If you haven’t already heard, “Dating In The Dark” is a new reality dating show, where couples meet and go on dates in complete lights out darkness. Made possible with some very nifty infra-red video cameras. On the surface it seems like an idea with some great potential, and while it can be thought provoking at times it falls short of anything more than a dull and superficial social experiment. In a nutshell Dating In The Dark can pretty much stay in the dark, as it fails to shed any new light on what role looks play at the beginning of relationships.

Episode 1 recap

Three guys, and three gals move into a house and get paired up with each other. They generally make out, and have as much of a ‘date’ as they can in a sparse pitch black room before they actually see their partner for the first time. Interspersed with all this they go off and discuss what happened with their house mates.

Upon seeing their match they go back and either brag, or complain about their physical looks, before going on a final and normal day date if they decide to give it a shot. Who will stay together, and who will not.. I’m riveted.. ok not really. Whoever thought up this idea certainly knows how to cash in on a cheaply produced show, and for that I give big props.

I did like one sound bite from episode 2, where one of the girls reported that her date made her feel so comfortable.. “..being on my date with him was very comfortable, and being able to feel that on a first date is very important..” or words to that effect. This is the one and rare golden nugget of the show.

Here’s a quick preview of the show: