Unexpected twists, panicky contestants, and temperamental judges is what you expect from these competitions. But Masterchef Australia presents a refreshing reminder of all things good about competition.

Like some of you, perhaps, I watch Masterchef hoping to learn something new. What is Chinese Five Spice? What’s spherification? Or how to pronounce meringue? (It’s meh-rang, yeah, who’d have thought). And then I get involved in the entertainment- the Mystery Box, the pressure tests and the eliminations. But what I did not see coming out of watching the latest season of Masterchef Australia (incl. the Junior version) was a reflection on sportsmanship or quite simply, lessons in being nice.

Masterchef, like any competition, gives plenty of drama and suspense. Sometimes, the chocolate just doesn’t temper. Or you don’t know if the fish is cooked until the judges cut to taste it. And there’s always the race against time to plate up the dish. But through all this, what shines through to me is the positive and constructive vocabulary and learning attitude that both the judges and contestants show.

I take away these five qualities from my binge-watch of the season.

1. Sportsmanship

I noticed this one most in the Junior version. If the judges appreciate one of the kids for her clever use of ingredients, all the others are sure to give elbow bumps on her walk back to her spot. Throughout the cook, the kids in the gantry call out “Good job, Filo” and “You can do this, Tiff”. It seems simple but I don’t think it is easy. When you’re focused on winning, you may find it hard to even notice the guy next to you falling apart as he falls behind. And these kids? They stop and say, “You’ve got this, mate!”

2. Resilience

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. The entire dish is a tart and all the shells are broken. It’s easy to get lose heart at that moment. (And that does happen and of course, it’s good for TV). But then, with a few words from judges to inspire confidence in themselves, they pick themselves up. They complete the task, name the dish ‘Hot mess’ and walk away with the trophy! So, with that spilt milk and the lemons life gave you, make cheese, I say!

3. Growth mindset

“How would you feel if you were to go home in today’s elimination?” The judges often ask the contestants this question before tasting their dishes. Some do put it plainly- “I would be devastated”. But some others say that they would be happy that they were able to come so far in the competition. And even when they do end up eliminated, they say, “I have learnt so much in the Masterchef kitchen”, “I will keep working towards my dream”, or “I have made so many friends here”. Gratitude, check. Positive attitude, check. Growth mindset, check.

4. Constructive feedback

This may not be true of Masterchef versions and definitely not the ones with Gordon Ramsay in it. But in the latest seasons, the judges are definitely all about positive and constructive feedback. They don’t throw dishes in the trash or call the contestants bad cooks or even label a dish ‘bad’. They point out facts- the meat was undercooked, the cake was dry or the custard was runny. Melissa thanks the contestants for the generosity of the portions, Andy says “Unfortunately, the flavours just missed the mark”. My favorite line is when, during elimination, they thank the contestants for “bringing such joy into the kitchen”. What a wonderful thing to say!

5. Pushing your limits.

Some people say competition kills the joy of learning. I say, you cannot caramelize onions if you’re too afraid of burning it. A little competition is good. It pushes you to give more than you thought you had in yourself. And you can really see that in their faces when they surprise themselves, executing a never-tried-before gnocchi to perfection. The lesson I see here is that when you mix competition and creativity in a positive environment, it morphs into individual personal challenges and results in brilliance.

After all this, you can say the show is scripted or the events are staged. But it doesn’t matter. Because at the end of the day, you can walk away learning either three ways to cook a cauliflower or five ways to be a better human being. I call it a win-win. Enjoy the show!