Gen Z does not do drama. They have learnt to chill to such an extent that Gen Z-based reality TV is a big, boring yawn. The Tribe is the biggest example. If you manage not to snore midway through the excruciating nine-episode series on Amazon Prime Video, you will ask yourself, why didn’t I just watch an episode of Keeping Up With Kardashians?
The Tribe is the chai tea version of reality TV and we crave bold adrak wali chai. They could have just taken a leaf out of producer Karan Johar’s show. Koffee With Karan has been all shades of catty, dramatic and controversial for eight seasons.
Controversy and political incorrectness are the USPs of reality TV. In India, good behaviour has no market. Trash TV is the way to go. And if the peg is woke, it has to be done really well. The Tribe is neither. It has just one big outburst, and lots of trauma speak.
‘Spicy’ is a word the women throw around a lot, but it is the blandest of reality shows. It’s ultra-privileged kids who talk about making money by ‘having fun’, except all they do is sit around doing nothing. No one expects life-changing conversations, but there is not a single meme-worthy moment.
Reality shows have to be engineered with unhinged people and dollops of drama. A perfect blend is almost impossible, but showrunners generally understand the assignment. Just look at Bigg Boss, it’s been running for 18 solid years. Sure, it has now taken it too far with constant invitations to people with actual criminal records, but it does rake up TRP. In the business of reality TV, viewership is all that matters.
Also read: Elvish Yadav to Sajid Khan, Indian reality TV has a soft corner for bad boys
Secret ingredient for drama
Leading The Tribe is social media personality Alanna Panday, who co-founded the non-agency Collab Tribe with entrepreneur Hardik Zaveri. Joining her ‘tribe’ are Alaviaa Jaaferi, Srushti Porey, Aryaana Gandhi, and Alfia Jafry, who have varying ‘talents’ to showcase on social media. But the defining thread is that they are Hardik’s friends. He is giving a leg up because he has a lot of money to spare and the dream of living it up in LA with his friends.
The show is currently number one on Amazon Prime India, and I cannot understand why. Only Alfia brings the drama with her tears and resting bitch face, everyone else is the equivalent of overpriced bland food served in South Delhi and South Bombay cafes. There has to be the zing of street food in reality TV. Otherwise, why would I waste my weekend hate-watching it?
The show can take a leaf out of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. Srushti and Alaviaa try their best to channel Seema Sajdeh, best known for her use of the word ‘twat’, but fall flat. There is no Maheep with binoculars trained at the neighbour’s house, and no desi vibes at all.
There are two other great examples–Love is Blind and Keeping Up With the Kardashians. The former is in its 7th season. Granted, romance has the edge. That’s why shows like Splitsvilla and Love Island have managed to make an impact. But a key ingredient is the mix of millennial and Gen Z stars.
Looking pretty and posting curated selfies is great for social media, not reality TV. Add actual spice, or learn from millennials—they put the D in drama.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)