Despite the generally positive reception of Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle season 4, there was a pretty major flaw in its selection of the four finalists. The season finale aired in the last batch of episodes on December 14, and it was shocking to viewers. After nine and a half episodes of heartwarming developments and satisfying comeuppance, Lana declared her four finalists: Jawahir Khalifa, Nick Kici, Kayla Richart, and Sebastian “Seb” Melrose.
On paper, the four finalists seemed to make sense. Nick gravitated towards Jawahir early on, and they developed a budding relationship that was tried and tested over the course of the whole season. Seb and Kayla developed their own relationship, both growing beyond the people that they entered the competition as. Nick and Jawahir ended up winning, yet something felt off about the nominees as a whole.
James And Brittan Were Snubbed In The Too Hot To Handle Finale
First and foremost, Too Hot To Handle fans were quick to point out how crazy it was that James Pendergrass was even acknowledged as a potential finalist with his partner Brittan Byrd. On Reddit, one fan u/Vehicle-Mountain put it plainly; “They did my boy James dirty by not nominating him and his girlfriend as finalists.” Another Redditor pointed out just how well MVP James had played the game, adding, “The objective of the show was to feel and connect emotionally NOT to have physical connections…Anyone with common sense would keep it in their pants for $200,000 and encourage others to do the same.” Lana didn’t acknowledge James or Brittan on the show, despite their emotional growth.
The Too Hot To Handle Season 4 Finalists Reveal A Deeper Issue With The Show
James and Brittan were not only the best couple on the show mathematically, but the actual finalists were the worst compared to them. Nick and Jawahir, along with Kayla and Seb, were among the most likely to hook up before Too Hot To Handle season 4 ended. By showering together and later having sex, Kayla and Seb cost the group $68,000, by far the most losses caused by one couple. Though, Nick and Jawahir didn’t fare much better, racking up fines of $41,000. These totals don’t include the money that these Too Hot To Handle individuals cost to the group outside their couples.
These truths set a bad precedent for Too Hot To Handle. If the only way to demonstrate growth is by initially breaking the rules, then the entire conceit of the show somewhat fails. The Too Hot To Handle season 4 finalists are antithetical to what the show preaches. If the digital moderator Lana were really so concerned with her retreat-goers keeping the rules, then she would award those who truly played the game as intended. These finalists simply encourage future Too Hot To Handle cast members to break the rules early on.
Granted, there’s an argument to be made that Kayla and Seb had the second-best arc of the season, right behind Nick and Jawahir. It was truly gratifying to see these people change and form a true bond with another person. Too Hot To Handle is a show above all else; it seeks to deliver stories over sense, and the finalists represent that.
Source: u/Vehicle-Mountain/Reddit