Aahana Swrup
Netflix’s ‘The Wrong Paris‘ centers around the story of a reality dating show contestant who goes the extra mile to make her dreams come true. Dawn has always wanted to further her artistic career by attending the French Académie d’Art. However, while she manages to get a seat at the institution, she needs a quick financial solution to make living overseas a reality. Thus, her sister, Max, pitches her an unlikely solution: the reality dating show, The Honeypot. By some twist of fate, the series, which compensates even contestants who don’t win with an appearance fee, is supposed to be taking place in Paris.
Therefore, if nothing else, Dawn can at least rely on getting a flight ticket out of the ordeal. However, things quickly go south once Dawn arrives for filming, only to realize the production team meant Paris, Texas, rather than Paris, France. As a result, the artist finds herself stuck in a game show where the worst of her problems ends up being the effortless chemistry between her and the leading man, Trey McAllen III. Thus, since The Honeypot becomes the central backdrop for the narrative, the on-screen reality show’s origins remain worth exploring.
The Honeypot is a Fictional Reality Show With Some Realistic Influences
‘The Wrong Paris’ is a work of fiction that uses fictitious characters and narrative tools to present a light-hearted romantic comedy. As a result, The Honeypot, the central element in the film, remains confined within the fabricated confines of its storyline. In real life, there are no reality dating shows that are identical to the one where Dawn’s path fatefully crosses with Trey. Even so, the creation of this on-screen show shares some similarities to actual dating reality television projects, which ultimately infuses the former with its sense of realism. Outside of the film, there are numerous reality series revolving around romance and dating that employ an elimination-style format. The most recognizable example of this remains ‘The Bachelor.’ In the show, which first came out in 2002, each season finds multiple contestants competing against each other to earn the affections of the titular bachelor.
In ‘The Bachelor,’ the contestants and the bachelor himself go on multiple fun dates, often modeled around unique premises. At the end of each round, the candidates are eliminated until the bachelor selects their ultimate partner. The show is known to feature new twists and turns, such as an ex-candidate’s ability to return to the show for a second chance. Notably, The Honeypot employs a similar strategy that goes on to play a significant role in the film’s climax. Therefore, certain parallels can evidently be drawn between the real-life dating show and the fictional one. Additionally, Miranda Cosgrove, the leading lady in ‘The Wrong Paris’ and a self-proclaimed fan of ‘The Bachelor,’ also acknowledged these similarities in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Alternatively, another reality television series, ‘For Love or Money’, also presents prominent similarities to The Honeypot in terms of premise. In the elimination-style dating game show, the winner has to ultimately choose between the bachelor/bachelorette and a cash prize. However, one notable distinction between this show and the on-screen dating game stems from the latter’s rule against the winner continuing a relationship with the central contestant if they chose to go the monetary route. As such, the notable similarities between ‘For Love or Money’ and The Honeypot suggest some level of inspiration or influence. Nonetheless, there’s no official link between the two shows. Thus, the reality show in ‘The Wrong Paris’ remains a fictional element that finds its sense of realism by equipping familiar themes and visuals. Ultimately, this approach adds a dynamic storytelling element to the film, enhancing Dawn and Trey’s narratives.
Read More: Do Dawn and Trey End Up Together in The Wrong Paris?
