After "UnReal" season 1, the dark drama series will continue mirroring reality behind TV show directing in a renewed season 2. Lifetime officially renewed "UnReal" on July 6, and with the premiere date set in 2016, the show is expected to bring more reality TV breaking drama onto the small screen.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the background of the show's co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro had an enormous impact on the series' storyline. Apparently. Shapiro has worked on the reality show "The Bachelor" 10 years before she made the "UnReal" series.
Although Shapiro claims the series is not directly associated with "The Bachelor," interesting similarities have been pointed out. As it turns out, "The Bachelor" reality show involves a rich man entering a dating reality show with women competing for him among themselves, much like the dating competition show "Everlasting" in "UnReal," where the British rich playboy Adam Cromwell takes on the role of a suitor.
Drawing similarities between the show's protagonist Rachel and "UnReal's" co-creator Shapiro does not stop there. Both the character and the co-creator have been pressured into doing jobs they do not want.
Shapiro was forced to do the show "The Bachelor" even though it was against her feminist beliefs. Rachel, on the other hand, is under constant pressure from her boss Quinn King to get dramatic footage in the show.
Throughout reality TV, producers are forced to create plot lines with both evil and good characters involved. The manipulation of contestants is something both Shapiro and Rachel share. In her interview, Shapiro recalls having to create plot lines in "The Bachelor" all the way. Upon being asked if she thought viewers realize how fake reality TV can be, she pointed out that Reality has become very close to scripted TV.
Manipulation prevails in "UnReal" and the way it gives the viewers a unique insight into reality TV. As Shapiro explains it, the creators of reality TV shows have to be excellent manipulators. She even goes to the extent of describing the casting interviews for reality shows as being: "CIA level interrogations."
Filled with manipulation and drama, the show brings an inception of reality. Through the character of Rachel, it aims to bring the details of reality show manipulation towards contestants just to give the audience what they want to see.
According to Deadline, the producers are looking forward to the renewed "UnReal" series, which aims to shed light on the pressure and background of reality TV, which is otherwise hidden from the public's eye.