If you love The Bachelor, Love Island, or Love is Blind then keep reading because you found the right article! Ever heard of 90 Day Fiance? Great, because I hadn’t either up until a few years ago. 90 Day Fiance is a hit reality TLC series that documents couples’ experiences in long-distance relationships…. major long-distance relationships. I’m talking the-United-States-to-the-Philippines long, not to mention the humongous age gaps and catfishes!!! Cameras follow couples around before, during, and after their journey on the K-1 Visa process. With a K-1 Visa, Americans can apply to bring a significant other over for 90 days to get to know one another and discuss marriage. The couple must be wed by the 90-day mark in order for the foreign partner to receive a green card to stay in the United States. If the foreigner leaves before the 90 days they risk never receiving a Visa from the United States again. Take a pair of people from different roots, only 90 days to make a huge decision, unhappy family members, a camera crew, throw it in the tension oven, and you’ve got a well done dramatic extravaganza!
Since the show’s start in 2014, it has gone on to have seven seasons and several spinoffs (i.e. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, 90 Day Fiance: What Now?, 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, and more). With eight 90 Day Fiance shows under their belts, TLC has their hands full with crazy, love-desperate couples. The shows cycle throughout the year so there’s always a season of 90 Day Fiance on, which is great for fans because new content is constantly being released. In fact, there’s rarely a time when 90 Day Fiance isn’t playing on TLC. I can remember the good old days of Say Yes to the Dress and What Not to Wear but rarely do those play now that 90 Day Fiance is raking in larger profits.
As entertaining and wildly fun as the show is, some have argued that it’s exploitative in a way that other love-related reality shows aren’t. Producers have been known to manipulate and stage the action caught on camera. Cast members have argued that the crew was too intrusive and that editing painted them in a bad light. Just by watching the coming attractions, it’s clear how much they are editing to make the next week’s coming episode seem more dramatic compared to what will actually be shown. To a degree, all reality shows do this, but most only document a small snippet of a cast members’ lives so their tainted image is not broadcast for as long. For instance, Love is Blind only documents people’s lives for a few months and then the cameras go away and they can resume life as usual. 90 Day Fiance differs because filming can go on for years. Especially for fan favorites. Cast members usually start with either 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days or 90 Day Fiance and then graduate through each spinoff depending on where they are in their relationship.
Regardless of what goes on behind the scenes, there are plenty of positive encounters caught on camera. A multitude of loving reunions, beautiful weddings, successful marriages, and growing families. If you love love, drama, passionately yelling at your TV, and sitting on your couch then 90 Day Fiance is for you! Check it out on Sundays nights at 8 PM CT on TLC or through their mobile services!