SinceLove Island USA’smostsuccessful season yetcame to a close this summer, reality dating shows just haven’t hit the same. Lately, the search forreality TVthat catches my interest and helps foster a healthy – or unhealthy, who’s to say? – amount of escapism without making me feel gross after watching it (looking at you,Love Is BlindSeason 7) has come up mostly dry. Thankfully, the current season ofLove Island Australiajust dropped onHuluand has already set the bar high for reality dating shows with its willingness to embrace – and make light of – the flaws of current reality TV.
The first episode ofLove Island AustraliaSeason 6 kicked off with hostSophie Monkpreparing to introducethis season’s islanderswith a healthy dose of sarcasm, saying, “Our islanders have plenty in common. They’re all smoking hot. They’re all desperately single… And they’reall here for Instagram followers– love, love.” I was instantly hooked. This intro was not only clever and entirely apt given the current state of reality TV, but it also set the tone for a season that, so far, iseverything I think reality dating shows should be: fun, authentic, and, ultimately,not that serious.
‘Love Island’ Is Known for “Having a Go” at Reality TV
It’s no secret that contestants join reality TV for stardom and Instagram fame; it has been a recent problem on dating shows likeLove Is BlindandThe Bachelor. This pattern has been consistent enough that theLove Is Blindhosts,Nick and Vanessa Lachey, have resorted tocalling out cast members specifically– likeTrevor Sovafrom Season 6, who was already in a relationship when he entered the pods. Similarly,BachelorNation has coined a phrase for contestants of this sort, referring to them as “not here for the right reasons.” In 2015,Love Island(UK)started the franchise around the concept of poking fun at reality TV contestants thanks to the show’s witty and beloved narrator,Iain Stirling, who cracks jokes throughout each season. Therefore, it’s only fitting thatLove Island Australiawould face the criticisms of modern-day reality TV head-on and with a joke– and it’s also incredibly refreshing.
In typicalLove Islandfashion, host Sophie and narratorEoghan McDermottkeep the jokes coming onLove Island Australia, and even the islanders seem willing tohave a laugh at themselves– likeHannah Steinfeld,who compares her brain to a broken compass in Episode 2. This playful banterhelps keep the overall tone of the show light, balancing out the drama that inherently comes with reality TV with some much-needed comedic relief. It has also reminded me thatreality dating shows shouldn’t be takentooseriouslyand that, if a show makes me feel worse for having watched it, it’s not fulfilling the reason I put it on in the first place.
This Reality TV Show on Netflix Is ‘Love Island’ Meets ‘Survivor’
‘Love in the Wild’ has a key ingredient that seems to be missing from many of today’s reality TV shows: authenticity.
‘Love Island Australia’ Season 6 Has Been More Enjoyable To Watch
Lately, reality dating shows have felt more toxic and stressful than enjoyable to watch – likeLove Is BlindSeason 7, which had more negativity than anything else, andMarried at First SightSeason 17, which may have beenthe show’s most toxic season yet. When reality shows only focus on drama and conflict, instead of letting viewers live vicariously through the new and exciting experiences of the cast members and root for those they like, I find myself feeling sad or stressed on their behalf. In the case of shows likeLove Is BlindorMarried at First Sight, it has started to feel like each season is more toxic than the last, partly because their premises revolve around incredibly serious, life-changing stakes that possibly exceed what modern-day reality TV can handle.
Season 6 ofLove Island Australiahas matched the tone of its witty intro by better acknowledging the “reality” of reality dating shows with humor, and by putting less pressure on its contestants. The show successfully createsa much more enjoyable atmosphere to both be a part of and to watch. In light of shows thatpromise love but mostly deliver negativity, I’m more than happy to kick back and watch a group of good-looking singles enjoy their summer by playing kissing games, like spin-the-bottle and an adult version of dress-up, in a stunning Spanish villa.
Love Island Australiais available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
Love Island
In a stunning villa, a group of attractive singles lives together as they seek love and connections. Contestants must pair up and stay coupled to survive elimination rounds. Along the way, they participate in engaging challenges and games that put their relationships to the test. New islanders are regularly introduced, causing shifts in alliances and romantic interests. Viewers play a crucial role by voting for their favorite couples, with the most popular pair ultimately winning a cash prize and the title of the strongest couple.
WATCH ON HULU
