There is no shortage of entertaining dating shows on Netflix. Multi-season series like Love Is Blind and Too Hot to Handle have taken the world by storm.
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Here, you’ll get to know 3 of the smaller-scale dating shows that have added spice to Netflix’s repertoire. They’re equally as juicy and binge-worthy, and rumour has it that more seasons are to come…
The Ultimatum Puts Marriage-Phobic Partners to a ‘Ride or Die’ Test
The first season of The Ultimatum aired in 2022, and a new season dropped just recently. The show is so popular that it has even given birth to internet memes.
The premise of The Ultimatum is unique. A set of loved-up couples, in which one partner wants to marry, and the other partner is unsure, have to date each other to find a new partner to do a trial marriage with. The trial marriage aims to change the minds of the partners unsure about marriage—so they’ll return to their original partners ready to tie the knot.
As you can imagine, The Ultimatum makes for dramatic, emotionally-charged viewing. The trial marriages often become more romantic and distracting than anticipated, which fuels drama, conflict, and jealousy among the original couples. Each individual and their relationship is truly tested on this show; you can expect everything from tears and disputes to loved-up reconciliation.
The Ultimatum is a real emotional rollercoaster, and, judging by its rising popularity, audiences are more than ready for the ride.
Perfect Match Transforms Dating into Compatibility Contests and Sabotage
Perfect Match first aired in early 2023, and fans are already excited about the second season confirmed by Netflix.
Initially, Perfect Match resembles many other dating shows: attractive singletons living in a villa must couple up to avoid elimination. However, the quest to find the ‘perfectly matching’ couple adds spice to Perfect Match. Regular challenges test the couples’ bonds, and the winning pair each time gets to go to a boardroom—where they can select a new housemate for the villa and matchmake them with an existing contestant.
Unique to Perfect Match is all the strategizing that ensues in the boardroom. Someone might, for example, cheat in a challenge to win and get access to the boardroom. Another contestant might, while in the boardroom, choose to bring in a person who they secretly want to match with. As a result, there are a fair number of recouplings in Perfect Match, giving viewers all the excitement and gossip that comes with that.
Lastly, if that weren’t enough, you’ll see your favourite reality stars in action on this show; Perfect Match brings together ex-contestants from other popular reality series. In season 1, we saw Georgia Hassarati from Too Hot to Handle, Shayne Jansen from Love Is Blind, and Chloe Veitch from The Circle. Let’s see who makes the cast of season 2!
Dated and Related Gets Siblings to Help (and Hinder!) Each Other Find Love
There’s been one season of Dated and Related broadcast in 2022. The show’s title certainly caught attention, and the concept was an immediate hit among reality fans.
Like many dating shows, Dated and Related takes place in a villa- but with a twist. The castmates are all pairs of siblings (or cousins) tasked with helping each other find a match. The teaser trailer perfectly sums up the show’s feel: one sister asks her brother, ‘How do you feel about him and me [her date] maybe sharing a bed?’ to which he replies, ‘It’s gonna be weird’.
Although the awkwardness alone makes for great entertainment, there’s much more to Dated and Related than that. Seeing the siblings give each other advice and support is endearing and inspiring. As the show progresses, more and more siblings tell each other things like ‘You are truly a special person’, ‘You are my best friend’, and ‘I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you’.
Amusing and heartwarming, Dated and Related provides a unique spin on reality dating, and fans can’t wait for news of a new season.
…And that’s it. With The Ultimatum, Perfect Match, and Dated and Related, Netflix is revolutionizing reality dating and giving the Love Island franchise a run for its money.
Here at Tbreak, we’ll keep you updated with these Netflix shows and more. Psst, a new season of Too Hot to Handle is airing mid-July…
