REA(L)OVEA group of men and women, each burdened with a dark secret, look for love in this dating show with a twist. Hosted by reformed playboy Atsushi Tamura.
Episode 1
Apr 27, 2018
The men and women meet and schmooze for the first time. One person reveals their scandalous career, and is relieved by everyone's reaction.
Episode 2
Apr 27, 2018
The ladies approach the men they'd like to go on a date with. One of the more innocent-looking members reveals he's not so squeaky-clean after all.
Episode 3
Apr 27, 2018
Student and glamour model Ai has a lot of admirers, but the time has come to reveal her secret. Some of the men aren't very understanding.
Episode 4
Apr 27, 2018
After a day of drinking and unburdening, a fight breaks out among the boys, but they come together in support when one of them reveals his secret.
Episode 5
Apr 27, 2018
The second day begins, and 10 contestants still haven't revealed their dark secrets. The men choose the women they'd like to go on dates with.
Episode 6
Apr 27, 2018
For the men, revelations of prison time, erectile dysfunction and deep debt come in quick succession. Some of the contestants pair off on dates.
Episode 7
Apr 27, 2018
On the last night at the resort, six contestants have yet to reveal their secrets. One of the men shares the painful reason for his fear of women.
Episode 8
Apr 27, 2018
Things come to a head for a few of the contestants at the cruise ship party. One more person reveals that they work in the adult film industry.
Episode 9
Apr 27, 2018
The last person reveals her secret. In the final confession ceremony, some couples are formed while other hearts are broken.
SierraKiloBravo
@SierraKiloBravo
Click here for a video version of this review: https://youtu.be/p0dwVjZIJUk Late night trash TV is a huge market in Japan, and with the advent of Netflix, some of it is starting to leak onto our western screens. Let me introduce you to _REA(L)OVE_. Here's the set-up: _A group of men and women, each burdened with a dark secret, look for love in this dating show with a twist._ The way it works is that the group is at an island resort in Okinawa and over the course of three days go on a series of dates and group events where they get to know each other with a view to pairing up and maybe becoming a couple. Every now and then a gong sounds and one member is randomly selected to have to reveal their dark secret in front of those around them. Now, when I say this is trash TV, it's not even trash in a good way. You know how some reality TV is so bad, that its good? This is cringe TV that was genuinely uncomfortable to watch at times. So why is it this way? It starts with the hosts. Atsushi Tamura is a comedian, and says exactly three actually funny things in the whole nine episodes. The rest of the times the jokes either fall flat, or they are just flat out rude and condescending to the participants. As for Mari Yaguchi, she adds nothing apart from fake laughing from time to time. The two of them think they are funny by coming up with horrible nicknames for the participants and for the most part shit talking them. Apart from the whole set up the show, the hosts are the absolute worst part. As for the confessions, some of them were not that bad really, in fact in a lot of cases they were actually kinda sad to be honest. Some of the people had been hurt pretty bad, and it kinda came off as exploitative at times - and yes, I know these people willingly signed up for it - but its still kinda icky. I think after watching this, and hearing the recent developments in _Terrace House_ we might be done with reality TV for a while. This not a great show, it's too awkward, the big reveals are not that big, and the hosts are terrible.
