In the day and age we're in, facing a huge problem with bullying, I think last nights show was terrible. Troy bullied that little girl almost the whole time they were in the kitchen and he gets kudos for it. I know no one patted him on the back for it but the underlying message is that it's OK to have bullying, even in a working situation and it's NOT. Parents have a hard enough time trying to teach their kids the right way to treat people and last nights episode fell right through the cracks. I've worked in kitchens and that is just not acceptable! Kids have a hard enough time growing up as it is now. They are forced to be small adults before they're even ready too. To be accepting of that kind of behavior is wrong. There's enough bullying in school, on the playgrounds, and sadly in jobs to be allowing it to happen on a kids based show. I do agree that kids should learn; age appropriately, that there will be winners and losers and at some point you will be on each end of it. I do not however believe we should be promoting a winner as someone who treats people like Troy did, I don't care how good the kid cooks - teach the lessons parents are stressing to teach their children!!

I watched a few episodes of Season 1, but didn't really get into MasterChef Junior until Season 2, starting from about the 3rd or 4th episode.

First off, I must say that all these children can definitely cook. It's inspirational and shocking to see them so talented at such a young age, and to even think about what they could become in the future is jaw-dropping. Throughout the entire series, you can see their imagination and creativity flourishing in the dishes they make, and even their accomplishments wow the judges to no end.

However, even though I do enjoy watching these kids cook, and the judges aren't as strict and mean as they are on the adult version of MasterChef, I am not enjoying the arrogance and personalities portrayed by some kids.

On national television, TV personalities and in this instance, these kids should be role models for the youngsters watching this show. Yes, they can cook, which is inspiring, but there are many phrases and comments they say that should not have been in the show at all. They should have been edited out. Like others have said, bullying was present along with these kids giving each other snide, hurtful remarks. These are not scenes that you want your children to look at and learn from - after all, it is a show tailored towards kids of all ages. From the show, some of the kids act like they are know-it-alls and better than the rest, and when the judges praise them for their performance...that indirectly states that they're okay with that behaviour.

In an already tough and stressful world, we don't need more generations learning from such behaviour on television, especially a reality one with kids as a main audience.

If they could tone down the arrogance and spiteful remarks that these kids have for each other, and just keep the fun, playful and competitive components, then this show could have a lot of potential. As of Season 2, the amount of arrogance and bullying seen in the episodes has turned me off of watching future seasons.

I loved the show overall, but I couldn't agree more with the reviewer who mentioned that Troy was being a complete bully and was then rewarded for his behavior as the judges turned a blind eye. As the parents of a young child, my husband and I were appalled by the decision and action of the judges in this instance and it really left a terrible taste in our mouths (pun semi-intended). It's not an instance where the judges didn't know what was going on, as Chef Gordon was in the kitchen witnessing the bullying himself. Huge thumbs down for this terrible judgement call, and a big disappointment for the viewers. I hope that if the show continues with further seasons that they will be more diligent with upholding the standards of human decency that we should expect of our country's children as a whole.

I'm a fan of this along with the other Ramsay reality shows, LIke Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen, and Masterchef (aduts).

The kids are precocious, to be sure. And one wonders how they can cook so well. But wonders about that in reference to the adult "home cooks" in their version.

I recall reading about the adult version that there are many cooking lessons and coaching going on behind the scenes, so to speak. This might explain why so many contestants (kids and adults) say things like, "I've learned so much while being here," or "Mary/Joe is one of my friends." I wouldn't learn a think just cooking something and having it judged, but I would if, along the way, I were being tutored in some way. I wouldn't have a friend there if I only encountered them while on the set and in competition.

There is a lot going on we never see. Duh.,

Anyway, one does wonder how they all -- kids and adults -- know basically how to make all this stuff. Like a macaroon. They all basically know how to proceed while admitting, "I've never made a macaroon before!" Oh? Then how did you produce one (good or bad)? None seem to do what I'd do . . . stand there and have no idea what the mixtures should be. They did not arrive there knowing how to basically make all this stuff.

Today watching Season 5, I started wondering if there were recipes taped to the counter or something, you know, how much flour to mix with how much powdered sugar, or whatever. What a Gnocchi is/are and how to make one.

