Fans of Netflix exposé documentaries may want to add this three-part series to their watchlists
The Netflix show everyone is watching right now is a three-part documentary with a perfect 100% rating.
According to Netflix’s charts, the number one series in the UK today is Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. It first landed on the streaming giant this Monday (February 16), and has quickly gripped viewers across the globe.
This comes as no surprise considering its subject matter is the iconic noughties show, America’s Next Top Model. Created by supermodel Tyra Banks, the reality competition followed a group of young women vying for the ‘Top Model’ title.
Tyra launched the reality series after noticing a major diversity problem in the fashion industry. She opened the door to regular women from across the US and offered them a shot at their dream jobs.
While the reality competition was a huge hit throughout its 24-season run, a new generation of viewers have called out its more problematic elements.
For starters, the competition became known for putting the models through brutal makeovers, which often left them in tears. These included everything from unflattering haircuts to gruelling dental surgeries.
What’s more, the show’s photoshoot challenges were sometimes distasteful or politically insensitive. One of the most famous examples is the race-swapping challenge, which happened twice during the series’ run.
In light of the public’s changing attitudes towards the competition, Netflix’s documentary explores exactly what was going on behind the scenes.
It features exclusive interviews with creator Tyra, alongside executive producer Ken Mok and former judges Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker and Miss J Alexander.
Past contestants also open up about their experiences on the show, with a notable appearance from Cycle 2 favourite Shandi Sullivan.
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Since its premiere on Monday, the three-part show has earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, IMDb users have been sharing glowing reviews.
One fan described the series as an “excellent exposé”, while another praised its balanced approach to the subject. They wrote: “This documentary works because it does not pretend the show was either purely evil or purely empowering. It was both influential and exploitative. Entertaining and damaging. Aspirational and deeply flawed.”
While another viewer shared an in-depth review, stating: “This series is a significant eye-opener because it forces the audience to confront their own complicity; it suggests that these “humiliation rituals” only existed because we, the viewers, rewarded them with ratings and memes.
“By giving the microphones back to the women who were once just ‘characters’ in Tyra’s world, the documentary transforms the show’s legacy from a trailblazing success story into a cautionary tale about the high cost of reality TV fame.”
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is streaming now on Netflix
