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| “A Date With Goddess” Called Out for Wasting Time — Fans Say It’s Losing the Spark |
After a promising start and some genuinely heart-fluttering moments, TVB’s reality dating show A Date With Goddess (<女神配對計劃>) is now taking heat from fans and netizens alike.
The show’s initial charm — watching five lovely “goddesses” navigate awkward dinner dates and slow-burn connections with their “brave suitors” — has started wearing thin, especially after the latest twist announcement.
Romance or Reality Show Rollercoaster?
Now in its fourth week, the show had just started heating up. Stephanie Lee (李芷晴) seems to be falling hard for the introverted but sincere Jacob Lam (林焌堯), while Carman Kwan (關嘉敏) is visibly torn between legacy boy John Chiang (姜卓文) — son of legendary actor David Chiang — and cool model Matthew Wong (黃家俊).
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As for Sophie Yip (葉蒨文), most viewers thought her heart was already set on the charismatic GM (曾展望), but shy underdog Him Lam (林澤謙) has apparently shaken things up.
All was going fairly well — until TVB decided to stir the pot again.
Global Call for New Suitors Sparks Outrage
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TVB’s official Xiaohongshu account dropped a “major announcement” — the show would now open up global recruitment for new brave suitors to join mid-season and challenge the existing ones.
Instead of sparking excitement, the move triggered a fierce backlash, especially from Mainland viewers. Many felt blindsided by the sudden twist, calling it “unnecessary drama” and accusing the show of deliberately dragging the storyline.
“If we wanted to sign up, we would’ve done it from the beginning,” one netizen fumed.
“What is this, Goddess X Singer collab? Stop wasting our time,” said another, referencing the show’s increasingly gimmicky vibe.
Suspicions of Pre-Planning and “Friend Passes”
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Adding fuel to the fire, speculations started circulating that the so-called “global recruitment” was just a cover for letting insiders or “friends and family” sneak into the cast. Several comments accused the production team of turning the show into a low-budget soap opera with dating window dressing.
Some even said the new twist feels like a lazy excuse to extend the number of episodes and milk audience attention — possibly to stretch it across extra weeks of broadcasting.
“Don’t exploit the goddesses or the current suitors just for views,” one comment read bluntly.
Is the Magic Wearing Off?
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While TVB initially earned praise for upping their game in the dating variety genre — with better production, genuine chemistry, and a sleek vibe that appealed to younger viewers — this recent backlash might hurt the momentum.
Audiences are now wondering if the show is heading towards the usual pattern of reality TV fatigue, where too many twists spoil the experience.
Unless the show pulls out some genuinely meaningful developments (and not just shock-factor twists), it risks losing the goodwill it built early on.