Netflix has expanded itsreality TVcontent over the years,especially when it comes to dating shows. There are vacation-based couple-up series likeToo Hot to HandleandPerfect Match. These shows are often geared towards a younger dating demographic, involving outrageous contests and dramatic re-couplings specifically geared towards stirring up drama, all while the young and fit cast are clad in their swimwear.Then there are more serious dating shows that skew towards more mature demographics focused more specifically on matrimony, likeLove Is Blind, andThe Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.
While Netflix’s dating series have earned them a global viewership, rabid forthe behind-the-scenes dramain these reality TV relationships,these series often face a challenge when it comes to their dating pool.To me, it seems like the streaming service has an easy enough time finding potential reality TV stars willing to bare-it-all in exchange for a vacation and a chance to find an attractive fling on series likeToo Hot to Handle. But I also think they struggle to find contestants willing to follow through on the premise that once they find a partner on the series, they are ready to commit to marriage. Especially when it comes tothe men on these shows.
It’s clear to me that everyone who appears on reality TV is trying to put their best self forward, and perhaps hide certain negative aspects of their personalities or past behavior. But beyond that,Netflix has had apersistent problem with the men they castin their more mature dating shows. I’m not the only one who has noticed a recent trend of male contestants who have hidden things that demonstrate they are clearly not ready to share their lives authentically on reality TV, let alone move forward with a partner on a series where the premise is that everyone on the cast is ready to commit to a marriage. So, now that Season 03 ofThe Ultimatumis streaming, I can’t view the men in the cast without a suspicious side-eye. Even thoughCaleb Lefteryscame across as sincere and sweet in his time on the series, I have too many suspicions to trust his green flags just yet.
Netflix Has a Hard Time Finding Men Who Are Marriage Material
There are so many examples ofLove Is Blindand its many spin-offs casting problematic men. Season 07 alone had a man who kept the fact that he had fathered children with a friendhidden from his fiancée, a man who sentscandalous text messages to another womanwhile engaged on the series, anda man who lived in his parents' basementwho couldn’t figure out how to boil water for pasta. Butthese examples demonstrate the trend of Netflix casting immature men who are not ready for commitment on their dating series.
Scotty and JR Are Basically the Same Person on ‘The Ultimatum’
Red flags are all around.
Caleb Has Some Green Flags, But His Yellow Ones Give Me Pause
During his time on the series, Caleb was showing nothing but green flags to start. He made it clear that he was only interested in friendship with his trial-marriage partnerAria De Westbrooks. Even though the pair formed a strong bond, he tried to be respectful while setting boundaries in the relationship, and in how they should describe their friendship to their original partners. He was charming, sweet, and lighthearted whenever he appeared on the screen.So why can’t I trust him?
Caleb claimed that during his trial marriage with Aria, he had done a lot of self-reflection, which had waylaid his fears about whether he was ready to be a true partner to Mariah. To be honest, after the way he refused to engage in conversations with Mariah about her fears in the relationship,I was shocked that Caleb proposed to her.And Aria called them out as “fake” at the reunion, so I’m not alone in my suspicions. Even though he seems charming and content with his choice, after the reunion I am still struggling to trust Caleb’s “good guy” behavior.
I’m Not Sure If Caleb Fooled the Viewers on ‘The Ultimatum’
Mariah and Caleb seem happy as they prepare fortheir destination wedding in 2026. Nothing Caleb said at the reunion appeared to be disingenuous, although his ability to hide that he and Mariah entertained more than a friendship on the series was somewhat alarming.Am I just bringing aLove Is Blindbias toThe Ultimatum?
Caleb and Mariah may bethe next loved-up couple produced by Netflix. I can admit that while there have always been some sketchy casting choices on the streaming service’s dating series, they have also produced several happily married couples over the years. Hopefully, Mariah and Caleb are the next couple that proves Netflix can bring people happily together, even thoughtheir casting process remainsa hot bed of problematic men.
The Ultimatumis streaming on Netflix.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
Get hitched or call it quits? Couples put their love to the test–while shacking up with other potential matches–in a provocative reality series.
Watch on Netflix
