By Morgan Thomas, Wayne State University

In the competition series, 456 contestants will play children’s games for a chance to win a record-breaking $4.56 million prize.

By Kwami Maranga, Binghamton University

The FX show successfully brings together aspects of humor, drama and social commentary in a beautiful package.

By Trinity Crompton, Molloy College

The relatively low stakes of this series help make it a quality reality program that stands out from many of its peers.

By Darby Williams, University of Michigan

The anger-prone chef’s hit reality TV program may not be fine dining, but it’s downright indulgent.

By Nathan Kolodney, Wesleyan University

While high fashion has always been incredibly influential, this HBO Max show is aiming to change the culture surrounding an entirely ignored style of clothing.

By Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

The idea that two people could fall in love with each other even when their face is masked is intriguing, but the show misses the mark.

By Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

Fashion mogul Julia Haart and the rest of her family are equal parts heartfelt and boisterous in their new Netflix special.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

By fully embracing its innovative makers and their one-of-kind designs, this reality competition show has successfully built an environment in which creatives can thrive.

By Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

The reality show has had a scandalous history, but its latest season reflects a ‘new era’ of combating racism, misogyny and homophobia in its casting.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

The Duggars entered the public eye in 2008 through the reality TV show ’19 Kids and Counting’ and were loved by thousands, but resurfacing controversies led to the family’s downfall.

By Emma Watts, University of Arizona

By Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

The producers of the hit reality TV show have introduced several advantages into the game over the last 20 years, but which ones were really worth their while?

By Anna Wurm, Texas A&M University

Fans of ABC’s hit reality dating competition are in love with Matt James, the show’s first Black lead.

By Anna Wurm, Texas A&M University

ABC’s hit reality dating show was rescued from Clare Crawley’s poor fan reception by a new star.

By Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

The first few seasons of the series started off like every other reality dating show. But the inclusive cast of the newest season is paving the way for the future of reality TV.

By Laura Song, Biola University

The unscripted reality show gives an unfiltered look at the lives of Korean celebrities as they live their lives as single adults.

By Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

Winners of the show are revered by fans worldwide, but some players who couldn’t pull out a victory are just as deserving of praise.

By Daniel Reed

Is the love real, or is it all just for the cameras?

By Emma Smith, Wesleyan University

The depiction of queer people on the show’s fifth season is reigniting questions about how LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in the media.

By Emma Smith, Wesleyan University

The reality TV sensation features fierce rivalry, but it also offers a lens into female empowerment and dynamic female representation.

By Desiree Jaime, Hofstra University

The latest iteration of the long-running reality show franchise mixes song and romance.

By Asha MacKay, Wellesley College

With their 31 year age difference, Big Ed and Rose are provoking an age-old discussion about love.

By Vaishnavi Kalyana, College of DuPage

Netflix is going beyond the typical reality TV program with its two latest hits.

By Kali Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus College

On the surface, this dating program sounds like your typical reality show fare, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see the contestants actually develop as people.

By Vaishnavi Kalyana, College of DuPage

Every new season comes with a brand new set of conflicts and opportunities for sabotage. This time, it might be too much to take.

By Emma Lichtenstein, Brandeis University

The long-running reality show’s season finale — which finally looked at some of its problematic issues — was actually good.

By Rebecca McKinley Parsons, Wake Forest University

Long pushed out of the spotlight in favor of performers, songwriters are finally getting to be the center of attention.

By Stina Chang, University of Southern California

It’s everything you love about reality TV — but British.

By Rachel Hall, Augustana College

In the last decade alone, 21 reality show contestants have taken their lives after the cameras stopped rolling.

By Eric McInnis, Arcadia University

With his boisterous personality and passion for cooking, the famous Scottish chef has become one of the biggest television personalities of this decade.