(May Contain Spoilers)
Put ten single, horny and insanely good-looking people in a Mexican villa and tell them they cannot kiss or have sexual contact with one another for a share of a $100,000 prize fund, that is Too Hot To Handle (THTH) all wrapped up! It is no wonder why Netflix’s new reality dating show has ranked top in the world. I am proposing it comes close to Love Island (2015-) but has more to offer as THTH also focuses on self-improvement and not just coupling up for the sake of it. I binged the whole eight episodes, because I was hooked straight away, and they are only 43 mins max each so its quite easy to work your way through.
This dating show has the typical annoyingly handsome contestants, with abs you could play a xylophone off, but the interesting thing I found was that the players were from different countries as well, including Canada, Australia, UK and USA. I found the concept of THTH really interesting, because one of the main talking points in Love Island is when people hook up, but THTH twist this by not allowing any sexual contact in order to focus on making deeper emotional bonds with one another. Watching the series, I felt that the contestants were picked really well, there was a great range, I would say however, that Chloe and Francesca were clearly the favourites with the most screen time. I feel this series was more like one long pilot, because unlike Love Island, which is streamed over MONTHS, THTH is only 8 episodes long and it wasn’t really enough time to fully get to know the contestants and see situations play out or the temptation to really become unbearable. So, I really hope they have a second series, like now!
Other elements of the series included rule breaking, which was anyone who kissed or did any sexual activity would deduct money from the prize fund, as well as a private suit for the couples getting close to prove their chastity by NOT doing anything together. Finally, the contestants took part in workshops that began with Shibari (bondage) and moved onto Yoni Puja (looking at one’s vagina). I felt that this series had pretty much it all, for its own concept, it has the beautiful diverse cast of singles, tick, it had the tropical resort, tick, couples and sexual interaction, tick, money prize, tick. The show is set up with a diary room and the editing techniques are similar to Love Island with the sunlight flash and cutaways of the resort, but sometimes their music choices were a bit of a damp squib. It was hard to find things wrong with the show, although some people have tried by claiming that the show is a ‘toxic message of intimacy’, but I feel the show celebrates empowerment, person achievement and making deeper emotional connections.
Too Hot To Handle sees the few contestants booted off the camp by Lana, the robot Alexa device enforcing all the rules, but a final ten contestants share the final pot fund of $75,000. Since the show Francesca and Harry, the couple who broke the rules the most, are still together and have matching tattoos! I feel that this show felt relaxed and not strict like Love Island as contestants were able to wear what they wanted and had more space to walk around. A great timing binge watch in a time where physical contact for some people is unreachable, it is a comforting message rather than ‘sex is everything’. The group seemed to come away showing self-improvement and worth, which was great to see, however with this in mind wonder how another series wouldn’t become tiresome, saying that people tune into a summer of Love Island. All together a great addition to the reality dating show family and a bingeworthy series.
I loved this dating show, I was hooked from the concept and the contestants I feel in love with, Chloe I liked, although became slightly tired of towards the end. I was obsessed with Francesca and Harry’s blossoming relationship and knowing they are still going strong on the outside makes it seem more real. I also was a huge fan of Sharron and Rhonda and am sad to hear distance had got the better of their relationship potential. I think another series would be great to test whether the format is strong or whether it is a quick fix during these quarantine times. I have to say I liked this series more than Love Island, maybe because of the no sex premise, but also the diverse cast and seeing the interactions of people from different countries, especially hearing Harry’s Australian accent!! Bring on the next series, let’s just hope that they have a few more episodes and play it out a bit more.
Too Hot To Handle is now streaming on Netflix
Comments