Handcuffed, last one standing

[Mydogisagentleman]

Am I the only person watching?
DH went out and I stumbled across it on C4.
I can't make my mind up. It's obviously exploitative and cheap telly, but I'm finding it compelling.

Yes. Compelling but hugely exploitative.

The ‘Fat Bitch’ Feminist tethered to the repugnant, misogynist man. The self-professed ‘prude’ in her twee, chocolate-box cottage tethered to a towering hulk of a male ‘gay content’ pornographer. Comic-book Tory/Reform aristo tethered to a ‘salt-of-the-earth’ working-class, socialist man. I felt it was really irresponsible and we were there to watch people get genuinely offended and upset - bollocks to all this ‘challenging each other’s beliefs’. It’s just a question of what you’ll do for money - how much shit can you tolerate for £50k.

The ‘ADHD’ woman asking her handcuffed partner whether she’d been born a man (or words to that effect) was awful. That couple are probably going to do well if the trans-accused woman resists throttling the other woman!

I’m sure there will be a handful of ‘touching’ moments and insights into how the other half live. But it depends how badly you need the money. I’m guessing the guy with all the vintage cars will end up telling his ‘poor’ counterpart that he’ll bung her twice the amount of money to quit the game. Or offer to employ her as one of his many ‘servants’.

I feel sorry for the on-location Producers supervising the toilet shenanigans. The intimacy of all the ablutions makes me quite uncomfortable.

The whole Game-Show, studio element with Jonathan Ross, is ghastly too. It’s a mess of a programme all-round.

I stumbled on this too.

I found it interesting watching, tethering people to someone who is the complete opposite in every way was quite good to watch.

I guess its been done for the 'drama' element as there is bound to be disagreements and fallings out. However I suspect there will be many touching moments where they learn something from each other and that is the whole point of the 'experiment/game'. A bit like Big Brother when they throw people of all walks of life together to see what happens. The strangest of friendships form and people who would never have met each other in everyday life and their paths would never have crossed actually find they have more in common than they think.

I will continue to watch, but people interest me 😂

“The Defiant Ones”, a film with Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier explores this theme and might be far more entertaining to watch! They are escaped prisoners manacled together. Curtis plays a racist and Poitier is black (obviously).

I thought the same about the trans comment. How the other woman didn't react is beyond me

I stumbled across this last night too. I was also taken aback by the woman who asked the other about being trans, you could see she was hurt at being asked.

But I thought the manipulative, crocodile tears of the prude lady's husband was laughable and embarrassing. What were they thinking would happen at "bringing it into our home" (speaking about the gay content OF guy) - bring shame upon the paintwork? Make the house 'dirty'? They ought to be ashamed of the way they clearly made him feel.

I haven’t seen this, but the premise sounds absolutely crass. I’ve seen that simpering twee housewife from TikTok is on it, I’m amazed she’s demeaning herself to this degree.

I watched the first one and only just caught up on last nights.

The prude lady's husband was awful. The way he reacted was massively over the top and completely uncalled for. Saying things like 'they felt sick' etc was just hideous and what the actual fuck is he crying about?! What a complete knob.

The only fans guy actually seems like a real nice person and a real decent guy. Like you say, what do they think will happen 'bringing it into our home'. Do they think he is going to somehow contaminate the place. They should both be so ashamed of their reaction to it and how they have made him feel.

Do you think they just want to be famous, or just want the money? I can't decide...

I would like to know what some of them thought they were signing up for. Getting stroppy because she didn't want to shower with the guy! I actually felt sorry for him that he could not carry on.

I would not consider it even for a second no matter what the money was. No way would I shower or use the loo with a stranger. Also how on earth do they sleep handcuffed together? Means you can't turn over. I can't sleep on my back!

What’s the hairdresser woman like? She cuts my friends hair 😂

My thoughts:

The ‘fat bitch’ was very out and proud about being fat but crumbled and de-cuffed when the ‘alpha male’ made a comment that fat girls supposedly make more effort on bed because they’re grateful. It was a crass and unkind thing to say but I was surprised that she didn’t have a bit more resilience. She could have stayed longer and ‘educated’ him to see her as a whole person, worthy of respect. Instead, he said she’s just confirmed all his stereotypical prejudices that fat people lack self-discipline. What an wasted opportunity. Poor show from her.

