The Greatest Reality Dating Shows of All Time—Ranked
Isn't life just one long game of us trying to understand human behavior better? And while there are plenty of shortcuts to enlightenment—a sociology degree...self-help books...some therapy, probably—the most accessible and enjoyable way to figure out why people act the way that they do is through reality television. Walk with me here. You have no personal stakes in any conflicts that arise, and you can assess what's being handled in a relationship from a totally non-biased perspective. So, should someone ever try to disparage your reality TV interest, go ahead and remind them that it's all helpful behavioral research that'll leave you with far more insight.And the same goes for the reality dating show—a subgenre that keeps us, on occasion, hopeful, but more often disgusted by the current confines of modern mating. Sometimes these shows feel more engaging and improbable than any narrative romances that have been written! There are miscommunication storylines galore on Love Island. And it stings way more to watch a Temptation Island betrayal than it does watching it go down in a romcom. It's engaging, but also informative to watch how people move through the already fraught experience that is dating when the stakes have been raised with prize money on the table and producers roaming around off-camera. That's why we file it under “necessary viewing.” But the question of which show to start with looms over every reality TV novice hoping to dip their toe in the water. And for that, we're here to offer a bit of direction. We've gone ahead and ranked the most addictive (and arguably transformative) reality dating shows that the streets have to offer. And to determine their positioning, we assessed everything from the casting to the drama to the music used during dramatic transition scenes. If you agree, perfect. If you don't, we believe all opinions are valid. But this ranking is the correct one.10. Too Hot to HandleView full post on YoutubeThis popular Netflix series, which has six seasons, relies on a single question: Can outrageously attractive people resist their sexual urges when there's money on the line? The show has proven time and time again that the answer is often no. Too Hot to Handle places 10 (typically commitment-phobic) singles on an island, where for four weeks they have to participate in workshops and lessons to improve the way they date, all while being forbidden to touch each other. (Each time that they break the rule, the group loses a bit of their collective prize money. It's earned this spot on the list because the concept has come to get a bit predictable, but the action is still entertaining nonetheless.Watch on Netflix9. The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On View full post on YoutubeThe social experiment at hand is ambitious. This Netflix series presents somewhat steady couples with...get this... an ultimatum. They get eight weeks to figure out if they want to spend the rest of their life with their partners, all the while testing the waters with other potential love interests in the group. The Ultimatum gets deep—if you've ever found yourself in a long-term relationship where the big "stick it through or tap out now" question's arisen, you'll feel seen. Plus the franchise has variety; there's a queer love spinoff that's got some of the most engaging drama reality TV has ever seen.Watch on Netflix8. Married at First Sight View full post on YoutubeYes, most shows that warrant a spot in our top 10 list here bring betrothal into play, and Married at First Sight is no different. The drama of this show hinges on the fact that its participants are "expertly" matched up to a partner whom they have to marry...at first sight. And that goes as smoothly as you might expect. There have been wedding meltdowns, marriage betrayals (with other cast members), and a runaway bride. But at the end of the day, marriages on this show have almost a 16 percent success rate! That's not zero!Watch on Hulu7. The Bachelor/The Bachelorette franchise View full post on YoutubeI consider this the OG of modern dating shows. If you're unfamiliar, the ABC shows within this universe usually feature 25-30 singles vying for the attention of one (usually) very desirable person of interest as the star. They give their chosen suitors roses, they date, and they meet each other's families. This franchise earns a spot on the top 10 list because of its legacy and reach alone. And while I'm partial toward the Golden Bachelor area in this universe, almost every iteration of The Bachelor concept has proven to be entertaining.6. Temptation IslandView full post on YoutubeSome might ask, is it sane to go on a show with your long-term partner where they separate you onto islands with singles of the opposite sex and just wait for the infidelities to occur? The answer is no, it is not. But it makes for riveting television. This series originally aired for three seasons on the Fox network, then five more on USA Today, before making its grand ninth season return to Netflix in 2025. And trust, it's only gotten messier with time.Watch on Netflix5. Love Is BlindTechnically, this show runs on a pretty sweet concept: you can fall deeply in love with a person without ever having laid eyes on them. And yet somehow, the utter chaos that unravels each season leaves you forgetting the endearing jump-off point for the relationships on this show. Every season of this Netflix hit takes place in a different city, with a new cast of characters set up to explore just how large a role physical attraction and lifestyles outside of confinement play in lasting relationships. Turns out, it can be a big one.Watch on Netflix4. Are You the One?View full post on YoutubeHere we have another show that relies on expert matchmaking and forced proximity. A compatibility analysis determines who the "perfect match" is for each participant, among their fellow housemates. But they aren't told who's meant to be with whom. Instead, they have to pair up based on whatever chemistry they feel alone, and if they pair up correctly, there's money to be won. This show is absolutely iconic, and I live for the fact that one of its most famous now-married couples, Uche and Clinton, weren't even an expert match. Sometimes science lies, guys.Watch on Paramount+3. 90 Day FiancéView full post on YoutubeThis earns the bronze medal, because I would argue that the drama on this show feels more authentic than that on any other title listed here. The U.S. K-1 visa lets the foreign-born fiancés of American citizens enter the States, but they can only stay for 90 days before they have to marry them to continue staying legally. The government's limit rushes the timeline for meeting the families and figuring out how to overcome intercultural relationship obstacles. It gets hectic.Watch on Hulu2. Love on the SpectrumView full post on YoutubeSure, it's technically number two on this list, but this Netflix series ranks number one for most heartwarming. It features cast members on the autism spectrum, who are trying to figure out the universally complicated dating process while also offering its audience a new perspective on what it means to live with autism. The show is as sweet as it is a star-making machine. You actually cannot be on any corner of the internet without running into Tanner or Abby.Watch on Netflix1. Love IslandView full post on YoutubeIt doesn't matter what country (USA, Australia, the original UK series). It doesn't matter what time of year (summer or wintertime, you pick). There is no better reality TV dating show viewing experience than the daily commitment a Love Island season requires. A group of singles is brought onto a luxury island villa to find their dream connection. Throughout the series, islanders split up, betray each other, find friends, and lose them. But it's something about the show's almost daily rollout that leaves you feeling emotionally bonded to the cast members by the end of the season. (If you didn't fall in love with season six USA champions, Serena and Kordell, leave.) It's a format that truly never gets old.Watch on PeacockRelated StoriesAll About ‘Temptation Island’ Season 2Meet Golden Bachelor Mel Owens
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