But when I searched for the fourth episode of season one of The Undateables, it was a first season recap. And it wasn't available in the US.I found someone comment asking for the full recap, and apparently nobody has uploaded it. It only streams in the UK. If anyone absolutely has to know the fates of the characters in the first season, you aren't the target audience for this blog and you can probably find the answers on Google.
So each season is 3-5 episode plus a recap. That makes "The Undateables is entering its sixth season" a lot less impressive. It also means that the entire first season was bad. But the first season is just a test run of the series. I'm sure the second season with be great now that they have had a chance to work the kinks out
You can tell this new season is going to be shocking, because the montage at the opening has the characters talking about sex using explicit 1 phrases. I mean, adults talking about wanting sex- has television gone too far?
You have to be over 18 to be
I'm all for breaking the "people with disabilities are asexual" stereotype, but somehow I doubt The Undateables will do a tactful job.
Michael is 26 and has autism. He has a list of 17 ex-girlfriends.
I've already decided that this show is beyond saving when, well, when I read the description. But if Michael's story goes down a Don Giovanni path, I might reconsider.
This is another example of the structural problem I mentioned in my last write-up. Michael has had 17 girlfriends, so he is clearly not undateable.
He says that online dating is hard because he might find a "69-year old Nigerian sex killer," Which demographic does this show appeal to again?
The narrator reminds us that Michael has autism. This show used to wait between characters to remind us of each characters' disability. It is not a good sign when a show is dumbed down after one season.
He lives with housemates but visits his mother Nicky regularly. Nicky says that when they used to go to doctor and the doctor would ask "How are you Michael? What can I do for you?", Michael would say "Fine, but I want a girlfriend."
I try to keep jokes in here semi-appropriate, but it's difficult to resist when shows give me easy targets like that.
Michael says to the camera "I would like to find love." and then looks away and says "There, I've said it." That confuses me, because I think that statement is implicit in going on a TV show called The Undateables.
Michael joins a dating agency. Nicky asks what love would look like to him. I hate it when people throw philosophical questions at me when I'm busy being exploited by a TV show. Also. Michael says he rushes things and hasn't been in a long-term relationship like everyone else. This aired in 2013. What is "Hook-Up Culture"?
The narrator tells us that Michael's autism makes it hard for him to understand the rules of dating. Which is hypocritical, considering the narrator doesn't understand the rules of basic human interaction.
We are about five minutes in, which means it is time to change characters.
Why can't there be product placement for a brand that I buy so I can stop buying it and have a small moral victory?
Brent is 21 year old and lives in Plymouth. He says that everyone is looking for love. He has Tourette's syndrome and has verbal tics that make it hard to date.
Brent passes by people and swears, causing them to look back at him. He says that his verbal tics make people think he is swearing at them. The most unusual thing about this situation is tht people in a crowded city aren't used to passersby swearing at them.
I guess I'm never buying Gap again.
I'm glad that this shows recognize happiness doesn't have intrinsic value
The narrator reminds us that Michael is also looking for love. He is going to a speed-dating event. His mom is going with him. His secret weapon is business cards. I've probably mentioned this is a previous review, but I would love to see the screening process for applicants to this show.
If The Undateables can reuse the structure of each episode, I can reuse references.
Michael talks to the first girl named Kirsty. He likes her, but he is upset he only got to talk to her for three minutes.
At the dance floor, he tries to impress Kirsty and get a date. Kirsty says she will think about it.
A few seconds later, Kirsty says yes. This show is so suspenseful.
Sarah is 22, lives with her parents, has been single for four years. Four years ago, she was a "Grade-A" student. She got a stroke at age 18 and went into a coma. She has aphasia now.
Sarah can only read and write a few words and need her mom's help to write and read intimate messages.
Her mom says that if Sarah had a boyfriend, he could do all the stuff that she does for her. Such as reading her romantic messages from other guys.
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| Circle added for emphasis |
This is either a sophisticated attempt to create an allegory between New Moon and The Undateables or the Twilight brand management is confused.
I think it's amusing that she is designated as "Sarah's friend,"
Helen says that even she gets nervous talking to men, indicating one of the biggest problems with this show.
Sarah wants a boyfriend to "cuddle." Man, Undateables goes deep into relationships.
I was wondering how long it would take before I could make a joke about relationships curing the disabilities. I waited too long, as the narrator says "They say love has the power to cure all."
She reminds us that Brent has Torrette's and that in the past, love has helped his tics.
Flame Introductions is a family-run dating agency in Surrey. The family surname is Romney.
I'm posting this on Election Day and have refrained from making any 2016 presidential election jokes.
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| "I think love is the most important thing in anybody's life." |
Well Christine, I think you are biased.
They personally make all the calls and matches themselves. I can see how this business model will have trouble scaling.
They recently opened their doors to disabled people.
I just want to say that this is about the worst decor to have in a dating agency office:
Christine talks to Brent. She ask what he is looking for in a partner. The verbal tics keep getting more severe.
Christine gives her expert opinion
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| "The problem he has will make it awkward for him to meet new people" |
Brent goes to a bar with his friends. He says he is nervous and awkward silences make the Tourette's worse.
