Following the success of romantic reality shows like The Boyfriend, Love Village, and The Future Diary, this Japanese Netflix series is about to put the spotlight on the concept of soulmates, along with the natural meeting of love. The concept of this reality series is unique and interesting, but as with all reality shows, it makes us question the legitimacy of the concept a little more than usual. Aside from that, hosts Kyoko Koizumi and comedy couple Reiwa Roman bring their own take on what's happening on screen, but sometimes they get a little ahead of themselves with the romance.
I think the series is quite cute and fluffy. There are many moments where the contestants almost meet each other but don't, which will make your heart flutter. The encounters themselves are very wholesome and cute, regardless of who meets who. The idea of meeting someone you know somehow in an unfamiliar place seems like a fateful encounter and that's evident in everyone's reactions. It’s very well presented.
Stars: Reiwa Roman, Kyoko Koizumi
Along those same lines, I think Offline Love really makes us want to put aside what we do and not believe in order to present this narrative that this is not a scripted show. Being in a European country with a bunch of camera crews in the middle of busy tourist spots is going to be a pain for everyone and I don’t think it comes without challenges. There are permits you have to get, as well as giving the general public notice about appearing on a Netflix show which will take away the “chance encounter” part. I’m inclined to believe that the streaming platform couldn’t just let their contestants run free around Nice and that filming had to be limited to a particular area, so that in itself takes away a bit of the magic.
On top of that, I think it’s impossible for these contestants to not have at least an idea of where to go because that seems extremely dangerous in a foreign country. Sure, I can imagine that this is all completely organic and brought together by fate, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t believe that for a minute. It's impossible to pull off such a large production without planning and permissions, so it seems like it's totally pre-planned and planned out.
Anyway, leaving these notions aside, let's get to the contestants. Everyone on Offline Love is pretty sweet and like most Japanese dating shows, they're pretty subdued. There's a layer of control to all of these contestants that's very common in Japanese shows. They're all extremely reserved and proper, there's almost nothing that can be considered "spicy." I think that's sweet and these shows are for a niche audience that prefers romance shows to make their heart flutter. The idea that one can find their soulmate right around the corner makes this even more exciting and the reserved interactions of the contestants make you want to see whether or not they open up to each other.
I think the series makes a good choice by releasing all of its episodes together because viewers might find the runtime a bit slow at times. Having to wait weeks for two people to hold hands seems a bit excessive in these situations. I also sometimes wonder if this is the reality of how relationships blossom in Japan – is it realistic to assume that people who are attracted to each other follow such conservative norms in their everyday lives or is it just a sham? The fact that all of these contestants are internet personalities also makes us wonder if this is all a facade. Aside from the romance, the series also presents some nice opportunities for friendship to blossom. These moments are quite funny and endearing and will warm your heart.
I think you'll like Offline Love. Despite the logistical nightmares that made me question the legitimacy of it being about "people suddenly passing each other on the streets of Nice," I think the series is warm and sincere. Its wholesome vibes and the contestants' reactions to everything will touch everyone's heart. However, unlike American dating shows, this one is quite long-winded and can get very slow at times, so I guess it's not for everyone. But there is something new here that will interest most people because the contestants feel more authentic than not.
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