Rea(L)ove (2018)

The most relevant word I could apply to this show? Interesting. It's interesting.
Of the romance-related shows to see on Netflix (Terrace House, Ainori) this is definitely the lowest tier. In production value, professionalism, and execution, this show leaves a bit of a poor taste in my mouth. It was filmed in beautiful Okinawa- the scenery and sights are probably the biggest draw here. That being said, you don't see much of it- the entirety of it's 9 episode run-time takes place over the course of 3 days which made it extremely difficult for there to be any romances at all formed over the course of this show.

At the onset, the concept for this show is what really drew me- over the course of the show, each of the 18 contestants (10 men, 8 women- apparently 1 man and 3 women dropped out at the last second) confess their all-consuming "deep dark secret". On this front, the show certainly delivered- at the risk of being too spoilery, things like criminal records, debt, troublesome past relationships, and frowned-upon occupations make up a decent chunk of the secrets. Each one was at the very least slightly surprising, and at most downright scandalous- and while they were all interesting, I found it a little bit insightful into the things that Japan considers taboo enough to be considered a deep dark secret. Regardless of the quality of this season, I would watch another hypothetical season in a heartbeat solely considering the possible secret revelations.

The participants were a real mixed bag- some of them were endearing, kind, or strange enough that I found myself rooting for them, while others I found downright detestable initially. Of course over the run of the series you get to know the lot of them better, so even strong initial impressions are for the most part broken up and you're given a more well-rounded idea of who this person might be. The editing shows very little bias in terms of who they give the most screen-time to, or who gets the most favourable cuts, so that isn't too big of a concern in my opinion. There's really only one or two participants I found to be just straight dislikeable people.

The most difficult part of watching this show was the host(s). While the female host was inoffensive enough, my biggest qualm with her is that she mostly stayed silent while the male host was a veritable trash bag of a human being. Perhaps it was a persona, perhaps not, but his lack of sensitivity and humourless attempts at joking insults were appalling. If you're easily angered by slut-shaming, transphobia, sexism, all that jazz- stay far away. This type of concept for a show could have been done with grace and compassion, but that is certainly not what you'll find here.

Now! For the romance! I had two or three couples I was really, truly rooting for, and some of them even pulled through! This show isn't completely unsatisfactory in that sense. But there are one or two people I felt very sorry for by the end, so get really to feel a certain amount of sadness mixed in with the ups of the couples. I don't think any of the couples that ended up forming were framed or set up by the production crew, however I feel like the crew may have had a general idea as to which couples they wanted to pair up based on their similar backgrounds and secrets.

TL;DR: A decent enough show to pass the time, but it might annoy the hell out of you. Don't take it too seriously or expect a masterpiece, and you might even enjoy it.

Lire davantage

One word: yikes.
I decided to watch this while waiting for new episodes of Terrace House and it was a pretty wild ride tbh. I think, rather than a dating show, it's better to watch this as a social experiment where bad people try to make themselves feel superior by judging other bad people.

The entire thing takes place over 3 or so days and within that that time, the hosts and the contestants manage to slut shame pretty much every woman onscreen and they also fit in a few transphobic slurs and rape jokes while they're at it. I couldn't deal with the double standards either; one guy had a very similar secret to one of the girls (I won't go into specifics so I can avoid spoilers), but he was seen as fine while she was deemed a slut.
They were all -apart from like 2 or 3 of them- bad people, and this wasn't even because of their "dark secret" but because of how they judged the others.

Ok then, just because I don't want to leave an entirely negative review, I will say that the secrets revealed were pretty exciting. It was quite fun trying to guess what everyone was hiding.
I guess this show just wasn't my cup of tea.

Lire davantage

Has it's bad and good sides to it

For starters, this drama is very unique and different from reality shows that I have seen. I really like the overall theme of finding love and seeing if that person will accept you based on your dark secret. I have never seen a reality show ever that has the same theme as this which made me enjoy the drama. But-

I really hated the hosts specifically the male host. They made so many insensitive jokes to people throughout the drama which anger you. At first, it wasn't bad but it gets worse throughout the nine episodes.

