Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020

This is actually quite a good reality-TV series, despite that it feels somewhat scripted at times. The six housemates are interesting and beautiful people, and they are - surprise! - kind to each other (for the most part). So no such drama that usually is the staple of other similar shows. Instead, here you get decent people trying to navigate their careers and potentially their love lives.

Is this boring? Not at all. Watching 20-somethings (and one in his early 30s) living and interacting maturely and generously to each other is rather a refreshing respite from the standard fare of drama queens and hateful selfishness often seen in this genre. The scenes outside the house add to good story-telling, as do the often hilarious commentaries from the six "hosts".

If, like me, you didn't really take to the earlier versions of the series, do give this one a try.

A welcome break from reality shows where people are purposely pitted against each other for the enhanced drama that sells so well in the West. Here, ultra-polite Japanese kids try to find a way to live with each other, obeying the many gentle social norms so common in Japan and so bizarre in the West. Since there is no script, you're left to focus on the little intricacies of everyday living and a look, a word, a sigh acquires much deeper meaning. They are all, in a way, trying to find love, or at least a little bit of TV limelight. The dating connections are so painfully sloooooow, but that's that makes them interesting to watch. Also, there is a panel of the funniest hosts who comment on the going ons once or twice every episode. They bring in a needed break from the meditative pace cracking the craziest jokes, directly lambasting the unfavourited participants. All in all, a brilliant way to get acquainted a bit more with Japanese culture and what makes it so fascinating.

Even omitting the out-of-show events that lead to this series cancellation, Terrace House 2020 was already at reaching it's worst point since the late portion of 'Aloha State'.

Envisioned as a lead up the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (cancelled), the season starts interesting enough, but finds itself sabotaged by poor casting choices that created objections not only in Japan, but with it's worldwide audiences. First, commentary regular Tokui was suddenly removed from broadcast due to tax evasion. Then, a particular member's aggressive advances towards another cast members lead international critics to blame the show of being an enabler of sexual predation.

Finally, the show came to it's abrupt end with the suicide of a member who was cyberbullied following an altercation with another member.

So, while there may be enjoyable moments to this season, as a whole, it is very difficult to recommend watching TH 2020 to anyone but the most diehard TH fans.

I remembered watching 1st episode of the older season almost 2 years ago & it didn't grab me. This current season pop up on my recommendation & probably due to my age & different settings in my life, different cast etc, this season does grab my attention. Just like any reality show, I think it really helps if the showcased individuals has charms & real personalities instead of fake persona. The producer does a good job so far for this current series. As the camera is not turned on 24/7 & the whole week is edited in 30 minutes, commentator helps bridge the gap on things that are not aired, activities on tweeter etc.

While waiting for the next episode to arrive I actually ending up binging the previous seasons (as I wrote the netflix in the country where I lived aired until eps12 while in factual it's already at eps15) & googling about all the other seasons (there are 4 on Netflix), the good, the bad & the ugly. I managed to just read enough without spoiling it.

Yes, it can be boring, yes it can be cheesy, feel scripted at some points, not intellectually challenging but it's entertaining without overly exaggerating. I'm entertained... so Netflix thank you for sponsoring this show.

Far better than any western reality show. Watched all seasons thoroughly entertained.