Minty Gal

It was only a matter of time before I checked out the Zeus Network—a reality streaming platform with its own set of reality shows priced at $6.99. Now, I don’t usually watch reality television, but I am a fan of the Love and Hip Hop series. Seeing familiar faces across a few of their shows nudged me into finally subscribing. After watching a few shows, I quickly realized the content they produce is very different from anything currently airing on TV. The experience has been interesting.

Two Ways with Erica Mena 

Essentially, it’s a dating show where 12 contestants fight for a relationship with Erica. I believe the cast included social media personalities? I really wanted to like this show, but it just didn’t showcase Erica in a good light. Erica is a pretty woman in her late 30s with children and, despite her messy reputation, deserved something classy at the very least. The fact that she agreed to the show still surprises me.

All the challenges were weird and sexual. Erica’s attire matched the show’s tone in the worst way. Her boisterous personality came across as mostly obnoxious. This show ultimately was cringy and uncomfortable to watch. It would’ve benefited greatly from the Bachelorette format, given that production was certainly selective with who they chose as contestants. The show had potential if they’d cared to keep it classy. I will say, the first episode was hilarious, though. It just goes downhill from there. To make matters worse, after I watched the show, I discovered that 2 of the male contestants were victims of gun violence. It’s just heartbreaking all around, and when you reflect on the show, you wish Zeus had handled that “dating show” differently.  

Baddies (Africa, U.S.A, East)

Baddies is the star of the show—the heart of the platform. Natalie Nunn, a former cast member on season four of Bad Girls Club, has helped relaunch Baddies, a show heavily inspired by the Bad Girls Club. A Y2K era show that aired on Oxygen from 2006 to 2017. The premise was that women coexist in a house and party at night. What separated the show from other popular reality shows at the time was the fights. The girls would get into physical altercations and “stand on business,” as some would say. I admit, as a teen, I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but something about the drama and the now-social-media aspect has me interested. There are several spin-offs of the show now, but I’ve only watched a few (East, Africa, U.S.A.). Here are my thoughts.

Many of the ladies across all the shows are pretty, and it’s nice to see Natalie trying to help them build their brands. Think what you want about Natalie Nunn, but she chooses ladies with the thought of creating a sisterhood. Female empowerment, if you will. But the show quickly gets lost in constant yelling, fighting, and foolishness. I noticed that social media is at the root of many of the issues. I understand this show thrives off the drama, keeping the original Bad Girls Club blueprint, but who’s in charge here? (If you’ve seen episode 17 of Baddies: Africa, you get it.)

The more you watch the show, the more you ask yourself that. Some would say Natalie, because she is the host and one of the show’s leading producers, but the matter is bigger than her. Could the fighting be contractual? Maybe it’s to go viral? I am unsure, but as a black woman, it gets frustrating to watch. There should be a limit to the foolishness. There is so much tension and beef that they can’t even attend the club bookings without confrontations or drinks being thrown. They can’t even enter the Airbnb when they touch down in a new city without getting into a fight as soon as they step out of the van. Zeus should really tighten up this behavior. The ladies should also want to present themselves better. I understand it’s entertainment, but is this really showing women in a positive light? Black women?

Being abrasive and unable to use words with another woman shouldn’t be encouraged as a criterion for what a “baddie” is. To my understanding, a baddie is a woman who is confident, sexy, and unapologetically herself. The lyrics from Drake’s song “Fancy”: Hair done, nails done, everything did. But now, I am not so sure. This show leaves me confused as to what even makes a baddie.

That is not to say I don’t have a few favorites. I like Big Lex. I really wish she would fight less because she is so pretty. She is like 12-0 in her fights, though, and the ladies still want to step to her. Mariahlynn, as I watched her on Love and Hip Hop: New York. She stays true to herself. Sapphire because I find her so pretty, and Chrisean Rock. Her demeanor in the newest season suggests she has grown from her previous antics. In her post-baby glow, she seemed relaxed and focused. She also transitioned into gospel music. Good for her.

Baddies: U.S.A. is the latest season with new episodes that drop every Sunday at 8 pm EST. Tune in and let me know what you think.

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