So, The Ultimatum is back. This time, it’s queer. It’s also not hosted by the Lacheys. I enjoyed this one a lot more than the original.

If you remember, I didn’t enjoy the audio description of the original show. For those unaware, audio description is a separate audio track added to visual media that describes visual aspects. This is mainly intended for blind and visually impaired audiences, but can be enjoyed by and benefit anyone. For me, the biggest issue in the audio description of the original show was the vocal performance. If you’re interested in my thoughts, check out this post.

Audio Description of The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On

Series Premise

Participants enter the show as couples where one gives an ultimatum: Marry me or we’re done. To give each other clarity, couples break up and date other people. After a week of dating, they choose one person to have a trial marriage with for three weeks. When that trial marriage is over, they return to their original partners and have another trial marriage. In the end, those given the ultimatum have to choose whether to leave engaged, break up, or leave with someone else.

Series Information

Genre: Reality TV
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: No
Explicit sex: Sort of
Content warnings I noticed: None

Review

The writing is good. The language fits its target audience. It’s very similar to its predecessor and other Netflix reality shows like Too Hot to Handle.

The audio description is fine. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m missing anything, but I also don’t feel like I have a great picture. Descriptions are delivered in a minimal style. The biggest issue I have with this style of description is the lack of detail. The biggest pro is that it doesn’t overwhelm the viewer.

Setting is not established. Participants go to different places, but I still don’t know where they are. I’m sure they’re somewhere in the United States, but I’m not sure where.

Physical features are described in the first episode. Not all participants are described, however. Clothing is described a few times. The main episode that describes clothes is episode nine.

I’m happy to say that the reunion has audio description. I mentioned once that the reunions I’ve seen from Netflix reality shows have no audio description. The audio description is very minimal since there’s a lot of dialogue, but I’m glad they added it.

Speaking of the reunion, there seems to be a visual difference at the end of the episode. When the reunion ends and it cuts to black, it’s revealed that two participants broke up shortly after filming. The audio description tells us that the reason for the relationship ending was because one suspected the other of cheating. However, according to at least one YouTube video, it just says they broke up, not revealing the reason.

The rule for audio description is to describe what you see. This information is apparently not revealed on screen to viewers. Why is it described? If I was watching this with someone else and they told me this, I would be very confused.

The point of describing what you see is not to confuse the viewer, in my opinion. Another point is to offer important details. I have my opinions on audio description guidelines and how they impact an audio description writer and describer’s creativity, but this is a rule that should be kept in mind when describing. You don’t want to confuse viewers.

The describer’s performance is much better than in the original show. Their tone is neutral, but still engaging. The tone doesn’t change with the show, something I think would make the experience of listening to it so much better.

The description’s editing is good. The describer doesn’t interrupt any commentary or dialogue. They’re also not randomly cut off.

The show is currently available with English and Brazilian Portuguese audio description. Netflix, stop excluding your viewers. We pay money. Do better.

Conclusion

Overall, this description is like many others I’ve critiqued here. It’s fine. I enjoyed my experience listening to it. I rate it two stars.