Shows like The Torch

The common thread here is an obsession with the mechanics of reality television. These shows use the conventions of unscripted competition or documentary confessionals to either amplify the absurdity of the format or lean into the high-stakes friction of manufactured drama.

Observers of the 2022 comedy The Torch will notice a familiar focus on the artifice of human interaction under pressure. Those who enjoyed the specific rhythm of that series might look to Australian Survivor or The Traitors for a similar investment in game theory, strategic betrayal, and the performance of personality in front of a camera.