unReal on Lifetime

I was obsessed with UnREAL season one, but I am not feeling it this season. Part of the problem for me this season has been that the show within the show is so incredibly meh. Last season I actually knew/cared about/could actually name some of the contestants, vs this season I couldn't tell you any of their names besides "Hot Rachel." The Arab had a line a few episodes back about being "the drunk Arab," and I'd completely forgotten that having an Arab was a thing.

(spoiler)

Last night's episode I thought was VERY well directed, but again: oh, the sidekick who was banging Rachel in the first episode and was shipped off somewhere (I've watched every episode this season, yet I've completely forgotten where Romeo went) a few episodes ago is back. Gee, I wonder who will be shot in tonight's Very Special Episode.

I would watch an hour of Constance Zimmer snarking while reading the phone book, but I am not feeling anything else about this season.

Updated On: 7/19/16 at 09:54 AM

Vulture expresses my thoughts on last night's episode a lot better than I could:

http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/unreal-recap-season-2-episode-7.html

Rachel can dress up her actions as radical, but like many white people before her, she's exploiting black suffering for personal gain. Her racism just wears a liberal face.

Beyond Jay briefly tearing into Rachel, it's as if Romeo's brutalization only causes pain for white characters. We don't get to sit with Darius; we don't learn how this affects him at all. The moment doesn't have the weight it needs, which makes the story line feel exploitative. This should have been the focus of the episode, but with Adam returning, I knew it never would be.

I just binge watched the first 2 seasons and four episodes of this season. I loved the first season, but don’t think it’s been able to match that magic since. I’ll still watch, as I adore Constance Zimmer’s performance. Her further spiral downward is fascinating to watch. But the show has become a bit predictable and repetitive for me. Glad Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman is getting more to work with. I highly recommend listening to his new podcast, too

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