The 90 Day Fiancé franchise is booming, but that doesn't mean that there aren't changes that should be made. It started as a look at the K-1 visa process for international couples who were tying the knot in the United States. Then, it exploded into a massive franchise featuring dozens of couples, and myriad spin-off shows. However, as the franchise expanded over the past decade, the quality of 90DF content seems to have dropped. There are a number of changes that could be made, which might restore it to its original glory.
90 Day Fiancé season 1 aired in 2014, and featured four couples. All the pairs were complete unknowns, and weren’t openly seeking social media careers at the time. Four international women traveled to the United States from various countries to marry their American fiances. This led to them experiencing cultural challenges, language barriers, and other immigration issues. The first season of the show proved to be authentic, as all the couples have stayed together in the decade since. However, additional seasons of 90 Day Fiancé franchise content did showcase some differences, which might be considered mistakes.
10 Bring In Fresh Blood
One issue that the 90 Day Fiancé franchise has experienced over the years is the lack of newcomers. For example, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way season 3 only included two new couples. TLC appeared to acknowledge this error, as The Other Way season 4 featured a new cast of Americans traveling abroad for love. Bringing in fresh couples is a smart move, as it keeps the franchise exciting, and prevents plot lines from becoming repetitive and boring.
9 Axe Some Spin-Offs
After nearly a decade of success, the 90 Day Fiancé franchise has become over-saturated with content. Several franchise shows are popular, including 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, The Family Chantel, 90 Day: The Single Life, and Darcey & Stacey. However, other shows have overexposed couples, including Loren & Alexei: After The 90 Days and David & Annie: After The 90 Days. Rather than keep adding to the franchise, TLC should focus on creating quality seasons full of compelling content.
8 Vet Crew & Cast
One major issue that has arisen over the years is whether 90 Day Fiancé franchise cast are thoroughly vetted before they are allowed to appear on TV. Geoffrey Paschel was notoriously cast on Before the 90 Days after his arrest, but before his conviction for assault and kidnapping. Arsonist Paul Staehle also leaves viewers worried due to his erratic behavior. The 90 Day Fiancé franchise should be more careful about who they cast, as there is a distinction between entertaining and dangerous.
7 Eliminate Franchise Villains
All reality TV programs have villains, and the 90 Day Fiancé franchise is no different. However, some shady types are fun to watch, while others are flat-out problematic. Angela Deem and Big Ed Brown are two franchise villains who push boundaries when it comes to their behavior, as they have both been abusive to their partners onscreen. However, they continue to be cast in new content. The 90DF franchise should still include "baddies" for the sake of drama, but TLC should stop casting abusive people, whom viewers have tried to get removed from the show.
6 Minimize Family Roles
The 90 Day Fiancé franchise started out as a look at the international marriage process. However, it's now become a platform that some cast and their associates use in order to chase clout. Rather than focusing on franchise family , the show should be centered on the intentional romances, and the challenges that those relationships bring. Family , such as the Potthast siblings, do little to entertain audiences. Instead, they scramble for attention as they cause drama.
5 Rotate Chronic Cast
The 90 Day Fiancé empire has introduced dozens of colorful personalities over the years. However, one problem that the franchise makes is airing couples who are popular or controversial over and over again. Things get can dull when this happens. Duos, such as David Toborowsky and Annie Suwan, or Libby Potthast and Andrei Castravet, are shown so frequently that they fail to bring anything new to their segments. The franchise should instead bring back forgotten couples, if producers do want to feature repeat cast , they could use this method to prevent certain cast from being over-exposed.
4 Focus On Authentic Plot Lines
When it comes to content in the 90 Day Fiancé franchise, earlier plots undeniably felt more authentic. Now, viewers have become quite skeptical of plot lines, particularly when lies are revealed. For example, Pedro Jimeno learned that he had half-siblings on The Family Chantel season 3. Then, photographs of him with his half-siblings surfaced years earlier. Rather than seemingly falsifying plot lines for drama, the 90 Day Fiancé franchise should focus on actual issues. Examples might include language barriers or visa issues.
3 Cover The K-1 Visa Process
As the 90 Day Fiancé franchise's scope has expanded, the focus has shifted considerably. Season 1 was centered on the K-1 visa process, but many later seasons and spin-off shows no longer covered the immigration process for marriage. Big Ed Brown was even shown dating American Liz Woods for multiple seasons, and their relationship wasn't an intentional romance. To keep the show unique, the franchise should shift its focus back to the immigration process. It could explore how the process works, and how cast cope with their new lives.
2 Feature New Foreign Countries
Though dozens of couples have been introduced to the extended 90 Day Fiancé franchise, many cast hail from the same place, while scenes abroad are often filmed in the same handful of countries. Rarely, cast , such as Jihoon Lee and Johnny Chao, were filmed in "one-off" countries, South Korea and China. However, countless other stories have occurred in Brazil and Colombia, while many cast come from the Philippines, Russia, and Ukraine. The show could use some fresh nations, to create new representation for stories that haven't already been told.
1 Ask Juicy Tell-All Questions
A final change the 90 Day Fiancé franchise should consider making is updating the Tell-Alls. Though the Tell-All for Happily Ever After? season 7 was aired over four weeks, and filmed for two nights, it still failed to ask some of the hard-hitting questions. The Tell-Alls should ask questions that audiences are dying to have answered, and not shy away from digging into uncomfortable topics. Likewise, Tell-Alls shouldn't be afraid to call out 90 Day Fiancé franchise season villains. Their bad behavior should be aired onstage, so that personalities can answer for their rudeness.
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