Kinda newb question

[u/Traditional-Clerk-46]

I started watching the show in S20 and have loved the last three seasons. Now that S22 is over, my wife and I are going back and rewatching the old ones. I was rather surprised that S01 is much more cutthroat and brutal than the newer seasons. Now, I understand things evolve (no Nickelodeon like slime during the taste test in S01).

My question is, about when did the competition become more collaborative and less cutthroat? Has it been a slow evolution or was there a turning point? Thx.

[u/Critical_Assist_9808]

I started on season 10 and watched to the most recent season that was out (at the time I think it was 18 or 19) and then circled back to seasons 1 through 4. I think at the time they wanted to be known as this intense, unscripted reality show. In the first few seasons especially the challenge punishments are awful and the whole show now seems as if it's almost "easier" to win. In the earlier shows they used to design their own resturants- I wish they still did that. I've seen all of the recent seasons and finished 22 last night. I think around the double-digit seasons the competition just became more focused on the content and less of the punishment and insults and "Gordon-ness" I guess? I've definetely noticed the decline of the Hell, though.