Streaming columnist good-naturedly rolls out the cliches to pronounce the new series of “Is It Cake?” a little hard to swallow (doh!)

THERE are questions which may forever perplex, challenge and even divide humanity as we know it: What is the meaning of life? Are we alone in the universe? Is it cake?

It turns out one of these mystifying conundrums has become the basis of a major Netflix series, and this month it’s back for a second season.

“Is It Cake?” is the reality game show where a roster of profusely talented bakers make carefully crafted pastry imitations of everyday objects. It’s then left to a panel of judges (and the viewer) to work out if what they’re looking at is the real thing or indeed a hyperrealistic, delicious treat.

Turns out it’s no piece of cake telling the difference.

In season one these pastry artists made everything from handbags to sewing machines to shoes, which to the naked eye seem very unappetising. That is until someone takes a bite out of one.

The concept may be absurd, but when “Is It Cake?” first arrived many Netflix subscribers wanted a slice. On release last year, the show rocketed straight to the platform’s number 1 spot on its most viewed rankings.

The idea capitalised on viral social media videos, where viewers were at first shown random objects, only to have their minds blown by someone cutting them open and taking a bite.

Baking this internet meme, which ran wild in lockdown into the popular cooking reality show formula, meant Netflix had a hit on its hands.

Indeed, “Is It Cake?” represented a paramount entry into the television cake canon, walking in the footsteps of giants such as “Cake Boss”, “Extreme Cake Makers” and “The Big Cake”.

But unfortunately it seems the new season (dubbed “Is It Cake, Too?”), hasn’t had quite the impact its predecessor did, releasing with diminished viewership.

That may come down to the fact it’s been three years since the meme went viral and the concept may just have run its course.

While fun at first, “Is It Cake?” is sadly starting to feel like it’s been left in the fridge for a little too long.

LAST year “The Bear” exploded on to the streaming scene, cementing itself as one of 2022’s most finely crafted and critically-acclaimed shows.

The eight-episode series on Disney Plus gripped audiences by putting them in the high-stress environment of a downtown kitchen and shining the spotlight on the gruelling reality of restaurant culture.

The story follows Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a young chef who takes ownership of his family’s sandwich shop in Chicago after the tragic death of his brother.

Mixing together a story of ambition and grief, “The Bear” proved a beef sandwich kitchen could be a melting pot of drama, making for one of the most compelling TV settings in recent years.

In season two, the show turns up the heat even more, expanding its focus from Carmy to his ragtag crew of cooks and diving deeper into their intriguing back stories.

As for Carmy himself, the new episodes track his embattled attempts to build a bigger and better restaurant, throwing him straight from the frying pan into the fire.

Whether Disney Plus subscribers have a little or a lot of interest in the culinary world, “The Bear” is well worth a taste test.

LIKE a case of rigor mortis, “The Walking Dead” has returned to screens with its first major spin-off series since the show’s finale last year.

“The Walking Dead: Dead City” sees fan favourites Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) forced to team up as they traverse a post-apocalyptic New York, meeting a strange assortment of survivors who have made the zombie-infested metropolis their home.

Fans will know that these two also happen to be mortal enemies, setting the scene for a tension-fuelled journey over the show’s six episodes.

Now streaming on Stan, the spin-off comes just seven months after “The Walking Dead” officially ended but “Dead City” still feels like a pretty direct continuation.

In its later seasons viewership of “The Walking Dead” was rapidly dwindling and this new series (one of many in the works) feels like a rather flimsy attempt to keep the brand alive.

For die-hard fans, the show’s more concentrated focus on its two central characters will make for a refreshing twist, but for those who have given up on the franchise, “Dead City” likely won’t have the dramatic power to resurrect interest.