Opinion
Tiresome dating stories
The Temptation Bachelorette Island Jungle Edition is annoying: Please bring back the old jungle!
Leyla Lahouar and Kim Virginia argue in the jungle camp
© RTL
The time in the jungle camp is coming to an end and a first conclusion can be drawn: How the camp mutates into a dating show is just annoying. Because that’s how the show’s great potential is lost.
The jungle camp is this year’s rest ramp dating show characters of the TV universe. There’s Kim Virginia, known from “Are You The One”, “Temptation Island” and also “Bachelor in Paradise”, Mike Heiter from “Are You The One” and “Love Island”, Leyla Lahouar from “The Bachelor” and ” Bachelor in Paradise” as well as Fabio Knez from “Make Love Fake Love” and – you guessed it – “Are You The One”.
The jungle camp becomes a dating show
In itself, this isn’t a casting flaw if three of the four characters didn’t clearly show that they have little more to offer than what they’re known for. Kim, Mike and Leyla have dominated the action in the jungle since day one. Briefly summarized, because everyone can probably tell a song about it by now: Kim and Mike had sex during “Are You The One” and then hooked up for a short time. At the camp, however, Mike shows interest in Leyla, which annoys Kim. Leyla thinks Kim’s obsession with the no-longer-cheerful Mike is exaggerated.
The women keep bitching at each other and gossiping about each other. Leyla already admitted on the jungle phone that “a kiss could fall” between her and Mike. This means that the most unspeakable of all dating show phrases has moved into the camp.
After twelve days in which the jungle camp has mutated into a dating format, all you want to say is: Please bring back the old jungle camp! Because the show is particularly good when the stars show other sides of themselves. Like Fabio Knez, who also comes from the dating TV world but hardly talks about it. Instead, he talked about his time as a civil servant in Bavaria and the snail’s pace at which he went about his day-to-day work back then. Knez also attracted positive attention because he didn’t babble about his make-out escapades on TV, but instead became Heinz Hoenig’s unofficial supervisor.
Jungle runner-up Gigi Birofio didn’t act like a dating expert last year, but instead showed his humorous and vulnerable side. The macho facade quickly crumbled after moving into the camp. And that’s exactly what you expect as a jungle fan.
Jungle camp 2024, day 12
Tear alarm in the jungle: two farewells and letters from home cause emotions
The facades are supposed to crumble
It is precisely there that the stars usually have the chance to see something different – in the best case, their true one! – to show your face. They can become moral authorities or demonstrate humor. You can stand up for the weaker people or make yourself a hero in trials. Without the comforts of everyday life and crammed into a camp full of cots, experience has shown that it is difficult for the campers to maintain a facade.
This is exactly how the best jungle stories came about in the past. One of the best examples might be Evelyn Burdecki. Who really remembers that Burdecki was originally also known as a candidate in the “Bachelor” series? Burdecki took advantage of the jungle by presenting herself authentically and diversely. She has now become a fixture on TV – and has long since shed the dating stamp.
Let’s be honest: who with whom, why and when are of no interest. A feeling that now unites some viewers. “It’s sooo boring with Leyla, Kim and Mike. Please let these influencer reality wannabes out. They have their own formats,” criticized a viewer on X, formerly Twitter. “Guys… I didn’t get the memo that the jungle camp is now becoming a dating show,” said another user. Author Kathrin Weßling was similarly annoyed on Instagram. “This whole dating show behavior is so annoying. Please don’t do it again next year, people, it’s really just annoying and has nothing to do with the actual jungle camp. I feel like I’m ex on the run Beach in dirty look,” she commented on a jungle post.
Nowadays you can almost only wish that one of the three – Kim, Mike or Leyla – would be voted out of the show. Then the poor dating soul has peace.
Transparency note: The star is part of RTL Germany.