The double standards of slut-shaming women even though a man did a similar thing and isn't called a slut is ridiculous. They made tons of transphobic jokes and rape jokes. They just in general have many insensitive jokes which I don't find funny. Unbelievable even. Mainly, I skipped every part with the hosts because it was painful to watch their insensitive jokes every two seconds.

Another thing that I also didn't like is that they kept a wardrobe malfunction in the beginning, they could have edited it out. It just made me uncomfortable seeing how they treated the women throughout the series. It's honestly sickening and disgusting,

Would I recommend this? Probably not. Would I rewatch this? Probably not. Is it worth your time? If you get past the insensitive jokes and how annoying the hosts are maybe you can enjoy it. Plus the revealing of the secrets makes things interesting.

Lire davantage

Extremely triggering and disgusting

Found this reality show thanks to Terrace House but my god, I could barely even finish it. The hosts, especially the male host, is despicable. He literally slutshames every woman ont he show, tries to portray them as selfish and horrible individuals and even bully one of them until she starts crying and then blame her for it. Also constant sexist and transphobic jokes, mocking abuse survivors, etc.

The only thing I enjoyed watching it was because it truly shows how conservative and backward certain aspects of Japanese culture still is. And as a fellow Asian, I truly think it's important for people to remember, especially as Westerners are quick to romanticise and glorify Japanese culture. People rarely want to discuss Japans issues with sexual harassment, porn, pedophilia and incest, both in real life as well as in anime, idols/junior idol culture, child model culture etc. The fact that Japanese women are incredibly fetishised by men all over the world due to hentai and an idea of Japanese women being submissive, kinky and too "polite" to report, does not help.

In this reality show you will see for yourself how victims of rape and abuse, divorcees and female porn stars are blamed and shamed. It's extremely unpleasant to watch, but a nice reality check I guess.

Lire davantage

It's bad, but the premise was interesting.

Pros:
It had exciting buildups to revealing each person's secrets. This was the main reason I desired to finish the show.

Cons:
I don't think that this show provided enough time for the contestants to really get to know each other (especially not for "falling in love"). There was a lot of double standards and gross comments made towards the female contestants, even the hosts were rude. I definitely wouldn't bother watching it again because again, the commentary was often off putting and many of the contestants themselves were too unlikable.

Overall, this show is some hardcore trash tv. It was funny at some parts, but jokes were often taken too far or just not funny to begin with.

Lire davantage

A very misogynistic show ( REVIEW EN ESPAÑOL TAMBIÉN)

Seriously, this show is so bad. At first I just stay watching for the secrets and because i wanted to finish it but this was such an horrendous mess. The commentators were as bad as the ones trying to find love. Mostly the man, like his comments most of the time were unnecessary, transphobic and misogynistic. At the end it feels like a experiment more than a dating show.

Towako Suzuki (the divorced single mom of 3) is my favorite. She really seems like a nice person to have around you, such a sweetheart. I was sad when in the end she wasn’t selected by Ninomiya. I hope she could have found a nice person that can love her with all their heart.

Este show es demasiado malo, demasiado. Seguí viéndolo por saber sus secretos y simplemente por no dejar el show sin terminar, pero de verdad, es malísimo. Los comentadores fueron igual de malos que los participantes. Sobretodo el hombre, que no paraba de hacer comentarios innecesarios, transfóbicos y machistas. Al final me llegó a parecer más un experimento social que un reality para buscar el amor.

Towako Suzuki ( la mujer divorciada con 3 hijos) es mi favorita. De verdad que se siente como una buena persona para tener a tu lado, una dulzura de chica sin duda. Esperaba que se fuera con Ninomiya ( el cuernudo) pero no la seleccionó :( Esperó que haya podido encontrar una buena persona que la ame con todo su corazón.

Lire davantage

Would I watch a 2nd season....?

Yes I would-
Now this show is not without its problems.
Pros/Neg-
1. This reminds me of old old MTV dating shows like " Room Raiders" or " Next "- Its a trash but you keep watching. Now what I mean by trash- its dirty. Not aggressive sexually but verbal and not conversations I would be having with people I just meet. They also sexualize the girls- there's zoom in close, skirts blowing in the wind, and then they make jokes about it that are down right pervy/gross. Gives the show a creepy vib.( I DO feel like that was their job on set tho- bring the interest with their body's based on their real jobs). No one is looking to change or be fixed.

