TV Sees the LIGHT!

 I posted on social media how funny I find it some of the very people who ridicule romance books, tropes, and genres are now seeking to profit off those very ideas. 

Case in point: Several television and streaming channels are filming and airing variations on 'The Marriage Pact', where two people make a pact, or agreement, to marry each other if they say, reach the age of thirty and don't find anyone else.

I watched one of these series on Roku called (of course) 'The Marriage Pact'. And wow, it had almost EVERY romance novel trope invented including: (and remember, there are only six couples)

* Older woman-younger man

* Best friends turned lovers

* One bed/forced together

* Opposites attract

* Unrequited Love

* One night hook up

*Childhood friends/sweethearts

* Second chance

* Parents demand you get married

* Need to get married to have kids

* Single parent 

* Brother's best friend

* Cheating/Betrayal 

* Strong religious conflict

* Forbidden love

* Diversity/Culture differences

* Rich successful woman-poor guy

* Pregnancy Scare

* Long-distance relationship

Please don't get me wrong: I'm not 'downing' this. I find it delightful to see TV FINALLY realizing (besides Hallmark Channel) that romance is a fundamental life foundation that doesn't get the respect it deserves. We need more shows where Love is the central goal and theme, and the real, true life problems and experiences that come with not only finding your love but creating a valid life with him/her.

I just wish maybe perhaps the producers of this show I watched (and I don't speak for those I haven't seen) would have actually TALKED to a romance author first. Or better yet, actual couples who went through these tropes (which are, let's face it, based on real-life in the first place) to gain a more realistic perspective for this show. As it is, I can't advocate for anyone to waste 8 hours of their life watching this drivel. 

Here's why:

In the Roku series, six couples have made a 'Marriage Pact' and have 21 days (yes three weeks) to decide if they are going to 'go through' with an actual marriage or 'part ways forever'. They all live in a communal big house, with a suite of rooms for each couple and then several common areas like the pool, kitchen, living room, etc. on the tropical paradise island. There's a 'facilitator' relationship guru (a popular podcast host) who appears in each episode to 'help' the couples in making their decisions.

And of course, each couple's room only has one bed. 

Here's what I did NOT like:

* One couple doesn't last beyond two episodes. And the reasons why are very clear.

* Three weeks? Seriously? Not enough time at all to make a decision affecting the rest of your life!

* The couples are all so YOUNG. One of the ladies is 22! I mean come on! 22? And you need a marriage pact because you "can't find" a perfect partner? Another is 27; a few are 30! Um, no way! They are way, way too young 

* The 'older' women (who are 35 and 43) are constantly referred to as 'older', 'old' 'time running out'(to have kids), etc. It's degrading and demeaning.

* The people are, for the most part, poor caricatures of actual people: one man is like a younger frat boy who cheats on a night out; another doesn't lift the toilet seat; another eats the lady's last burrito (yes, this becomes a whole fight and basis for the couple to want to separate); one lady is a total witch, finding nothing but fault in her man; another seems like a complete pushover, blaming herself for, a year after breaking up with her guy, briefly dating his best friend and 'hurting him deeply when he had cheated at least six times on her and had five other girlfriends during that year; one is described as 'extreme high maintenance', etc.

* The woman's clothing choices....sighs. I see this in almost all the 'reality' shows. These are supposed to be, for the most part, successful 'professional' women. Do they seriously dress in sports bras and skin-tight shorts to go on dates around town and for a 'professional' meeting? I really can't see this in the real world. And please, if you're going to wear a dress, wear something that isn't a long shirt that reveals everything if you slightly bend over.

* The men's clothing choices: All jeans, sweatpants, and the worst pattern shirts you will ever see. This is where ugly Christmas sweaters (imagine the Summer equal) go to die.

* The men, for the most part, are shown focused on 'when will we have sex' while the women are focused on 'when will he open up to me and show me his vulnerable side'.

* The over-the-top (to me) expression of religious views, esp. the line "the devil comes out after 9:30PM" as a reason to "avoid temptation". This seemed disingenuous to me and could have been more delicately handled rather than being filmed almost as a joke and a way to show how 'extreme' this person's views were. Religion is a touchy subject for many, and while I appreciate the show trying to portray how religion can be either uniting or dividing for a couple, it was so, so extreme it was an immediate turn-off and unbelievable. Someone who truly believed what was shown would never be on a reality show in the first place.

* The guy who was a serial cheater, who cheated numerous times while STILL in a relationship, is more or less 'excused' as 'this is what he does' while the lady, who merely dated his friend after they broke up and while she is single, is shown as 'hurting him'. Excuse me a second while I go punch a pillow and regain my composure at this completely 'it's okay for a guy but not for a girl' thing to do. He cheated on her and never owned up to the damage he did (she actually moved away from their hometown, friends, and family to escape the gossip and toxic situation). Add to this: she willingly went back to him, and wanted him as 'my forever partner'.

A couple of things I actually liked:

* The man who really wanted children, didn't hide this fact and is paired with a woman who isn't sure (because of her 'advanced 'age of 36) she can have kids. His parents even bring up that they don't want their son to regret or start to resent if he doesn't fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a dad while the couple themselves discuss options: surrogacy, fertility treatments, adoption, etc. This is a very real problem for many couples, and it was handled very well (besides, to me the stress of her 'advanced' age-- that was a grrrrrrrrrrrrrr moment to me each time).

* The couples are, for the most part, fairly well-known to each other. These aren't 'strangers' like in some reality shows. They are literally best friends choosing to explore the 'chemistry' of a romantic relationship; a couple who dated in college; life long known to each other through their families and his friendship with her brother; co-workers; and for one couple, they had a one night stand they want to explore more fully.

* The tantric exercises were...wow. Very well shown and acted out, and not done just for the sex. This is a valid way for couples to connect, explore, and in some cases, help them with intimacy issues.

* The endings were for the most part, true to the couple and made sense. Viewers expect these endings long before they are shown. If you're surprised, you weren't paying attention.

So... I started this as a YAY television is discovering what we readers have long known: Romance sells and sells BIG because it's romance and it became a review. Feel free to agree or disagree and let me know in the comments.