‘Sexy Beasts’: appealing but disappointing

Honestly, we didn’t think it was possible for Netflix to be more out of pocket — until we saw that “Sexy Beasts” got renewed for Season 2.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, “Sexy Beasts” is Netflix’s rendition of “The Masked Singer,” a popular FOX TV program released in 2019 in which contestants are decorated in extravagant prosthetics that make them look like animals, demons or random creatures. The purpose of both shows is for contestants to learn more about other individuals without vanities getting in the way.

Blind dating shows are hardly a new concept. From “Love is Blind” to “The Circle,” this new way of dating is a diversion from society’s shallow Tinder “swipe right or left” hookup culture. By getting to know other contestants solely based on their personalities, “Sexy Beasts” theoretically allows for contestants to form emotional connections, focusing on the idea of one’s inner beauty.

After watching the new season, however, we can confidently say that it is not worth your time. It’s extremely boring and each episode is too repetitive, repeating the exact same concept but with different characters. 

The show always starts with a person who is set up with three other singles of the opposite sex to take out on three different dates. There, they are questioned and one prospective partner is eliminated and sent home with no reward. The remaining two are taken on first dates, where they compete to be the one to walk away with the person.

The low stakes of the show is what makes each episode so difficult to watch. No one is getting married or proposed to, and at most, they end up dating afterward. There is no drama or action compared to shows like “The Bachelor” where it’s more like a competition and in the end, they actually end up engaged. 

Another issue is that the show claims to take appearance out of the show, but that is not entirely the case. Though the show takes contestants’ faces out of the question, the rest of their body doesn’t have any type of mask over it. The contestants know what they are getting below the neckline, so male contestants who openly say they prefer “big butts” or “big boobs” or women who may prefer “a muscular body” are able to pick their dates based on their physical form, completely disregarding the point of blind dating.

The only semi-interesting, relatively engaging part of the show is the voiceover of comedian Rob Delaney and his narration as he cringes along with the viewers. Watching the makeup artists create prosthetics for contestants to wear also makes watching the first few minutes of each episode worth it, but once the dating begins, exiting the episode may be a good option.

Whether you like dating shows or are just looking for something to watch to pass time, this show fails on every level.