Netflix Gets One Of The Most Celebrated Satire Series In Years

Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) has just recovered from a breakdown that almost ended her career as the series opens on the fictional reality show set of Everlasting.

UnReal on Netflix follows Rachel as she stirs up rivalries and serves up footage of histrionics for a successful season of the show, all while trying to get her fractured life back together. Her boss, Quinn King (Constance Zimmer) keeps her on her toes as she navigates the treacherous terrain of studio politics.

With a BA in Women’s Studies from Vassar, Rachael seems like an unlikely candidate for a position that requires her to encourage young women to compete with each other over the affections of a male suitor, throwing each other under the bus in the process.

While her sensibilities aren’t necessarily in keeping with her job requirements, the problem is that she’s good at it, making it hard for her to leave. UnReal on Netflix shows Rachel being swallowed whole by the show, pushing the boundaries of her own moral center, and regretting that her best skill is also her biggest flaw.

Zeroing in on the people who make reality TV, UnReal tackles some big social topics, like sexual harassment, homophobia, and racism. Dozens of women competing to win the affections of a single male suitor in the show are shepherded along by producers who are fully aware of the social forces at work. UnReal on Netflix is a refreshingly honest look at how television gets made, and brings the naked prejudices of studio bosses into sharp focus.

An 80 percent fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85 percent rating from audiences make UnReal a hit, bringing all its drama to Netflix for a new audience. Beloved by audiences for its relatable characters that you love and then hate and then love to hate, the show connects with people with empathy as well as with scorn.

The dramatic lives of the staff of Everlasting are even more outrageous than the contestants, giving the series a soapy, indulgent feel while playing on the very entertainment industry themes at the core of the show’s satire.

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Although UnReal on Netflix isn’t based on one particular true story, it definitely took inspiration from reality dating shows like The Bachelor. Portraying the reality dating experience from a behind-the-scenes perspective sheds some light on the lack of reality that underpins so much of reality TV. With secrets spilled, tempers stoked, and insecurities amplified, Unreal tells a truer story than shows that claim to bare all and pushes all the self-referential buttons that a good entertainment industry satire should.