OK. So none of that detracts from the show or its appeal to me. It's a produced show, I know, edited (heavily if not nearly dishonestly) and all that. I believe it's reasonable to assume the kids have some skills and, with proper tutoring, "get better" along the way (as they claim) and rise or fall on what we see broadcast: the details of the execution. I think of it as rehearsal. What we see is based on on the cooking itself, not on the vast knowledge they've supposedly (but couldn't possibly have) brought to the event from home.

I don't know if they get acting lessons or not, but they do all seem to have camera appeal, don't look in the cameras (not in the shots we see), and probably go through "make up" or something before entering the set. None are simply mumbling or drooling, but again, all we see is what the Directors and Editors want us to see.

It's like this. When the kid present the dish to the judge, there is often a slow pan over the dish obviously not filmed in real time. And the things the judges say just before a commercial break are only part of what they've supposedly said after the break, or after the break they aren't saying everything they said before the break. Etc. Basic editing. Sometimes, it's so obviously edited, I get annoyed.

Before the Break: "Holly, did you know the lamb was raw? Why did you cook it like that?"

After the Break, recapping what had happened before the break: "Holly, why did you cook it that way?"

It's the kind of editing CNN does to slant the news!

So, I take it as a SHOW, a production, a "product." The kids are usually enchanting, funny, quirky, emotional, enthusiastic -- the kinds of personalities that sell. I find myself rooting for this and liking that kid. As I do watching a movie, as intended. I just give myself to it, pretend it's real, and have a good time.

BTW, same with Kitchen Nightmares or Hell's Kitchen. I have no idea what "really" happens. Most of it is implausible in "real time."

I don't confuse "reality show" with "unedited footage of what took place" just as I don't confuse CNN "news" with "unedited reporting of what took place."

It's all theater.

I can't believe how talented these kids are! They are wonderful to be able to cook at that kind of level! I give them so much credit!

Frankly from what i've seen so far i didn't see any bullying but then again, the other kids do shout at one another to support them and motivate them. Perhaps that can be concieved as bullying? That i'm not too sure about but the show is definitely amazing to watch especially when a 9 year old can cook like that. simply amazing.

What a shock the judges are showing favoritism. The kids knew Alexander was ready to go home Give me a break the cake looked awful and tasteless Please somebody tell me I'm not lying What going to happened if he is weak in another episode Does the judges overlooked again We must write more reviews about the last episode However, the kids are gifted and smart Some of those foods I know I can't prepare without reading a cookbook. I think the competition belongs to the adults cooks.. When I saw the show I almost wanted to delete the program from my regular recordings but I just love cooking shows and competitions. I decided to continue to keep it.

Being a fan of Masterchef, I felt compelled to share my thoughts after watching episode 1 of Junior Masterchef:

The first thing that hit me was how obnoxious all 3 judges have become! I mean GOOD GOD, why are they trying to be so playful and cute here? It's like this show is the tinytoons of MasterChef. And when they're not acting ridiculously cartoonish, they're coming off just plain awkward, or even intimidating in some cases! Ramsey playing with the Asian girl's stupid bow, or him playing cupid - inquiring a 12 year old about her love life (wth was that about?), or Graham's stone-faced "WHY ARE YOU CRYING?".

The commentary is smack you in the face pandering (their repeated murmurings of disbelief about how challenging the task is for kids so young, or how "this is CRAZY", or asking "So you've never worked in ITALY?" or "Do you wear that shirt when you're gambling?"). The notion that these are normal kids picked out from a street campaign is also ridiculous. Of course I'm just assuming this is how they were selected because the who, where, and how part of this abortion was skipped altogether. One thing is clear though, these are NOT normal kids.

It was like they were conditioned from birth to perform - all of them. One girl said how she really didn't like cooking with organs, another said that she started working with homemade pasta at 4! In what kind of a privileged, silver-spooned world do 4 year olds dabble in homemade pasta? Are these kids Brad n Angelina's - are they a Trump?? Even with a privileged upbringing assumed, their skill is still too unrealistically high. We have 7-12 year olds here; each one of them finished the challenge with a respectable dish, one I'd feel lucky to eat ... it's clear they've had, and ARE currently receiving, plenty of guidance from JMC personnel.

So senseless. This is a high-pressured environment, a cooking contest, where even professionals can get sloppy and make mistakes, yet we have 7-12 year olds handling knives and full-blown boiling water, and there's large equipment tucked away on high shelves with no stepping stools anywhere in sight (except at the cooking stations). All the while, the parents gawk on from above like jack-assed, pastel wearing goons.

