Love on the Spectrum Review : SPOILER ALERT
Love on the Spectrum is an Australian reality television show produced by Northern Pictures for the ABC, and currently available to stream on Netflix.
I saw this recommendation on my Netflix profile and instantly wanted to watch it, because of how it reminded me of a movie I became obsessed with this year. This past year I came across a film that premiered in 2017 on Hulu, called Dina, about an able bodied couple both on the spectrum. It's such a sweet and honest approach to a subject I haven't seen in a documentary film before.
Before I clicked play, I assumed the series was going to be 22 episodes and was ready for a binge. My marathon was cut short because the series is only five episodes. It does seem short for Netflix, but that's because I am so used to American produced film and television. Love on the Spectrum is an Australian dating show, with a very diverse cast despite the reviews. I think what people need to take account about diversity is there are a lot of boxes to check for casting. First the subjects would have to be up for filming and talking about being on the spectrum. Second, they would have to be vulnerable on television about dating and finding love. Third, they would have to be contestants who test well on camera. Then fourth, they would have to be not straight or white to showcase diversity. In my opinion I think it was a diverse cast, and I enjoyed every personality. I do however think they introduced too many people for how short the series was. I liked every person introduced and once I'm hooked another person enters center stage.
It's not like other popular dating shows, like 90 Day Fiance or The Bachelor, where it takes the audience along to watch a couple progress. Instead the subjects are very young, in their early twenties and are dipping their toe in the dating pond for the first time. I will say when the trailer auto-played on my TV screen, it was burying the lead. Taking into consideration of how the trailer was edited, there's snippets of people getting engaged. It made me think we would see a format of following someone on how they find and discover love not a question of when and if. The show is a lot of first dates but there's the inconsistency of meeting a couple for one second and then watching their proposal.
If one is not familiar with autism or other spectrum disorders, they might not appreciate the brief profiles of likes and dislikes before each date. I thought the profiles at first seemed a little infantilizing but the narrators only mention the likes and dislikes with good intent. People with autism have sound sensitivity and intense interest in a limited capacity of things and they are also trying to find human connection at the same time. While the narrator has this kindergarten teacher tone and cadence, I would have preferred the people saying it in front of the camera instead without the stock like footage.
Despite how short the series was, the misleading trailer, and the infantilizing narration, I enjoyed the series. I loved how all the parents were so excited to see their kids go on first dates. I liked Jody's approach on how if someone isn't right, you just have to keep moving. Some couples stayed as friends, which I think is important to see on shows about dating. Watching people not settle and running off into the sunset after one kiss was a refreshing approach to a dating show. It really did cut out the bullshit of reality TV produced love that manipulates and coerces contestants. The premise of people on the spectrum trying to find human connection is such an interesting and honest topic I'm interested in and can't wait to see more of.