Top 5 Reasons You Should Be Watching UnREAL

“Unreal” is a dramatic, yet very tongue-in-cheek look at the behind-the-scenes mechanisms of a major network reality dating show. As such, one might assume that to enjoy it properly, you’d already have to be a fan of “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” or both. But this is simply not the case. Yes “Unreal” is about a fictional dating show but what makes it worthy of your precious TV-watching time are its well-written characters and ability to poke fun at the many cliches and conventions of the reality TV genre. The marks of a superior show are complex characters, strong writing and a captivating premise. “Unreal” has all that, and then some.

It won’t take long for new viewers of the show to realize that the moral compasses of the two protagonists, Quinn and Rachel, are a little skewed. Quinn, the sharp-tongued executive producer who will do anything for higher ratings, is as dastardly as they come, manipulating anyone and everyone to get what she wants. Rachel, while somewhat less unscrupulous, is still a deeply flawed individual who also has little problem playing puppeteer when the mood strikes her. What this boils down to is a show with a couple of awesome female antiheroes, somewhat of a rarity in today’s TV landscape. And to be honest, it’s long-overdue.

Some of the biggest complaints lobbied against modern dating shows are their lack of diversity and their archaic depictions of gender. “Unreal” doesn’t shy away from these issues, instead choosing to confront them head-on. But if you were looking for a show that gives a voice to the disenfranchised and always ends with the good guy or girl winning, you’d be wise to look elsewhere. “Unreal” knows exactly what kinds of TV tropes and stereotypes it is commenting on, and it isn’t about to start brushing them under the rug in the name of decency. The show stays true to the, well, reality of the reality TV programs it is lampooning, but does so in a way that draws attention to their faults.

While both Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer have been working steadily for years, they’ve never had the opportunity to spread their wings quite like this! The roles of Rachel and Quinn appear to have been written specifically for them. Both do a fantastic job on the show, bringing their characters to life and infusing them with emotion and layered nuances that makes “Unreal” feel, well… real. (That joke never gets old). They have received widespread critical acclaim for their performances; and the fact that the show was picked up for a fourth season in July 2017 is a testament to both their skills and, crucially, their on-screen chemistry.

Let’s reiterate a crucial point: “Unreal” is not going to blow your mind with a utopian depiction of how dating shows should work. Instead it deeply examines (and satirizes) how dating shows actually work… to great comedic and dramatic effect. “Unreal” parodies the reality TV dating genre in a way that makes you ponder. It presents us with tricky situations that actually occur on real shows like “The Bachelor,” and forces us to consider the real-life ramifications of those situations. The show examines those genre conventions from the perspective of both the contestants and the crucial behind-the-scenes personnel who make reality shows happen. Put it all together and it’s a whole lot of fun to watch.