UnREAL

[s1] A mix of melodrama, cynicism, satire and black humour, I feel grubby after every episode. Good cast too.

Season 1 - 83; Season 2 - 67 (incomplete); watch date is for completion of first season. UnREAL in its first season excellently explores the facade of reality television in ways that make it fun for both those who love and hate shows like "The Bachelor", and it relies on grounded, realistic writing even in its slightly exaggerated circumstances that pop up. Season 2, however, does not get off to a good start and loses a lot of the realism that makes the first season so good.

This might be the most underrated show of the 2010s. Terrific acting, great take on reality shows: It's not just satire that picks at low-hanging fruit, it goes really hard and gets really dark (which kinda explains why it wasn't bigger I guess). Loved it.

As someone who occasionally gets sucked into these awful dating/reality shows, then hates himself for allowing it to happen, this confirms all of my suspicions about how these are made--and makes me scream with laughter at regular intervals. So very hard-bitten, manipulative, callous, and cynical...what's not to love? Good writing, good pacing, and an excellent cast--especially Zimmer. Appleby is good--wouldn't be much of a show otherwise. I totally fail to understand Bierko's supposed appeal.

UnREAL revels in its manipulative characters and debaucherous antics. Each season is like watching a car crash in slow motion; everything that happens is morally reprehensible but engrossing to the point that it's hard to turn away. The 1st season is great, the 2nd less so, but the show finds redemption in its 3rd and 4th seasons. Zimmer and Appleby are great, and in a weird way portray a version of toxic femininity. Lots of comedic moments paired with lots of melodrama; delicious.

Season 1(Adam): 70 Season 2(Darius): 60