The daughter of a former Israeli government minister. A gay drag queen from Tel Aviv. A divorced Holocaust survivor.

On face value, these three may seem to have little in common, but they’re all part of what makes the surprise hit Israeli reality-TV show Deit Bachashicha, a copycat of the Dutch show Dating in the Dark, so great. Already in its second season, the show has become one of the most watched in the nation, for good reason. I didn’t even know the Israeli version existed until I walked past it playing on a TV in my office a couple of months ago (it comes on after the news, I swear). I had fond memories of the American version, being a sucker for a reality dating show, and, as a recent olah, have lately been trying to watch more Israeli TV to improve my Hebrew—particularly reality shows since they portray more “street” language. I now know how to call someone a “hottie,” a “sexpot,” and “chill.” I also know that Israelis use heavily-accented English words and phrases like “old fashioned,” “chance,” and of course, “sexy.”

The premise of the show is fairly straightforward. Six single people move into a house, generally three men and three women. The men and women live in separate quarters of the house, and only ever meet up in a totally pitch black room (infrared cameras allow viewers to see what’s going on). After a couple of days of meeting in groups and one-on-one in the dark, the participants invite one another for an unveiling in the light.

Dating shows are a dime a dozen, but Dating in the Dark distinguishes itself by exposing the vulnerabilities of even the most confident and cocky daters: When the lights go up, will whomever they’ve found a connection with still want to continue things?

Whereas reality show contestants tend to be young, pretty, and heteronormative—what most people presumably want to see on TV—the Israeli version has showcased a unique and varied cast of characters. Israel is undoubtedly a melting pot—on just one block you can hear a mix of Hebrew, English, Arabic, Yiddish, Russian, Amharic, and French. From the ultra-religious to the ultra-secular and everything in between, Israel is a country of extremes—and presenting those unique viewpoints on TV is almost like a snapshot of my commute on the bus each day: This is Israel.

The first Israeli season played things relatively safe, with a few interesting contestants. One episode featured Maya, a woman who said she’s only ever dated other women, but wants to try to find a connection with a man. Another episode featured Sassia, who grew up in an ultra-Orthodox home but left at 14, and was scared to tell the guys that she was still a virgin. More than one episode featured obese contestants who were worried what their potential love connections would think in the light.

But Season 2 was where things really got interesting.

In Episode 4, we meet Dor, who was born a Palestinian Muslim in Gaza. But at age 12, he ran away to Israel, was adopted by an Israeli family, and converted to Judaism. He is now religious; he keeps Shabbat, and lays tefillin every morning.

Of course, this came as quite a surprise to both the other men and the women in the house. When he first meets his fellow male contestants, he tells them he made aliya at age 12.

“From where?” they ask. “From Khan Younis,” he tells them. There is a moment of shocked silence, before the camera cuts to an aside from one of the other men.

“I know Khan Younis,” he says. “I used to bomb Khan Younis.”

But Dor asks the guys to keep his origins a secret from the women, and doesn’t reveal the news until he has built a connection with Shiran. (At one point the girls speculate on his accent: “Argentinian, I’m sure of it.”)

When he does tell Shiran, she struggles with the news, wondering what her friends and family would think, and how his last girlfriend’s family accepted him (not well).

The very next episode was a special titled “Gays in the Dark,” featuring, of course, six gay men. Mostly from Tel Aviv—plus a kibbutznik who makes cheese—the group addressed some complex issues within the gay community, in addition to placing gay couples in the living rooms of hundreds of thousands of Israeli homes.

Despite being assured by his date that his job as a drag queen was just a job, one participant couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of waving goodbye to his boyfriend every night as he left the house in a dress and heels. Another man confessed to his date that though he had lost more than 50 pounds recently, he was still far from the svelte look prized in the gay community. Another, more effeminate contestant, was derided by several of the men for being too feminine. (“If I wanted to date someone feminine, I’d date women.”)

But the most illuminating and entertaining episode was the one that followed, a special titled “The Golden Age.” Almost no dating shows feature elderly contestants, but there are obviously plenty who are looking for love. And, as a recent Bank of Israel report pointed out, the percentage of elderly individuals in the population is rapidly growing, and that demographic will become an even more prominent part of society in the coming decades.

The Golden Age show featured contestants ranging from age 66 to 78. They included Masha, a Polish Holocaust survivor whose husband of 22 years died a year after they divorced; Yossi, who hasn’t been on a date since his wife of 59 years died three years ago; and Yona, a 74-year-old divorcee who is looking for “sex every day” or “Bar Rafaeli.”