The narrator tells us that 26-year old Michael's autism makes it hard for him to deal with the rules of dating and has met a girl named Kirsty. He is waiting for a phone call from the agency.
Stars in the Sky calls and says that Kirsty declined because she was looking for someone who is up to 21 years old. This speed dating service is really inefficient.
Michael says that he is a loner and will never find a girlfriend. I mean, if you go to a dating agency that matches people with incompatible criteria, sure.
22 year old Sarah had a stroke at the age of 18, which affected her ability to speak. She broke up with her boyfriend four yeas. Thanks for the reminder.
Her mom says that she wants Sarah to be independent. Sarah wants a man who is "Patient, fun, mature, and good-looking" To find him, she goes to a dating site. Wrong place.
The agency sends over the profile of someone named Gary. He "enjoys film, especially horror and comedy."
Sarah calls up the agency and tells them to set up a date with Gary. The obvious choice is to watch Conjoined.2
Sarah and her mom practice writing some questions and answers.
The camerawoman asks"When was the last time you kissed a boy?"
This actually confused me because the camerawoman was silent until then. This is the problem with alternating between interview-style and "candid" style.
Furthermore, is that a normal first-date question?
Brent broke up with his girlfriend one year ago and being in love makes his Tourette's better. I'm so glad that the show keeps reminding me of everyone's complex backstory. He gets a message from a girl who wants to go on a date with him. I really think they could shorten these episodes if they stopped jumping between characters.
Michael has received the profile of a girl named Helen.
Plot twist: It is the same Helen as Sarah's friend. Calling it now.
Michael has a date dress rehearsal with his mom.
The problem is that this show keeps reusing elements and tempting me to reuse jokes.
Brent has been set up with a girl named Lizzie, a 19 year-old bar-worker. They have a date at a harbor.
I've heard of TV shows "ship-teasing" before, but never this literally.
Lizzie doesn't get her own Cupid text name intro, but Sarah's friend Helen does? Maybe this is a dumb thing to complain about, but I like consistency.
During the date, they order drinks and have awkward silence. Brent opens the conversation smoothly with "Tell me everything about yourself/"
The drinks come and the topic changes to movies. Lizzie's favorite genre is sci-fi and her three favorite sci-fi films are:
1. Alien
2. Fifth Element
3. Accion Mutante
Or maybe the third one is "the new Prometheus." I get confused between the two.
Brent accuses Lizzie of liking the new Prometheus. Lizzie asks what Brent thinks of The Godfather. Brent says it is a classic, and Lizzie says she has all of them and two DVD documentaries.
The Godfather is like a reset button on people's judgement of your tastes in movies.
Brent moves from the dangerous territory of movies and asks about whether Lizzie was nervous about meeting a guy with Tourette's
Lizzie excuses herself. The cameraman asks Brent how it is going.
I love how, in the second season, they have given up any pretenses of this being candid.
Brent says is going well. Lizzie says that there has been no awkwardness. Have I been watching the wrong episode?
Michael has been set up for his first ever blind date.
I have been waiting for this show to use that phrase for a blind participant. They ruined their chances.
His mother sends him a list of tips, including buying a rose and smiling. Why has so many of these situations seem like a set-up for a horror movie?
Sarah has had trouble expressing her thoughts since her stroke.
I'm repeating each time the show reminds us of the characters' conditions so you can appreciate how redundant it is.
Sarah's mom is scared because she doesn't want Sarah hurt again and that they "Are investing a lot in this guy, whoever he is". Gary is a 23 year-old bank analyst.
I am unsure as to whether that was an intentional play on "investing" and "bank analyst." Also, what a coincidence that her mom set her up with a banker.
They are going rowing at a local boating lake. Is this episode sponsored by the UK aquatic travel industry?
The narrator tells us that Sarah usually has her mom or a friend to help her form sentences. Most of the boat ride is in silence.
The camerawoman asks whether Sarah asks if she found anything awkward of difficult.
At lunch, Sarah makes a "huge effort" to speak. They talk about the Olympics. Gary asks what Sarah wants for dessert from the menu on the table. Sarah tells him that she has trouble saying what she reads from the menu. Gary orders ice-cream.
The narrator says that it "has been a long time since Sarah was looked after by a man on a date"
I'm so glad a show that "attempts" to be "progressive" reinforces traditional gender norms.
Michael arrives fifteen minutes early to his date. A chaperone enters with Helen.
It is not the same Helen as Sarah's friend. Helen has a mild learning disability.
Michael's nerves means he has trouble remembering. He takes out his phone and looks at the email. He runs through the questions verbatim.
I think I have a really high "cringe-tolerance" But this show pushes the limits really far.
Michael asks what Helen's favorite TV show, music, etc are at rapid-fire. He puts away the phone but remains doing the interrogation.
The narrator says that the conversation is going well. I hate unreliable narrators.
Michael gives Helen his business card, a rose, and they are going on another date.
Brent and Lizzie are going snowboarding. Man, second date and already their relationship is going downhill.
Brent asks Lizzie out for coffee. His Tourette's is getting better.
The next two minutes are a preview for next week's episode. I can't wait.
Well, the first episode of a new season often a little rough. I think the show will get better with the next episode.
1 Explicit=6th grade lunch language
2 Haven't finished reviewing it, so this reference won't make sense until then.
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