Love Is Blind — the favored Netflix present the place engagements go down earlier than face-to-face introductions — is simply one of many streamer’s eyebrow-raising courting entries.
The drama-filled sequence is at the moment debuting its eighth season, but I have one other — higher — addictive choose to your laid-back weekend. Reality TV aficionados ought to pour a glass of wine and unwind with the refined, but enthralling gem Dating Around.
Dating Around is a comparatively tame courting present in contrast with the opposite wild choices on the market. On Netflix’s Sexy Beasts, folks date whereas donning creature-themed particular results make-up, and on Too Hot to Handle, singles are crammed into an island villa and instructed to withhold from kissing and intercourse. Dating Around, alternatively, focuses on… plain, outdated first dates.
That’s proper: The present is nearly folks happening informal dates in New York and New Orleans. Each episode follows one fundamental dater as they sit down for 5 blind dates with completely different folks on the identical bar or restaurant. Though the dates happen over the course of per week, the present is edited to present the looks they’re all occurring on the identical evening. (The lead daters put on constant clothes to tug this off, govt producer Chris Culvenor has mentioned).
The trendy, visually intimate present seamlessly transitions between particular person dates, displaying us a minute of 1 date that deftly transforms into one other. When the evening wraps up, one man or gal often scores a second meet-up, and the present reveals who it’s on the finish of the episode.
With all of the added “stuff” on courting reveals nowadays, the precise “let’s discuss and get to know one another” half can take a backseat. Dating Around proves that conversations, flying sparks — and even the uninteresting moments — can stand on their very own and make for vibrant, absorbing tv. I consumed the second season’s six episodes nearly in a single day.
There’s no host and no plot twists on this courting present — simply folks assembly different folks, sharing drinks, meals and, if each events are feeling it, heading to a different late-night venue. A spread of distinct, typically likable fundamental daters bolster the present. Across its two seasons, featured daters have been Filipino and Dominican, queer and straight, of their 20s and of their 60s.
Leonard, a widower in his 60s, provides blind courting a go.
The singles reply normal first-date questions on their jobs, pets and what they’re searching for. Some conversations fizzle, but others shine. For occasion, in season 1, Sarah and Nick hit it off whereas speaking concerning the 2004 comedy Sideways. (They charmingly quote the identical tidbit from the movie in sync.) The present’s enchantment comes from glowing conversations and genuine first-date awkwardness, not being the form of factor you like to hate-watch.
Obviously, not everybody hits it off. On one Season 2 date, pescatarian Heather is clearly turned off when her blind date shares that he enjoys looking geese. “I used to have a pet duck,” Heather says, conjuring up some awkward silence. But typically, issues go properly. Really properly.
A standout second in season 2 comes when a lead dater named Brandon flirts with a person named Ronald. In tune with the present’s gorgeous visuals, multicolored New Orleans metropolis road lights shimmer within the backdrop. When they kiss, the digicam spins round them, creating actually magical actuality fare.
Spoiler: Brandon surprisingly does not select Ronald for the second date. That unpredictability can be a part of the enjoyable. Seeing who will get the invitation to return for a day-time meet-up is simply one of many completely partaking, suspenseful parts.
There’s no lack of actuality courting present choices nowadays, particularly on Netflix. But in case you are prepared to put eyes on one thing aside from Love is Blind, this excellent, refreshing actuality present is a good possibility.