Entertainment

‘Dated & Related’ Proves Not Every Idea Is Reality Show Worthy

Published

7 months ago

September 7, 2022

‘Dated & Related’ Proves Not Every Idea Is Reality Show Worthy

If Dated & Related taught us anything, it’s that Netflix needs to take things slow in the search for its next great dating show.

The 10-episode reality series, which dropped in full on September 2, throws sibling pairs (and one set of cousins) into a villa in the South of France to see if they can find love with help from their ultimate wingperson.

While family members have their share of heartfelt moments throughout the series, the sibling love isn’t strong enough to offset the show’s cringeworthy, confusing setup.

Since Netflix released Dating Around in 2019, the platform has consistently churned out follow-ups, including Love on the Spectrum, The Circle, Love Is Blind, Indian Matchmaking, and most recently, the overly messy disaster that is The Ultimatum.

It’s clear Netflix is on the hunt for the world’s next dating show obsession, but let me assure you: Dated & Related isn’t it.

On paper, a dating show with a familial twist has serious potential, but this series gives the impression that someone at Netflix realized the words “dated” and “related” rhymed and figured if they threw a bunch of siblings together with little structure the concept would carry itself.

In reality, the series required much more planning to be a success, and a lazy premise, poor execution, lackluster host, and borderline gross shock factor ultimately set Dated & Related up for failure.

First things first: The cringe. In case family members on a dating show together wasn’t weird enough, the show features a number of other inappropriate twists. We see relatives tag along on double dates, sibling pairs date other sibling pairs, and even two sets of twins date each other.

In Episode 1, we also learn that not only will everyone be sharing a room at night, but siblings will sleep in the same bed as each other. And at one point a brother and sister pair are even tasked with convincing another duo in the house to guard the bathroom for them while they share a bath together. Why?? Because host Melinda Berry told them to.

From the start of the series, as related pairs file into the villa without any direction or structure, you’ll question Berry’s purpose. It seems she got this gig because she was on Too Hot to Handle and has 14 brothers and sisters, but she spends the majority of the series out of frame, occasionally calling into the villa’s hotline (a lip-shaped phone that desperately want to be the next Jersey Shore duck phone) from the beach, a bubble bath, or any other scene far more exciting than the set.

She delivers instructions via phone, voices irritating filler countdowns to let us know how many hours remain until she’ll “shake things up”, and only appears in person to host events or eliminations in a robotic fashion. Bachelor-style date cards or The Circle’s AI assistant could easily replace her role on the series, which is more distracting than enjoyable.

Berry’s glorified hosting gig and the looming cringe-factor aren’t the only things Dated & Related has working against it. For a series that houses contestants in a large French villa stocked with expensive blowdryers and promises a $100,000 prize at the end, Dated & Related feels oddly low-budget.

Unlike Berry, the siblings never get to leave the grounds, which means all of their dates, bonding, downtime, and activities take place in the same location. And the big activities are all painfully bland. The pairs engage in events like trivia, speed dating, pass the parcel, and a poolside prom — all of which reek DIY, not Netflix funding. Because the contestants have so much downtime at the villa, the show’s pacing is painfully slow.

We get our fair share of ping pong games, poolside chats, and makeup and teeth brushing montages, but the show lacks the sort of organized entertainment and structure that help make long-running dating shows like The Bachelor successful.

In that sense, there’s one thing Dated & Related gets right: it’s like the not particularly interesting cousin you only see at family gatherings. Sure they might be related to your far more interesting relatives; but that doesn’t mean you want to spend time with them, just because they share some of the same DNA.

Entertainment

List Of Canceled Netflix Original Series In 2023

List of all the shows Netflix has canceled in 2023.

Published

3 months ago

January 10, 2023

Staff Writer

2023 has kicked off with a couple of big cancelations, which signals a potentially rough year coming up, which many other players throughout Hollywood will share. Here’s a look at the 2023 cancelations!

1899

The big-budget series from the creators of DARK had big expectations and big shoes to fill.

The mystery sci-fi show was one of Netflix’s most ambitious shows in years, using state-of-the-art technology and featuring an impressive ensemble cast.

Why was 1899 canceled?

Data provided to What’s on Netflix from European SVOD analytics company Digital i suggests that the completion rate was ultimately too low and likely wasn’t growing substantially. Their data suggests only around a third of people who started the show went onto finish the title.

