In fairness, there were a few episodes early on that actually were interesting. Now it's just a combination of obvious clout chasers, product placement literally everywhere, and the show using people who appear to be genuinely ill.
They spend the opening of the episode "investigating" (in other words, searching the same internet that the "victims" presumably have access to). They speculate and brew some drama before setting up a meeting with the "catfish." The first encounter is usually more hostile so they take a break, then come back with something along the lines of...
"How did you get here? What made you do this? Tell us your deepest, darkest secrets. We care."
*catfish shares horrid story of woe and despair, usually accompanied by tears*
"Mmhmm, mhmm....terrible.... Ok well, bye!"
*Catfish crew leave, high-fiving each other about what good people they are.*
It has the train-wreck entertainment value of Jerry Springer, but unlike Springer, there's this really pompous, holier than thou attitude. They really seem to want to convince you that they "care" about these people they're exploiting.
What actually made me write a review was catching a few episodes of the latest season, where they've gone completely virtual. They're now making an entire television show of people literally just sitting at their computers arguing about ridiculous drama.
It's slightly hilarious, pretty sad, mildly creepy and extremely bizarre.
