Too Hot to Handle. Where do I even begin?

The Season 2 cast of Too Hot to Handle posing for what is supposed to be a candid photo-op. 

This show has taken the world by storm, combining sensuality with relationship drama and casting some of the most interesting individuals (arguably) of all reality television “dating” shows. I have watched every season of Too Hot to Handle, and that’s something important to remember, because a sign of a truly compelling show is whether viewers keep coming back for more. SPOILER ALERT: I kept coming back for more.

Too Hot to Handle truly epitomizes raunchy relationship drama, but still is surprisingly relevant and attractive to viewers worldwide. It serves as a direct contradiction to most soapy relationship shows and instead focuses on a shocking ban to an physical forms of attraction between a villa of objectively attractive contestants. Participants are chosen in what I like to identify as two very important categories. Number one, attractive. Number two, and possibly more important to the dynamic of the show, is each of them have expressed difficulties with loyalty and genuine relationships. Despite the clearly unnatural way these singles are forced to interact in, the show has been coined as “surprisingly relevant,” to viewers.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of this arbitrarily shocking program its time to attack the narrator and my personal favorite character of the show: Lana. An automated cone shaped speaker oversees the contestants throughout the show, confronting about rule-breaks and reminding them of the money on the line. Wow-I didn’t even mention the incentive keeping the contestants physical attraction at bay. There is a shared prize fund of $100,000 at the beginning of the program which dwindles each time there is a rule break depending on the severity, which is determined by Lana. This adds a competitive side to the seemingly mindless show, often turning contestants against each other and creating incentive for them to keep their hands away from each other.

Pictured on the left is the comical “rain on the parade” of contestants on Too Hot to Handle: Lana. 

Now, I know what your thinking. This sounds like a spin-off of every other show that’s all over everyone’s timeline. But truly, that is a rude and disrespectful understatement. Why is it so interesting to me? Well, as The Ringer puts it, it is because “the group does not do very well [in following rules]” That is truly the best part. As much as Lana enforces the rules of the show, the contestants cannot help themselves and create a constant cycle of losing money and apologizing that never ends.

To sum up this amazing and mindless program, it is yet another example of a cast of attractive reality TV stars interacting in a hilarious and mindless way. However, this claims one of my top three spots for entertaining reality television based primarily in the humorous rules they are forced to abide by, but consistently overlook.

If you were still looking for a reason to start watching, I will take a famous quote from Season 3’s gem Harry: Start watching, “you naughty little possum.”