The Reality TV Multiverse (Pt 1)
A roundup of all the shows I have on my watchlist this season
Hi close friends,
I hope this week has treated you well. 🖤
Mine was another busy one for the books. I’ve been helping out with a friend’s film a couple days here and there when I get the time, and it’s been such a gratifying experience. It’s my first time trying out script supervision, and this past Saturday I felt my most confident taking and giving notes. As someone who is so used to it being a boys’ club on set, I also just loved working with an all-women crew. We just know the vibes!
If you know me, you know I love reality TV. And this year, we are starting off with a strong line-up of shows.
In today’s newsletter, I’m going to share my personal watchlist for the next few weeks. Two I’ve already finished, three I’m decently far in, three I’ve just started, and one I still need to start.
This is also going to be a 2-parter so that I don’t get cut off in email, with this week tackling the Peacock shows and next week, the shows I’m watching on Netflix.
What I’m streaming on Peacock…
Love Island All Stars (UK, S2)
In my opinion, a reality TV list isn’t complete until there is a Love Island mention. Last summer, I thought that trying to keep up with both the UK and US seasons simultaneously had finally exhausted my commitment to the show (for context, each episode is usually 45m-1hr and new episodes come out 6 days a week for around 6-8 weeks). But surprisingly, I feel renewed enough to lock back in.
I personally prefer Love Island Games to All Stars because of the mix of participants from different countries and the physical challenges make it a bit more dynamic to watch. However, after watching the first episode, I actually feel like there’s a decent mix of contestants from the UK seasons. I love when they pull people from the earlier seasons (1-3) like Scott, Gabby, and Marcel, because that was just a totally different, un-sanitized version of the show before it really gained traction, and it’s fun seeing how they fare coming back into the villa much older. And although I did love the latest season of Love Island USA, there will always be a special place in my heart for the OG show in the UK.
I also am SO happy that Peacock is releasing the episodes only a few days after it airs live, because it makes it so much easier to keep up with online commentary in real time and I don’t feel like a hacker trying to find the episodes on Dailymotion.
Traitors (US, S3)
I don’t think I’ve seen such a stacked cast in SO long. We’ve got Vanderpump Rules, Summer House, Selling Sunset, Bachelor, Housewives, and RuPaul’s Drag Race in the house. Not to mention all the “gamers” which always makes me want to go back and watch the shows/seasons those contestants were on, especially Big Brother and Survivor. Maybe 2025 is actually the year I become a Survivor girlie.
The fashion is fashion-ing, and I’m starting to realize what I really enjoy is the lore. There’s so much past history from these relationships built on other shows that is now intersecting and only adding to the drama in real time. It’s the ultimate reality TV multiverse, and three episodes in, it’s clearly already paying off for the casting department. Let the games begin!
My Bravo-verse picks of the season… (also on Peacock)
Southern Charm (S10) & Southern Hospitality (S3)
I feel like these two shows go hand and hand. Both have started airing new episodes on Friday, and I agree with the consensus that while Southern Hospitality really feels like it’s hitting its stride, Southern Charm is nearing its end.
Watching Paige and Craig feels sad knowing they’ve recently broken up, and it’s starting to feel like we’re beating a dead horse with JT being the outcast of the group. On the other hand, I’m so glad we got rid of Osin on Southern Hospitality and Michols is such a great, natural addition to the cast. I love how he’s bringing such real conversations about dating as a gay, Black man in the South. The main relationships — Maddie & Joe and Emmy & Will — are perfectly hot messes waiting to implode (and for Emmy’s sake, I especially hope hers ends). This is the energy we need!
The Real Housewives of New York City (S15)
This is a great example of a show that has such great cast potential, but is failing to execute. I was really excited about Rebecca Minkoff being added as a “friend of” because her bags were such an iconic moment in the fashion zeitgeist in my high school years, but the Scientology surprise is not cute. I do love Racquel and her partner, Mel (and Mel’s unexpected friendship with Abe lol) because once again, I guess the gays have to save every show. Otherwise, so much of the drama feels forced and a result of everyone being irritated that Brynn is playing producer. At this point, I’m just watching to finish the season TBH since I’m already 13 episodes deep.
Further Reading
This is the section of my newsletter where I share more recommendations in line with the theme of the work I’m reviewing, if you are so inclined to dive deeper. This week I’m plugging some of my posts from last year covering specific reality TV shows. I hope more hot takes abound this year!
READ:
I talk about the implications of the last season of Love Is Blind (US) taking place in the capital, Washington D.C., and how politics comes to the forefront of the relationships built on the show as a result.
A short diatribe on the finale of Jenn’s season of The Bachelor and how the show somehow failed again to treat its BIPOC leads with the care they deserve.
Lastly, an examination of the right to emotional intimacy in reality TV through the lens of The Traitor and The Bachelor.
If you’ve been watching (or not watching) any of these shows, I would love to know your thoughts. And as always, stay safe and see you next week! xoxo