, as the guest chef hired by Skye's father is the famous restaurateur, Irene. She is loud, bossy, and critical of everything Kyle does, which leads to tensions between the two. Skye tries to help her father by talking to Irene and making peace, but things get even worse. In the end, Kyle stands up for himself and his cooking, and Irene leaves in a huff, upset that her ego got bruised.

Back at The Lodge, Skye and her friends are getting ready for the Battle of the Bands. Ben and Sean's band is called "Short Notice," and they decide to play a fast and loud song that they wrote together. Skye supports them but still harbors doubts about her own performance. When she goes on stage, she freezes for a moment but then decides to sing the song her mother used to sing to her when she was a child. The audience is touched, and Skye finishes her performance beautifully, feeling proud of herself.

The judges announce the winners of the contest, and Skye and her friends are devastated when Short Notice is not chosen. However, the judges have a surprise for them as they award the prize to Skye for her solo performance. She gets to spend a day in the recording studio, and her dreams are finally coming true. Kyle is also proud of her and tells her that he will start teaching her mother's recipes, so she can cook like a pro and work at the Lodge's kitchen.

In the end, #Winning is a heartwarming episode about overcoming fears and doubts, standing up for oneself, and following one's passion. Skye learns that sometimes, it's not about winning the contest, but about competing and improving oneself, and that her friends and family will always support her.