It’s no secret that as much as we may love our scripted comedies and dramas, there is nevertheless a special place in our hearts for some good old fashioned reality TV. Dramatic, chaotic, trashy, and heartwarming, they are a guilty pleasure unlike any other. Now the success of these shows often lead to international spinoffs, and one of the biggest franchises is returning to our neck of the woods. The Bachelor, which has already been adapted in 35 countries, is now landing in Indonesia.
This is not the first time that we’re seeing a version of The Bachelor in South East Asia. Following the footsteps of its counterparts in both Thailand and Vietnam, The Bachelor Indonesia attempts to bring some local flavor to an extremely western dating show. The series follows prominent actor, model, and businessman, Richard Kyle, as the first Indonesian Bachelor as he seeks out true love among 19 lovely ladies.
He’s on a Journey to Find What He’s Been Missing
The Bachelor Indonesia is an interesting proposition. There is a great opportunity to showcase the diverse traditions of the country and the potential obstacles faced when dating within the Asian culture. With strong Islamic values and a history of arranged marriages, how would a reality show famous for cat fights, drama, and lots of steamy moments, translate over to a fairly conservative country? It doesn’t really. So why not just put an Asian cast in a western show and change nothing else.
On the surface The Bachelor Indonesia does tick all those standard boxes. Right away, “words” were spoken, tensions rose, and alliances were formed. All pretty standard stuff. But what’s most disappointing about this whole scenario, is how tame it is. Sure, we’re not going to get the all night partying, heavy drinking, and screaming like we’re used to, but at the same time, the only real difference between this and it’s American counterpart, is the language, and nothing else.
HBO had a choice. Showcase the beautiful blend of people and cultures with in the country, and their traditions, or take the safer route of basically making a glorified Tourism Indonesia ad. They chose the latter.
I would also be remiss to talk about a show like this without at least addressing the recent “morality laws” imposed on the country. For those unaware, the Indonesian parliament recently passed a law forbidding the cohabitation of unmarried couples as well as intimate relations between them. While I wasn’t expecting this to impact the show in a major way, I was interested to find out how they would tackle this type of issue, or whether or not it would alter the narrative in any way. It doesn’t. Why adapt when you can just imprint a Western formula on an Asian cast.
Will You Accept This Rose?
I wanted to give this show a chance, I really did. While I didn’t expect the first episode to do a deep dive into Indonesian culture, but when the dates start in episode two, I sat there wondering, “Are these just tourists in Bali?” Is this just a way to showcase the enticing side of Indonesia instead of showing us the real Indonesia? Which is the most frustrating part. All this does is show us yet another glossy take on Asia. I don’t want to see them drink champagne! Where’s the soda gembira and nasi goreng at?
I can’t speak for my Indonesian friends, but I don’t imagine this series will go down well with them. Sure, maybe for some, it’s an escape from the reality of everyday life and gives them an opportunity to just enjoy some silly drama and gossip. But every time this series showcases lavishness and a very western way of dating, it ends up feeling incredibly disconnected from the reality it purports to portray.
That said, if all you’re looking for is more Bachelor content in your life, then here you have it. This is indeed everything that The Bachelor is and you can’t really go wrong with that. God knows it’s a formula that’s worked for over two decades. Also, If beautiful women and romantic tension isn’t enough to draw you in, then you’ll be glad to know that our leading man, Richard Kyle, is incredibly swoonworthy. So you’re at least getting your money’s worth on that front.
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