Arranged

Arranged, a reality television series that follows American couples who have led an arranged marriage, aired on FYI channel in 2015. The show delves deep into the unique and diverse world of arranged marriages, breaking down many society's preconceived notions about this age-old institution. It centers on three couples from very different backgrounds, cultural heritages, and belief systems, each navigating the complexities and the drama of arranged marriage.

The couples in Arranged come from primarily traditional backgrounds, including Romani-American (Gypsy), Orthodox Jewish, and a couple from southern United States where their Christian parents set up the marriage. Watch as the camera lenses capture their journeys, as they juggle the varying degrees of commitment to their families, their individual identities, and the relationships themselves.

In Arranged, viewers are invited to take a raw, intimate look at these couples as they navigate the challenging waters of their first couple of years together, all under the watchful eyes of their families and communities who have a vested interest in their marriages' success. Every episode, viewers explore a fascinating juxtaposition of emotions and cultural adaptations.

Viewers get a front-row seat to the pressures and joys these couples face, as the production dives deep into the traditionally closed-door cultures that practice arranged marriage. By doing so, it opens up dialogue and challenges often stereotypical perceptions about arranged marriages. The triumphs, celebrations, conflicts, and compromises of these young couples are beautifully captured against the backdrop of their traditional customs and cultural expectations.

Arranged does a commendable job of balancing cultural sensitivity with truth telling, never shying away from the reality of challenges such customs can bring, while also highlighting its positive aspects. The series successfully threads the needle between showcasing the cultural richness of arranged marriages and addressing the trials the couples confront due to societal pressures and inherent complexities of couples' relationship dynamics.

Despite differing cultural contexts, one enduring narrative thread stitched throughout Arranged is the universal quest for love, happiness, and fulfillment in a life partnership. Another critical motif running through the series is the exploration of the concept of traditional gender roles and how contemporary couples interpret, cope with, or challenge these norms within their marital relationships.

The Ramanis must handle the clash between their youthful aspirations and the cultural rigidity of their older family members. The Orthodox Jewish couple must balance their commitment to their faith's age-old customs with the practicalities of modern-day life. The couple from the Southern United States grapples with their faith and pleasing their parents while still trying to figure out who they are as individuals and as a couple.

Well beyond the glamour of a wedding ceremony, Arranged captures the real-life stories of couples as they embark on an adventure dictated by their cultural heritage, faith, and familial pressure. The inherent drama of arranged marriages, where the stakes are often higher due to community expectations, creates compelling viewing. You are guaranteed to laugh, cry, and be intrigued by these genuinely human stories told in an intimate and respectful manner.

Whether you're interested in learning more about different cultures and their unique marriage customs, or you're intrigued by the human drama that unfolds when love and tradition meet, you'll find Arranged richly engaging. It is a stirring chronicle of love and matrimony that defies cultural boundaries and instead, emphasizes the universal narrative of human connection, commitment, and compromise.