Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark

Another hook up show with a twist of a theme. Don't know who thought up the title "Sneaky Link" but it is a nice way of saying FUBU (F *** Buddies). They join the show not knowing their FUBU is going to be there - someone they hook up with at the bar for example, without knowing anything about each other, keep doing the same thing w/o any expectation at all. The guys are first to admit they are the worst FBs and usually move on to the next as soon as they get the girl in bed. The reason they are here is that they are ready to settle down, get into a relationship to have a girl they can see a future with. Problem is, they don't know how. So the show is designed to teach them to get to know the girl first and some of the players keep hurting girls in their quest for "self-improvement ". I only watched it for Colt who was a good looking player and character and kept it entertaining.

Look, there's already dozens of different series focused on young, attractive, not-so-intelligent singles meeting other young, attractive, not-so-intelligent singles and seeing if they're going to "couple up." The thing that makes this series original is that they're surprised by having their "sneaky link" (friends with benefits) on this dating show with them. But it doesn't provide THAT much extra drama. In fact, aside from a couple of occasional disputes here and there, almost everyone on this series is surprisingly civil. You'll find your "favorites," you'll find a couple people who annoy you a bit, but overall you' find yourself rooting for each of them to... "just pick someone and stick with them already!" Unfortunately, the host is basically useless. She doesn't have a great personality, and contributes nothing to the show. The co-host ("relationship expert"?) is really doing the host's duties. There are occasional "challenges" throughout the show, but most of them are a bit boring and extremely low-stakes. Usually, on a series like this, you look forward to some sort of "gimmick" or challenges, but not on this series.

So overall, it's fine. My wife and I found ourselves intrigued enough to keep watching each episode without being bored, but if they're going to have a second season, they need to find a way to make it a little more interesting.

The show tries to be something between Bachelor in Paradise, Ex on the Beach and Netflix's Cheat: Unfinished Business, but it accomplishes the drama or entertainment of neither. The idea is quite good - couples who are "friends with benefits", but when put the relationship to the test, end up exploring other singles by calling them and "sneaking in" the middle of the night to see each other. But the execution is messy and incoherent. First, the "couples" come to the motel pretty sure they don't want a serious relationship, so no drama there. Second, the new people who arrive don't know any of the OGs, so what was the point of starting with the not-so-much established couples anyway. The hosts decide who leave, when they leave, based on who didn't make a connection, but if that were true half of the cast would have to leave in the first episodes (the decision seems sporadic and with no "rose ceremony"). And the worst part of it was that there was no real sneaking around. The power that was given to call someone in the middle of the night was barely used.

It's not a show about hooking up, because of the "relationship expert" co-host pushing the contestants to find "the one"; but it's also not a show about serious relationship because everybody there only know each other for a week in a party ambiance.

If you have nothing to do on a Friday night and you have a glass of wine on your hand, the show can be enough entertainment, just don't expect too much of it. If there were to be a second season, they must decide which way the show is going and not just gather random characteristics of different reality tv and hope for the drama to appear.