4 messy dating shows to watch if you're missing Bachelor in Paradise

It's summer and, while I personally enjoy messy dating shows year round, there's something about sitting back and watching people fall in love or blow their chances making ridiculous decisions that feels right, feels organic for the hottest season of the year. So, imagine our surprise when ABC announced their summer schedule and Bachelor in Paradise was nowhere on it.

Adding salt to the wound is that the network has yet to announce if we can expect a new season this year or if we might be dealing with a quiet cancellation. But, if we can't count on the messy, messy dating show airing in the coming months, we're going to have to get our craving for disastrous pair ups and romance elsewhere. Good thing there's plenty of shows just like Bachelor in Paradise to choose from.

If you're in need of a new watch, or a reminder to tune into a new season of a reality dating show you already enjoy, check out our list of series that'll fill the hole the ABC program has left in your heart.

Messy dating shows like Bachelor in Paradise

The Bachelorette season 21

Airs: Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Streams: Tuesdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+

Thankfully, if you're looking for a show like Bachelor in Paradise to indulge in there is a Bachelor franchise series currently airing on ABC. Jenn Tran's season of The Bachelorette got off to a memorable start on Monday, July 8 with a season opener that saw one suitor arrive on a gurney and another introduce himself with countless balloons strapped to his person like he was cosplaying the house from Up.

While the season does promise twists and a first for The Bachelorette series, viewers can anticipate that tried and true drama that keeps Bachelor Nation tuning in every season. There will be tears, arguing, gossiping, and suitors who aren't here for the "right reasons." And, if Bachelor in Paradise does get a greenlight for another season, you can pretty much bet some of the bigger personalities on the cast being a part of that show as well.

The Ultimatum

Streamer: Netflix

The Ultimatum franchise is wild mainly because the premise of the show is that couples who are at an impasse when it comes to marriage sign-up to be put in trial marriages with other people (who they choose!) and then they do a trial marriage together...nothing can go wrong there, right? The partner switching element should be familiar to Bachelor in Paradise fans but this show ups the ante with the goal being engagement or a break-up by the end of the season.

Out of the three American seasons of the show The Ultimatum: Queer Love is by far the best with mess, love, and poor decision making at the heart of each participant's story. The franchise also has international iterations set in France and South Africa. You wouldn't believe how awkward it gets once these couples have to reunite knowing, or hearing about, what they'd gotten up to with their trial spouses. Tears are shed, feelings are hurt, and relationships wind up holding on by a thread.

Perfect Match

Streamer: Netflix

Perfect Match is nothing but mess, mess, and more mess. The show throws well known cast members from Netflix's other reality shows into a house where they have to pair up together. While some will instantly find the person they click with, others will bounce from partner to partner in the hopes of finding that spark they're missing.

The twist with this series is that the contestants get to mess with other people's relationships. Someone may have a good connection with a fellow contestant but if another couple wins a challenge, they can use the opportunity to bring in someone to set another contestant's partner up with on a date. Obviously, this is a show no one should be taking seriously but if you want to see people argue over bonds that have been stewing for at minimum a day, it's perfect for you.

Are You the One?

Streamer: Paramount+

With $1 million dollars on the line, the 22 singles on Are You the One? have more than their hearts in the game. But that doesn't mean everyone is on the same page about keeping focused and truly trying to determine just who is compatible based on the tests they all took. Granted, 1s and 0s can't really say for certain how a couple will be once they're matched. Contestants could guess wrong because who someone is on paper isn't how they are in real life, and they'll lose out on a lot of money.

Expect frustrations to boil over and for contestants to argue once they begin to fall for someone who feels like "the one" but has been paired with someone else. Remember, even money can go out the window when it comes to matters of the heart though that reality may just leave you yelling at your screen because of the choices being made.