Inside Job

The animated series Inside Job had been initially given a season 2 renewal order back in June 2022. Still, in January 2023, the creator confirmed rumors that Netflix had reversed the decision to renew.

In a statement on Twitter, the show’s creator Shion Takeuchi said:

I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job. Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up. Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness. And I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all.

He added, “To everyone who watched, thank you for coming along on the ride. Even though I’m sad, it helps to know that there’s people out there who cared just as much about these characters as me.”

Entertainment

Netflix Tudum 2022: Can You Watch Tudum Online?

Published

6 months ago

September 23, 2022

Staff Writer

Netflix Tudum 2022: Can You Watch Tudum Online?

This weekend is going to be quite the eventful one for Netflix subscribers! Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Tudum officially returns this Saturday with a day that promises to bring with it a lot of exciting new reveals about Netflix’s biggest shows and movies!

The 24-hour event will bring fans the scoop on over 120 fan-favorite shows and movies including Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Shadow and Bone, Wednesday, Manifest, You, Outer Banks, The Witcher, Heartstopper and more!

From first looks at upcoming titles, casting news, renewals and release date confirmations, there’s no telling what could be coming our way this weekend. The only thing that is certain? Fans won’t want to miss the event, but how exactly can you follow along from home?

Where to watch Tudum 2022

If you’re hoping to be able to watch this year’s Tudum event online, you’re in luck! While some events such as San Diego Comic-Con and D23 take place in-person with only select presentations from the event available to stream online, Tudum takes place exclusively online as a virtual event.

This Saturday, fans across the globe will be able to head to Netflix’s official YouTube account to watch the event online with the event set to be made available in 29 languages worldwide!

Do you have to pay for Tudum?

If you’re hoping to watch Tudum this weekend, don’t worry about having to break out your wallet or credit cards to pay for the event. The virtual event is free to Netflix fans worldwide as there is no cost to stream the event which can be viewed free of cost on the Netflix YouTube channel!

Entertainment

Netflix Movie Lou Cast: Who Stars in the Netflix Thriller?

Published

6 months ago

September 23, 2022

Staff Writer

Netflix Movie Lou Cast: Who Stars in the Netflix Thriller?

Allison Janney and Jurnee Smollett are the main attraction of the Netflix movie Lou as the two leading ladies. Janney plays a John Wick-esque character (complete with a beloved dog, but don’t worry, Jax makes it out alive!) while Smollett plays her neighbor, Hannah.

Lou is a hardened recluse living on the fringes of their secluded island, while Hannah is a single mother struggling to make ends meet to take care of her daughter, Vee.

A horrible storm hits the island, and someone kidnaps Hannah’s daughter in the midst of it, forcing her to turn to Lou for help. While searching for Vee, the two women are forced to confront some of the dark secrets from their past.

Even though Smollett and Janney are the stars, Lou has a great cast of actors that also includes Logan Marshall-Green and Greyston Holt (remember him as one of the hot werewolves from Bitten?).

Netflix movie Lou cast list

For those unfamiliar with Allison Janney, the powerhouse actress is a Hollywood staple. Throughout her many decades in the business, Janney has won countless accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She has also secured two Tony nominations.

Janney first rose to prominence playing C.J. Cregg on The West Wing. More recently, she starred as Bonnie Plunkett for nine seasons in the CBS sitcom Mom. Janney won her Oscar for I, Tonya, and has also appeared in projects like Masters of Sex, The Help, Juno, and many others. Next, she’ll star in the comedy miniseries Mrs. American Pie, the comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding, and the sci-fi drama True Love.

Jurnee Smollett has been acting since she was a kid, with recurring roles in shows like Full House and On Our Own. But most people probably know her as Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights. The last few years have really helped cement Smollet’s status as a superstar. She played Dinah Lance/Black Canary in Birds of Prey and is reportedly going to reprise her role in a spinoff standalone movie at HBO Max.

Smollett also delivered an incredible performance in the short-lived but acclaimed HBO series Lovecraft Country and she recently starred opposite Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix thriller Spiderhead. Next, she’ll star in the courtroom drama film The Burial with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones.

Completing the cast trifecta is Logan Marshall-Green, who plays the film’s primary antagonist, Philip. You might recall Marshall-Green playing Trey Atwood in The O.C. He also recently completed a stint on the ABC series Big Sky.

Here’s the complete cast list for the Netflix movie: