Since I have done nothing but work and sit around my house
this summer, obsessively watching episodes of a television show back to back
has become one of my favorite pastimes. The most recent show I’ve been serially
watching is Catfish.
Catfish is a
reality show on MTV (already sounds promising, right?) that reveals the truths
and lies of online relationships. Nev Shulman and his filmmaker friend, Max
Joseph, host the show and help people in online relationships figure out of the
person they are in love with is truly who they are, or using a fake photo and
name online. The term catfish refers to someone who poses as someone else
online, hence the name of the show. Nev was catfished himself in the 2010
documentary of the same name when he discovered the woman he was romancing
online was not who she said she was. I’ve only seen a handful of episodes so
far, but I kind of love it.
The show is really bad, but I can’t stop watching. Part of
the appeal is the Nev and Max dynamic. They are both really dorky and kind of
awkward and their interactions with each other make me chuckle. I also don’t
really understand why Max walks around with cameras the whole episode when the
pair has a camera crew following them around as well, but it's part of the appeal for me. No episode is
complete without Nev lovingly touching the catfish victim on the shoulder
whilst consoling them, or without Max blatantly calling shenanigans on the
person they are supposedly in love with, crushing everyone’s hopes and dreams. So
classic.
 |
| The "Classic Nev" |
The people involved in these relationships are so blatantly
blinded by their “love” that you can’t help but watch to see what happens. In
almost all of the episodes I’ve seen, the person on the other end of the
relationship is lying about who they truly are. Before that is confirmed,
however, it is so obvious that they are hiding something that you wonder why
the person being duped hasn’t realized it yet. It’s also super exciting to watch
Nev and Max when they investigate the person online and find crazy stuff about
them. The best part obviously is when Nev and the crew confront the online
liars in person.
As I watch the show, I know it’s bad and kind of stupid, but
I’m still in love. My younger brother Ben and I have been watching it together
and high five and shout “Classic Nev and Max!” whenever the pair does something
uncomfortable, so that has made the show all the more enjoyable. I know I’m
like super late to the party on this one since the show is fairly popular and
is now in its second season, but better late than never for hopping on the
crappy reality tv bandwagon, am I right?!
Have a great end to the week and thanks for reading :)