It's commendable how much importance the judges place on protecting the kids' feelings, too bad it's done with no grace. They give the slightest hint of a suggestion of a critique, making the viewer and kid think there's nothing to be alarmed of, then they immediately counter it with a very unconvincing, almost sarcastically upbeat "great job :)!!" - making it clear just how dissatisfying they actually find the dish to be. It was soon clear that this was the judges' "tell" whenever they dropped the axe on an innocent.

Yes, after all this clumsy care for the kid's emotional welfare, they throw it all out the window by inexplicably and somewhat arbitrarily sending half of them home. 12/24 little lambs were slaughtered in a blink of Ramsay's eye! And for what Ramsay .. FOR WHAT??! Well, for the trophy of course, that hunk of plastic that's designed to bring these bright-eyed children to each other's throats.

A couple of observations: 1) Alexander is the ringer, a 30 year old executive chef planted within JMC. 2) Jack is the coolest, that kid says what he feels. 3) You have the BALLS to send Nathan home Ramsay? Dude's 7 years old, he could barely pick up the food processor he was required to use, and STILL put out a dish that was restaurant quality. 4) I hope there are elimination rounds coming up ... (shrug).

There are SPOILERS in this review.

To even entertain the notion that this wasn't a good show is laughable. It was a great show. To watch the determination of children competing for not only a reward but the satisfaction of making something worthy of 3 well known culinary faces. Although I can agree I was disappointed at the actions of Troy and because of them he should not have been advanced in the competition to the next round however he knew what he was doing but as a young teen he didn't handle it well.The key there was that when asked Sarah still thought and wanted Troy to win the competition. I enjoyed the genuine satisfaction and happiness on the faces of these kids, it made you want to root for them. I'm a teacher know several children between the ages of 8 and 15 who saw the show and wanted to learn how to cook. In an age where all children want to do is be on their tablets and video games, it is nice to see that cooking is an alternative worth considering.

At first watching this series I was certain it was going to be a mini-me version of the adult show. Lots of great food, some talented cooks and lots of backstabbing and dysfunctional behavior. What a surprise, these kids were wonderfully genuine, their food knowledge was astounding and the camaraderie they exuded was truly refreshing. Certainly during the shows there was some "I'm better" talk, and not every moment was a jewel, but all in all these kids could teach the adults a lesson or two in good manners and decent behavior. The food these children cooked blew me away. There willingness to use and eat foods outside their comfort zones was a lesson in itself. Add to that that they rooted for each other, helped each other and in the end hugged and comforted each other was without a doubt the best part of this show. It restored my faith in the ability of people to work hard strive to achieve and remain connected to our fellow travelers. I have never had a bigger smile on my face watching a show! Here is to many many more seasons!

I think MasterChef Junior is a wonderful show! The kids are absolutely amazing and talented! They are great cooks and are super adorable! It's so sad to see any of them go- they're all so amazing, even if they do have their flaws. After all, they are like 10 years old!

I do think the judges are really easy on the kids and put on a super nice act for them because they are kids. I also see a bit of favoritism towards Alexander and Sarah but not a lot.

I wish they would only eliminate 1 person per episode. I get that they don't want to single out just 1 person but it seems like the season is going by realllllllllly quickly. Maybe eliminate 2 people every other episode?

Did anyone else notice how all of the contestants are from California, New York, or New Jersey?

SHow is 99% fake.... Many kids are actors, like Troy from last season was on Modern family and does those fake "Kids react" videos on youtube. The kids get acting lessons before the show. They have the recipes under their bench, they have been instructed how to make the dishes ahead of time. Real Chefs come in and help them cook and plate the dishes for the challenges! All the confessions and dialogue are scripted... fake fake fake fake

SHow is 99% fake.... Many kids are actors, like Troy from last season was on Modern family and does those fake "Kids react" videos on youtube. The kids get acting lessons before the show. They have the recipes under their bench, they have been instructed how to make the dishes ahead of time. Real Chefs come in and help them cook and plate the dishes for the challenges! All the confessions and dialogue are scripted... fake fake fake fake

Do you like politically charged chows? Unfair contests? If so, then this is the show for you! No matter how good anyone cooks, they will pick apart everyone until some one that fits the political agenda wins!!! Transgender 9 year old?? Automatic winner!