Deducted half a point because Tachibana’s screaming gets old fast. Added a point back for the detailed hand-drawn frosting techniques.

If you are looking for Food Wars! levels of fan service and trippy hallucinations, Antique Bakery is the opposite. It is a drama that moves at the pace of proofing sourdough—slow, steady, and rewarding.

It reminded me why I bake. It’s not about the Instagram likes or the perfect swirl of frosting. It’s about the moment someone closes their eyes and says, "This makes me feel safe." Yes. But with a caveat.