Anchovy’s Theatre of Misunderstanding
The Japanese produce the most unconventional dating shows while featuring the most conventional seniors normies with deadpan expressions and, dare I say, too much empathy.
Each cast member is introduced as a real human being (except Anchovy) with TMI details about their career, singlehood from divorces/widowhood, and chronic illnesses. It isn’t the pursuit of love that made them vulnerable, but their self-pity.
Instead of being coupled up, their goal is to renovate a farmhouse by the end of the show (I think). So we watch them sweep cobwebs, do carpentry, and cook communal meals. Abruptly, a cast member would disappear mid-episode to rest at the hotel due to a cold or simply tired (from socializing?).
In this episode, we watch Anchovy complain for 30min about the crew, only for another cast to get offended by his attitude and start bickering with the producer(?!) I wonder if production secretly bring him on just to kick him off again. The male participants barely face conflict head-on the way they do in Love Island, and the ladies act like besties despite all each being 10 years apart.
There was a 60-year-old who fell flat on his precious (for real, he has a 12-step skincare) face, split his forehead open, and stayed visibly upset because he wasn’t getting any traction from the ladies. The surgeon, Barron (56) became the medical staff on the show, the hero, then a womanizer (only worked on the two cougars) which got to his head. So when he rejected Kathy (54), I didn’t think anyone was surprised.
I’m here to find my forever love. Dude, it’s a dating show.
Becky (59) lost her voice on the third day for laughing too much, and was handed a notebook and pen for the remainder screen time. The producers then filmed themselves informing her her love interest had been picked. She’s practically off the show tho… what’s the point besides to be cruel.
Am I watching a dating show, or an unscripted nursing home episode?
The two commentators chime in constantly, mercilessly roasting the contestants. On top of that, there’s a narrator and side interviews with the cast. Are all these added fourth walls just an attempt to make the show longer and the characters appear more interesting?
It’s not even good promotion for half these contestants. Most cameos are them sobbing over a 3 day situation/friendship or staring awkwardly. Renovating the farmhouse seems like the main quest and the side quest is accidentally falling in love.
God, please don’t let me end up on this show.