Cheat: Unfinished Business, a new reality show that premiered on Netflix in 2025, has quickly garnered attention for its provocative premise. America’s most extreme relationship test Amanda Holden hosts the show that reunites eight exes. Each year they meet in a glamorous villa and challenge one another to work through their history, be it from actual or imagined disloyalty. The program immerses participants in the complexities of navigating relationships themselves. It provides participants an opportunity to make peace with the past or accept their present and forge a path toward a new future.
The show follows an entertaining but deeply misleading format common to popular British reality series, like the Jeremy Kyle show and Love Island. This familiar structure may appeal to fans of those programs. Cheat: Unfinished Business brings its own unique twist. It doesn’t just highlight the emotional struggles of the contestants. It places greater focus on personal development and recovery. Each couple must confront their unresolved issues, guided by relationship coach Paul C Brunson, who provides genuine insights into their behaviors and dynamics.
The competing couples go head to head, challenge after challenge, in a luxury destination villa. These situations stretch them to the breaking point emotionally and really try their fortitude. While some participants have gained fame from Love Island, others are less known, adding a layer of unpredictability to the interactions. The show’s producers aim to foster an environment where contestants can explore their feelings and make informed decisions about their future.
Despite its ambitious goals, Cheat: Unfinished Business has received scathing criticism. Some viewers have described it as “the single worst thing that has ever been created in the history of humankind.” This damning indictment is a reminder of how polarizing the genre of reality television becomes. Viewers are rightly challenged by the ethics of commodifying personal stories and relationships.
This addictive Spanish reality series is a master class in exploring fidelity and temptation. However, Cheat: Unfinished Business attempts to differentiate itself by incorporating a more structured approach to relationship counseling. Paul C Brunson is not just a TV star, the relationship coach brings a wealth of credibility and depth to the proceedings. He arms contestants with tangible tools that help them work through their complex emotional journeys.
Supporters counter that the show pours great entertainment value into an otherwise parched landscape. They caution that it threatens to further trivialize the very serious themes of trust versus betrayal. The format begs the question of the ethical nature of using people’s heartbreaking, personal stories to gain viewership and ratings. Viewers have expressed outrage over the psychological impact on the contestants. They are most worried about people who need to relive tragic experiences in front of a firing squad.
In addition to Holden’s hosting role and Brunson’s coaching expertise, Cheat: Unfinished Business highlights the complexities of modern relationships in an age where infidelity is a common concern. The contestants embody a wide range of experiences, and each participant contributes their own background, stories, and interpretations to the villa. Their complex interplay produces an emotionally charged environment in which both healing and spiraling conflict are possible.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen how Cheat: Unfinished Business will evolve as the series progresses. The show’s ability to engage audiences will likely depend on its handling of sensitive topics and the contestants’ journeys toward healing or closure. People are continuing to watch, creating a new wave of discourse reexamining the ethics of reality television. These conversations will further underscore its untold harm on mental health.