After dating shows have had almost everything – naked B celebrities dating on one island, naked C celebrities dating on another island, people getting married without even dating, it seems there’s only one thing left: back to the 19th century th century.
Instead of “wandering clumsily over displays” like on dating apps, the participants in the new dating show “Love is King” on ProSieben should get to know and love each other disguised as princes and princesses in a castle. After all, what could be more obvious than to offer the TV generation, who loves Netflix series like “Bridgerton” and new editions of “Sissi” with a lot of sex and almost no historical fidelity to the facts, an absolute trash TV format in a castle?
The crowning glory of the trash is Her Majesty Olivia Jones, in the truest sense of the word. The drag queen, dressed in a dream of pink bed sheets and a frozen yogurt-esque construct on her head, checks to see if the princes and princesses have what it takes to become aristocrats. “Instead of fumbling half-naked and naughty in the pool, they stroll around the castle pond in decent clothes,” she summarizes the drama. If one could actually turn in one’s grave, the British writer of “Pride and Prejudice”, Jane Austen, would have done so now at the latest.
First, the drag queen Jones evaluates the aristocratic transformation of the participants, with which she is visibly satisfied. For the men there is a hat and scarf, for the women pastel-colored ruffles and a tiara in their hair, just like one wears to bachelorette parties on the Reeperbahn. With a view clouded by enough Kölsch, that would certainly pass as a “Bridgerton” disguise at carnival.
“Aaaah!”, the participants squeal with enthusiasm when they enter the castle from “the tent of transformation” and look at themselves in one of the fake gold-plated mirrors for the first time. “Wow!” says participant Louisa, wearing jeans and a top instead is now wearing what looks like an oversized shopping bag with a collar. Anyone who briefly suspected that wearing a dress that is difficult to put on, living as a princess in a castle and waiting for a prince is not really the dream of every woman, will be taught otherwise in this format.
“Feeling like a princess for once and meeting the dream man in a beautiful dress in a great castle is a fairytale idea,” says candidate Karima. Meanwhile, on this show, emancipation is buried along with good taste with fanfares and a funeral march.
The men are no less impressed with their new look. “I’m a big fan of the old days,” explains Prince Stanko. “I think it’s in my blood that I would be a really good knight.” His reason: His grandfather had horses.
He and his comrades are here “to find their partner for life,” as of course are all people who take part in a TV dating show. In this format, they now also have to stand up to the strict gaze of Her Majesty Olivia Jones I. And that’s not so easy, because the princes and princesses should not only look breathtaking, but also have to adhere to court etiquette. This includes, among other things, “Eating aesthetically” and “Personal hygiene.” “Aaaah, so strict,” say the participants. No wonder Meghan Markle didn’t last long in the British royal family with such tough rules.
In addition to good manners, viewers can learn even more: Prince Jerome has a few tips ready for men on how to score points with a woman. “Hold open the door of the car too” and “I would massage your neck while eating pasta”.
But this clever trick will probably not work here, because: Touching is only permitted under the strict supervision of chaperone Olivia Jones.
“A certain intellect here with a man would be great,” says candidate Janine in another room in the castle and then has to laugh herself.
Prince Julian is modern and emphasizes that he doesn’t have a specific type of woman, after all there are so many different women, “I think”. Only one thing is important to him: “She should be able to cook.”
With this view, he represents everything that the show says: Many men and women obviously do not want a modern relationship at all, they would rather continue to live as they did in the 19th century. Men choose women based on looks, status and domestic skills, women just wait to be chosen, nothing else matters for now. “Hopefully someone thinks I’m great,” says candidate Nora before she can get to know the princes.
“Women want to be princesses and be conquered by a man,” is emphasized several times. So it’s only logical that the men can ultimately decide which lady they want to dance with and one woman remains and has to leave the show, the “Bridgerton” version of “Bachelor”. Worryingly, some women on “Love is King” go haywire when a man displays polite behavior and some men don’t act polite until they’re put in glittery vests, a hat, and a chaperon to be observed. Perhaps the simple solution would be to just treat each other with mutual respect at all times.
But that seems to pose insurmountable challenges for some people – or as Prince Julian sums it up: “Etiquette is easy to understand but difficult to implement.”
