Parents' Guide to

Dating Around

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Refreshingly genuine dating series has some drinking.

TV Netflix Reality TV 2019
Dating Around Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

DATING AROUND is an unscripted series that follows six singles as they go on a series of blind dates to see if they are able to make a connection. Each episode features a person who has been set up with five different people. The two meet at a nice, trendy restaurant, have drinks, and then move on to dinner. They also have the option of having a few after dinner libations and continue their conversations. After the five dates are over, the single person chooses which of the five people they will invite on another date.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

This surprisingly genuine series offers an entertaining look at a diverse group of people's first date experiences. However, unlike The Bachelor-type dating competitions and matchmaker-driven shows, in which people are pressured to look or behave a certain way in order to find true love, the singles featured here have different reasons for dating, and different approaches to doing so. They aren't under pressure to continue a date if they're uncomfortable, or to even choose someone to meet a second time. As a result, what you get is a sense that what you're watching is a real dating experience.

Also unique to Dating Around is the way each of the five dates are interspersed with each other, allowing viewers to watch and easily compare the dynamics between the single and each of their dates. There are no pre or post-date interviews, either. But like any dating show, there are a few uncomfortable moments, including judgmental arguments and some unwanted lewd advances. Nonetheless, the folks here aren't forced to put up with these types of things for the audience's sake, and most of them don't, which makes the overall show feel refreshingly authentic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about dating shows. What's the appeal? Are shows like Dating Around really designed to help people find love, or are they produced to entertain audiences?

  • Do you think people can really be themselves when they are going on a blind date on television? Do you think everyone featured on Dating Around was acting the way they normally would on a date?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: February 14, 2019
  • Network: Netflix
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-MA
  • Last updated: February 18, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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