2. Hosts- They bring the jokes. Male- he's packing heat in the form of crude/rude jokes. He's holding nothing back. I'd expect him to do well in a comedy club. She- really brings very little to the table. Sympathetic and light hearted but mostly there to be nice. Out of the 2, she is focusing on if the contestants are being honest or playing a game to win a heart. Her own history, not being all that pleasant was poked fun of as well. So its makes the Males jokes even for everyone. Both of them are trying to guess what the dark secrets are. The nicknames for the contestants when their secret was revealed would be down right cruel/ harsh. But also makes the show more silly. DO NOT WATCH if you do not like joking insults- The host and contestants are always laughing with him and his job is to bring the adult-dark humor only

3.The concept- is interesting. "A deep dark secret that keeps love away". Each one has their own problems from low trauma to high trauma. Each is interesting and you can see why that could be an issue. I like the idea of the "letter" and the dark music. You feel bad for these people, you want them to get help and you wish the show had more to it than this. I wish there was group activates with tools learned. I just don't feel like the "dates" are effective to form any kind of love in 3days... or a few hours really. I wish there was something to lead to deep conversations so you connect with the contestants more. I don't like the issue that comes to play with it being "scripted", I feel bad for that girl. They did her dirty for sure and that guy-he's only trying to make good tv and spice things up.

4. What a random group of people- I would really like to know how they found people and what the selection process was like. I don't feel like there is any factor for why these people would like each other. With a show like "married at first sight" there's a reason it could work but here its like a group of people from work who never interact together being forced to a conference- sure you can find someone to talk to or be friends but the odd of love are super low. Their deep dark secrets wont form a connection. Once you see them interact my first thought was " no one is going to connect" but your still interested. I don't see anyone trying to be famous from being on this, no ones trying to stand out in that way-which is nice. I feel like they are more "normal" even tho I'm guessing this is a job for a few of them.

~In the end~ its not perfect but its like watching a train crash- you can't stop it but you can't look away.

Lire davantage

Really interesting

I finished it within one day and it was very interesting and I couldn’t make a break haha.
I would be really happy if there would be a season two! The different candidates were all very special ok their own way and had their individual secrets. Some of theme were really surprising and some were just normal and not really special. The hosts were really entertaining and sometimes a bit harsh with their words but exactly that was so funny about them. What I think that is a bit strange, is that the only have 3 days to get know to each other and that’s really not enough time to really know a person. I would watch it again though but with another person.

Lire davantage

Disgusting

This show is so sexist. The "dark secrets" were way stronger for girls. I was so disgusted every time a guy said "slut" because their ugly sass had no room to talk. The girls were so much prettier. The male host was the worst acting like an innocent man, it was very offensive. The names the male host would put for the girls were so senseless. It's like they all wanted an innocent-looking girl with the mindset of a baby. I didn't like this show and it just made me more disappointed in males.
I wouldn't recommend this trash to anyone and I won't even speak of it. Just watch another reality show.

Lire davantage

The most repulsive and disgusting program I have ever seen in my life.

When I saw the negative reviews, I wanted to check how bad it was, since I'm used to the strange things in Japan (although I don't agree with them at all) but this surpassed all the limits that a human being can go through. We're going to talk about Tamura, the most despicable "famous" person I've ever seen and that's saying a lot. He is a mach very too much sexist, homophobic, transphobic person with the worst character in the world. Who was he to tell the girls that they were whores, serial manipulators, that he told them to their faces how disgusting they were, that he treated them very badly when the girls wanted to be understanding with each other, and he would get very angry and make the girls cry when they didn't answer what he wanted them to answer, making them feel guilty all the time (something that never happened with the boys). You want to be funny? ok but this being crossed all the limits and didn't even care to hide it. He also had no respect for his co-worker and was always reminding her of her past and making jokes about her being a "man-eater" or a "promiscuous" woman. I know that many are hard on her for having a passive personality but she also had her past, if she had intervened she would have received the same treatment as the rest of the women and she would have been would face more ridicule. She was in a vulnerable position, unfortunately, but she was still kind to the girls.

This program did not address situations as difficult as violence between couples, trauma, abuse, go to prison, etc. at all. It just seemed like they wanted to make these situations common and laughable.

