90 Day Fiancé

I don't review programming often. First and foremost, "reality TV" I hate to break it to y'all is mostly scripted and manipulated in post to fit the narrative the shows producers want. That being said, it's even more crazy they get these people to do it. I am in a state of bewilderment. I've never experienced a dialectic so strongly, my extreme level of embarrassment for these people walks hand in hand with my extreme level of intrigue a mix that left me uncomfortably comfortable. I've read that the subjects of these "reality" programs, do not receive compensation. (at least not from the producing network) I have thought about this more than I care to admit and I just can't figure out why anyone would participate on what is essentially a worldwide television show that makes the people participating look as bad as they do for our enjoyment. This is not a complaint however because it is unnervingly captivating. I can't shake the feeling that there couldn't possibly be this many ignorant, oblivious walking cringe emitters and its all an act... but that is another reason I ended up watching the whole damn series, because I wanted to catch them slipping and pull a Truman show gotcha.

Four seasons in, I just became aware of this show's existence. After watching two episodes, I think it is mostly sad.

The concept is that individuals from the U.S., who have a long-distance relationship with people they may not have met, get engaged. When their fiancees come to the U.S. on K-1 visas, they have 90 days to get married--or they have to leave the country, by law.

The trend in dating-for-marriage shows seems to be speeding up the process. "The Bachelor" gives its participants mere weeks to make a life-long connection. "Spouse House" requires participants to become engaged or risk being evicted from the house/show. "90-day Fiancé" uses immigration law to accelerate the ticking clock for its five couples.

What really makes this concept perilous for participants is the real and obvious risk of "catfishing". It is very much like offering someone money if they get married to a person they know very little about. Yes, there are declarations of love, but viewers can clearly see that some relationships are very suspect.

In the end, viewers get train wrecks or love stories, both of which are interesting viewing. There is also plenty of drama, based on the anxieties of the participants, which viewers feel vicariously.

As much as I watch it and at times enjoy it, it's still amazing how Americans travel across the world for love which is fine and all, but OMG can you all PLEASE LEARN ABOUT THE CUSTOMS AND CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT COUNTRY. Going away so far away for love is beautiful, but it's trouble some that the majority of them knows absolutely nothing about the country, which makes it so hard to communicate and understand each other. This is something that annoys me, because yes I am from a different country dating an American and at times I am amazed on how much he's so lost about my country and customs SMH. Word of advice please do your homework before you buy your ticket.

I do like this show but it's one of those tv programs that aggravates you so much, you could just turn the tv off and never watch it. That's how annoying it is.

First off, as someone who's a child of an American & a foreigner I am disgusted how most of the immigrants on this show are treated by the American families. I get the fact that you're protective of your family & want to protect them from "some foreign scammer". --NEWSFLASH--- not every foreign immigrant who comes to American is scamming you, is dirt poor, wants your money, wants to live off of you or wants your American jobs. It is customary to send money "back home" for many cultures once in America. It's taking care of your 1st family. My mom does it still & America has been her home for 20+ years. The level of snobbish ethnocentric attitude coming from these families is part of the reason other countries/cultures have a negative perspective of us as a whole. Never mind the fact that the people who came here for real genuine love are lonely AF, might feel depressed, have a language barrier & feel out of place when they move hundreds of miles from their own home.

Chantel's family is the most infuriating out of all people on the whole series. Yes, Pedro has made mistakes & done things in very bad taste (the fight) but initially, they gave this guy a hard time & continued to relentlessly harass him all with a smirk on their face. It's sickening to watch this family, including her passively aggressively attack him, knowing he can't prove it cause he'll look defensive & cause Chantel is playing both sides and barely defends him against her controlling family. I honestly pray he leaves her. I can't stand to watch them anymore, I just fast forward. It's laughable they have their own show too???

Why does this show continue to provoke by asking the wrong questions to the victims & not anything to the aggressors? TLC step it up. You used to be one of my favorite networks, but you're quality is going down hill from having trashy people on your shows. Smh.

People wanting an ideal with not understanding much about their partner they met briefly, and not knowing themselves either