The SAY YES TO THE DRESS series has always been about shallow consumerism and enforcing traditional gender roles. The brides might as well wear the red and white habits of THE HANDMAID'S TALE. Now solid-haired Tan France joins the fray, superficially appearing to be positive and supportive but actually adding a disturbing layer of exploitation to the show.
Under the guise of celebrating individuality and glamour, SYTTDWTF parades a distorted version of reality no one should see.
In the episode "In Love With My Ghost Groom," a deluded young woman speaks of her intimate relationship with a Victorian-era ghost named Eduardo. Of course, he wouldn't be named Brian. I think we saw this episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. The Goth (duh) bride describes her paranormal connection as a deep emotional bond, yet the portrayal borders on the absurd and trivializes serious mental health issues. Tan France's response, while performatively nonjudgmental, fails to address the underlying implications of such beliefs, instead focusing on the superficial aspects of wedding attire and feeding the viewers' schadenfreude.
In "A Black Wedding Dress," the bride's desire for a hideous black dress clashes with her family's traditional views, highlighting the show's tendency to sensationalize cultural differences for entertainment value.
The episode "Dressing a Drag Queen," a drag queen seeks a wedding dress that aligns with her identity. While the intention may be to promote inclusivity, the portrayal feels more like a spectacle, reducing a complex personal journey to a mere fashion statement.
Overall, the show is a troubling reflection of reality television's exploitation of personal stories for profit. Worse, it focuses wrong-headedly on extravagant wedding couture in a time of deep economic disparity. This is toxic, just serious poison for the mind.
