Spoiler alert: queer reality television is few-and-far-between. Despite some minor cameos on commonly straight dating shows, the LGBTQ+ community is rarely represented in unscripted media. It’s a space that is dominated by heteronormative ideals and void of the fluidity that reflects modern society. So, while my pitch for an all-bisexual season of Love Island is pending, seeing a fully queer dating show like I Kissed a Girl is triumphant.

BBC’s I Kissed a Girl follows a similar format to Love Island. Set in the Italian countryside, a group of singles are frequently filmed as they couple up, break up, and endure petty drama. It’s only twist: the cast is all women. The show refuses to hide behind it’s progressive premise, however, and embraces the nitty gritty tropes that embolden reality television. While there’s no doubt I Kissed a Girl is unapologetically gay, it declines to push wokeness, homosexuality, or liberal alignment upon the audience, simply feeling like any other dating show.

Secondly, the cast of I Kissed a Girl is totally catholic. From Fiorenza, a fuck-girl with three eyebrow slits and a fondness for flannels, to Amy, the fan fave who everyone loved platonically, to Demi, a self-proclaimed ‘baby gay’ who is still to have a queer relationship. Yet, the women were quick to comment on Demi’s gay infancy and label it as a red flag. While it’s common for ‘seasoned gays’ to avoid dating the greenly out in fear of enduring second hand stress or struggle, Demi seemingly didn’t fall under this umbrella of issues. The group ignored this, however, and she was wordlessly eliminated for her lack of queer suffering.

From I Kissed a Girl’s subtle theming to playful self-awareness, the show is a nuanced tribute to queer women everywhere. In short, the world of reality television would benefit from like-minded media.