8 shows to fill that MAFS sized hole in your life
Are you totally bereft after the MAFS finale? Have no idea what to watch next? This list will get you back in the drama in no time.
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Now that Married At First Sight is finally over, do you find yourself staring at a black screen wondering what to do with your life next? Where else can we see the car slowly rolling down the hill without breaks that was Mitch and Ella’s relationship? When will we ever get a villain we love to hate more than Olivia?
Fear not, because news.com.au has dredged through the most dramatic of shows, braved the most gushing romances and vile insults of reality TV to bring you our list of top eight shows to fill that MAFS-sized hole in your heart.
JAMES WEIR MAFS RECAPS: Read all the recaps here.
1. Love is Blind
Netflix gave us this little gift just in time for the 2020 lockdown and it’s still going strong with the second season wrapping up last month. It embraces that age old belief that inner beauty triumphs over outer beauty in the most ridiculously fun way. Essentially the show follows 30 men and women who date each other in purpose-built pods that look like they could be in a Squid Game competition. They can talk to each other but can only see each other after they agree to get engaged. That’s when the real drama comes.
Where to watch: Netflix
How many seasons: Two
2. Love on the Spectrum
For something a little bit different and very heartwarming, this Aussie production is a winner. It follows a group of young adults on the autistic spectrum navigate the stressful world of dating. Dating is hard for almost everyone, but when throwing in some of the social challenges that come with autism in the mix, it makes for heart wrenching and engaging viewing. Yet the show approaches these issues with such warmth and empathy that you can’t help but fall in love with it.
Where to watch: Netflix and ABC iview
How many seasons: Two
3. Euphoria
This addictive HBO series, starring Zendaya has all the drama we’ve been craving since MAFS finished while taking on some of the bigger issues. It’s a show that deals with addiction, sexuality and sexual assault, drugs, self-harm and all the pitfalls that come with being a teenager. The costumes are impressive and so is the make-up, bringing colourful eyeshadow back into our lives. The series follows Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, who returns home from rehab and has to navigate school and drug addiction. While the production is stylishly shot, it doesn’t glamorise Rue, never shying away from the devastating impact of her choices.
Where to watch: Binge and Foxtel Go
How many seasons: Two
4. Are You the One?
The concept behind this one is simple: put a bunch of good-looking young adults on a luxurious tropical paradise with a massive pool so everyone is in swimwear 24/7. Give them an endless supply of alcohol and watch the sparks fly (or the crushing insults). But there’s a catch. In the backroom of production, a circus of psychologists have interviewed exs, done a bit of profiling and determined that every contestant has a soulmate. In every episode games, one-on-one dates and clues are given to help the happy holidayers find “the one”. If everyone in the season finds their soulmate by the finale, they share in a $1 million prize. The later seasons of the show set themselves apart for their sexually fluid cast. The probability of sex and drama heighten when everyone is attracted to everyone else.
Where to watch: Netflix
How many seasons: Eight
5. First Dates Australia
We’ve all been here. You’re on a first date, your stomach is in your mouth so you drink to much and say all the wrong things. Total trainwreck. The beauty of First Dates Australia is that you can watch that trainwreck from the comfort and safety of your living room. Basically, two strangers meet at a restaurant filled with hidden cameras and some sassy waitstaff. The result is a dramatic and gloriously awkward night-out. Not to mention, it shows you who you need to avoid if you see them on the dating apps. Schadenfreude at its finest.
Where to watch: The latest season is just wrapping up on Channel 10 or you can watch on 10 play.
How many seasons: Five
6. Ru Paul’s Drag Race
And oldie but a goldie. A glorious mix of high fashion, cat fights, drama and some seriously good lip-sync battles. The premise is a knockout competition to determine who is the best drag queen. The queens must undergo a series of tests that include dancing, costume design, acting and sometimes acrobatics to see who comes out on top. Drag Queen royalty Ru Paul blithely hosts all the seasons with guest appearances ranging from the likes of Lady Gaga to Jeff Goldblum. It’s tongue-in-cheek, over the top and totally fabulous.
Where to watch: Stan
How many seasons: 14 from the original series. The spin-offs are worth watching too though. While every season is good don’t feel you need to start from the beginning. If you’re new to Drag Race, Season 11 is a good place to start.
7. Below Deck Down Under
This one is part travel show, part cooking show, part real housewives of the Whitsunday Islands. The Australian spin-off of the US maritime reality show follows the crew of superyacht Thalassa as it cruises around the tropical waters of northern Queensland with its ridiculously wealthy guests. It almost reminds you of Downton Abbey with its “upstairs, downstairs” vibe. The crew live in tiny quarters below deck, while the guests live the high life moving from the jacuzzi to their luxury guest suites. So far we’re only four episodes into the first season, so it’s a good time to get watching.
Where to watch: Hayu
How many seasons: One
8. Bridgerton
Moving from reality TV, this period drama ticks all the boxes. Bridgerton has all the colour, loveless marriages and petty infighting of MAFS. It might as well be called The Real Housewives of 1800s London. The second season just came out and it is a sumptuous affair. The fashion is stunning, full of enough embellished ball gowns and excessive feathered headdresses that you might think it was a Ru Paul catwalk. For those who are yet to see the first season, the plot revolves around the Bridgerton siblings, who must navigate treacherous London society in search of love. Bridgerton’s clever use of anachronisms and its racially diverse cast set it apart from other period dramas, though at times it does feel more Keeping Up With the Kardashians than Pride and Prejudice.
Where to watch: Netflix
How many seasons: Two
Finally, if that list isn’t enough to keep you busy, look out for the new seasons of Farmer Wants a Wife and Big Brother landing later this year.
Originally published as 8 shows to fill that MAFS sized hole in your life
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