I Put Netflix’s #7 Show on as Background Noise; Within Minutes, I Was Hooked
Ignore the Rotten Tomatoes score people
By Danielle Long
Published Oct 6, 2026
As previously mentioned, someone who works from home loves a silly, easygoing TV show for background noise. Usually, this means competition series like Is It Cake?, Million Dollar Secret, or The Great British Baking Show. Most of the time, they stay where intended: in the background. But every once in a while, one pulls me in completely.
The latest culprit? Netflix’s number seven show, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
This reality competition series transforms Roald Dahl's iconic chocolate factory into a colorful social experiment. Twelve Golden Ticket winners each bring a partner into a massive 40,000-square-foot confectionery wonderland, complete with an edible garden and chocolate river. The 24 contestants live inside the factory while competing in physical challenges, judgment tests, and moral dilemmas for a $3 million grand prize.
At first glance, this wasn't exactly screaming "next must-watch." But I needed something on in the background, so I pressed play. Once the show starts, it gets surprisingly dramatic: betrayals, plotting, scheming, and villains.
There are also appearances from Howie Mandel, Wayne Brady, and Nick Cannon, along with some of the original 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory actors.
Now, I’m not saying this is the best show ever. In fact, critics have been brutal: it finished its first season with an 11% critics' score and a 34% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. Yet, it's remained in Netflix’s Top 10 for two weeks since its September 23 debut.
All episodes of Wonka's The Golden Ticket are streaming now.
Remember that if you're looking for something light to watch, this might be worth a dive into.