This review was made possible due to an advanced copy of Back In The Groove provided by Hulu for review. Back In The Groove streams on Hulu, Monday, December 5th.
An Island Of Paradise… Or Not?
On the gorgeous island of the Dominican Republic sits a hotel waiting for true love, or at least that’s what it’s made out to be. For these three women, will it be what it’s said? Or will it be a downfall of emotions for everyone involved?
Heading into these first episodes, I did not know what to expect. Personally, I’m not a huge reality show fan, especially dating ones. So when this show landed in my lap, I was very, very intrigued.
Three women in their 40s, with a plethora of young men who are eager for their attention. What’s the worst that could happen?
Everything. About the show.
Sparkle from Atlanta, Steph from Miami, and Brooke from Los Angeles are the women leading the charge, being followed and directed by host Taye Diggs. Searching for love could never be easier!
Drama is bound to happen in this show, and trust me when I say it’s definitely full of it, almost reminiscent of other popular dating shows. I was gladly surprised by how many storylines they were able to fit into these first few episodes.
Men, Men, Manly Men
I will be honest, the men they chose to be in this series could not possibly be more stereotypical than they already are. Whatever producer was guiding them, whether it is their actual personality or not, I felt very uncomfortable at multiple points from pure cringe at what some of the guys say.
I get it, it’s “reality” television. It’s going to be scripted to some point, and people behind the scenes will push for certain participants to act a certain way and not the other. Either way, not a good move for the setting of this show, seeming inappropriate at times.
The list of the men participating is as follows:
Akio, Billy, Cru, Diogo, Domonic, Enrico, Gary, Giuseppe, Gregg, Hunter, Josh Taylor, Josh Teasley, Lee, Leroy, Luis, Matt B, Matt F, Mike, Quentin, Remy, Robert, Steven, Tashi, and Tate.
Sparkle, Steph, and Brooke have a wide plethora of men to choose from. How will they foray into the field of younger men?
Playing Games
As many games are going to be getting played in this series, from what I saw of these first episodes, it was very intimate. They haven’t lacked on giving these women the time they need to be able to make a choice.
Episode two, for example, focuses on the women doing one-on-one dates with the guys. You get to know the girls and the guys a lot better, and a couple of conversations shared had me feeling kind of sad for some of them. This was the shining point for me, a closer look into the lives of the participants, and seeing who might be compatible with who.
A Joint Coalition Of Love
Moving on, the series picks up fast from where it left off. The trio is continuing to flourish, and strongly while at it, moving their way through the foray of love and drama naturally.
The trio is getting closer and revealing some big secrets to each other. We as viewers are in for quite a treat with the moments we get to see with just the women. A deeper look into their lives before the show, and you know how that turned out with the major bombshell of the earlier episodes. If you know, you know.
The baggage is beginning to become clear, but that’s not without the men bringing some of their own to the party.
Baggage! Hosted By Jerry Springer
I’ll be amazed if anyone gets my reference of the heading. Anyway…
In episode three, we get to see a lot of sit-down talks between each of the participants. This, ladies and gentlemen, is where it gets very good. We have a bombshell from a certain person that changes the trajectory of their dating as we know it. On the other hand, another one drops some of the biggest baggage I’ve ever seen.
When I tell you my jaw was dropped. It was dropped.
But I’ll repeat it again, when we get one-on-one time with these people, that is truly where the show shines. Episodes three and four were not lacking on this. It added more, and it’s all that I could ask for as a midseason shift comes in and everybody is starting to get closer, as we learn more about our favourites and least favourites. The prime of reality television is here, and it’s available on Hulu!
Personality Clash
To cap it off for this pair of episodes, and more of what episode four focuses on, is the individual personalities and how often they clash.
In episode four, we see Sparkle have to balance between three men whose personalities are gigantic. Whether or not this is a pro or con, it doesn’t remove the fact it all comes onto the mental and psyche of Sparkle. I won’t go into details of how she deals with it, but it makes for quite a show.
This is the peak of these episodes, so definitely keep an eye out for episode four. At one point, I clapped out loud to an empty living room because of a clap-back featured in this episode with the men. “Get him sis!” may or may not have been yelled as well.
Staying Headstrong
Back In The Groove stays on its spectacular stride and continues strongly. The next pair of episodes picks up right where we left off, leading into the final few episodes with our lovely trio needing to make a choice imminently. Where will that lead them? And who will they pick?
Episode five brings us a double date with Steph and Sparkle, a welcoming new addition to the series thus far and exactly what I think the show needed to keep staying fresh over the course of this four-night event. It helps us grasp the nature of the show, and provides us with a fresh point of view to look at the participants through.
With the abundance of new “fresh” takes on reality television in the modern era, Back In The Groove is nailing it.
Up And Down, Left And Right
As we approach the last episodes, we would expect to see the choices our trio are going to be making becoming more clear.
Welp, that’s just not the case. These episodes of course feature shocking developments that change the course of the show, once again. SHOCKER! But, that’s not to say they didn’t do them with grace. All these quick turns on decisions, backstabs, and more do nothing but boost the show in my time with it.
If you read my reviews of the earlier episodes, you know that I have had my time with Back In The Groove be nothing but an upward climb, with me viewing the cluttered mess of the drama as a negative aspect of the show.
I have given in. The drama is amazing, and the mistakes the participants cannot take back have done nothing but make me want more of this. There’s something poetic about it…
A camera and people looking for love.
Mistakes In Our Emotions
I have not been discussing it much, mainly to focus on the quality and enjoyment of the episodes more than individual details for readers. But we have to talk about some of the slip-ups and no-nos that the participants have shared, on both sides.
Again, no details of what they are will be shared, but it is required as emphasis on the tone and storylines set up thus far.
Too many times in these first six episodes have we seen a participant get close with one person, then go behind their back and play them like a fiddle with another. Do not get me wrong, the more drama the merrier, and it makes for absolutely entertaining television when it all comes to a head eventually and drama spills out of control.
But there are truly human emotions at stake here. It’s a worry after hearing of others’ experiences on different reality shows, and I don’t wish any of that on anyone in this show.
Yet…
Jokes aside, I love the drama, and it would not be the same without it. But there is a deeper look into this as a way to churn a human’s natural desire for love and companionship into a machine for millions to look at and profit off. This is very apparent in Back In The Groove to this point, and whether or not you view it as a negative, it’s a conversation around reality television that needs to be had nonetheless.
But that’s a story for another article.
‘Back in the Groove’ – Final Thoughts
To be fair, I was entertained. I don’t hate what I saw, but I wouldn’t call myself a massive fan. I can clearly see how people could love this and be obsessed. The first episodes set a solid foundation for what could be a multi-season show for Hulu if they pull this off.
Following the first six episodes, Back In The Groove has gotten in the groove and truly picked up for what I think could be some of the funniest, saddest, and most exciting reality television to cap off the year. From twists and turns, massive bombshells, and tears being shed, both happy and sad, tune in for a fun way to end your night.
Back In The Groove strides gallantly into its second half, and approaching the end shows no sign of slowing down. More drama, more storylines, and more secrets make for an entertaining, but subtly sad show.
Check out the trailer for Back in the Groove below:
