House of Villains

The show keeps getting funnier and funnier. I first started watching because I am a Challenge fan, and I wanted to see how Johnny Bananas would be portrayed. I usually hate him on The Challenge, but I find myself rooting for him on this show.

I'm also familiar with the other characters and their respective shows. I hated Shake on his show, Omarosa, on her show, and Johnny Fairplay on his shows. On this show however, they're all super funny and play right into the villain characters. Bobby and all the other characters are hilarious also.

Joel McHale and the production crew really know how to work the show and make it entertaining.

I almost quit watching after the first episode because it seems so boring and contrived. But I gave it a couple more episodes and by the third episodes I was hooked. I only gave it nine stars because I don't think there should be a second season. I just don't think it would be as good as the first.

If you enjoy villainy, this may be the series for you. The producers have assembled ten so-called vlllains to compete for $200,000. Each of them is a veteran of reality TV who earned a reputation for treachery or unlikability.

Joel McHale hosts the show. The villains live in a "lair" that is a cross between the "Bachelor" house and the the "Big Brother" compound. They compete in a "Battle Royale" to determine who will be the head villain of each week. That person nominates three villains for possible banishment, who then compete in a "redemption challenge" to save one of them. The other contestants vote to determine which of the remaining two villains is banished.

The ten villains come from such shows as "Survivor", "The Apprentice" and "Love and Hip Hop". One of them may have an advantage because he has competed in more than twenty seasons of competitive reality TV. One of them proved herself to be villainous well beyond TV. All of them have inflated egos.

Expect plenty of posturing and melodramatic monologues. This show does not rank highly among all reality shows, but it definitely fills a unique niche in the genre.

Each person brings their own spark to the show. None of those stars shine as bright as Tiffany (New York) Pollard. She is in her delulu era and I'm hear for it. Challenge fans will recognize some of Johnny Bananas old tricks. Omarosa is as cunning and blunt just like she was on Celebrity Big Brother. The way each player is eliminates is hilarious. Joel McHale is the perfect host. The editing is pretty good. Only bad thing is the cliffhangers but I can get over that. Watching these people who have been on my television for twenty years separately interact with each other is a pleasure. The villains know their roles and came to play.

This is the show I look most forward to viewing each week. The Houseguests are magic, Joel McHale as Host is perfectly snarky and even the production crew who pop in and out complete the narrative and nurture the tone of the show.

It's a fresh take on all of these redundant reality shows with manufactured drama. Somehow, despite their villain titles and behavior, there is something equally charming about each contestant. The show also is an interesting examination, whether intended or not, of the burden and, maybe in some cases, desperation of having and keeping the image up. I can't believe more people aren't watching.

I don't know who created the show but I want to personally thank them for this incredibly fresh spin on reality tv competition shows. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I only wish there was a way they all could remain in the house together while competing. The house dynamics are so good that it is almost more painful to see a contestant go than a deserving player on The Amazing Race or Survivor. I didn't even know half of the contestants before watching but now I genuinely am fascinated by them all.

So there you have it. This is the show to watch. Here's to hoping for a reunion episode of House of Villains!

Anyone reviewing this show as less than five is not the target audience. If you love reality shows, if you love competition and if you love drama, this show is for you. The humor is 10 out of 10, the fights are petty and the gameplay is advanced. I'm laughing out loud every single episode, and half of the house guests are as well. My only complaint would be that there is a deficit between people coming in who has played strategy games before and people who have not but that makes the dynamic that much funnier. This show is a gift for the seasoned reality show viewer. If you're not watching house of villains, you're missing out on the most fun hour of TV happening right now.

(and this is coming from a person who's literal 2 favorite television shows are airing right now)