With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much affecting everyone's daily lives, many have turned to the comforts of television — specifically reality TV. Often dismissed as "guilty pleasure" fare, there's often a lot to learn from reality shows, from finding out exactly how much a lavish Indian wedding can cost to discovering amazing on-budget vacation rentals around the world.
2021 has delivered new and groundbreaking TV dramas and has also given fans a plethora of new reality TV shows to discover. With innovative dating shows like FBoy Island and new twists on old classics such as The Challenge: All Stars, there have been so many exciting reality TV shows to enjoy in 2021. But which are the best?
11 The Big Day - 4.6
Netflix brought The Big Day to screens in 2021. The show follows six engaged Indian couples planning extravagant weddings. With two weddings in each of the three episodes, viewers get an exclusive inside look at the multibillion-dollar Indian wedding industry.
Many have criticized The Big Day for being a gratuitous gawk at the opulence, but the show also handles more thought-provoking themes including how the young couples choose to incorporate modern values into traditional ceremonies.
Available to stream on Netflix.
10 FBoy Island - 5.0
An HBO Max Original, FBoy Island is a new twist on the tropical island dating game genre. Three single ladies are whisked away to golden sands, where they're joined by 24 eligible bachelors. The show follows their quest to identify the "nice guys" looking for true love and oust the self-proclaimed players (or so-called "f-boys").
FBoy Island produced some popular cast members and the new show has all the ingredients to get fans of Love Island and Too Hot to Handle hooked. Seasoned reality fans may find that FBoy Island doesn't offer much to the "dating show on a tropical island" reality subgenre, but there's plenty of fun to be had in guessing which guys have good intentions.
Available to stream on HBO Max.
9 Cooking With Paris - 5.3
Paris Hilton sets out to create a cooking show for people who can't cook in her new Netflix series, aptly named Cooking with Paris. Hilton users her star power to pull in special guests including Kim Kardashian West, Demi Lovato, and Saweetie.
Its easy-going, relatable take on cooking might not satisfy die-hard MasterChef fans, nor may Cooking with Paris be as charming as Selena + Chef, but the show is certainly pure entertainment. The highlights of Cooking with Paris' are definitely its sense of humor and accessibility; its stream of celebrity guests helping out in the kitchen is a fun addition, too.
Available to stream on Netflix.
8 My Unorthodox Life - 5.5
My Unorthodox Life is a new reality series from Netflix, documenting the life of fashion designer and entrepreneur Julia Haart. The show follows Julia, who originally heralds from Russia and became a part of the Orthodox Jewish community after immigrating to the United States as a child, as she and her family adjust to life outside the Haredi community.
While it may feel samey to some viewers as it follows a similar formula to most docuseries reality TV shows, My Unorthodox Life makes for compelling viewing. Getting to know the Haart family is a fun ride for viewers, and Julia's daughter Batsheva Weinstein has quickly become a fan-favorite.
Available to stream on Netflix.
7 Love In Paradise: The Caribbean - 5.6
Discovery+ officially launched Love in Paradise: The Caribbean, another spinoff of the hit reality series 90 Day Fiancé. The drama-filled reality show follows four couples who found love in the Caribbean as they navigate distance and drama.
Despite some fans claiming that some behavior depicted in the spinoff made them feel "icky"', the show has proved to be a popular addition to the 90 Day franchise overall. It certainly offers a different viewing experience to the regular series of 90 Day Fiancé, but there's still the usual drama to get wrapped up in.
Available to stream on Discovery+.
6 Bling Empire - 5.8
Heralded as reality TV's answer to Crazy Rich Asians, Bling Empire gives viewers an inside look into the lives of LA's wealthy Asian and Asian American socialites.
Bling Empire is full of colorful personalities, glamorous parties, and heaps of drama which have all helped to cement its place as one of the buzziest new reality shows of 2021. Though some criticize it as a celebration of materialism, the show features a good mix of characters that viewers will find relatable regardless of wealth and status.
Available to stream on Netflix.
5 90 Day: The Single Life - 6.3
Another 90 Day Fiancé spinoff, 90 Day: The Single Life brings back characters from the main show for another chance at finding love.
The Single Life feels like a logical addition to the 90 Day family. It's entertaining to see familiar faces return to continue their journey, and there's plenty of drama (and more than a few wild storylines) to keep fans tuning in, even if it's not as enthralling as the flagship series.
Available to stream on Discovery+.
4 Vanderpump Dogs - 6.5
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Lisa Vanderpump returns in a new pup-based reality show. Vanderpump Dogs matches adorable dogs with their forever families, while also giving viewers a glimpse of Vanderpump's rescue center.
Fans had questions about Vanderpump Dogs, but it's proved to be a popular reality offering this year. It's as fun and glamorous as audiences would expect from a show fronted by Vanderpump, but beyond that, it's a heartfelt and heartwarming show as Vanderpump's passion for the cause shines through — even if it's not as full of juicy drama as her other shows.
Available to stream on Peacock.
3 The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals - 6.7
The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' premise is simple: three travelers visit all corners of the globe to show viewers the most astonishing rental properties.
The show certainly delivers on that front, but what sets it apart is that each of the three seasoned travelers has a distinct budget tier, giving viewers travel inspiration no matter their spending limit. At a time when most people's purse strings are a little tighter, this consideration is a welcome addition to an already entertaining show.
Available to stream on Netflix.
2 Baking Impossible - 6.9
The Great British Baking Show meets Lego Masters in Baking Impossible, an innovative new cooking show from Netflix. The show pairs bakers with engineers — aka "bakineers" — as they build edible bakes that are then subjected to unbelievable stress tests. There's a $100,000 prize pot up for grabs, so the stakes are high as the bakineers compete in outlandish new challenges every episode.
Baking Impossible proves itself to be more than just another baking show. In fact, it's a skillful blend of logic and creativity. The innovative twist offers something for everyone, even those who aren't usually partial to cooking and baking shows.
Available to stream on Netflix.
1 The Challenge: All Stars - 8.3
Paramount+ presents a spinoff of The Challenge, inviting back 24 veterans to compete in grueling physical challenges for a chance to win $500k. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the idea was originally pitched by former The Challenge competitor Mark Long, who took to social media to share his ideas in 2020. Less than a year later, the show hit fans' screens with Long serving double duty as both cast member and executive producer.
Fans of the original seasons of The Challenge will probably get the most enjoyment from this new outing, with plenty of flashbacks and a strong sense of nostalgia. But the challenges are strong enough to hook in new viewers too, and there's a mature edge to the returning contestants that makes the series even more enjoyable to watch.
Available to stream on Paramount+.
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