The ADHD lady and the Christian lady. God… I’d want to throttle her. She must know she’s being really annoying and yet she still does it! Hopefully the teary chat at the kitchen table will clear the air and she’ll dial down the constant attention-seeking performance.

Prudey housewife and gay pornstar: he seems really sweet and nice. The prudey husband CRYING, for God’s sake?! What does he think is going to happen? Mr and Mrs Prude are coming across very badly - judgemental, hysterical and ridiculous. I’m hoping it will turn round and that they will discover that he is an interesting and kind person. Again, worthy of respect.

She’s really lovely - but my God she drew the short straw!

Mr and Mrs Prude are coming across very badly - judgemental, hysterical and ridiculous.

I might have to watch a bit. This woman pops up on my TikTok all the time and I simply can’t bear her. She’s so simpering, so twee. SO annoying.

I enjoyed though it’s pretty clear some are on it just for their own publicity, like the guy with the Hitler picture. I think the showering is a step too far as it’s very likely to be harder for the female in a couple than the male. I think they might use the long handcuffs for sleeping, as there was a shot of the woman with ADHD in bed with her hands crossed over her stomach, and her partner was way over the other side of the bed.

I really like Tilly the cleaner, her partner is a bore who can’t relate to anyone else. Prudey husband was ridiculous with his crying, it was very unfair on the guy, who seems really nice.

Do! It’s obviously edited savagely to make a bit of a story out of presumably very little but you get glimmers of insight. Like the annoying ADHD lady saying she’s got all these children and that they are really close with each other but don’t bother much with her, bless her.

I agree with all your points.

I don't know how she thought showering was going to work but, if necessary she could have showered in her top and knickers surely? If you are told you are going to be handcuffed to someone surely your first thoughts are about showering and going to the toilet?

The ADHD woman just never shuts up does she? If she is not talking, she is singing or humming and always moving too. I am someone who talks a lot but compared to her I am quiet!

The prudish couple - well what can I say! The husband crying was pathetic. They may not approve of what he does for a living but their reaction was way over the top. He seems such a nice guy as well

As ever, with reality tv, it’s the little insights and vulnerabilities that make for the most interesting viewing.

Re the ADHD lady. I think it’s reasonable to hazard a guess that there was trauma in her childhood. You can see in her eyes a hyperactive kid, desperate for attention and love. Perhaps we’ll hear a bit more about her back story as the series unfolds.

When they were getting on the train she excitedly announced that they might have some ups and downs but then say ‘I love you’ the next day. The Christian/ hairdresser said she likely wouldn’t. Ms ADHD looked instantly crushed.

It was such a sad, cringeworthy moment:
Ms ADHD rushing in, galloping ahead, overcommitting, trampling over boundaries rather than allowing a relationship to develop at a natural pace for both parties. You sense that’s what she’s always done - first marriage at 20, second at 23 etc. A healthy person - like Ms Christian/ hairdresser - will step back/ put the brakes on because this sort of behaviour is such a turn-off. But you can see how damaged souls would find each other and rush in far too quickly.

I've been watching. Anthony reminds me of Oliver Reed. They seem to be the most successful couple in terms of dealing with each other.

Mr Prude was ridiculous. Controlling, manipulative husband?

100% on the prudish husband. I genuinely think he suddenly realised his wife was handcuffed to a tall, muscular man who is sexually open and was just a wee bit threatened by this.

I had the ick and that horrible second-hand embarrassed feeling at him crying. Ugh.

Just watched the second episode. The prudes are ridiculous! The porn star seems nice enough and its literally just that he makes gay porn which he presumably wouldnt do whilst being hand cuffed. I actually feel like so far it seems like theyd have an easy win.

Mrs Prude as well was a bit too faced, she was shocked when she heard but then with her husband was saying it makes her sick.

Mrs Prude seemed to get on with him and like him. It was only when inadequate Mr Prude started intruding that it started (or pretends to, it is trash tv, after all) to go sour.

I was thinking the wife was ok with the fact that he was a porn star. It wasn't until her husband had a tantrum that she started having a panic attack 🙄🤦‍♂️ The husband came across as pretty controlling 😔

Sara looks like life hasn't been easy for her, bless her.

Omg this is really good!

I know I can't talk after literally trying to force encouraging people to watch The Heat 😄

But its alright

Saw the trailer for it and thought that looks like a pile of shit