I may be a bit of a reality TV (and TV in general) junkie, but the Israeli Dating in the Dark was captivating to watch for so many reasons. As a new-ish immigrant, I felt an entry into understanding Israeli life and the myriad of personalities within it: the club-going bartender from Tel Aviv, the IDF pilot from Beersheva, the Haredi rebel from Bnei Brak, and the yoga instructor from Tzfat.

Will I keep watching? For sure, in fact I’d like to suggest an episode with Arab-Israeli contestants, or with religious participants, and certainly more Ethiopian representation across the episodes.

Listen up producers: Don’t disappoint.

(Still image from the show via Facebook)

The post Why ‘Dating in the Dark’ is Israel’s Surprise Reality TV Hit appeared first on Jewcy.

This summer, Hulu began streaming Hatufim (Prisoners of War), the Israeli show Homeland is based on. And while I’m always excited for new devotees of Israeli television, I noticed a strange phenomenon: people commenting on the relative unattractiveness of the Israeli actors in comparison to their Homeland counterparts. In fact, a similar thing happened when I was writing weekly recaps about the Israeli TV show Srugim—there were a few commenters who repeatedly popped up to air their opinion on the female characters lack of hotness.

Look, people are the worst. But they may sort of have a point. It is true that American TV stars, with their airbrushed perfect skin and glossy hair, are better kempt and more conventionally attractive than their Israeli counterparts. That’s partly due to the much lower production budget for Israeli TV, and partly because Israeli media lacks an US Weekly-style obsessive cataloging of every actresses’ baby weight or latest wrinkle.

And while some might prefer everyone onscreen to look like Bar Refaeli, there’s something comforting and refreshing about the every-guy quality of Israeli TV actors, who really look like people you might see on the streets of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. I mean, would you really trust a CIA operative as attractive as Claire Danes? I have never seen anyone with such shiny hair in Foggy Bottom.

Danes’ character has no exact analogue on Hatufim, but as I pointed out a few weeks ago, the great Israeli Hollywood takeover has lots of Israeli and American actors playing the same characters. Cultural differences aside, some actors manage to bring more believability to their roles than others. To see how the Americans stack up against the originals, here’s a side-by-side comparison.

Show: In Treatment/B’Tipul
Character: Psychologist

Israeli version: One of Israeli’s most iconic actors, Assi Dayan—son of famed eye patch-wearing foreign minister Moshe Dayan!—plays Dr. Reuven Dagan. The therapist’s office may be a bit run down and his clothes slightly rumpled, but even while his inner life is in turmoil he still conveys his commitment to his patients.

American Version: Gabriel Byrne plays Dr. Paul Weston, with an Irish brogue that lends gravitas to everything he says. His long silences and distant looks instill confidence—as do his well-tailored suits.

Most Realistic: Byrne. He’s easy to imagine as one of those annoying therapists on the Upper East Side who doesn’t take insurance and makes you pay upfront.

Show: Traffic Light/Ramzor
Character: Type A Wife

Israel: Yael Sharoni—who also starred in Srugim, my favorite show about the love lives of Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem—plays Lilach Itzkovich-Yafa, the overly opinionated wife of the henpecked Itzko. Her verbal (and implied physical) abuse is a running joke throughout.

America: Liza Lapira plays Lisa Reilly. Lapira is a talented actress, but because the showrunners don’t think America can handle an unlikeable woman, the character is watered down to a bland nothing.

Most Realistic: Sharoni. She was born to play a Grade-A bitch. Plus, Srugim!

Show: Homeland/Hatufim
Character: Returning POWs

Israel: Yoram Toledano and Ishai Golan play Nimrod Klein and Uri Zach, two Israeli soldiers returning home after being held in captivity in Lebanon for 17 years.

America: Damian Lewis is Nicholas Brody, an American soldier who has been held by Al-Qaida since 2003.

Most Realistic: Yoram and Uri. The two must have lost a significant amount of weight to look as emaciated as they do and they never lose their haunted look throughout the season. While I adore Damian Lewis, the man doesn’t even have bags under his eyes.

Show: In Treatment/B’Tipul
Character: A patient going to therapy with his wife to decide whether or not to have an abortion.

Israel: I don’t remember much about Rami Heuberger’s performance as Michael. Just that the character was all kinds of awful.

America: Dan Rydell Will Gardner Josh Charles plays Jake, with a penchant for denim and an unfortunate mustache and goatee.

Most realistic: Josh Charles because he is the king of office Passover seders and all things Baltimore.

Show: Homeland/Hatufim
Character: The older, wiser intelligence officer.

Israel: Gal Zaid is Haim Cohen, who is convinced the two returning abductees have a secret they aren’t sharing.

America: Mandy Patinkin steals the show as Saul Berenson‬‬, Carrie’s mentor and erstwhile defender. ‬‬

Most Realistic: Mandy Patinkin, holla

Previously: Is That a Falafel in My Situation Comedy?

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