Netflix’s first original Italian reality show with 10 lazy Gen Z contestants, Summer Job, arrived on the platform on December 16, 2022, with its 8 episodes, each having a runtime ranging between 43-47 minutes. Introducing a privileged batch of individuals, the series is hosted by Matilde Gioli and promises them an extravagant vacation in exchange of something they’ve never bent down for.
It has been directed by Angelo Poli and written by Sonia Soldera, Giovanni Piccione, Marco Cappellini with Marco Matteo, Stefano Martinelli, Gabriella Nocera, and Alessandro Tassone.
Netflix describes the show as follows:
Regular jobs are foreign to these entitled contestants. Will they learn that life comes with responsibilities, or will they party away the prize money?
-Summer Job Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-
“Lazy and spoiled” contestants in their early twenties or late teens, head out on a vacation of their lives, in hopes of doing what they’ve wanted always to do – enjoy a free holiday. One day in, their dreams transform into their nightmares and the supposed “free holiday” pushes them to the edge to earn it in a way unfamiliar to their lifestyles – by working summer jobs.
The prize – “an unforgettable holiday and 100,000 euros” – will be attained by one finalist with the catch that every week gives way to an elimination from the island, and each empty paycheck and add-on conditional temptations and luxuries deduct 2000 euros from the winner’s final prize fund. And the usual twist, new additions waltzing in at the half-line threaten the lot.
Much like the previously released dating reality TV series, Too Hot To Handle, Summer Job too picks up by putting on the facade of a ‘fun’ show, only for their hopes to be shattered by a “Rude Awakening” (premise of the first episode) as soon as the host of the actual show drops by and pops their bubbles.
Firstly, you have to give it up for the foundation of the show. For once, a reality series goes beyond singles hooking up with each other on screen only for the viewers to dissipate into a puddle of embarrassment, but of course that won’t stop them from making eyes at each other now and then. Right from the get go, the idea itself cracks you up, envisioning how people who haven’t worked a single day in their lives are going to make room from that breakthrough during an ostensible vacation. One word that instantly manifests itself is DRAMA.
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While some learn to hold their own and start grasping the concept of being more responsible, others continue to whine and bad-mouth their employers and as it happens, few of them miss out on their paychecks as expected. Many don’t get along with each other, but particularly drive a wedge between themselves and a particular party quite early on.
Nearly all the episodes bring on the same evenly paced action with each week introducing the contestants to a new job and a chance to display their volition, or the lack thereof. And it’s absolutely no surprise that when it comes to splurging money from their prize fund, there’s no stopping these people. As contestants, however, all of them rank at the same level more or less, which, to some extent makes it thrilling, even more chucklesome, because you may end up not rooting for anyone particular to win the contest.
Yet, on the other hand, it can also pull the parade down because shows like these gain interest, especially when audiences find their instant favourites. The series demands some patience out of the viewers as opposed to other reality shows where you can directly figure out the ones you’re going to stand by.
At a gradual pace, the audience may warm up to the ones left behind and the fog over the topic settles down because we come to the realisation that its all about picking out the lesser of all the evils, rather than counting on finding the best among them, which eventually led me to root for Sofia as well by halftime because she showed tremendous character development with a soaring upward graph.
Summer Job: Worth the Watch?
The ever-present childlike lack of a moral centre for owning up to one’s responsibilities is more than evident among the contestants, and makes for the heightening comical theatrics at the cabana. Yet, one or two grave discussions about one’s insecurities in the mix were heartening to witness, in addition to finally seeing some growth in some of the contestants towards the end, especially the two deserving finalists.
And sure, the series follows some of the archetypal characteristics that make up any reality TV show with someone feeling homesick on end end, and on the other, you find a constant pair of lovebirds from the outset. Still, I personally found the show’s setting to be interesting especially when the sea of contents is brimming with dating shows that can’t reach out to anything but portray major cases of superficiality.
I close this review by stating that all in all, as viewers, you may take your sweet time to adjust to the show and the people in it, but it’s definitely a better watch than other options if you’re hoping to catch an original concept of reality TV. The pace also picks up once eliminations begin and it comes down to the last few remaining contestants who actually take the purpose of the show seriously.
The first season of Summer Job is now streaming on Netflix.
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