Recently TV networks have been doubling down on reality romance. Feeding all of our addictions to the drama of reality dating TV shows, in the past few years they have blessed us with “Love Island” and “Too Hot to Handle.” 

“Love Island” first originated in 2005 in the United Kingdom, and throughout the years has spawned different international versions. The most recent season, was aired here in the U.S. 

The show takes place at a beautiful villa in Los Angeles, California, where they bring a group of single hotties together for eight weeks to embark in dating, romance, and drama. To ultimately win the show and the prize of $50,000, each person has to win the heart of another contestant to “couple up,” as well as the hearts of the viewers so they can rack up votes to stay on the show. 

Similar to “Love Island,” the show “Too Hot to Handle” aired in 2020 and got me drooling for reality romance – especially during the beginning of the pandemic when there was nothing to do, this show had me hooked. 

“Too Hot to Handle” has the same purpose as “Love Island,” where a group of conventionally attractive individuals come together for eight weeks for love, $100,000, and, of course, drama. The only difference is the rules that these contestants have to follow. 

Both shows involve various workshops and fun dates and activities during the day that these contestants participate in to help create stronger bonds between couples and potential couples. Then everyone usually ends the night with a party or some kind of fun get together, stirring up the drama between couples and contestants. 

Now the difference between these two shows is that “Too Hot to Handle’’ has some stricter rules to follow compared to “Love Island.” These rules include forbidding all types of physical intimacy between contestants. If this rule is broken in any way, between anybody, for each fracture, a certain amount of money is taken out of the grand total of $100,000, impacting everyone on the show. 

Now most people, including myself, would probably think that following this rule for eight weeks would be a piece of cake if $100,000 was on the line. However these individuals are exactly what the title says, they just can’t resist and apparently don’t care enough about losing money. 

Between these two shows however, I do think that “Too Hot to Handle” is the better choice. I think the concept and the message of “Too Hot to Handle” overall outshines “Love Island.”

Now of course it is a reality dating show, so the stupid drama, rule breaks between couples that seem pointless from my couch, the witty robot host, and the almost obvious script that the directors probably have these hotties follow, mask the whole meaning behind the show. 

The amount of rules the contestants have to follow on “Too Hot to Handle” and prices they have to pay for these rule breaks are comical, however in the end, it make sense. The whole point of the show is to help these incredibly attractive individuals tap in with their inner emotions and try and make meaningful connections beyond the physical part. 

I found “Love island” to also be very entertaining, also fulfilling my need for reality romance and unnecessary drama in my life. I just think that “Too Hot to Handle” is overall the better option with the added suspense of all of the rule breaks and the money on the line. So if the romantic aspect of your life is currently lacking, or if you enjoy watching hot people create drama and lose money I recommend giving these shows a chance.