I will stop a little here, I know the mental problems that many Japanese have are extremely worrying and generally going to a psychologist is not something they even think about, because it is frowned upon. Some had paraphilias, not fetishes, paraphilias (I'm talking about men, not girls). The girls who were promiscuous had a reason for being, they were not justifying themselves but rather they commented on how they got to that point. When you receive a lot of abuse from your partner, women usually take two paths, the first they do not get involved with any man in any way or the second they become promiscuous because in some way they already feel disgusting and it is like repeating the same pattern (I am a psychologist and I say this from my experience with my patients. Many of the girls who suffered hell with their abusers were terrified of establishing a romantic relationship, that's why they were like that) Honestly, these girls needed understanding and for there to be a psychologist there instead of being humiliated and called whores all the damn time. I was even shocked when one of the girls said that she considered herself scum. Wait, no one told her that boys were worse than her?

That shows the deep-rooted machismo that Japan has, Men can do anything, even if it is a crime, and it will be fine, but if a woman does it, she is marked for life and is human waste that does not deserve respect. That is the real thinking of Japanese society . And it may be a very technologically advanced country but they have the thinking of the 18th century. Where even women accept these things because they are programmed to think this way from a young age. They are not allowed to think differently. It is a sad reality that they must accept and submit to.

The one who screwed me the most was the comedian, I understand that he suffered abuse but you know, boy, many of us suffer from that and we are not fucking trash people like you. He kept telling biological girls that they were pathetic, that they were sluts, that they were disgusting... l'm really wanted to hit him. The reason why he chose the trans girl, I don't think it was out of love, I think it was because he was physically a man and he feels more comfortable that way than with a biological girl because he hates biological women. Even he is very aggressive, I'm 100% sure that he would end up beaten to this hitting the trans girl. Because he is too violent and gets angry for nothing. I also have a criticism towards this girl, for her everything he did or said about biological girls was fine and it is because he still has the mindset of a man. It is not enough for you to feel Woman, you should understand other women and support them since you consider yourself one. It is not right that you justify the great hatred that he had towards biological women. That should raise an alarm in you.

What it can say? If you want to see what Japanese society is really like, watch this and think if Japan is as beautiful as it seems. The real reality is not what you see in manga, anime or dramas. The reality for women is just as cruel in Japan and if you are thinking of traveling you should be aware that you should be careful with Japanese men. Just because they are Asian doesn't mean they are perfect and pure, all of this is far from reality.

Without a doubt, it is something that I do not recommend to anyone unless it is because of what I said above. Because it is the most disgusting and repulsive thing I have ever seen in my life (not to mention that they sexualized the girls a lot by focusing on their breasts or private parts).

Lire davantage

worst host

A typical trash show. Double standards are on fleek and get ready for a lot of triggers.

What prompted me to write this review has been the host. Tamura Atsushi *facepalm* is so unnecessary, stupid and annoying that it has no limits at all.... His secret is the darkest, and he doesn't even try to hide it. Incapable of self-regulation or minimal reflection. The comments he makes are more than inappropriate. I know the hosts are supposed to roast the candidates, but the way he does it is just unbelievable and head shaking. This person embodies the word disgust and stupidity.

The concept of the show had potential, but the implementation... :')
If I could, I would give zero stars. 0 <- :)

Lire davantage

The Biggest Scumbag is the Host

Having watched Love Village, which was sweet and interesting, where divorced people lived together looking for new love, it was presented by the hosts (Scumbag and Becky) in a fun way, but was still respectful of the participants. Seeing this show pop up on NF I thought I would give it a try, but I find myself having to constantly readjust what I am prepared to listen to from this man's rude and dismissive mouth.

I understand this series is aimed at a younger generation but I'm sure most of them have better manners and judgement than this pig. Let me say right away that I am a westerner, and dating and reality shows here have been drama and sex-obsessed for a long time now, which is why I just don't watch them. They are crude, crass and objectionable, so I felt it was a real shame that this crude, crass and objectionable host took every opportunity to lower the tone of this show, which seems to just be an exercise in rudely insulting and embarrassing the participants. Did I say I detested this man who apparently loves himself so much hw thinks he is beyond reproach? I don't remember.

Interesting that checking the ratings of his other reality shows, this one is the worst. Not surprised.

Lire davantage