Originally this was supposed to be a “10 Worst Moments from Perfect Match Season 2 Finale.” I’ve previously done the same thing for episodes 1-6 and 7-9 so I was ready to do the same thing with the finale. But there are no “worst moments” for the Perfect Match season 2 finale because this was the most boring reality TV series finale I’ve watched in a really long time. On top of that, they ignored the whole premise of the show and made viewers fools by thinking that if they stuck around, the couple who had worked hard on their relationship would be crowned the perfect match. Instead we got Christine and Nigel being together for 2.5 seconds and winning the whole thing. Simply put, we were robbed.
Inherently, reality TV viewers know that this is reality TV. We know that there are going to be twists and turns that leave us shocked and gagged. We also know that there is a plan behind the scenes to make sure that the season is juicy and gives viewers plenty to talk about. And us, the viewer, we enter into a social contract with reality TV shows where there will be some sort of satisfying conclusion for all the hours we spent watching their show. Perfect Match season 2 forgot that social contract. Or maybe they thought they were shaking things up and getting some buzz. Which, they did because here I am like a fool talking about the boring season finale. But at the same time, Netflix looks like a fool for stringing along viewers for 10 episodes before throwing a curveball at them that made no sense and no one wanted.
If there was anyone that deserved to be the perfect match of season 2 it was Alara and Stevan. From the very start, I didn’t think that they would work. And they admitted themselves that they were not each other’s usual type. But as the season progressed we got to see them bond, laugh, and anticipate each other’s needs. They worked. And I’m really disappointed in Netflix that they didn’t lean in to this chemistry that seemed to perfectly exemplify what this show is about: giving love a chance and seeing if you can find someone who is their other half aka their perfect match. So it boggles the mind as to how everyone in that house didn’t end up voting for Alara and Stevan.
There’s also Tolú and Chris. I don’t like Chris. There’s been something sketch about him from the start and when he had that conversation with Xanthi and basically said that he was being held back by his relationship with Tolú, I was out. But Tolú was in. Tolú took the time and was a forgiving, patient, and uplifting woman and partner. So if Alara and Stevan weren’t going to win, I wanted Tolú and Chris to win. Not for Chris, but for Tolú. Because she put herself out there and she committed to what the show is about. But instead we got a couple who only dated for what felt like chump change in comparison to these other couples that have been together for multiple episodes.
It’s not to say that Perfect Match season 2 didn’t have some moments that left me, the viewer, reeling. I’m glad that Jessica walked away from Harry. She’s still a fool for the way that she came at Melinda when her man was a willing participant in this kiss. He was the cheater and the video and audio proved it. Melinda was playing the game they were brought there for. Nevertheless, I’m glad that Jessica stood her ground and left the house. It didn’t make sense for her to come back and try to do something sweaty with Izzy but at least it was entertaining. Even the plot twist that Jessica and Harry were dating in the credits of the season 2 finale was tweet-worthy. And I was left floored by the Netflix editing department when they announced two seconds later that Jessica and Harry broke up like a week later. But that’s where the good of the season 2 finale of Perfect Match ended.
Some people will think that I’m being a little bit dramatic about writing this because “it’s just reality TV.” But again, we enter into a social contract with reality TV where we both have to deliver on our ends. It’s the reason why The Bachelor has a couple spin-offs and over 28 seasons. People want to believe in the fantasy of love. And Perfect Match just stomped on that and wasted viewers’ time with their reality TV leftover contestants. So if viewers know that Netflix is going to waste their time and throw some nonsensical plot twist at the end, what makes Netflix think that viewers are going to stick around for the next season of this show, week by week? Because I would rather just watch the season finale to know if I’m going to be duped before spending 10 episodes watching something and wasting my time. Again.
Perfect Match season 2 is now available on Netflix.
Melinda deserved an apology from Harry.