Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
LGBTQ+ reality show has sexy stuff, drinking, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Ultimatum: Queer Love
What's the Story?
Hosted by JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Sweet Magnolias), THE ULTIMATUM: QUEER LOVE is a dating reality show featuring LGBTQ+ couples (all either female or non-binary) made up of one person that has given the other an ultimatum; They will either leave the show engaged or they will break up. The first morning of the show, each couple "breaks up" so that every participant can pick a new partner to live with for three weeks, then they live with their original partner for three weeks. As one participant says, there are three possible outcomes: "marrying the person you came to the show in a relationship with, marrying someone new, or going home alone."
Is It Any Good?
This compelling dating show asks the question all couples ultimately face: is this really the person I should be with for the rest of my life? Ten minutes into The Ultimatum: Queer Love it's apparent, when it comes to love, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people can be as messy as straight folks. What makes the show so notable, though, is its use of real-life couples. There are people you'll root for, and maybe against, and couples you'll be sure are doomed from the start. But twists and turns abound, and reality TV lovers will be captivated by the saga until the very end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Ultimatum: Queer Love in relation to other reality dating shows. Are there ways they're different? How are they the same?
What do you think about the structure of the show? Living with a new partner for three weeks is presented as a valid way to test out being with someone new. Does this seem reasonable to you? Why or why not?
How well do the participants express their feelings during the series? Does anyone get better at it as the show progresses?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 24, 2023
- Cast : JoAnna Garcia Swisher
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 26, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate