Forged in Fire Beat the Judges Episodes Numbers: The Spin-Off So Confusing, We Made a Guide
Forged in Fire fans thought they knew what to expect: bladesmiths forge weapons, judges critique, someone walks away ten grand richer.
But then came Beat the Judges — a spin-off that made the rules up as it went, left viewers scratching their heads, and occasionally pissed off the fanbase.
If you've tried to watch Beat the Judges and found yourself wondering "wait, who's forging what now?" — here's your no-nonsense guide to every episode and why the format's still confusing after all these years.
What Is Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges?
Airing in 2020 on History Channel, Beat the Judges is a special series where former Forged in Fire champions return for the ultimate challenge: take down the judges themselves. That's right — after forging multiple blades, the last smith standing gets to face off against Ben Abbott, Dave Baker, or J. Neilson in a head-to-head showdown.
Sounds cool in theory. In practice? The format flips between convoluted weapon requirements, odd judging setups, and a finale that feels rigged because, let's be honest — the judges rarely lose.
Every Beat the Judges Episode (and Who Won)
- Episode 1: Short Sword Damascus
Aired: June 3, 2020 — 0.93 million viewers
Final Result: Ben Abbott wins against challenger. - Episode 2: Medieval Times
Aired: June 10, 2020 — 1.00 million viewers
Final Result: Dave Baker defends his honor. - Episode 3: Duel Swords
Aired: June 17, 2020 — 0.80 million viewers
Final Result: Burt Foster wins Round 1, but the judge still triumphs. - Episode 4: Smith's Choice
Aired: June 24, 2020 — 0.80 million viewers
Final Result: Dave Baker wins again. - Episode 5: The No Can Can
Aired: July 1, 2020 — 0.83 million viewers
Final Result: J. Neilson proves why he's a judge. - Episode 6: Rock Star Smiths
Aired: July 8, 2020 — 0.71 million viewers
Final Result: Ben Abbott strikes again.
Across all episodes, one trend sticks: the judges almost never lose. Viewers noticed — and they weren't impressed.
Why Viewers Are Frustrated
The biggest complaint? The judging isn't blind.
Fans on Reddit and forums keep asking: has a judge ever lost the second round? Spoiler: almost never. And when the judge gets to see the competition's work up close, the fairness of the whole "beat the judge" idea comes into question.
Another gripe — the overcomplicated forging process:
- Level 1: Forge a signature blade
- Level 2: Recreate an assigned historical weapon
- Level 3: Face off against a judge forging yet another weapon under time pressure
By then, the audience is half-lost, half-suspecting the show was designed to protect the judges' egos.
What About the Other Beat the Judges?
If you're confusing this with Food Network's Guy's Grocery Games: Beat the Judges, you're not alone. That show caught heat too, especially for how smug some judges — like Aaron May — came across. Fans found him arrogant, grumpy, and entitled during the burger episode, with one viewer noting:
"Everything about him oozes a 'f*** you, I got mine' attitude."
Food Network made things worse by forcing contestants to wager their winnings just to face a judge — who predictably wins most of the time. Forged in Fire fans can probably relate.
Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges sounded great on paper — finally giving skilled smiths a shot at proving they're as good as the experts. But between the uneven structure, predictable outcomes, and a format that could've benefited from blind judging, the spin-off never really justified its own existence.
If you're watching for the love of the craft, you'll still find killer blades and complex forging techniques. If you're watching for suspense or fair play? Don't get your hopes up.