Netflix’s ‘Perfect Match’

Returning contestants (and drama) in the new dating show

Stella Schneider / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista

After not finding love on previous Netflix reality shows they participated in, 23 singles are looking for another chance in Netflix’s new dating show, “Perfect Match.” In this mega-dating series, fan favorites from a wide range of unscripted dating and reality shows are coming together on a tropical island for another shot at love. 

Contestants on “Perfect Match” come from other Netflix shows such as “Love is Blind,” “Too Hot To Handle,” “The Circle,” “The Ultimatum,” “Sexy Beasts,” “The Mole,” “Selling Tampa” and “Twentysomethings: Austin.” These shows quickly gained traction upon their release due to  their personality-driven participants and entertaining drama between a number of individuals. 

“Perfect Match” has a unique layout, because its ensemble group of contestants have already competed in a variety of different dating and reality shows. 

Now, they will couple up with other contestants, and the most compatible couples will play matchmaker, breaking up other couples and sending them on new dates with other singles. Tensions will likely rise as this star cast must compete as couples to stay on the tropical island. 

USD junior Kali Villaluna has seen a variety of dating and reality shows on Netflix over the years and is interested in the return of so many memorable contestants. 

“I feel like the stage isn’t big enough for all these contestants to come back; the drama is going to be through the roof,” Villaluna expressed. 

“Perfect Match” brings cast members from both reality and dating shows that grabbed the attention of many Netflix subscribers. Most of these shows were released during and in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, dating shows exploded with popularity because people were stuck inside and unable to find love themselves. Shows like “Love is Blind,” “Too Hot to Handle,” and others released in 2020 became a big source of entertainment and excitement during a time where audiences couldn’t go out into the world and meet new people. Because of this, they had audiences ready for love, drama, competition and everything in between.

One show that drums up conversations and controversy is “Too Hot to Handle.” First released in 2020, producers  casted big personalities looking to hookup and party for a summer on a tropical island. The show reverses what the contestants thought they would be doing, by having them look for actual love and connection while remaining celibate all summer. With this new guise for the show, “Too Hot to Handle” hosts some of the more wild people seen on a Netflix dating show. With a large number of them returning for “Perfect Match,” they are sure to solicit drama.

USD sophomore Jadyn Driggs has seen “Too Hot to Handle” and other popular Netflix dating shows.

“I think [Perfect Match] will be successful, because they’re bringing back all these people that everyone was obsessed with. Like Francesca brought so much drama in ‘Too Hot to Handle’ I can’t imagine her with all these new people,” Driggs expressed. 

While this new show brings contestants of dating shows like “Too Hot to Handle,” it also brings characters from reality shows created by Netlifx, including “The Circle.” In this social experiment and game of strategy, players work to gain one another’s trust in hopes of being voted the favorite contestant within the game. “The Circle” became popular for its different format compared to other reality or game shows; with a game based on social merit, you can come in as yourself, or as a catfish in hopes of being voted the group’s favorite player. It quickly brought people from all walks of life together to compete, resulting in some memorable players. 

USD senior Lex Debonis has been a fan of “The Circle” since its initial release in 2020 and expressed her intrigue with  certain contestants coming back for a dating show.

“I think this is a great PR move. They are already well known for their reality show and now moving into the dating show is smart to widen their audience… Great strategy for them, and entertaining for me,” Debonis remarked.

Bringing popular contestants back from both dating and reality shows will bring back audiences, as they hope contestants they like will get their second chance at love. 

“Perfect Match” will be 12 episodes long, with its first batch of episodes released on Feb. 14. Over the coming weeks, the show will release four episodes a week and are all available to stream on Netflix.