The first episode of the newest spin-off, 90 Day: Hunt For Love, has aired, and the tone the show has already established has blown me away. The 90 Day Fiancé franchise is known for pumping out spin-off after spin-off. In 2014, the franchise started with the OG 90 Day Fiancé series. After the third season, the franchise released 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? to showcase the married couples’ continued journey. Then the franchise pumped out mini-supporting series like 90 Day: What Now? or 90 Day Diaries and other full-blown spin-offs like 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days and 90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise. In just over a decade, the franchise has released over 20 different spin-offs and this year they’ve done it again.
My opinions on a new spin-off, in general, have flipped back and forth. Although I love the 90 Day Fiancé franchise and have a soft spot for the K-1 visa storyline, I also think the series often exploits the stars past the point of pure entertainment. Sometimes, the storylines are similar across the spin-offs and become played out and predictable. However, I had high hopes for the newest series based solely on the new premise. The only resemblance to the overall franchise is the stars, but the premise of the show is different from the other spin-offs. 90 Day: Hunt for Love features random singles for the 90 Day Fiancé alumni to mingle with, and after the first episode, I think my original beliefs were correct.
’90 Day Fiancé’ Stars Seem Optimistic
Firstly, there’s a much more hopeful and optimistic vibe among the 90 Day Fiancé stars. In the traditional spin-offs, there’s a lot of drama and pressure between time constraints, visas, and in-laws. In this spin-off, everyone is starting from scratch and searching for love at the same time. As the stars walk in and introduce themselves or provide their backstory, the tone seems different than the other shows. Even the stars themselves seem different and have a bit of pep in their step. For instance, some of the alumni to appear on the newest spin-off were Chantel Everett, Tiffany Franco, and Usman ‘Sojaboy’ Umar. The last time those three stars appeared in the franchise, they weren’t having the easiest time connecting and stepping into the dating world.
Chantel tried dating another international man, but he couldn’t get past the divorce. The same thing happened to Tiffany, as she tried dating on 90 Day: The Single Life, but none of the relationships panned out. Usman, on the other hand, was last seen with Kimberly Menzies back in Happily Ever After? Season 7, when they broke off their engagement. Each of the stars has had a difficult time on the series, but I think they’re much more open and willing to move past that in this new spin-off. Tiffany is hoping to find her man, but she’s also going into the experience with “no expectations,” which I think shows a lot of growth. Similarly, Chantel is ready to move on from her divorce, and Usman has realized that if he wants children, he can’t keep dating old women. I think the stars have shown a lot of growth and maturity so far, and it’s only the beginning.
Jasmine Pineda from 90 Day: The Last Resort Tell All Season 2.
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‘Hunt For Love’ Leaves Potential for Lots of Drama
However, while the vibes might be chill now, the premise leaves room for turmoil that the previous series don’t showcase. For example, with the new 90 Day Fiancé series essentially a speed dating show, there’s potential for love triangles and much more drama. I think some of the cast members potentially hinted at the drama in their confessionals already. Tiffany mentioned how “stunning” Chantel was, and while it’s “not a competition,” hopefully, there will be enough men left over for her. On top of that, there’s also the ex-couple Tim Malcolm and Jeniffer Tarazona, which I think adds a complicated layer to the dynamic. Both of them can be forward and blunt, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow clash as the season goes on.
To further support my opinions, an interview with the cast suggests my beliefs might be right. In an interview with In Touch, Tiffany revealed, “…believe me when I tell you whatever you think, you know, whatever you assume is gonna happen, get ready to, to be completely thrown off guard.” The single mom of two continued to explain, “Everything you believe and everything you know, get ready to be okay. Very, very, very surprised. Sometimes pleasantly, sometimes not so pleasantly.” 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days Season 1 star Cortney Reardanz also claimed that the series was the “wildest thing 90 Day has ever filmed.” She hinted the new series was going to be wild as “… so much happened there. That’s never happened on reality TV before.”
Overall, while the 90 Day Fiancé franchise is known for overdoing it with the spin-offs, they might’ve hit gold with this one. I think this is the perfect embodiment of what the franchise has been missing. This new spin-off deviates just enough from the rest of the 90 Day Fiancé series that it could be its own show, but with the return of older stars, the spin-off is that much more appealing. Although it is still very early in the release, I’m certainly looking forward to what the new spin-off has to unfold.
