Netflix's Too Hot To Handle does its best to turn the reality dating show genre upside down. Ten sexy singles arrive on a tropical island for an extended vacation. Little do these Tinder-swiping hotties realize that they've landed in a "no-bone zone." They live, sleep and play together while attempting to win $100,000. There's just one caveat: they have to remain celibate.
Unlike shows like The Bachelor where the contestant's endgame is to find their soul mate, this series aims to promote self-esteem and personal growth. Too Hot To Handle is a titillating PSA and this summer's guiltiest pleasure. Here are five things Too Hot To Handle does better than The Bachelor and five it doesn't.
Better: The Cast Is Hotter
Eye candy isn't just a plus when it comes to a dating show, it's a must, and the Too Hot To Handle cast is a 100 percent across the board smoke show. Clothing might as well be optional since all of the girls spend their days lounging in teeny bikinis and the guys are shirtless. These are men and women who have to be so hot that hooking up is worth giving up some serious prize money. That's an entirely different level of temptation than the contestants who appear on every season and every show that comprises the Bachelor franchise who need to be photogenic but family-friendly.
Not Better: There's Too Much Emphasis On Sex
By attempting to take kissing, heavy petting, intercourse, other forms of intimacy and even self-gratification off the table, it's always at the forefront of their minds. The Too Hot To Handle guys and girls were chosen specifically because of their insatiable carnal appetites, meaning they don't know how to interact with the opposite sex without the promise of physicality. The Bachelor (as well as The Bachelorette and Bachelor In Paradise) favors building emotional and intellectual connections because ideally, those are the foundations of a good marriage.
Better: A Proposal Isn't The Endgame
On The Bachelor/Bachelorette, the goal is to get someone down on one knee during the finale. Women and men are sent home in tears, convinced they are unlovable or incomplete once they've been rejected. It sets a dangerous precedent that success in life relies heavily on embracing traditional gender roles.
Too Hot Too Handle has a mission statement, but it's one that encourages self-reliance: finding satisfaction and self-worth from within instead of elsewhere. That's a more achievable goal and one that will hopefully help them find the right person without the stress of a timeline.
Not Better: No Chris Harrison
Host Chris Harrison serves as a confidante, a narrator, a peacekeeper, a moderator, the bearer of both good and bad news for the Bachelors, Bachelorettes and their paramours. He's a constant and comforting presence. Harrison asks the burning questions and provides succinct recaps.
Too Hot Too Handle is a rudderless ship. The participants are guided by an A.I. device known as Lana. She sees all, knows all and tells all. This device is a husky-voiced babysitter that even George Orwell couldn't have envisioned in his classic Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Better: Fewer Girl-On-Girl Crimes
On The Bachelor, girl-on-girl crimes have reached a point where it's overshadowing everything else. The women are pitted against one another, and the competition for a diamond ring is fierce. Accusations of drug and alcohol addiction, lying, stealing (a bottle of champagne) and general bad behavior was rewarded with more screen time during season 24.
There's a surprising amount of group camaraderie on Too Hot To Handle even though there are couples whose lack of self-control lowers the amount of prize money (every infraction leads to a monetary deduction.) There are a few minor skirmishes that are bound to happen when the occasional romantic triangle forms, but overall, this is a chill group.
Not Better: Some Physical Intimacy Required
Thanks to social distancing, a stricter variation on Too Hot To Handle could become the new normal. While The Bachelor limits sexual encounters to the fantasy suites, there is still an appalling amount of spit swapping with multiple people over a short duration of time. On the Netflix series, anything other than a peck on the cheek carries a hefty $3,000 price tag. One couple racks up over $20,000 in no-no charges.
Most of the Too Hot To Handle singles end up more enlightened but alone. It turns out you do have to kiss some frogs to find the prince, and that's just a waste of cold, hard cash. The physical and psychological repercussions of promiscuity don't hit home until they become intertwined with money.
Better: Workshops Instead Of Group Date Challenges
While The Bachelor makes singles jump through hoops to gain attention and one-on-one time, Too Hot To Handle is more interested in trust exercises and spiritual enlightenment. Assorted experts show up to give the cast tips on how to love themselves and figure out that sex is used as a way to avoid intimacy instead of encouraging it.
One exercise addresses name-calling and self-esteem while another has the ladies squatting over hand mirrors to get up close and personal with their girly parts. This is much more productive and entertaining than watching women tackle each other on a football field and sulk on group dates.
Not Better: Nobody Is Eliminated
One fun aspect of The Bachelor is guessing who will go and who will stay. Also, as the numbers of contenders dwindle, the audience becomes more invested in whoever is left. Dynamics are constantly shifting as some stay and others go.
With a couple of exceptions, the central cast of Too Hot To Handle remains the same. That's great when it comes to the more dynamic personalities but kind of a drag when there's too much dead weight hanging around. Plus, why should someone who is never even tempted to break the rules be rewarded?
Better: The Contestants Aren't Fame Hungry
There was a time when The Bachelor/Bachelorette and all the spinoffs were groundbreaking television. There was still an element of surprise, and there weren't spoilers everywhere revealing the finalists a few episodes in. Most importantly, the contestants themselves weren't so thirsty for fame. Being on The Bachelor can lead to more lucrative gigs in the future whether it's becoming the next star, appearing on another series, hosting podcasts, public appearances, and promoting products. Every season, people's motives are questioned and The Bachelor is the victim of its popularity.
Not Better: No Jetsetting
Sexy singles on the beach. Sexy singles laying on chaise lounges. Sexy singles in the hot tub. Sexy singles inside the house. There are worse things than spending a month on a tropical island, but Too Hot To Handle could use a change of scenery as it winds down. Part of the allure of The Bachelor is seeing these couples "fall in love" all over the world. Those trips keep the show fresh even if the drama gets old.