UnREAL

UnREAL is a captivating American drama series that was broadcast on Lifetime TV network from 2015 to 2018. The show provides a fictional, behind-the-scenes view of the reality TV industry and is known for its unique approach in tearing apart the shiny façade of reality shows to expose some raw and often disheartening truths about the industry. By doing so, it brings out a darker picture of what often gets veiled behind the glamour and gloss of such shows.

The series primarily revolves around Rachel Goldberg, a young and ambitious TV producer, whose psyche and personal life become dramatically influenced due to a large part of her life spent in the relentless and cut-throat world of reality TV shows. Rachel works for a famous reality dating show known as "Everlasting," which is designed in a similar vein to the likes of The Bachelor, an actual reality dating show.

Rachel's job is to manipulate the contestants and scenarios on the show to create the drama and controversy that drives ratings. She does this alongside her boss, Quinn King, a ruthless executive producer, who will stop at nothing to make sure the show is successful. Rachel and Quinn's complex relationship is a central element of the series, featuring a powerful combination of camaraderie, conflict, and shared ambitions.

The show is notable for its brutally honest portrayal of the behind-the-scenes machinations of the reality TV industry, making it an engaging watch for viewers. The show’s creators Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, very intelligently, push the narrative beyond its immediate surroundings. They use their insider understanding of the entertainment industry to infuse the storylines with an undeniable authenticity, making the characters and situations more relatable.

Each season of UnREAL features a different "suitor" for the fictional show 'Everlasting'. These narratives play out amidst interpersonal conflicts, paradoxes, and unanticipated plot twists that form the core drama of UnREAL. These suitors range from wealthy businessmen to eligible athletes, with each new season bringing forth a refreshing context to the show. All the while, it is Rachel and Quinn’s compelling relationship and the intricate dynamics of the reality show industry that anchor the series.

UnREAL is lauded for its well-rounded, complex, and often flawed characters. The characters’ struggles with morality, relationship anxieties, career ambitions and personal demons are well-documented. This introspection and self-critique has allowed the show to delve into meaningful storylines related to feminism, mental health, and the power dynamics often prevalent in the media industry.

The women in UnREAL, especially Rachel and Quinn, are bedrocks of the show. They are fiercely ambitious, exceptionally talented, and just as humanly flawed. UnREAL thus breaks the conventional portrayal of women in American television and instead offers a realistic glimpse of women in power in a high-pressure industry.

The series is also celebrated for its clever writing, biting satire, suspenseful storytelling, and high-tension drama. Its willingness to dissect contentious aspects of societal culture in such a direct manner has been widely appreciated. The way the series showcases the manipulation, deceit, and moral ambiguity that supposedly drives the reality TV industry, has made it a stand-out show during its run.

UnREAL's strong lineage in the production team, an accomplished cast, and impressive writing have resulted in it being considered a standout show in the realm of television dramedy. It has received critical acclaim for its fearless take on a somewhat veiled industry and its multifaceted characters that throw away the archetype, thereby immersing the viewers in a captivating mix of the picture-perfect world of reality TV and its not-so-pretty backstage operations.

Throughout its four-season run, UnREAL veers more towards the dark than the light, asking profound questions about the cost of ambition, the nature of reality and fiction, and the blurred lines between workplace relationships and personal lives. The grandeur and drama that unfolds in front of the camera in reality shows are stripped bare to reveal something raw, relentless and ruthlessly intriguing, securing UnREAL a definite place in the landscape of bold and exploratory TV series.