Dated and Related is Netflix’s latest reality dating show combining entertainment with cringe-worthy moments. The series involves teams of two siblings, step-siblings or cousins acting as a wingperson for one another as they compete for a chance at love and winning a cash prize of $100,000 USD. For fellow Netflix reality show binge-watchers, Melinda from season two of Too Hot to Handle acts as the host.
The show started off very interesting with a challenge given by Melinda on learning how well the siblings knew each other. The winning sibling team of the first challenge was able to pick the duo that they wanted to go on a double date with. I loved seeing what the responses were while being asked if the contestants knew the age of their siblings’s first kiss, their sibling’s biggest turn on, their sibling’s first cartoon character crush, their siblings’ best asset, and their siblings’s number of sexual partners. The game felt short as questions were targeting individuals instead of everyone answering at the same time, but it set up the expected awkwardness and cringe of the show.
I was looking forward to learning more about each cast member, but was let down when the series was over. The producers drifted away from every team participating in a game, to new duos entering the villa and automatically getting a date. They received individual challenges to win dates, and were incredibly awkward to watch. For example, the host proposed a challenge by phone to siblings Alara and Ceylan, in which they needed to convince someone in the villa that they needed privacy in the bathroom for a bubble bath. The first thing that came to my mind was, “What was the production team thinking?”
The show advertises and constantly mentions siblings being wingpeople. One person in the duo was supposed to be “worse” at finding or staying in relationships and needed help. Yet, the direction seems to shift as you proceed through the episodes. Every individual on the show needed to make a connection — or at least fake it — to become a couple. There were no longer double dates with siblings or a need to be a wingperson. This changed the ‘twist’ that the show placed on dating, leading to a lack of consistency and direction by the producers.
Beyond this, as a viewer it felt like individuals were mentioning what they like in a person’s looks after dates or deep conversations rather than knowing a person and making a connection. What are the personality traits that they like? What interests do they have in common? What do they do in life (ie. jobs, hobbies, etc.)? What are they looking for in a potential partner? Contestants mention having deeper discussions to get to know each other, but these were not in the editing cuts. The lack of a portrayal of personal connection makes it difficult to root for a couple to make it out into the real world or get a sense of “knowing” the cast without looking into their Instagrams afterwards — let alone believing that they know each other well. Is it just the cast themselves, or is it the editing?
I’m obsessed with reality shows on Netflix for the drama and am ready to hear the tea without experiencing it myself. Yet, there was a lack of it until the prize money came more into play. A pair of brothers on the show kept mentioning winning it. The other castmates expressed the same opinion as myself — that it was annoying and ingenuine of the siblings. While I assume that the people on these shows are more focused on money and social media fame than love, it is nice for individuals to not outright talk about the money on the table. It really shouldn’t be the only source of drama that resonates.
It was not a real competition nor did it feel justifiable for the cast to determine a winner. There were a lot of conversations, a lack of group challenges, and couples were not shown that much. At the bare minimum, contestants could demonstrate growth in developing relationships like Too Hot to Handle. The production made the decision to go from a sibling team winning it to a newly formed couple, leading to more inconsistencies with the direction that they were going to take. When voting occurred, three couples were left to vote in front of everyone, without anonymity or dramatic impact. There was no sense of why people were voting for who they did, with the exception of siblings voting for their family members.
Do I believe it is a good series? No. The whole concept of the show is awkward to watch. Will I binge-watch every follow-up season? Yes, without hesitation. If a second season is ordered, I hope the producers modify the premise to make it more interesting rather than forgettable shortly after watching it.
