Summary
Despite being marketed as a dating show, between its expeditious editing and shallow execution, Sexy Beasts misses its mark and is ironically more aligned with the likes of the Netflix series Nailed It!
Netflix’s original reality dating show Sexy Beasts season 1 was released on the platform on July 21, 2021.
At one point or another, we’ve all heard the saying, “Beauty is skin deep.” While some might find it subjective, the streaming giant Netflix has finally decided to put it to the test in its latest reality series Sexy Beasts.
Capitalizing on the success of its other unconventional reality dating shows such as Too Hot to Handle and (especially) Love is Blind, the series revolves around young singles who go on blind dates with each other in an attempt to find love. Similar to the latter though, it takes anonymous dating to a whole new level. While it sounds a totally tame concept, there is obviously a catch. While each contestant is free to talk, listen, and spend time with each other on physical dates, they must also don elaborate animal makeup on each date. And none of suitors can reveal what they really look like until the very end.
Now, I’ll admit I am a total sucker when it comes to reality dating shows. I can’t tell you how many seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette I’ve watched, but I can tell you that I’ll tune in religiously just for the fun. As much as it is mindlessly enjoyable junk food though, it can get stale very quickly. Because of that, I appreciate all of Netflix’s recent attempts to shake up the genre. Unfortunately, like most of this show’s contestants, it’s extremely superficial.
On paper, the concept is fantastic. The look on some of the contestant’s faces when a person is not as good-looking as they hoped they’d be is priceless. But those brief moments alone never justify the show’s flawed execution.
Where most other reality dating shows on the streamer have seasons filled with ten 45-minute long episodes that suck you in, each episode of Sexy Beasts is about half that length. If that doesn’t disappoint fans of the genre, then the discovery that there are only 6 episodes in the first season will. Yes, there’s an argument to be had that the series makes for a quick watch but, as watchable as it is, each episode feels rushed — almost to the point that right when it feels like things are about to peak the episode ends and Netflix is all ready to queue the next one up. There’s definitely so much more the show could do (and I hope it does, should it continue) but this inaugural batch of episodes is way too underdeveloped for me to say I fully enjoyed it.
Part of the fun of reality shows, and more specifically reality dating shows, is getting to know the players. One of the only ways we ever get to do that here is when the singles go on dates. Even though there is technically a “winner” at the end of the episode, the dates are so sped up — or edited for time — that it’s easy to forget that the show is about connection than competition.
What did you think of Netflix’s Sexy Beasts season 1? Comment below.
