Love is in the air! Two new reality dating shows premiered in February. “Perfect Match” on Netflix and “Love Trip: Paris” both promise to match contestants and showcase true love. As a reality dating show aficionado, I eagerly gobbled up the first few episodes of the shows. So which can I recommend – and which should you skip?
A Not So “Perfect Match”
Netflix has churned out no shortage of dating shows over the years. From “Love is Blind” to “Too Hot to Handle” and “The Ultimaturm,” the streaming service certainly knows how to entice viewers. Unfortunately, I wasn’t immediately charmed by their new show, “Perfect Match.” The show features reality television favorites and villains living together, coupling up, and competing for money. It’s a tried and true formula that should work. Unfortunately, though, previous relationships take all the wind out of the sails of the show.
The best part of any dating show is watching two people flirt, build tension, and genuinely connect. It’s rarer than you might expect, given that the genre is theoretically based on romance. Too often, producers lean heavily on drama and petty fights instead of centering on true love. I suppose it’s easier to manufacture drama than connection.
“Perfect Match” reunites several exes who have dated outside of the show. Instead of watching people pair up and fall in love for the first time, we watch jaded reality stars settle for relationships they know won’t work – all in the name of sticking around for another week. It’s all so cynical, so tired, and so hard to watch. That begs the question: will I keep watching? Probably not – though I may tune in for when my girl Chloe Veitch finally makes her appearance. She’s the best thing to happen to reality television since Snooki!
The Culture Shock of “Love Trip: Paris”
Dating norms between different cultures are always fascinating. Watching foreigners learn about reality television dating norms is downright hilarious. “Love Trip: Paris” sends four Americans abroad to date French suitors. Everyone lives in the same building for the shoot, and the close proximity quickly leads to awkward competition between the contestants.
The French suitors seem like they’ve never seen a reality show before going on this one. A classic “can I steal you for a second” moment nearly ends in a fist fight. Turns out the French can be pretty territorial – or at least, these people are. After a single date, one French contestant asks her love interest to stop seeking attention from any of the other Parisians. I’m not sure if this quick exclusivity is standard for the French, but it comes across as desperate and even a little frightening on TV.
Thankfully, the American leads are charming and quirky enough to make this dynamic interesting instead of just toxic. The show features a range of body types, sexualities, and gender identities. This is incredibly refreshing when compared with shows like “the Bachelor,” which only feature size zero influencer types. Josielyn, a model from LA, is an early favorite. She’s Eva Mendes beautiful and easily attracts attention from both male and female members of the cast.
The premise for “Love Trip: Paris” is a good one, but some of the show’s quirks may grow tiresome after a few episodes. The narrator is largely unnecessary, and the show’s reliance on an in-universe dating app feels very forced. Everyone is on their phone all the time – it’s a dynamic that detracts from the romance of the show. Still, there are baguettes and berets aplenty, and the early drama seems promising.
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This post was previously published on TheBackdrop.TV.
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